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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8030

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
noisy not that bad, colder yes certainly in that it take longer to warm up the engine and longer to heat the interior in the td5 i rarely turned it down from max in the winter in the tdci its never been upto max (heat and fan that is) Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #7016 8th Feb 2009 3:48pm
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Setok



Member Since: 16 Jan 2009
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 422

Finland 
jst wrote:
noisy not that bad, colder yes certainly in that it take longer to warm up the engine and longer to heat the interior in the td5 i rarely turned it down from max in the winter in the tdci its never been upto max (heat and fan that is)


I don't actually necessarily mind if it takes a bit longer to warm up. But wouldn't want to drive several hundred KMs freezing. But if it does heat up OK, then that's fine.

Dying to get a drive in a TD5 to see what it's actually like. It appeals to me somehow.
Post #7019 8th Feb 2009 4:52pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8030

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
they just take longer to warm up (coolant wise) once warm you will need the heater on full to maintain any heat in the vehicle though with the TDCi it copes on fan 1 at half temp with ease. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #7020 8th Feb 2009 4:56pm
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Setok



Member Since: 16 Jan 2009
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 422

Finland 
heaters
I've also read that the problem with older Defenders is that actually the heaters are adequate, but the cables are often adjusted wrong, or the heater is blocked or is not sealed properly.
Post #7021 8th Feb 2009 5:17pm
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Pob



Member Since: 23 Jan 2009
Location: Midlands
Posts: 119

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Rimini Red
I had two TD5 Defenders as company cars and one privately and drove a lot of miles in them - about 1000 miles a week on average and I would say my TDCi is a lot nicer to drive. It is a lot quieter and smoother to drive, it sits on a dual carriageway or motorway at 70mph making the same noise as a TD5 makes at 50 mph. TD5's have that rattle to their engine note which gets really tiresome on long journeys - obviously this is all just my opinion Embarassed

I think to some up main improvements that I like are :-

quieter, smoother, nice dash, good heater, better gear change and lighter clutch

I don't like the low first gear, 2nd is too tall unless you are on a slight incline so end up using first but always runs out of steam as soon as you put your foot down - you will never win the traffic light grand prix Mr. Green
Post #7024 8th Feb 2009 5:47pm
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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5035

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
Pob wrote:
you will never win the traffic light grand prix Mr. Green


Oh you can Shocked Mike
Post #7025 8th Feb 2009 7:00pm
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Richo



Member Since: 24 Nov 2008
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 10

United Kingdom 
Having read all the posts and being an owner of a td5 i seem to remember all this in's and out's of weather to go for a tdi or a td5.Lots of people said that tdi's were easyer to live with and the td5 will break down in the middle of nowhere and you would need a laptop to fix etc...
I think the newer tdci is going to do alot of things better due to the fact the td5 high lighted the defenders short comings.
I have'nt driven the new defender yet and i would probally like it more than my td5 but i still love every thing about my defender ,and it all boils down to how much you have in the bank.
I read a piece on the td5 engine and it said that the td5 was last ture engine that land rover ever made and they were developing it just after the 200tdi came out and that was long before bmw was about. Defenders are like tea bags they let the water flow though.
Post #7121 10th Feb 2009 9:17pm
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gtveloce65



Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 107

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Epsom Green
I've had both, and I would say the Td5 with standard gearing and no added sound-proofing is 'acceptably' noisy up to 50 mph, but i found it hard to live with at motorway speeds - 600 mile round trip to Cornwall with plenty of M27, A38 and A30 dual carriageway was VERY tiring - as were the passenger complaints. Loved the style of the old dash and the bulkhead vents, though. For comparison, based on my views, the Tdci is much easier to live with:

- much quieter, especially around 70mph - 6 speed gearbox and quieter engine
- Far better heating, hotter and easier to control - recently extensively tested!!
- Far better A/C layout, though little used as purchased Tdci last October - also, doesn't take up the passenger footwell, isn't aimed at your knees!
- Lighter clutch
- Better seats, especially for passengers - second row moved back and downwards a little too, giving a bit more leg room

Drawbacks?

