Going to buy another Defender Td5 or TDci ?

Hi all ..

Its been a little while since I sold my 99 td5 110 , and I have to say that I have missed it.. we have decided to look for another defender, and Im thinking double crew cab ..

My defender was a td5, for the most was hassle free .. I have never driven the Puma so I cant compare, so I thought id ask , is one engine better than the other ? im guessing they both have pro's and con's and was wondering if some of you guys could point them out to me ..

thanks ..

There's loads about this subject, personally l like the TD5 but l would say that because l've got one.

The TDCi is better on the motorway because of the six speed gearbox, and it's got a much better heater. The dashboard is much more modern and divides opinion.

Also they are newer so it's easier to find a good one.

But you'll pay more for a good TDCi than a good TD5

Depends what you want. A good TDci is quiet and refined and the respond to a remap well. Also some of the factory upgrade seats and things are nice.

But….

The Puma engine really does sound like a Transit van. The dash is far less practical and useful compared to the old one. And lacks the front opening vents that are so nice on a hot day.

All of this is minor though. The biggest issue with the Puma models is how they drive. They are really jerky and clunky to drive. Almost impossible to get smooth gear changes from consistently. I also find the gearing doesn’t seem to be very useful either. 1st is super low. Too low to practically pull away in. But they hate pulling away in 2nd. Same with some corners and junctions. 2nd revs it’s nuts. But 3rd will judder and shake.

The Td5 is a lovely sounding engine and also responds well to a remap. The R380 only has 5 gears. But is generally a lot smoother to drive than the 6 speed.

thanks for the info .. I did like the opening vents on my old td5 , I found my old one to drive quite well and I did like the sound of the engine , I did hear that the puma seemed character-less in comparison to the td5

does one make for a more lively drive than the other , my td5 wasn't the quickest ...

300bhp/ton said:

The Td5 is a lovely sounding engine ..........

Click to expand...

This

For longevity you may want to consider the emission class.
TDCI is available Euro 4 and 5 with TD5 in Euro 2 and 3.
I miss the opening front flaps as my 2.4L TDCI does not have air conditioning -but for sure the heater is nice and toasty when needed.