Puma 5 or 7 seats?

[M00nd0ggy]

Hi all,

Finally going to order a defender but my sticking point is whether to get 5 or 7 seats. For the daily drive, I can see 7 being useful for trucking the kids and friends around to sport etc but can see that they would be a waste of space for when we go on trips.

I have seen plenty of posts about people taking theirs out but wanted to see if anyone found them useful at all and how they get around the space problem when going on a trip as I can imagine they would be a pain to remove.

An extra $2k is alot (buys a few accessories:)) for something I will just pull out and never use again.

Thanks

M00nd0ggy

[Scallops]

Hi all,

Finally going to order a defender but my sticking point is whether to get 5 or 7 seats. For the daily drive, I can see 7 being useful for trucking the kids and friends around to sport etc but can see that they would be a waste of space for when we go on trips.

I have seen plenty of posts about people taking theirs out but wanted to see if anyone found them useful at all and how they get around the space problem when going on a trip as I can imagine they would be a pain to remove.

An extra $2k is alot (buys a few accessories:)) for something I will just pull out and never use again.

Thanks

M00nd0ggy

This is the crux of the issue - if you want to set your truck up for touring, a set of drawers to access stuff, a fridge in the back - water tank etc - you wouldn't want a seven seater.

If you want a seven seater - no room for the above.

I reckon it's too much of a pain to chop and change often - so I guess you need to think long and hard about this one. What will be your main use?

One thing to bear in mind is that the 7 seater cannot be organised retrospectively.

For me - there's just Kat and I - we don't even need 5 seats! :)

[M00nd0ggy]

I think I am just trying to please everyone! Bugger the kids.
At the moment it would be a daily driver 90% of the time but wanting to set it up to do a trip around Oz in the next 2 years.
We will be pulling the kids out of school for 6 months and towing our 18ft van around the country side.

Thanks for your comments.

[Scallops]

It's always difficult to apply one's idea's to someone else's situation, but I reckon I'd be leaning towards a 5 seater from what you've said.

Can you ferry the kids around in another vehicle? Or will a 5 seater make things unworkable in your family situation?

If you can get away with having a 5 seater Defender and you want to use it for camping/touring, as you said, the money saved will get you some useful accessories and you will be able to set it up very nicely to do the job. I have Outback drawers in mine - with a 40 l Engel one side and a 70l water tank the other. The drawers give you a flat surface, and allow you to easily get to essential items quickly when needed.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6025/postx.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/i/postx.jpg/)

[M00nd0ggy]

Mate that is the business. 5 seater it is.
Anything you have done/added that, in hindsight, you wouldn't of?

[Scallops]

In hindsight I would have perhaps put in the Black widow drawers rather than the Outbacks - because Black widow they make a cargo barrier to suit their system. That said, Rovercraft are making one for the Outback setup as we speak, so maybe the brand doesn't matter.

[tempestv8]

I would definitely opt for the 7 seater personally, even though there's only me and my wife. This is because I can always remove the seats and if I do want the 7 seats, I can put it back on.

But if I bought a 5 seater, and I have kids, it's difficult to fit the seats and seat belts and be legally allowed to carry that many passengers. Land Rover Defenders are built like meccano sets, so it should be a simple affair to remove the seats, but leave the seat belts in place.

The seat anchors can double up as extra heavy duty tie down points! :p

The beauty of the 3rd row seats is that they will comfortably accomodate adults, unlike other so called 7 seat 4x4s like Land Cruisers and Prados, where only midgets with short legs can fit in the 3rd row seats....

[M00nd0ggy]

Scallops

What other accessories have you got on Grover?