- I think the front seat backs may be a little thicker - it feels to me as if there is slightly less leg room for the driver (and it wasn't good in he TD5...). But I'm sure the door 'cards' are the same as before, so what little elbow room there is may be the same
- Bigger 2nd row seats further back = less cargo space, and you can't store as much underneath them
- only seats 7
- cargo space seats do take up a lot of room - I'll probably have to remove mine, the Td5 was more flexible

I liked my old Td5 with it's traditional dash, vents and bonnet, but the Tdci gets the thumbs up from the whole family, which is a real consideration!! 1953 80
1965 Alfa Romeo GT Veloce Sprint
1980 Fiat 124 Spider
2008 110xs
Post #7202 12th Feb 2009 2:44pm
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Setok



Member Since: 16 Jan 2009
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 422

Finland 
Soundproofing
Any experience in how difficult and effective it would be to add decent soundproofing for a TD5?

And yeah, agree on the traditional dash and vents, which I think I would really appreciate.
Post #7205 12th Feb 2009 3:02pm
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gtveloce65



Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 107

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Epsom Green
The last Land Rover I soundproofed was a Series 2a!! Smile I imagine there was already some soundproofing in the 110 XS I had, though there was nothing under the bonnet (nor is there in the Tdci) , so maybe that would improve things with vents and windows open? eg, http://www.noisekiller.co.uk/sound_proofing_vehicles_01.php

I don't have to do any regular or heavy towing, so I'd probably have looked into a transfer gear change to reduce the revs if I'd kept the Td5 - I think there are others on this forum who have more knowledge in that area then me... 1953 80
1965 Alfa Romeo GT Veloce Sprint
1980 Fiat 124 Spider
2008 110xs
Post #7207 12th Feb 2009 3:27pm
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TDfive



Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: somerset
Posts: 51

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Java Black
i've had my 56 bplate td5 for 8months now i love it to bits! would not part with it recently had to take it to the stealers for warranty work.
had to have a puma for 2 days , then another 2 days Mad after the first hour i hated the thing .
the new dash is nice if you are verticly challenged i'm 6'2" and in my td5 i put the seat second from last notch from the back then recline the back up against the bulkhead , in the puma if i do that my knees are rammed up against the dash Sad
and as for the gearbox no wonder they've had problems with um ! think i wore out the 1 i had dragging a big ivor williams trailer through dorset with our trialer on it up and down the box all the time mine would have been happy to tow that with about a third of the changes
heater was better thats about the only thing that i think is an improvement
if ya close yer eyes it sounds and feels like you are driving a transit (let 2 freinds have a drive of it (on a private road) and both said the same (without me saying my views before hand ) -------------------------------------------------------
05 110 crew cab td5
1987 90 tc TD/200TDI DISCO CONVERTION
Post #8585 18th Mar 2009 11:44pm
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alantd



Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1513

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
Setok - from your questions it sounds like you'd really prefer to have the Td5.

I loved my Td5. it was absolutely fine up to around 50 or 60. Conversations became a bit more difficult after that. The heating and cooling were terrible - it would eventually get up to temperature but in the mean time I'd end up with my hands competing with each other for the one, puny, air vent by the windscreen.

The agricultural flaps for cooling are certainly a talking point and I was sorry to see them go on the TDCi but I've not really missed them in 15 months of driving. The air-con works perfectly well (again, unlike the TD5).

You can fit an after-market stereo to either so I wouldn't worry about the differences there (although the TDCi works more effectively as standard).

Although the gear change is more slick in the TDCi, neither are as good as a modern car so you'll have to get used to them both. I never struggled in the Td5 to make changes and the higher first gear seemed to make more sense. I do prefer having a rev counter in the TDCi (although some people have fitted these after-market to the Td5).

Can you live with the TD5. Absolutely. I did high mileage on motorways with my then pregnant wife without any problems. Now we have a 2-year old, I prefer the TDCi (it's our family car).

Are you considering a 110 or a 90. I'd say the differences are greater in the 110 because it is more likely to be used as a family car and also the second row of seats are much better in the TDCi (they are truly rubbish in the Td5 and before).

