[So what type of defender is this?]

Daskoff,

For the same money I'd take the Puma I've only had a short drive in TJ101s Puma but that was enough to convince me

Mo

Yeah, that's what I thought. Now will have to wait for a bit until the newness wears off to get them cheaper. I've seen a few on the used market but still a bit steep. I have a '07 Touareg 2.5 TDI for my daily driver so I am looking for something I can take off road and not worry about scratching (plus all the goddies I can add on).... Not much choice in Moscow for Defenders. Only about 35 for sale. A few '07s and the rest Td5s.

Adrian

[So what type of defender is this?]

Walfy your sums are correct but the input info is wrong, they are on offer for $40000 not $20000.

Not such a good deal.

John

Correct, and the new puma (in Russia) is also going for about 40K usd. Which is why I also think the 300tdi is a little steep. If one had to choose between the puma and the 300tdi FOR the same price - 40k usd. which one??

Adrian

[So what type of defender is this?]

Looks more like a bog standard ROW spec 300Tdi with air conditioning to me - I have 2 sat up in the yard at the moment which look just like those.

Probably wrong info on the site. The Puma will not fit without the new bonnet AFAIK and the rest of the vehicle is certainly 2006 model or earlier.

Pardon my ignorance but what is ROW spec? And are 300tdi still made new? From lurking on this site(300tdi, vs. td5 vs puma debate), and if they truly are 300tdi, sounds like this is the "perfect" defender to get, i.e. few electronics, etc...

[So what type of defender is this?]

pls see link:

http://cars.auto.ru/cars/used/sale/1282730.html

These are being sold in Moscow for 40K USD and it states that it is a 2007 model year with a 3.0 liter TD (2.4 engine only one available?). The hood is not from an '07 but that could be because of the spare tire holder. So would the puma engine fit in without the buldge? Also the interior does not look like it is from the new model. Maybe these were to be sold in some other country but were purchased here as a lot. This often happens in Russia. Other than paying lots of duties and taxes on cars, it is fairly easy to bring cars in from pretty much anywere. Anyone with any ideas?

Adrian

[Q for '07 Defender owners (weather question)]

Hi Adrian,

I ordered in Moscow the New Def and I am eagerly waiting! FYI, it comes with the winter pack (and a lot more stuff I actually did not really want) and yes it will be appreciated even if -30 is ,frankly, not so typical in town...

The pack is supposed to heat the front and back shields as well as the front seats. I've testeed such heating seats on a number of times on a CR-V in winter (-25) and it is a blessing! It is no luxury at all in winter, especially for the passenger.

Nevertheless I do not plan to use my Def to go to work every day in town: too much traffic, no parking, cops and all; the metro - particularly in winter- is my choice.

I'll inform you about the heating and the rest as oon as I can.

You bought it sight unseen or do the dealers had a model for a test drive? I was told that they won't have any in stock until end of June...which is like now. Which dealer did you use? I live at Frunzenskaya Nab. and walk 15 min to the metro. It's ok now but the past winter it really sucked. Plus i got a parking spot at the office so it kind of forces me to buy a car.

[Q for '07 Defender owners (weather question)]

The same as an Eberspacher.

A diesel pre-heater, bit like a miniature engine in itself that pre-heats and circulates

the coolant. Usually set on a timer, on/ off switch, remote controlled.

These run off the vehicles batteries and are independant of mains powersupply.

Once the coolant reaches a certain temperature they automatically switch the interior heating

on as well. So th eengine and the cab are warm when you get in the car.

They use about 0.6L/ fuel/ hour + battery capacity.

That's why you have to make sure the battriy(ies) are in tip top condition.

Sounds like the device I need here. Do dealers install these, sort of like an option? Or is it something I have to find a local shop which I don't look forward too because I don't speak Russian, but the dealer does.

[Q for '07 Defender owners (weather question)]

Here in Norway all diesel LR's come with a 'winterpack', that consits of a preheater (Webasto)

and heated front windscreen. When I had a 300Tdi it would have been useless at heating had

it not been for the Eberspacher I had installed.

Another important point is to make sure you also have a good battery(ies).

I wouldn't get another LR (diesel) without these items and I don't even live in the cold part of Norway.

