New Puma or rebuild the 300 TDi

[Jeff]

I have a 98 Defender 110 I have had since new and we have had 330,000 happy km together. It is getting old and is in need of some money spent on it, it probably won't do another 330,000 as it is. I was considering upgrades like a VNT and intercooler upgrade, as I tow a lot and need more more power, but should probably either rebuild the engine, new big ends etc, or get a new short motor from the UK before squeezing more power from it.

I have wifey convinced we need to buy a new one before they stop making them, but would the Puma be $60,000 better? The 2.2 has more torque and the six speed box, so should be better for towing, also warranty, ABS, ETC etc.

I am in two minds, as mine has been so reliable with all the abuse I have thrown at it, with only a water pump and the bearings in 5th gear needing replacement, and with some upgrades would live on for many years at a much lower cost, but new seats and headlining, better aircon and less body squeaks may be tempting.

Jeff

:rocket:

[PAT303]

I'm in the same boat,my Tdi has 468,000k's of abuse so I bought a TDCi,my Tdi will get money thrown at it next year,new Transfer case,rotors/pads,seats,tyres and a good tune to keep it going,I'm going to buy a disco sport as our family vehicle but the Tdi needs to earn it's living for another year or two as we are renovating our house.I would make the decision based on how long you want to keep the Tdi,as a tow vehicle a late model D3 would be better. Pat

[Devans]

Rebuild.

You know your 300tdi. It'll be way cheaper to rebuild it, take a week off, start at one end and work your way to the other.

300 tdi is a nice simple engine that's relatively easy to fix on the side of the road with a socket set.

Although saying that I have no idea what the puma is like as I have never driven one... :angel:

[Turtle130]

We were in the exact same position, until we went for a puma test drive. Bugger, after that there was no turning back....new one arriving shortly.:)

[MLD]

Jeff,

There is no doubt the Puma is a nicer environment to drive in. Looks and feels modern (relatively speaking). I like the gearbox and the factory Puma engine produces a more linear torque band than my old TD5. The TD5 was nothing then all hell breaks loose.

As for numbers you might be surprised. A true comparison is to calculate the interest payments on a new truck say over a 5 year loan plus depreciation plus insurance versus the cost of an overhaul of the 300tdi plus depreciation plus insurance. For the 300tdi depreciation is taken from the market value post overhaul. Most other expenses rego, servicing, fuel, etc neutralise each other. Insuring a 300tdi is cheaper than the new vehicle and if you finance then insurance is a condition of the loan.

Get a few interest rate quotes and plug the rate from the lender you are most likely to use into a home loan interest calculator that the banks offer on their website. I suspect that an overhaul of the 300tdi will be cheaper mainly because of depreciation. But the difference may be sufficiently small to warrant a new truck.

If you test drive the Puma you will find a way to justify the new truck, nature of the beast within.

MLD

[n plus one]

I have a 98 Defender 110 I have had since new and we have had 330,000 happy km together. It is getting old and is in need of some money spent on it, it probably won't do another 330,000 as it is. I was considering upgrades like a VNT and intercooler upgrade, as I tow a lot and need more more power, but should probably either rebuild the engine, new big ends etc, or get a new short motor from the UK before squeezing more power from it.

I have wifey convinced we need to buy a new one before they stop making them, but would the Puma be $60,000 better? The 2.2 has more torque and the six speed box, so should be better for towing, also warranty, ABS, ETC etc.

I am in two minds, as mine has been so reliable with all the abuse I have thrown at it, with only a water pump and the bearings in 5th gear needing replacement, and with some upgrades would live on for many years at a much lower cost, but new seats and headlining, better aircon and less body squeaks may be tempting.

Jeff

:rocket:

Unless you sufficiently value the (material but not enormous) creature comforts of a Puma (and I did -hence my 09 110) you'd be better keeping the Tdi.

At the end of the day, a new Puma is still a very similar vehicle to what you already have (that's the beauty of the Defender!) and you can get an awful lot of upgrades/reliability for a lazy $20k!

[truedogz]

Jeff

I also have worked my way through the same dilemma. The answer will be different depending on the person, condition of the Tdi and intended use.

