130 Owners are you happy?

Have just upgraded from a 2.4 Puma 110 to 2.2 130 and am very happy.

I had an excellent run from the 110 with lots of remote trips and it never let me down in the 3 years I had it. Ultimately it was just a bit small for what I wanted so upgraded to the 130. Am loving the 2.2 and whilst defenders are not for everyone, I find mine very comfortable for touring although the A/C does struggle a bit once the mercury is above about 42.

As we are only 2, there is no need for the rear seats and once removed, the additional space is gigantic. I currently have a 40L Engel sitting parallel to the door behind the passenger seat and access is really good!

I would disagree with Jason on one point....the 130 does not have a turning circle, it has a turning arc but you soon become the master of 3 and 5 point turns in shopping centres :D

I had a 1995 110 for 10 years and two 130's over the last couple of years. The 130 rides far better over corrugations, and uneven ground, is better offroad (due to the longer wheel base the front wheels are already through the obstacle before the rears drop in), they have a higher GVM than the 110's, and more load space.

Re buying a new one - 6 speeds and and better aircon would be nice, but I don't need all the extra excitement the newer machines seem to bring. 1995 is the best year in my opinion. The tdi 130's have the chassis rails laminated top and bottom the full length of the vehicle, Salisbury rear diff etc

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Originally Posted by newhue

yeh Depends on you intended use.

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Towing, general carting, grandkids bikes etc,etc. Would still keep my wife's 11 year old Holden.
landychris

Nugget, regarding air conditioning. I am going to do some homework this year onto seeing if the air con can have another thermostat fitted, probably from a Freelander. Agree it does seem to struggle a bit driving into the sun or really on hot days.
For now cranking it up to 2 or 3 seems to work. But hopefully the Defer can match a Freelanders 16 deg.

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Originally Posted by nugge t

Have just upgraded from a 2.4 Puma 110 to 2.2 130 and am very happy.

I had an excellent run from the 110 with lots of remote trips and it never let me down in the 3 years I had it. Ultimately it was just a bit small for what I wanted so upgraded to the 130. Am loving the 2.2 and whilst defenders are not for everyone, I find mine very comfortable for touring although the A/C does struggle a bit once the mercury is above about 42.

As we are only 2, there is no need for the rear seats and once removed, the additional space is gigantic. I currently have a 40L Engel sitting parallel to the door behind the passenger seat and access is really good!

I would disagree with Jason on one point....the 130 does not have a turning circle, it has a turning arc but you soon become the master of 3 and 5 point turns in shopping centres :D

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Same as my slow 6cyl 2a wagon then with no power steering:o
landychris

16? brrrrrrrrrrrr.

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Originally Posted by danialan

I had a 1995 110 for 10 years and two 130's over the
Re buying a new one - 6 speeds and and better aircon would be nice

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Never had air:( my 110 was a build date of 95 and had to wait six months to get it, reg in Aus 96)
landychris

We have had our 130 for 16 years now and it will stay with the family for many generations hopefully.
Never let us down on long trips, and has been the only vehicle I can sit behind the wheel for 8 hours without back pain.
Fantastic for towing, economical, plenty of room for the family, and will go anywhere.
Over the years I have pulled out a bogged forklift truck a Land Cruiser and never once has the 130 struggled. The long wheel base seems to provide a good foot print in difficult terrain.
Turning circle is a bit wide, but hey she gets there eventually.

hmmm , I'd better order mine soon , before the rush......

I have never had a 110 wagon but have owned both 110 and 130 utes (Tdi engines). I first had a 110, then a 130, then a disco (boring) and when the time came I bought another 130. So yeah, I prefer the 130. And yes I'm happy !

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Originally Posted by nugge t

I would disagree with Jason on one point....the 130 does not have a turning circle, it has a turning arc

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I think of it more as an orbit.....