[Scallops]

Gee, 1 or 2... (cut from another previous thread) :D

1) ARB Bullbar
2) Genuine headlight protectors
3) Genuine weathershields
4) Genuine Snorkel
5) Genuine rear worklight
6) Genuine Wingtop checker plate kit (Black)
7) Genuine Sill checker plate kit (Black)
8) OL Steering Guard
9) OL Diff guards
10) Devon 4X4 Handbrake/Transfer Case armour
11) GME 4300 UHF (ALL IN MICROPHONE UNIT)
12) Iridium Sat Phone in car setup
13) GME in car EPIRB
14) 300 W Pure Sine Inverter
14) Traxide Duel Battery Controller
15) 105Ah Commander Gel Deep Cycle battery
16) OL low profile 2m Roof rack
17) OL Rear wheel carrier
18) Outback cargo drawers
19) Rangie Spares 70l water tank
20) OL 45l Aux fuel tank
21) Genuine Tow Bar
22) 40l Engel
23) 5 X Black Dynamic Steel Wheels - 265 75 16 Mickey Thompson MTZ's
24) 2m Hannibal awning
25) 2 X Front rated chassis mounted recovery hooks
26) 1 X Tow bar recovery block and shackle
27) Genuine front mudflaps
28) Michelle Sac seat covers

[M00nd0ggy]

Impressive list mate (sorry should have search other posts)
Sent you a pm

[camel_landy]

Unless you're using the 7 seats, they're a PITA!

That said, in a couple of years time, they might help maintain the residual value if you're selling... but would it be worth the extra $$$???

Personally, I'd probably opt for the 7 seats and then stick them in the garage on the basis that it's "Better to have and not want, rather than want and not have".

M

[dmdigital]

Unless you're using the 7 seats, they're a PITA!

That said, in a couple of years time, they might help maintain the residual value if you're selling... but would it be worth the extra $$$???

Personally, I'd probably opt for the 7 seats and then stick them in the garage on the basis that it's "Better to have and not want, rather than want and not have".

M
That about sums it up nicely. I have the 7 seater, seats are now removed and wrapped up in storage.

I had to get a 7 seater given the time frame I had to get a new vehicle in. Couldn't wait for a 5 seater to become available.

[Sleepy]

Depends what your going to use the vehicle for. I have a 7 seat Disco. We didn't need the extra 2 seats, but it was a good deal.

With 2 teenage kids it has been great for "Mum's Taxi" type operations.

If it is just the one big trip then it is fairly simple to convert to an expedition style vehicle.

However if you are planning to use the vehicle often for camping then as other have said - go the 5 seater.

[spudfan]

Not only are the rear seats very good seats, the seatbelts are proper seatbelts and the whole package is very well fitted. The seats do take up space even well folded due to the fact that they are proper seats not tiny slaps fitted just to make up the numbers.
If you buy them they can be removed-well so I have read on various threads- and the seatbelts left unobtrusively in place. Can't see them being removed and fitted in the blink of an eye so if removed it would need to be for a substantial period to make it worth while. All in all they are a very worth while purchase.
If your vehicle is to be used extensively as a touring/camping vehicle with the rear space needed for all the usual essentials maybe the rear seats are not for you. But it is easier to order the vehicle with them than to go and fit the whole package retrospectively.

[jddisco200tdi]

If the extra seats are to ferry someone elses kids around I would get a 5 seater only.

It will take quite a lot of time to remove seats, install draw system etc, not likely for a weekend trip.

And can you have a cargo barrier installed in seven seater mode ??


Regards

John D - Defender 110 2.4

[dmdigital]

It will take quite a lot of time to remove seats, install draw system etc, not likely for a weekend trip.
Not really takes about 20 minutes to do both.


And can you have a cargo barrier installed in seven seater mode ??
No you are not supposed to have a cargo barrier installed when the seats are in use. Not sure what the rules are if the seats aren't in use though.

[frantic]

Get the 7 seater for 2 reasons:

1: As you said 90% doing family run-around so a couple off spare seats are always handy if you get 1 or 2 littlies on a sleepover or just doing a sports run around.

2:RESALE , unless you plan to keep it forever a person like myself would look at it in a better light( 3 kids under 10 but soon they and their friends legs will be to long for the toy fridge) AKA more $$. Look how many are asking in another post to buy the ones removed.

The bolt holes when you remove the rear seats for the 6 month trip will need to be filled, or you could use them to secure the drawers or attach some tie down straps, just dont remove the seat belts.