 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > Hi there . first post. Thoughts on new Defender as main car |
 
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069  
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Robbie,
Welcome to the forum ! As an every day car they are ok depending on the type of driving you do ... if it's congested London after a while the novelty will wear off - it's not an auto ... although a conversion is possible Cruise control is also available as an after market add-on (mobilecentre.co.uk) But leaving your land rover in the wilderness for a couple of days might be an issue if you want to drive back in it. They are easy to break into, and easy to pinch if left in an isolated spot .. trackers, physical deterrents are available but if you can live with the above ... they are great cars and will serve you well ! |
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14th Sep 2013 10:19am |
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| MartyM Member Since: 25 Aug 2013 Location: Belfast Posts: 17  
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Hi Robby
I have returned to the defender fold after 4 years in a Range Rover. I have pulled out all the seats, carpet, headlining etc, and am getting it soundproofed, and putting better seats in. I have also added back in some RR niceties such as reversing camera, satnav, steering wheel that is smaller than a bus wheel. Also a wee remap and an intercooler upgrade. It is still in the workshop, but will be my daily driver. I'm looking forward to getting it back. There is a reason why RangeRovers cost 3 times more 
For everyone it is a bit different. I am expecting similar MPG. More bumpy. More noisey. More fun. More likely to be invited out of junctions. More appropriate for dirty spaniel, guns, fishing rods, barbed wire, bags of wheat etc. at the weekend. I have had 90s and 110s before as daily drivers and they were grand. Turning circle on the 110 is vast, and you need to plan your overtaking a bit in advance. I need to address the security aspects of it yet as BPMan says. Too easy to break into and to drive off in. I am looking at a security drawer for firearms, cartridges etc and some additional simple immobilisation. Enjoy it. M |
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14th Sep 2013 10:39am |
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| jimbob7 Member Since: 06 Jul 2013 Location: uk Posts: 2055 |
You really have to "want" a Defender,if your really only interested in quiet,refined transport look else where,but if you want an icon that isn't boring to drive (you will always have summut to moan about at the end of your journey,lol) then get a Defender,as for fuel economy,don't expect to get above 30mpg that often,to maximise economy your looking at 50-60mph on the motorway,start doing 70mph and your gonna be hitting very low 20's mpg.BTW, mine's (TD5) the only mode of transport,but I don't do mega miles either.Make sure you research them carefully,don't want you being disappointed when the dealer tow's you in 2 days after you bought it,lol.
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14th Sep 2013 10:46am |
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| tookaphotoof Member Since: 18 Mar 2013 Location: dordrecht Posts: 1279  
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Not sure if my input is worth anything at all as people already thought I was a complete fool, driving a Caterham as a daily and roofless and doorless through winter / snow / etc...
Anyways, I use a 130 as a daily drive for work and family. Bought it new and it seems reliable to me so far. Wouldn't want to trade it for anything else. It's slow, noisy, forget u turns on smaller roads and it's a nightmare to park in busy cities I visit regularly. But.. That adds to the fun if you ask me! 
Unless you can't live with the noisy interior, I'd say go for it. You won't regret it. Forgot to mention, fuel consumption will never be its strongest point... |
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14th Sep 2013 10:55am |
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| a13x Member Since: 25 Sep 2011 Location: Burton on Trent Posts: 553
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I drive both a RR and 110. For 99% of the time the RR will do everything better. Comfort, quieter, warm, better security and on... However I think you have to want a defender and be apart of its history to really enjoy it.
I sometimes spend a week solely in the defender and then get in the RR and wonder why I even have the 110 as the RR is so much nicer to be in. Then I see that the defender has so much more soul and character. If it wasn't for me wanting to prep the 110 as an expedition car then I probably wouldn't have it. That said I have less worry when driving the defender, without fear of damaging panels or kerbing wheels. |
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14th Sep 2013 10:59am |
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| Shep Member Since: 02 Sep 2013 Location: Pwhelli Posts: 88 
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I've been making the same decision, my Landcruiser was great, did everything really well but lacked any real character and was bit too similar to my last 4x4 (a 3.0 surf, that i loved) So i never felt that settled with the Toyota.
