Puma Defender or TD5 or 300TDI

Hi everyone, I've had landrovers for 20 yrs and I'm not sure what to do. I've got a 300TDI and have some money coming soon. Fancy buying a new 2.4 Puma Defender but a bit scared of the electrics etc. Sense tells me to buy a nice 300TDI save my money and have all the spares or replacement engine from my 80k miler but the thought of owning a brand new on sounds nice. Anywone heard bad reviews on them? TD5 - mixed reviews, not sure. Now living in Gibraltar could do with a LHD with aircon........ Your thoughts please on the new Puma

Puma gearboxes are made of Dairylea.
And make sure you can fit in it. It is physically impossible for me to drive my mates truck cab Puma. I'm 6ft 4", so tall but not outrageously tall.

landymangib said:

Hi everyone, I've had landrovers for 20 yrs and I'm not sure what to do. I've got a 300TDI and have some money coming soon. Fancy buying a new 2.4 Puma Defender but a bit scared of the electrics etc. Sense tells me to buy a nice 300TDI save my money and have all the spares or replacement engine from my 80k miler but the thought of owning a brand new on sounds nice. Anywone heard bad reviews on them? TD5 - mixed reviews, not sure. Now living in Gibraltar could do with a LHD with aircon........ Your thoughts please on the new Puma

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i have a td5 90 mate had to have a puma while the stealers did warranty work i could'nt get shot of it quick enough !
the gearbox is crap and you spend all day changing gear unless you are doing mostly motorway work
if you are over 5ft10iches tall yer knees will be rammed up against the dash too.
only thing i like about it is the heater is good

Love my TD5....

lil-landy said:

Love my TD5....

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yeah me too goes well sounds fookin great! and pulls like a bastid !

Having owned a 300tdi and TD5, and driven a few puma's I wouldn't touch a puma with a barge pole until they've sorted out all the small niggles and the gearbox problems.

It depends what you want to use the vehicle for and if you want to maintain and repair it yourself.

If you want a good, reliable, strong and easy to maintain vehicle then go the 300tdi route.

If you want a more refined vehicle that is less easily self maintained then the TD5 is what you want.

I prefer my TD5 for the drive but miss the reliability and easy maintainance of my 300tdi.

Yeh, the 300TDi sounds like the route, If I can find a dead one I can transplant my engine into it. Although I'll probably look for the best TDI I can. I've just got to find a LHD with aircon, I've seen them but very few and far between, Thanks for the input chaps

Neneoverland ave got em Nene Overland Vehicle Stocklist including new and used Range Rovers, Discoverys, Freelanders, Commercials, Defenders and more
Basically new non-uk 300tdi Left Hookers wih Air Con, not cheap but if you where thinkin of buying a Puma jobbie still a saving.
Not sure if they are export only but if you live in Gib you may be able to get round that.

I’ve had a few reliability issues of which here are a few that come to mind in the last six months!

1 x heater replaced
1 x radiator replaced
2 x transfer boxes replaced
1 x gear selectors replaced
1 x gearbox awaiting replacement
1 x Rear diff replaced
Both front swivel housing seals replaced.
Both rear passenger door locks (central locking) fail to work 100% in cold weather.
Clocks replaced
Electrical faults, don’t even go there!
Heated seats replaced.
Windscreen has just cracked all the way across for no apparent reason!
Paint falling off front radiator cover.
Rust, yes plenty and this includes galvanised parts.

Engine management alarm activates at least once a month sometimes activating engine recovery mode i.e. 5 mph (this means I cannot go beyond the local area without carrying a HawkEye unit).

With exception of the very latest models, I’ve owned almost every model i.e. SII onwards and I’ve never experienced such reliability problems such as the above

Although my local L/R dealership has so far honoured the above work under the vehicle warranty, I’m not sure what is going to happen after this warranty expires!
The only sensible financial option will probably be is to sell it SOLD AS SEEN!

Will I ever buy another new Land Rover, not a chance? I’ll be looking at the Japanese market thank you very much.

One last thing, if you’re thinking of maintaining / working on the vehicle yourself, well forget it.

Due to the fact the Puma has only been around for three years!

There are no parts/workshop manuals available, so you’ll have no points of reference!!!!

This sucks, believe me with the daily running issues of this model you’ll need them or a very friendly dealership.

JohnnyA said:

I’ve had a few reliability issues of which here are a few that come to mind in the last six months!

1 x heater replaced
1 x radiator replaced
2 x transfer boxes replaced
1 x gear selectors replaced
1 x gearbox awaiting replacement
1 x Rear diff replaced
Both front swivel housing seals replaced.
Both rear passenger door locks (central locking) fail to work 100% in cold weather.
Clocks replaced
Electrical faults, don’t even go there!
Heated seats replaced.
Windscreen has just cracked all the way across for no apparent reason!
Paint falling off front radiator cover.
Rust, yes plenty and this includes galvanised parts.

Engine management alarm activates at least once a month sometimes activating engine recovery mode i.e. 5 mph (this means I cannot go beyond the local area without carrying a HawkEye unit).

With exception of the very latest models, I’ve owned almost every model i.e. SII onwards and I’ve never experienced such reliability problems such as the above

Although my local L/R dealership has so far honoured the above work under the vehicle warranty, I’m not sure what is going to happen after this warranty expires!
The only sensible financial option will probably be is to sell it SOLD AS SEEN!

Will I ever buy another new Land Rover, not a chance? I’ll be looking at the Japanese market thank you very much.

One last thing, if you’re thinking of maintaining / working on the vehicle yourself, well forget it.

Due to the fact the Puma has only been around for three years!

There are no parts/workshop manuals available, so you’ll have no points of reference!!!!

This sucks, believe me with the daily running issues of this model you’ll need them or a very friendly dealership.

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Hiya noobie. :welcome2: to landyzone.

the thread you've just replied to is a year old.:doh:

I'm sure there are places selling "brand new" 300tdi's. Saw an advert somwhere for a delivery miles 300. Think it was a 98 model. It was selling at a bit of a premium because of its popularity, but they are still available. If it were me, I'd buy a tdci, as it would have full warranty etc, and has a decent interior (side window demisters etc, proper back seats) but I dont have t money. I quite like my td5. once I fit a new solid flywheel, intercooler, EGR removal, and TD5alive have a mooch, i'll be 110% happy...

Treworgey 90 said:

Puma gearboxes are made of Dairylea.
And make sure you can fit in it. It is physically impossible for me to drive my mates truck cab Puma. I'm 6ft 4", so tall but not outrageously tall.

Click to expand...

they are awfull....

I just get cramp in me legs and cant get out after a long drive i have to unfold and peel myself off the landy as it were.The things are a pain off road becasue of the throttle response time....

tdi ....job done....

A friend was tellin me his mate (gamekeeper) ahd ust got one, and didnt rate the puma engine much.... Said it was a very revvy engine and not as good or torquey as td5 off road. His opinion, not mine, but he spends 90% of his time in the mud, in Scottish Highlands. I like puma, cos its new and shiny and has a strange bonnet! However, it still has a tranny van engine in it!

burn it....