Is the 2.4 Puma a better road Defender than TD5?

I have a 2004 110 Td5 CSW for various reasons, towing caravan, trailer, carrying lots of kids, winter etc and a big reason is as a depreciation buster over more car like 4x4's.

I end up in fields, forests etc with it but Im never going to have it up to its windows in water etc and I do spend a lot of time on roads with it.

I know longer need a little van I have just sold I so Im considering putting the money from that and my Td5 down against a 2.4 Puma engine'd version thinking these might be a little more refined with the 6 speed box and seats in back head rests etc also means Ill have something 5 years newer with a quarter of the mileage.

Anyone on here went from Td5 to 2.4 Puma suggest if this is a good plan or not.

Anybody I know that's driven both says they'd pick a re-mapped TD5 over the transit engine without hesitation. Friend that's a landrover indy has had a Puma in quite regularly for adding bits and pieces and even though its been chipped, he still doesn't really like the engine and feels a good TD5 is nicer to drive.

Don't think they are actually any better in fuel economy too especially if you fit the disco transfer box to the TD5 one.

I have a Puma 110 XS that I use for my company and a TD5 90 that I use for personal and off roading.

to be honest I prefer the TD5 engine, but in every other way the 2.4 puma is much nicer inside.
MPG is slightly better in the TD5 but then it is a 90 rather 110.

if I was running up and down the motorway I'd take the puma, but for off road I'd take the TD5. you do feel a bit of a dead spot in the puma which I think is due to one cylinder less.

I'd say it you like the acceleration stay with TD5 if you want a nicer comfier Land Rover then I'd go with Puma hope that helps.

Torquey 5pot IMO

Puma engine is ok but the td5 is better. How tall are you cos i find the puma cabin cramped wih all the focus vents and stuff and im only six foot.

heights no prob im 5' 11". and I have no problems with the comfort of the Td5, and everyone else in the family being smaller there fine comfort wise, and we take it for what it is. Weve tried desperatly to find a car over the last 5 years we could just buy and genuinely keep for ten years. Nissan Pathfinder, VW Caravelle, Volvo XC90 and nothing seems to suit in the way a Defender can with its timeless appeal.

Had a bit of spare cash and really thinking I could change now for a Puma or Ill have to keep the Td5 for a long time its got 77,000 mile on it and I could have got a 16,000 mile Puma for another £6k but I get all your comments and it sounds like Im not going to be getting much extra for my money, possibly even losing out.

Is it really worth fitting a Disco transfer box to my Td5?

Put the money into the TD5. The puma is awful.

They aint known as Transh!t engines for nothing
Noisy and gutless unless revved.
TD5 has more torque due to being a five pot and also has a decent exhaust note.
IMHO the Ford lump always seems to be working too hard no matter what you're doing with it.
Its why they had to fit a six speed gear box.

If the td5 is working for you why sell it? The puma might just give you huge amounts of grief there's loads of horror stories about them but then again some people love them.
I'd put the money into the td5 a thorough service etcetc keep it alive
70,000 miles is nothink if its well maintained

the puma engine ruined the transits reliability

I cant understand these comments - i think the puma engine is a million time more pokey on the road than a ropey old TD5 that needs its tits revving off to get going especially with a trailer. The puma is even better if it is remapped - I would prefer a tdi or a puma over a TD5 anyday!!!

The leaps and bounds thqt all other marques make is not made in defenders. Imagine a fiesta. On a w reg (td5 age) and a current model (58 ish reg) clear progression has been made. Not so for a fender. IF IT AINT BROKE DONT FIX IT.

Sorry to hijack this thread but I too have a question on this!

What about the difference on an orginal 60k 91 200TDi to a Puma please? Is there a huge difference I would notice, not in comfort but main road driving?

I truly love my 200 tdi but sometimes I question how much cash I am throwing at it over a new one!

Been here before with a new RR and hated it though but that was an everyday car this one is for fun etc.......................

Thanks

Def1383

Puma engine is good upto 80000 miles then it falls apart, usualy !! That's if it gets that far !
Just because it can be made to go a little better for a short time does not a better engine make !! A real good engine would be 200or300tdi !!
We have removed many td5 engines and replaced them with either of the old engines , not quite so quick but ! Why buy any Landrover if speed is ya thing !!!!!

Defender1383 said:

I truly love my 200 tdi but sometimes I question how much cash I am throwing at it over a new one!

Thanks

Def1383

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You'll be throwing the same cash at a puma later on it its life as the same bits will wear, rust and fall off. with the added bonus of failing electronics, sensors and the stuff associated with modern engines.

This is why I'm sticking with my 300tdi. Though I do like the way the td5's go and rev.

When I drove my mates puma, apart from being a smoother engine it didn't seem to go any better then a slightly tweeked 300tdi, and promptly went into limp mode after 5 minutes!

Sounds about normal for a ford engine!!!

well theres enough pro Td5 comments there for me, also not keen on the 'new' look of the puma with bonnet bump etc even I look and think, mmmm your a modern Fender driver, but then maybe 200 and 300 drivers think that way about the Td5.

Anyway that means I have the money from my van burning a hole, time to treat the Td5 for Christmas with some bits, its only fair.

Thanks

Glenbirnie said:

well theres enough pro Td5 comments there for me, also not keen on the 'new' look of the puma with bonnet bump etc even I look and think, mmmm your a modern Fender driver, but then maybe 200 and 300 drivers think that way about the Td5.

Anyway that means I have the money from my van burning a hole, time to treat the Td5 for Christmas with some bits, its only fair.

Thanks

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Bloody good idea!

You are also probably (slightly) less likely to have your bonnet nicked if you stick with the TD5.

I've been impressed with the TD5. If you're not doing hardcore offroad stuff, I reckon it's a cracking engine. It's also a Land Rover engine....

The good bits (in my opinion) of the Tdci are mainly the interior refinements. Better soundproofing, fancy dash etc. (though I'm not so much a fan of that). Unfortunately that all comes with that horrible drivetrain. The engine's not too bad, but the gearbox and clutch on the 12-plate 130 I drive at work now and again is just terrible. It's getting better now there's a few thousand miles on it, but still compared to my 200Tdi it's a nasty gearchange.

Anyway, the point is that you can get 90% of the benefits of the Tdci by splashing out on some soundproofing, fitting later door seals, later seats etc. but you've still got your good old Td5 engine/drivetrain under the thing. Better the devil you know and all that