The Three 110s

[jimr1]

At the moment I still have 3 110s The last is a 2015 , Puma . Parked next to It is my td5 extreme . So i can't help compare these two Defender to each other . They are so different , in so many ways . It's not just engines and gearboxes , Ok there improvement in rear seats , but at a cost to space . There is a better dash but less space as well . The list is very long on the pros and cons . There are so many things I like about the Extreme , but there are also many about the Puma . What a pity , they couldn't get the good from both and put them together . As for the County , that is nothing like the other two again . The list is very extensive !!.. Jim :)

[ozscott]

Yep County is great. Dont try to compare the newer ones. They would blush just being beside her.

Cheers
Ps. On my brother's County his wife unkindly removed the 'o' ....

[steane]

Depends what tickles your fancy, as to which one appeals.

I like the Puma hump, but can't stand the horrible dash (IMO) or the way it drives or should i say needs to be driven to not clunk and carry on.

I like the Puma aircon but would miss the fresh air vents.

Didn't notice much difference with seating.

The big thing for me, is that I struggled to justify spending the money on a new Defender when I recently had the choice. It's just not the safe family car that 50k+ now buys. So for me, it can only be a toy. One to enjoy on 4x4 trips and be a bit selfish about.

With the 300tdi, I love the fact it is older. The drive train isn't dyslexic, the dash is simple and 'right' and it's not trying to be all modern. It's just fun to drive and every trip is an adventure. It's as simple as a brick, and fun to work on.

I have no desire to tour at 130 kmh or tow a three tonne van, there are better cars to do that with than any Defender.

I suspect I will replace my daily driver Grand Vitara with a D90 2.2 in the next year or two, but again, it will be a self indulging toy. The Pajero or something like it will always be the family car.

I'd like a Perentie as well but that's even more of a toy in this day and age. But I have plenty of respect for the lizard.

My son will inherit the 300tdi. Whether he will want it or not is another question...Hopefully he will enjoy it like I do.

Can't imagine not having a Defender now.

[wally]

I've owned Defenders for over twenty years now and in that time I've had 4 300Tdis, 1 Td5, and a 2.2. I've also driven Isuzus, 200Tdis and a 2.4. So here's my summation: I'm impressed with the highway credentials of the 2.2. It's relaxed and quiet on the highway. Not just quiet compared with earlier Defender models but I think it compares favourably with some of the other utes on the market. What I appreciate about that is being able to hear my music. Music's an important part of the driving experience for me, and I was routinely blowing up speakers in my Tdis just having it loud enough to hear over the road noise (with the window down and the vent open, mind you). I like the little tweeter speakers too. I like the Puma dash. The earlier dash was functional enough but there was really nothing to like about the way it appeared to be slapped together with the cheapest materials they could find. I miss the vents but not as much as I thought I would and I do appreciate aircon that works well on all but the hottest of days. I can't think of a reason to own a Td5. There's nothing wrong with them. I liked my Td5. It did everthing that I asked of it, but I wouldn't choose one over a Puma (notwithstanding purchase price). They're a similar drive in some ways, but the Puma does almost everything better. The Puma, annoyingly, has to be driven in a very particular way to avoid clanks and bangs in the driveline whereas the Td5 and everything before it were more forgiving. But the Puma's engine / gearbox combination is superior and more than makes up for it for me. I love Tdis and if I was looking for a vehicle that was to do purely bush work, that's what I would choose (that, or an Isuzu). There's something about the way a Tdi works that's so relaxed and rewarding when engaged in slow bush driving. It's just more forgiving than the others, I suppose, and those same characteristics make it a better drive around town in stop - start traffic. For those who haven't experienced the various Defender models, there really is a huge difference in the driving experience. When I took delivery of my 2.2 I had to learn to drive Defenders all over again. I wasn't prepared for that and at first I thought I'd made a mistake. It took a while, but we've got to know each other now and developed a relationship, and all is well. It's better built than the others, and it's my experience that reliability has improved with each successive model (although obviously that's not everyone's experience). If touring and highway driving are your thing go for a Puma. But if you're mostly just driving around town, or you're getting around in the bush without having to travel great distances, I think you'll get more pleasure out of a Tdi. As for the Td5 - not as forgiving in the bush as a Tdi and not as good on the highway as a Puma. But that doesn't make it bad.

[jimr1]

Hi Wally , To those that don't really know the 110 range . They do look the same . Over the last 30 years just about everything between the first 110 , to the last 110 is different . If you started from the front working to the rear , there would be quite an extensive list as you know . There are a few things they have kept . I suppose shape would be No 1 , plus some other bits , but not to many . Jim :)

[Shingleback]

The best 110? Easy, isuzu county. Massive off idle grunt and simplicity the others can only dream of. BUT, must have good turbo and soundproofing ;)

[DiscoMick]

I vote for the Puma because it has a modern engine and transmission, but is still a Defender. Plus the air con works.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

[justinc]

I drive all types of deafener on a daily basis and yes they are all different, yet the same. My pick has to be the Isuzu . Turboed is a great improvement not just in performance but noise is greatly reduced tdi models are certainly my next favourite with the 300tdi being the pick. (200tdi circa 1994 with rear discs and A/C would be hard to beat however ). Out of the 'electronic age' models i would prefer the 2002 td5. Last with sals diff, dash vents yet a functional pleasant dash with a better A/C than earlier defender. Lastly i agree the 2.2 especially a 2015 model is an improvement on the 2.4 in road manners and seating in all pumas is excellent . Just again too exxy when there is no real safety on offer and not a fan of the so call QC from LR of late...��. BUT. And there is ALWAYS the BUT, in a heartbeat i could give all for a NORFORCE RFSV....