I'll have to ask the dealer about the winterpak. I figure they have to do something extra for the Defenders coming to Russia. Otherwise you'd have alot of PO Defender owners in the winter. What's a Webasto? Is it some sort of an electric heater to be used until the engine is warmed up? I also saw the "you-tube" cold weather test and filmed from the inside (when driving) it sounded real loud, but then I thought that is was loud because they had the heater on high blast. 2 more weeks before they arrive. Could hardly wait...

[Q for '07 Defender owners (weather question)]

Well I am on my third 300Tdi and have driven probably hundreds of others and they all take ages to warm up but the new (post 99 export spec) ones seem to take even longer than the old ones did. We have a Toyota Surf on the hire fleet at work which warms up nearly as quickly as my V8 Discovery, probably a quarter of the time it takes my 300Tdi to reach full "needle in the middle of the gauge" operating temperature, so it obviously is possible to make diesels that warm up quicker!

Well maybe the engine being from a Ford transit van, I'm thinking that it must be sorted out nicely since Ford probably makes a ton of them and are used throughout the world.

[Q for '07 Defender owners (weather question)]

It probably takes about 10 min driving at 40mph ish for the engine (and thus the heater) to get fully warm in ambient temps a few degrees above freezing (that's about how long it takes me to drive home from the other half's house and it is usually just about hot by the time I get home) and it takes at least another 10 min once the heater has reached full output, for the large interior of a 110 to really feel "warm". I'm guessing it will be a lot longer in -30C. It is also a lot longer than it used to take my 90 to warm up the front passenger area, the interior bulkhead makes a big difference. In the 110 you just get the impression that though hot air is coming out of the heater, it is really just stirring the cold air in the footwell!

I guess this is a reason I might have to opt for the fully loaded model with the arse warmers....

Do you have any issues with driving such a short distance?

[Q for '07 Defender owners (weather question)]

Well considering that during this past winter each morning I walked 15 minutes to the metro and 10 minutes on the other end in the freaking dead of winter, I’ve got lots of heavy Russian coats which makes me look like a wooly mammoth. So I guess if it doesn’t get scorching hot in the truck, I won’t freeze to death.

However, being a diesel, is it bad for the engine to drive it for so short of a distance? I know for gas engines, if the engine does not warm up sufficiently, the oil gets contaminated quickly from all the unburnt fuel. I am sure it is probably the same for the diesel. Any other worries.

As it will have to be parked exclusively on the street (Moscow is very congested, no garages, etc.), I will not have access to an electrical outlet. So, no engine heater.

But, in summer I think it will be great here because of the high temperatures and lots of idling if one drives in the city. The country side is another story, talk about the pristine areas for offroading. Actually, that is why I am interested in the Defender…lots and lots of offroading.

[Q for '07 Defender owners (weather question)]

Thanks for the comments. I wonder if anything special are done to the ones coming to Russia i.e. "special cold weather package" or something. Does it really take 20 minutes for the engine to get warm? My commute is about 15 min in the morning.... Sorry for the dumb diesel questions but coming from the US, I never had a chance to own a diesel. Especially a Defender, BUT maybe Moscow is not a best place to buy (no wonder they are so cheap here) one.....

Adrian

[Q for '07 Defender owners (weather question)]

I currently live in Moscow and am seriously considering the '07 Defender. I've read that the heater had been upgraded, but how is the Defender in really cold weather. I mean it typically gets to -30 C here in winter. Is it well insulated from a climate perspective or is the heater that strong to overcome the harsh winters? Or should I just wear more clothes?? The trucks will come on the Moscow market by the end of this month and I will definately take a closer look. Any comments would be highly appreciated.

Adrian

[New Defender to be test driven]

not much of a test but a very nice truck B)

Since I'm in Moscow I do not get 5th Gear. Anyone care to summarize?? The Defenders will be available in Moscow at the end of June. Will have to go take a look. BTW, the prices are ridiculously low compared to you guys in the UK. What gives? Are the trucks different or are you guys subsidizing the Russian market?? Anyway the range is $32K USD for a entry level 90 to $39K USD for a fully loaded 110 and these are out the door prices (VAT, reg., etc.)! Thats like 20K Sterling for a fully loaded 110. Amazing, but I digress. So if anyone can comment on the show.....

Regards,

Adrian