My wife wants to know.....

[78RRman]

As I've just purchased a new defender as a daily drive my wife was wondering how many other women drive the defer every day. she also wants to know how heavy the clutch is and didn't really want to drive it in the city on the test drive. She's 5'3 and petite. I had a 94 tray for a work truck so I didn't even think about it when I drove it. She loved the manual 88 classic I had and I think the clutch was lighter in the puma. I think she'll be fine just got the pre delivery jitters and maybe a little misinformed information from some non land rover folk.

[Tombie]

Very easy for her I'd expect

[78RRman]

That's what I think from the test it seemed really good to drive but I have to admit I was in I want one mode and looked a little like

[Chops]

My daughter has driven mine and thinks its heavy, however, with a new licience at 18, she has nothing to really compare it to, other than a little Fiesta (at the time) I don't think it's much to go by. Her cars clutch is sooo light I stall it because I can't feel it.
I think your wife will be fine with it, I reckon it's (the defender) light compared to some 4x4's I've driven.

[Nera Donna]

My wife test drove a Defender prior to me ordering mine and said it was OK to drive. (used to drive the wheels off my 92 4.5ltr Patrol wagon) Once I got it she flat refused to drive it, too slow, it feels like a truck blah, blah, blah four years later she is still not interested. Consequently my 2008 Puma only has 20,500km on it from new. My gain, her loss

[dullbird]

I used mine as a daily driver for about 2 yrs.. They do feel heavy at first but I guarantee after 3 days of driving she won't notice it.

It's not a big car to drive so she should be fine in the city...I'm sure once she drives it and gets used to sitting in a commanding position where she can see all around her she will love it.

If you want to show her how light it is get her a drive in another members 200/300 tdi for comparisson she will think its feather light.

I now drive a hilux daily for work purposes and although its quite and quick I would have the defender back in a heart beat

[Witchdoctor]

My wife drives our 90 Puma every day, its not like her last daily drive (Ford Courier 4x4) but has no problems with it, in-fact i have to prise the keys from her if i want to drive it. She loves it!

Cheers
David

[n plus one]

As I've just purchased a new defender as a daily drive my wife was wondering how many other women drive the defer every day. she also wants to know how heavy the clutch is and didn't really want to drive it in the city on the test drive. She's 5'3 and petite. I had a 94 tray for a work truck so I didn't even think about it when I drove it. She loved the manual 88 classic I had and I think the clutch was lighter in the puma. I think she'll be fine just got the pre delivery jitters and maybe a little misinformed information from some non land rover folk.

My wife doesn't drive the Puma everdya, but only coz' it's not a daily driver But she's happy to drive it any time - fair enough she's a fair bit bigger than your wife, but it's hard to see how any body who has a bit of mechanical sympathy (i.e. can work with an agricultural driveline) would have any dramas driving one?

No clutch is likely to require more than 20kg of force to activate and I assume you wife probably weighs more than twice that much and can stand up from the sofa? At least it's got power steering - that could be a deal breaker with a set of wide muds fitted!

[scarry]

The first time my wife went to take the sons Puma somewhere,she couldn't work out where the ignition key went,so it went nowhere.

Once we got that sorted she actually didn't mind it,no complaints at all.

But she does prefer an auto.

[78RRman]

*78RRMANS WIFE HERE* (yep I hacked his profile)

Thanks for the replies I'm liking what I'm reading. I think I will be fine like he said I drove the RR fine I loved it actually and he says to me it's easier than that. I regret that I didn't take it for a run when we were in Melbourne but 1. We had 4 kids with us inc a newborn at the time so was pretty hectic and 2. I had not driven a manual for about 18mths and am not a city gal at all and hate driving up there period let alone in a car I'm unfamiliar with and having not driven a manual for over a year!!!
Mum is freaking out at some of the reviews and then I went googling and some of the reviews are rubbish but I was expecting it when comparing it to other modern 4wd's. then I came across another post in another forum of owners saying how heavy the clutch is ect and that the no good for daily use (males I might add) and I got worried but am feeling more reassured now so thanks.

Jas

(Sorry darling )