I picked up my Tdi at about 220,000 km and now it is pushing 550k. Its my only car. I want to semi-retire next year, single and will live in the country so inclined to have a second car.

My options were maintain the Tdi and get a jap sedan for running around, get a puma defender for perceived longevity or go to town and do up the Tdi. I like the Tdi and can fix some things when they go wrong. I was put off by the cost of the puma, the fact that as it ages the electric windows etc will go wrong, etc.

In the end I bought a second Tdi in good order with only 260k on the clock and plan to spend 5 to 10 grand on it getting it to high standard.

The mileage on your motor is not high if you have looked after it. My mechanic checked my bore and big ends at 450k and they were 'beautiful'. He looks after quite a number of tdis with over 600k on the clock that have not been rebuilt.

Your big issue will be the transmission. Things that failed for me related to the engine were water & oil pumps, hose failure & alternator bearing failure - all preventable. I have had the injection pump overhauled.

If your bulkhead and body are in good nick I'd think about keeping the Tdi. As a vehicle for towing boats a Td5 or puma might be better.

Best Wishes

Will

[truedogz]

As an afterthought aren't the 98 Tdi engines the ones that have had a few big end issues?

If you are seriously contemplating keeping and doing up the Tdi get a good mechanic to drop the sump and look at the big ends. It will give a good indication of the overall condition of the engine and help inform your decision.

Will

[PAT303]

Try doing some sums,a new Tdi will cost you 8 grand,a VNT another 2.5 Grand plus exhaust,a clutch,gearbox and Transfer another 3 grand plus all the extra's,another few grand,it starts adding up and you still won't have the low first gear all 4wds need unless you do the MT 82 conversion,another couple of grand.I'd clean up the Tdi and keep it and buy a good second hand TDCi with Dealer service history. Pat

[isuzurover]

....I'd clean up the Tdi and keep it and buy a good second hand TDCi with Dealer service history. Pat

I cannot see any logic in that. Why keep a vehicle that probably won't get used.

[PAT303]

Because he said he wanted to keep it. Pat

[Jeff]

Both my kids want the TDi, so might keep it, even if I get a new one. Not going to buy second hand after my fiasco with the D2.

Jeff

:rocket:

[PAT303]

Take one for a test drive with whatever your towing hooked up,you'll never go back to a Tdi or Td5. Pat

[Trout]

Well I kept my 98 tdi and got a puma. I have spent a lot recently on my tdi which I have had from new. It's only done about 260k and the to do list does not seem to get any shorter. :( I reckon my repair costs would easily add up to more than 10k in the two years. I reckon it will need another 5k to get it really sorted. I do most work myself and this cost does not include any fancy gear other than a long range tank when I replaced a leaking std tank and some aftermarket aircon to replace the stuffed original. VNT, some new wheels, etc and you could easily spend another 5 - 10k. That's getting pretty close to puma money. The tdi is slow, noisy and not very reliable but I love it. The puma is comfortable, fast, quiet, (relatively) and reliable. But......you will find it listed in the markets section ;)

I must admit that am still thinking about selling them both and getting one of the last Pumas.:angel:

[PAT303]

Funny you say that,I was thinking of selling both of mine and getting a disco sport and 130. Pat

[Jeff]

After reading similar threads to this one on this and other forums, I went and put a deposit on a new one. I wont see it until April, as they only had metallic painted alloy wheel shod flash ones in stock. I wanted plain white with steel wheels and was prepared to wait. :D

My TDi I just took on a trip to Perth towing my 1200 ish kg trailer, 9000km with only a weep from the oil cooler fittings in the new radiator. Never missed a beat. :)

Jeff

:rocket:

[VladTepes]

It's academic for me as I can't afford a Puma BUT I can justify work on the Tdi based on this same reasoning -


Unless you sufficiently value the (material but not enormous) creature comforts of a Puma (and I did -hence my 09 110) you'd be better keeping the Tdi.

At the end of the day, a new Puma is still a very similar vehicle to what you already have (that's the beauty of the Defender!) and you can get an awful lot of upgrades/reliability for a lazy $20k!


and I'll bet most Tdi's will still be going after the TDCi's have given up the ghost......

[PAT303]

Of coarse they will :eek:. Pat