Top90

I saw a hinged radius arm on a 90 a few years ago at billing. Was on a few cars actually on one of the trade stands. You just popped a pin back in to drive on the road. Brilliant front travel, but scary at speed. So this idea sounds a bit like a basic version of 3 link, where the front axle does not rotate so much? Rich

If you need to take it (other jacks are far better unless off roading, and even a bottle jack is better offroad for tyre changing) have it bolted down inside. If it's on the outside it looks nice, but when you need to use it a good spray of WD40 will be needed to get the pins moving as they do gum up with the rain etc.. Of course it will work fine jacking up, but then it will misbehave when you want to lower the vehicle again. Some wheel carriers have nice mounting brackets, that obscure the rear lights. Mostly the fog light. Richard

Maybe, but always useful.

Sounds like a sensible decision to me. I've been very impressed with my puma 90 and would have gone for a 110 if I had kids to transport. They are still not car like for noise at speed. The engine may be quieter, but mechanical and wind noise will always be there and are part of the 'character' as you will know from your older 90. I do find the puma easier to drive with lighter pedals and gearbox than the TD5, but if you are going for a top spec one a basic discovery is probably not that much more expensive than an XS CSW with more comfort. I would recomend MJIbex on this forum if you are ordering one. He can save you £££ over the discount a dealer is prepared to give. He saved me about £1,000 when my dealer would not budge any more having dropped a reasonable amount already. Richard

You need a radio that increases the volume as background noise increases. I put one in my Td5 110 and the new 90 will probably get one shortly as I don't have the XS (90 Hardtop) with MP3 functions. It worked very well as you could adjust the sesitivity to suit the car. Richard

After 4 weeks and 2,300 miles mine has been fine. Only strange thing is it's the only diesel I've ever seen that is not more economical on V power diesel. Putting it in the Td5 gave an average of 10% more miles per tank on identical driving, while the Puma does 10% less miles per tank on the better fuel. Back to cheap diesel for me. Richard

I did tell him I was selling it when he was looking, but I was not 100% certain how much I'd want and it was a two month wait. Then when it came time to sell Chris had already bought his one and I got a shock how hard it was to sell a good spec 110 CSW. I said less than 13k too in my post. That's an 11k drop in two years with 57 on the clock. Good job I got a good discount on the new one thanks to MJIbex. Richard

Unfortunately cars are only really worth what someone is prepared to pay. My white 110 CSW, 2 years old with ABS/ETC, heated seats and screen, hi ratio transfer gears and a few other mods went for less than 13k. A1 condition as well. Now at a dealers for 3k more, but if they sit on it for 6 months or so to sell it they have to make a profit. That's business. Richard

Brightwells auction can be good. If buying, a one owner ex-fleet vehicle is normally the best bet. These tend to be sold due to vehicle replacement schedules rather than because something is wrong. Quite a few vehicles from here turn up at dealers later with an extra £1 or 2k on the asking price. You could well get something quite nice, around 3 years old if after a 90 hard top for 10k or less plus VAT Richard Edited to add... Td5 is a good 'un.

Probably not, but you can have satnav.

Just had a call from the dealer seeing if I was interested.... only £32,000 each

They have to pass that test first here. Otherwise there will be problems later...

As MOG, the defender - yuck. As for the female, just a normal looking woman in a bathrobe. I can't see what the fuss is about.

I'll never live that down will I ? Richard

Where does a conversion from coil to air suspension come? Interested as last time I looked at the regs I was sure it said they must retain the manufacturers type. Thanks Richard

I went from 31" to 33" tyres on a 110 a few years back. (300TDi) Reduced the acceleration a bit but did make it more economical as I did a lot of runs on the motorway and the engine was not working so hard. It was something like a 7% percent change, but it did correct the speedo as they always overread from the factory to cover you. (there is legislation that they can't under-read but can over-read) Overall I probably only got 1 or 2 mpg more, about 20 to 30 on a tank. I don't think bigger tyres = more fuel unless you overgear it. Richard

At the end of the day too many classes kills the enjoyment. I used to go trialing and as there were only 2 or 3 vehicles in the class I would win most times and get a plastic trophy. It actually got boring because there was never any competition. On the few occasions where a good number turned up for the same class it was more fun as you had to compete. I still like just 3. Unmodified (just from winch) Modified (within restrictions) Unlimited (anything else) - mainly non-road legal, but that opens another debate about how many road legal trucks aren't. If I just wanted to get a prize I could buy a plastic trophy much cheaper than driving from Essex to Devon and getting beaten. I do it because they are a nice event and there is real competition in the class. Richard

All the garages will be empty on Monday then.

Aha, I thought the rear tank was a reasonable improvement in size over the earlier models with the side tank. Just checked with LR and it's only 13.2 gallons (60 litres). Still seems a big reserve though. Richard

My 07 defender 90 fuel gauge comes down to empty and the light comes on, then I can only fill it up with 10 gallons. So, assuming the rear 90 tank is 15 gallons that is a large reserve. Is this common other puma 90 owners? Richard

Out of interest I bought a complete set of locks/keys (minus fuel cap) from a main dealers for only about £12 earlier in the year. At least if there is a problem you can take them back easier than ebay. John, All my 90s had the same key for doors and ignition. (all '93 and later) Richard

Dispite doing 30,000 miles plus per year I do use a defender. The new one is more comfortable though. I had three very nice Disco 2s and although I liked them very much after six months or so I found myself fancying a change. By comparison I had the 110 for a year, bought a newer one the same and had that onother two years before downsizing to a 90. I'm sure the disco 3 is a great car, but it's too expensive new for me and after the warantee runs out (and it's cheaper) I would be concerned about reliability. Plus I would want to use it off road and would be concerned about the weight and damage to it. Richard

With comments like this, and your Auz has cheap fuel thread I just think you like to get a reaction.

Somebody has to pay for goverment spending, refugees, aid to other countries, EU membership etc....

MOT standards are quite lax (minimum standard) and only test certain items. Richard