J2Landy
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- 13
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- Sussex, Southeast
I think this is where I'm at - I've been charmed by the landy for years. It almost seems surreal that I'm looking to own one.
Drive Before I Decide?
- Thread starter J2Landy
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I think this is where I'm at - I've been charmed by the landy for years. It almost seems surreal that I'm looking to own one.
J2Landy
Member
- Posts
- 13
- Location
- Sussex, Southeast
I think I've pretty much ruled out the 300tdi due to the age, and also due to a lack of power compared to the TD5, and Puma. I am also having a difficult enough time just deicing between TD5, TDCI 2.4, and TDCI 2.2..
Exactly this as well, even with the TD5 I think it's clear to see the age of them makes finding a good one a little more difficult.
Just decide on the specification you want (Station Wagon, Hard Top, Truck Cab) and then whether you want aircon/electric windows etc,
Fix a budget, and leave aside around £2,000 for initial jobs and other things you'll decide you want to do to it.
Then buy the first one you find that matches your needs and is in good condition, and obviously looked after, whether it's TD5, 2.2 or 2.4
They're all 100% Defender through and through and all have their good/bad points compared to other versions.
After you buy one, stop looking. As a "better" one will always come up, for less money.....and will make you feel fed up that you didn't keep looking.
Trouble is, if you just keep looking and waiting for the elusive "perfect Defender" you'll never buy one.
Fix a budget, and leave aside around £2,000 for initial jobs and other things you'll decide you want to do to it.
Then buy the first one you find that matches your needs and is in good condition, and obviously looked after, whether it's TD5, 2.2 or 2.4
They're all 100% Defender through and through and all have their good/bad points compared to other versions.
After you buy one, stop looking. As a "better" one will always come up, for less money.....and will make you feel fed up that you didn't keep looking.
Trouble is, if you just keep looking and waiting for the elusive "perfect Defender" you'll never buy one.
This is important and very sage advice. One of the big advantages of the defender is that you do not buy the perfect one you build the perfect one, whether you are doing that yourself or paying someone else. All you buy in the first instance is the starting platform, just get the one nearest to what you want that has the parts that are difficult or expensive to retro fit e.g. the unnecessary aircon/electric windows (sliding ones are better anyway).
land1974joyer
New Member
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I was in a similar position not too long ago, torn between the TD5 and the Puma. I ended up test driving both over a couple of days, including some long stretches on the motorway and a bit of rural backroad stuff. Honestly, both were great in their own way, but the TD5 felt a bit more raw (in a good way), while the Puma was slightly more refined.
A big part of my decision came down to what I could realistically upgrade or fix myself. The support and parts availability for both is solid, but I found it easier to find guides and retrofit options for the TD5 – things like adding cruise control or improving sound insulation.
If you're not fussed about modern car comforts, you'll be fine either way. Once you accept them for what they are, they're incredibly rewarding to drive – and like others have said, they really grow on you.
A big part of my decision came down to what I could realistically upgrade or fix myself. The support and parts availability for both is solid, but I found it easier to find guides and retrofit options for the TD5 – things like adding cruise control or improving sound insulation.
If you're not fussed about modern car comforts, you'll be fine either way. Once you accept them for what they are, they're incredibly rewarding to drive – and like others have said, they really grow on you.
A good Puma Defender is okay to drive on road, it will happily sit at motorway speeds and in relative calm.
They can also be further improved by adding extra sound proofing and cruise control, better audio system etc if that's what you want to do with it.
You have to drive the vehicle for what it is though, better to sit on the inside lane at 65mph you'll still get there and a lot less stressful than fighting it out in the fast lane.
We went to Scotland in my TD5. Sat at 60mph my friends who set off just after us soon overtook in their C-Max.
However after 400 miles we arrived first at the destination. Where was the C-Max? Turns out they've made one extra stop.
They can also be further improved by adding extra sound proofing and cruise control, better audio system etc if that's what you want to do with it.
You have to drive the vehicle for what it is though, better to sit on the inside lane at 65mph you'll still get there and a lot less stressful than fighting it out in the fast lane.
We went to Scotland in my TD5. Sat at 60mph my friends who set off just after us soon overtook in their C-Max.
However after 400 miles we arrived first at the destination. Where was the C-Max? Turns out they've made one extra stop.
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