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DefenderOfTheEarth

Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1304

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green

Decision time...

Many of you know the issues we've had with our Puma and the comedy "service" received from a main dealer.

Our initial reaction was to get the 110 sorted then move it on, taking a huge financial hit for 11 months ownership. Our faith in both the Used Approved "Promise" and the LR warranty were both seriously tested.

We've done a lot of searching after ruthlessly thinking "what do we actually NEED our 2nd vehicle to do?" we didn't really get all that far. The Skoda Yeti 4x4 (140/170 diesel or the 160bhp petrol) look interesting but space is limited and I doubt I can sling my MTB(s) in the back in one piece or fit wife's 8ft surfboard in (mine will fit in anything!) like we can in the 110. Plus sitting in the back (ours is a 5 seater with a HUGE boot area) on a rainy day with the kids is rather cosy.

The raw figures suggest a pretty hideous wallet bashing for p/xing this for something newer - a half decent Yeti for example (also looked at the X-Trail) is £20k. We'd probably get a tenner for the 110 now.

So now we've had the halfshafts, clutch AND now brake vacuum pump (plus two oil leaks from gasket trouble) is there anything else major that might go pop? There are a few little items that need sorting - a few seals, the turbo hose needs replacing and some other little bits and bobs but nothing that would be crippling. The gearbox is notch from 2nd to 3rd but it's bearable - if it goes it would be about £1500 fitted from our indy (probably an Ashcroft one).

Our major worry is that this Landy was clearly used for heavy towing a lot and that something else might go but the two main "issues" with the early Pumas seem to have been addressed - the clutch made of cheese is now a proper newer one and the vacuum pump that often fails is now the double seal version.

Of course you are all biased towards Landies but what do you think?

We did consider a new one but the figures are just crippling - plus a fair few here seem to have loads of issues with brand new ones too! The reduction in tax would be nice but again, not £15-£18k nice!

Any thoughts? Anyone else had their Landy faith tested?! I'm deeply unimpressed with the original dealer but TBH they've done themselves enough harm already. I won't go into details but trust me on that one. Defender 110XS SW gone... now VW California 180 4 Motion.

19th Oct 2011 11:57am

scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Aintree Green

Given what you've said, unless you spring for a new one I'd keep what you have.... I wouldn't "waste" my money on something else that you clearly don't really want.

19th Oct 2011 12:02pm

JSG

Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

You've been unlucky with the problems you've had and the dealer but to worry because it has been used for heavy towing is not neccessary - that it one of the things they are good at.

I'd keep it - you've lived through the worst and are getting the issues sorted so just find a decent independant for future work and enjoy it. John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS

19th Oct 2011 12:12pm

GREENI

Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10380

Give your 110 a polish and keep it....Snow is on it's way

19th Oct 2011 12:20pm

DefenderOfTheEarth

Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1304

Cheers. I would't mind something with more "modern" power and fuel consumption and the £460 RFL for the Defender is utterly insane but then again it would take a lot of miles on a newer car to recoup the price to change.

Just nervous of another big failure - warranty is up in a month. Defender 110XS SW gone... now VW California 180 4 Motion.

19th Oct 2011 12:25pm

JSG

Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

DefenderOfTheEarth wrote:
I would't mind something with more "modern" power and fuel consumption and the £460 RFL for the Defender is utterly insane

But these are things you'd have known when you bought it and would be the same for any Defender of that age - even a mint, unused one?

If those are an issue then why did you buy a Defender? John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS

19th Oct 2011 12:50pm

pom

Member Since: 01 Jun 2010
Location: Worcester
Posts: 1343

check out a disco3.

Pom

19th Oct 2011 12:52pm

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey

Two things pushed me into premature Defender purchase...

1. The tempting low RFL on the new ones and
2. The end of the 2.4 engine (wanted a new 2.4)

Had this not been the case, I would have run the Disco td5 for a few more years.

Saving best part of £250/year is very tempting, but as others have said, it's along road to get a "return on investment".

My vote = Keep it! Most of the work is already done!

Quote:
Give your 110 a polish and keep it....Snow is on it's way

- learn to love it again!