If you want a utility truck for off-road adventures and motorway journeys to get there, a Td5 90 will be an excellent choice. If you want a family wagon that will be used on long journeys then a TDCi 110 is the better choice.

I've had both. I've loved both. I have a 110 TDCi now and I believe it is the right vehicle for my needs. One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS
+ New Defender 110 First Edition
Post #8595 19th Mar 2009 10:51am
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Setok



Member Since: 16 Jan 2009
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 422

Finland 
alantd, it wouldn't be a family vehicle in the sense that we don't have kids, but used for long trips around (and in winter), with cats and gear. Some offroading for sure, but not just as an offroading toy. I think I'd go for a 110 because, even if we don't normally need the rear seat, it would offer the option of bringing friends too (plus cats might be happier in boxes on rear seat).
Post #8601 19th Mar 2009 12:56pm
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alantd



Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1513

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
It sounds like the 110 is definitely the right choice for touring with.

If the rear seats aren't going to be used frequently then I reckon you'll be happy with either the Td5 or the TDCi.

ENGINE:

I wouldn't get hung up on whether the TDCi has a 'real' Land Rover engine compared with the Td5. The question is "does it work well in a Land Rover?". The LR guys have done significant work on the TDCi engine and although it shares significant parts with the Transit unit it is designed to work well with the Defender.

Without any data to back this up, I suspect that the Td5 is more bullet-proof than the TDCi and the Tdi is more bullet-proof than both of them. However, the Td5 and particularly the Tdi are older and simpler. They are less refined. less powerful and more polluting (even though they get higher mpg). They are also mated to more agricultural transmissions.

REST OF THE PACKAGE

For touring, I don't think there's much in it. They are both equally good off road (although the TDCi has a slightly more advanced anti-stall) and you can fit the same stuff to them.

On road, the TDCi will be slightly easier to live with. The revised spring rates, extra torque, extra gear and smoother transmission will mean it is more relaxing to drive. That said, if you're in the mindset for adventure then the Td5 is perfectly adequate on the motorway. Both will leave you smiling when you drive them.

If you get a late Td5, the front seats will be pretty good (I'm not sure - they might even be the same). Make sure you get the cold climate pack that adds heated seats and - more importantly - a heated front windscreen.

You'll suffer the cold in the mornings whilst the Td5 warms up and it'll struggle in really cold temperatures to keep you as warm (especially if you're getting in and out - where it'll lose all its heat and have to warm up again) and it is debatable whether the air-con is even worth having on the Td5 (especially if there are 2 of you as it takes up a significant amount of the passenger's already limited leg room).

The rest of the dash is personal preference. I like the TDCi's dashboard - particularly the rev counter - but it wont affect the competence of the car for your purposes. I assume you can get a Td5 cheaper than a TDCi so that 's worth considering. However, with the TDCi you get LR assist for 3 years and a warranty.

CONCLUSION


Swings & roundabouts I'm afraid. There is no right answer. If you want a Td5 - get one, you'll love it. If you want the TDCi - do the same.

I'd try and take a Td5 for a spin if I were you - that way you'll know for sure. Good luck One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS
+ New Defender 110 First Edition
Post #8605 19th Mar 2009 2:27pm
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Setok



Member Since: 16 Jan 2009
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 422

Finland 
Well, it seems like I'll get a chance to try a TD5 van in a while, so I can get back to you all then.

Money is obviously a concern and a second hand TD5 is much more in my potential range right now, if i reckon I can live with it. Winter temperatures in Finland can reach -15C to -20C in the south, and even -30 or less up north. Something to consider, and I think many here have added supplementary heaters to TD5s. As mentioned, it's not the heating up period that concerns me as much as freezing for 300km...

You're right about the aircon. I never felt any real need to have that. Summer can be hot, of course, but I reckon opening a vent would do the job OK as we're not driving through Africa. In pictures the aircon does seem to take up a lot of space.
Post #8657 20th Mar 2009 3:07pm
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