I've always loved the look of the Defender, tough no nonsense build that can still be worked on by me and in fact that it needs work by me, made it attractive. It is my everyday drive i still have the LC5 for now and i do swap between them, but the defender makes me smile, the turning circle makes me laugh out loud at times, the Land Cruiser will be up for sale next week, the Land Rover is staying 
Mine's a 2.4 and is OK for longer journeys, it can hussell along at 70-80 but thats missing the point really, i do 300 miles every other week twice, and i know from experience 60-65 is the best speed for me, you still cover the miles but at a much better MPG you arrive fresher and over 300 miles you only loose 10-15 minutes max. Good luck Shep A man with no boat is a prisoner |
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14th Sep 2013 11:01am |
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| wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2098 
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Hi Robbie
Welcome to the Forum lots of questions so here are my thoughts ... 1 - what do you think of the Defender for a main daily car? my defender is my main car - I cover about 20k miles a year of private mileage and have only owned defenders for the last 18yrs.... as mentioned above - its all about taste and compromise, put up with the niggles and accept the short comings and you will reap the benefits 2 - How do you find it on long drives? we have driven ours to Norway and back and Venice and back - both trips covering over 2k miles in 3 weeks and have no issues - I think that driving distances is not so much an issues rather an attitude - one thing is to be relaxed and not be in a hurry - but that goes with any car. and as above - you wil arive in better shape but only a few mins later than if you raced there! 3 - Do you find the noise and heavy gear changing tiring after a while? (I drive from London to Scotland twice a year). I drive to Scotland for work every now and then and to be honest once you are on the motorways you rarely change gears, so its not a problem at all. nice thing is that there are very few drivers tail gaiting you to go faster when you are in a 110 ! 4 - What sort of MPG do you get from the 110 2.2l? I've got the 2.4, with roof rack and heaps of stuff in the back all the time, but am not a fast driver and don’t race away from the junctions. pre BAS remap I was getting about 25-27 MPG, now after BAS remap I get about 30-32 mpg with the same driving style, I do country roads at home in Cornwall, motorways to London and city driving in London every month. I have a plan to fit a cruise control later in the year which may help improve the MPG as well 5 - Is there any way to maximise the MPG by tuning, or is it just about driving carefully? I would recommend both. if you are used to city sprints to the lights then the defender is not going to be very good for your MPG, so use the torque and not the revs to move the vehicle. I tend to keep below 2k revs most of the time, but give it a 'blast' to keep everything clean every now and then. having a remap will help with the low end torque and driveability of the motor, allowing higher gears to be used earlier in the rev band thus improve your mpg, and there are some of the best landrover remap people in the UK on here and I would recommend any of them (I've got a BAS one and its superb!) 6 - how do you hide valuables or luggage . I have a 'full' tint to the passenger, rear and load area windows that have been approved by the insurance company for my partners camera gear as they are impossible to see into from out side. we cover over things that are visible from the front if need be. other options are a simple pair of bungee cords across the back of the seats and across the back door with some dark material to make a simple boot cover if needed. hope that helps Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126  Last edited by wyvern on 14th Sep 2013 12:34pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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14th Sep 2013 11:44am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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Defenders as a daily drive? YES!
Have done 600 miles in one day, OK that was pushing it on number of hours but is doable. Often do 250-400 miles a day no problem. Great vehicle as long as you do not expect RR comfort, quietness etc. Brendan |
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14th Sep 2013 11:52am |
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| bm52 Member Since: 04 Apr 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 2189 
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I agree with wyvern and leeds, I use a matt black cloth to cover stuff if left in the back. I have travelled all over the place in mine.
I did three main things to make mine the daily drive, insulation, upgrade hi fi and conversion to auto. When travelling on M ways it is an easy cruise at 70.but keeps trying to make me cruise at 80, thanks BAS, the trick is to relax and not rush. I drive mine suited and booted to the office every day about 25 miles each way. Previous cars include FL, Audi, Volvo etc but I much prefer the casual ease of the Defender and do not worry about scratching alloys etc as they are rugged vehicles. Even converted my wife and without much effort. As said above it is also a state of mind thing and a RR depreciates about the worth of a new Defender quite quickly so you save hard earned cash as well. Win.....win IMHO BM52 |
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14th Sep 2013 12:22pm |
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| Cakey Member Since: 19 Feb 2013 Location: Cheshire Posts: 468 
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Funny enough I came from disco 3 to Rr sport to ff to defender .
It is a love hate relationship. Noise is the most annoying thing. Nk and engine blanket help. |
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14th Sep 2013 2:01pm |
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| Mynstral Member Since: 14 Feb 2012 Location: Essex Posts: 119 
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Hi there Robbie. As above all good points, but if you don't need 7 seats go for a Utility. No rear glass except for rear door.
Myn. Smoke me a kipper I'll be back for breakfast. |
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14th Sep 2013 2:55pm |
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| Sockpuppet Member Since: 17 Sep 2011 Location: Leicester Posts: 479
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If you road noise gets to you you can just turn the stereo up
 |
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14th Sep 2013 3:07pm |
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| familymad Member Since: 13 Dec 2011 Location: Bucks Posts: 3479 
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We had a TDCi 110 as everyday and it was our first Defender. Wife took 2 weeks to 'get it' and now would drive anything else. Wind in the steering lock stops and get a better turning circle.
Have a 90 as my everyday and love it. Made us laugh lots last night as I got a wet foot driving to see friends in the rain!? We have ordered another 110 and the kids are whining that's its not coming quick enough. 1951 80" S1 2.0 1995 110 300TDI 1995 90 300TDI |
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14th Sep 2013 3:38pm |
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| BigWheels Member Since: 21 Mar 2010 Location: Somerset Posts: 1405 
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If you ever do/did motobikes, RR to Defender is like Honda's Gold Wing to Harley Davidson. Land Rover Defenders. 67 years heritage, minimal appearance changes, still going strong all over the world. Not a fashion vehicle, but fashionable to own. Made for the needy, not the greedy. Ta ta Defender
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14th Sep 2013 3:39pm |
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