If you do want something more modern/economical, take a look at the Freelander??? (oops did I swear? better imho than a N-Trail tho)

Photo of N-TRAIL

Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

Last edited by MartinK on 19th Oct 2011 1:03pm. Edited 2 times in total

19th Oct 2011 12:54pm

JSG

Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

pom wrote:
check out a disco3.

Pom

Bear in mind there are some horror stories about D3 relaibility - and RFL isn't any cheaper. John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS

19th Oct 2011 1:01pm

DefenderOfTheEarth

Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1304

JSG wrote:
DefenderOfTheEarth wrote:
I would't mind something with more "modern" power and fuel consumption and the £460 RFL for the Defender is utterly insane

But these are things you'd have known when you bought it and would be the same for any Defender of that age - even a mint, unused one?

If those are an issue then why did you buy a Defender?

They aren't an issue if we keep it but when looking around, it was clear that the Defender is a bit archaic on emissions. TBH the lowish mpg isn't really an issue - just a consideration. We were fully aware of the RFL but I guess it's not until you actually shell out for it that you realise it is a wee bit steep for a 122bhp vehicle!!

Pom - not keen on the Disco 3 - 2.8 tonnes (2 tonnes is plenty!) and when they die, they REALLY die and expensively too. I'd only consider a newer Disco 4 but again, big bucks and not our cup of tea.

Martin - boot is tiny on a Freelander and I didn't really like the top end SD4 HSE we had as a loan car.

Maybe we should keep it... Defender 110XS SW gone... now VW California 180 4 Motion.

Last edited by DefenderOfTheEarth on 19th Oct 2011 1:14pm. Edited 2 times in total

19th Oct 2011 1:03pm

scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

DefenderOfTheEarth wrote:

Maybe we should keep it...

You know it makes sense

19th Oct 2011 1:09pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8580

Quote:

Just nervous of another big failure - warranty is up in a month.

Get a good independent Land Rover guy to go over it with a fine tooth comb now and present dealer with list of all warranty issues now.

Brendan

19th Oct 2011 1:19pm

The Boy

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: East Northants
Posts: 1459

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Rimini Red

DOTE

I fully understand where you are coming from. My first puma was like that and some. I nearly traded it in at 18 months old with Landcruiser. Now bare in mind I've owned and driven LR's all my adult life so it was quite a decision but in the end land rover coughed up a new vehicle before I went through with it. Had I gone through with it the cost of trading in so soon after buying it was huge and not one I could really afford. As for what you might trade it in for that is up to you but there is little that are as capable as a Defender, hold their value as well. However quite a few can match reliability and in Toyota landcruiser’s case surpass it. You may be better off keeping it as you seem to have most of the problems now sorted out.

Boy

Last edited by The Boy on 19th Oct 2011 1:25pm. Edited 1 time in total

19th Oct 2011 1:21pm

DefenderOfTheEarth

Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1304

leeds wrote:
Quote:

Just nervous of another big failure - warranty is up in a month.

Get a good independent Land Rover guy to go over it with a fine tooth comb now and present dealer with list of all warranty issues now.

Brendan

That's what we have already done and thank **** we did it! Unearthed all sorts of issues which then led to the issues with the selling dealer and the warranty company (actually a third party organisation, not LR) . Saved the cost of the inspection (and service) many, many times over. Might be time to be grateful the major issues have been sorted for "free" (gawd knows how much they would have cost!!) and just look after it as well as possible.

The thought of driving a bland anymoblle softroader was rather depressing. Defender 110XS SW gone... now VW California 180 4 Motion.

Last edited by DefenderOfTheEarth on 19th Oct 2011 1:25pm. Edited 1 time in total

19th Oct 2011 1:22pm

pjb

Member Since: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Sunny Oxford
Posts: 1244

scotty38 wrote:
Given what you've said, unless you spring for a new one I'd keep what you have.... I wouldn't "waste" my money on something else that you clearly don't really want.

You've done the hard bit just enjoy it now 2020 P300 HSE

19th Oct 2011 1:23pm

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