MINESAPINT

^^^^^^^^^ Rear lockers as an option? I cannot find it in the brochure? MINESAPINT

Can confirm no oil used in between servicing except last year I noticed drips of oil on my drive & I used about a pint during the course of the year. When it was in for service last November I reported an oil leak & asked for an opinion as to what & HOW MUCH! to have it fixed. Reply was "oil leak was from the oil filter, whoever serviced the vehicle last year had forgotten to tighten it up"! Neither the garage who did the last service or the previous one were Land Rover main dealers. I stopped taking it to the dealer since I picked it up after a service and drove it away to find the wheels squealing when cornering. They had left the centre diff lock engaged! I went back & protested but they were indifferent & said it would not cause a problem! As it happens it did not cause a problem but I understand it could have done? Then I would have been to blame for not checking it was in the correct mode before setting off!!! MINESAPINT

I have often wondered if: a, having them galvanised would be successful/practical and b, what would they look like just left galvanised? MINESAPINT

I am pleased to read people are generally satisfied with their new Pumas as I am just about to buy one. Although I have to say I have had NO PROBLEMS at all with my 7 year old Td5. That is if you exclude bodywork & corrosion issues. It has occasionally needed the diesel replacing & I understand oil has been replaced when it has been serviced. Other than this the worst fault has been a sidelight bulb failed. MINESAPINT

I have read bits & pieces ref the sump pan but can't say I fully understand the problem/solution? Perhaps someone will explain. I imagine if the 1 year old model has not had the modification I will be able to request it on the outstanding warranty? Thanks MINESAPINT

I am about to purchase either a new 2008 Puma but do have the opportunity to buy a 1 year old model with 4,000 miles on the clock. Obviously I will save a few quid by going for the second hand model but I am wondering if there have been any significant changes in the spec from 07 to 08? Thanks MINESAPINT

It has long been a bone of contention with me calling a Land Rover "4 wheel drive" since becoming stuck on my own front lawn on a slight incline in my brand new Land Rover with 1 wheel spinning!. It took me a while to understand how the drive actually worked and I then wrote to Land Rover. I received a curt reply saying take some off road driving lessons and fit more appropriate tyres, vehicles are used all around the world and no one else has complained! A couple of years later Land Rover introduced the centre diff lock. This created a vehicle with a 2 wheel drive capability. What is important in my opinion is how many wheels are driving when really needed, not when driving along on dry tarmac. I am unsure whether ETC has been available on the Defender as an option previously but now it is. This creates a vehicle capable of putting the drive where it is required. Must be a major step forward and surely only a matter of time as with the centre diff lock until it is fitted as standard. So Land Rover have obviously had a change of heart with regards to their reply to me of 25 years ago! I do have an elementary understanding of the issues but am unable to comment regarding whether ARB or ETC is best. They both seem to achieve what I expected the vehicles to do 25 years ago. Although in my opinion a Land Rover has not being made complete/capable of achieving its full potential without ARB or ETC it is surprising how few are fitted with ETC. If you look on the dealers used Land Rover site you will note about 250 Defenders for sale but only 1 has ETC. The issue for me is really being able to obtain a reasonable insurance quote. If I advise my new vehicle has been fitted with a Land Rover optional extra the insurers will not give it a second glance but if I say the vehicle has been modified with the addition of ARB lockers many insurers will not be interested and others will require an extra £200. MINESAPINT

I too have 2000 Defender Td5 which has cracked rear door frame. I also need both front doors replacing due to corrosion issues. Sorry I cannot answer any of your questions ref whether the existing kit will fit off your existing door onto a post 2002 door. I would be interested to know myself. Doors (frame & Skin only) seem to be about £200 but still need painting & fitting. A company in Bristol advertise door refurbishment for FROM £100. If you are interested but cannot find them let me know. MINESAPINT

To the best of my knowledge the roads up onto the moors are NOT rights of way, they are there to take shooting parties onto the moor. There are plenty of public footpaths in the same vicinity and hand gates are available for access. If anyone has OS map available the gate is at the end of Bog House Lane to the Western end of Scaling Dam. Gate is now replaced with a metal one. Just as easy to damage but a bit cheaper to replace next year! MINESAPINT

I periodically walk round Scaling Dam on the North Yorkshire/Cleveland border and for the second year running someone has smashed a wooden field gate leading onto the moors. The gate is chained & padlocked but of course is no match for an individual who chooses to drive 2 tons of vehicle straight through it or try out a new winch! I assume someone wishes to do some green laning/off roading but the land owner has other ideas. The vehicle seems to have come to grief while carrying out this deed as there is a freshly broken tree branch near the gate & broken (smoked) glass all over. There were tracks similar to Simex or Special Track at the scene. If the gate should be open to allow access I am sure there are appropriate means of achieving this. If it is private land with no permitted access then I wish people would respect this. The gate will cost going on £1,000 to replace and until it is sheep have access to the very busy main road. MINESAPINT

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Thanks for replies guys, Story as follows. Vehicle is year 2000. Couple of years ago I bought 2 tins Caledonian Blue to paint bumper & rear cross member, one from a motor factors/paint shop specially mixed and one off the shelf manufactured by Holts. The specially mixed one was perfect colour & the Holts was pretty good. A couple of weeks ago I went to another motor factor/paint shop & bought a specially mixed spray can of Caledonian Blue. there was a lot of tutting at the time as I did not have the paint code but the disgruntled assistant eventually looked up the colour on the computer. Land Rover Defender Caledonian Blue and the computer advised JUT quite correctly as paintman pointed out. 400ml £13. When I removed the cap I noticed the assistant had had a spray with my paint & when I eventually came to use it, the nozzele was blocked. Fortunately I had some spares. The colour turned out probably to be the wrong shade of JUT as it is much more green/turquoise and totally wrong. Looked on VIN plate under bonnet which includes a place for paint code but it is blank. Phoned other motor factor where original Holts colour was purchased and they no longer stock Holts but he will attempt to find some for me. He phoned me next morning - the paint you ordered is in. Fantastic! £3.50. Colour is very good but noticable if studied. I have been touching up in a few places and have to say I am pleased with my efforts. Vehicle looking much better. MINESAPINT

Computer has a mind of its own, posted the question before I finished typing it. Question is could this be the paint code. I had some paint specially mixed based on the name of the colour (Caledonian Blue) but I might have well gone into Halfords blindfolded and chosen a colour at random. Vehicle now looks like one that has had a replacement part fitted sourced from a scrap yard! MINESAPINT

In the service manual supplied with my Defender just inside the front cover is a small blue piece of paper - looks like it has been torn off a roll. On it it has a code something like C46833H

Good point Litch. Better only drive on level ground. MINESAPINT

The problems of fuel surging & balancing the tanks is easily overcome on boats with baffles & a balance pipe. Welding can be a problem if not carried out correctly & I do accept there may be problems with stresses. The idea actually came to mind as a way of protecting the chassis inernally against corrosion. A chassis generally kept full of diesel would surely have a longer life. Who knows Land Rover might introduce it as standard on the defender in the future! MINESAPINT

But the fuel is currently stored in a container not much thicker than a baked bean tin. The modified chassis could be built from much heavier steel than it currently is. MINESAPINT

I reckon you could get quite a few gallons in a suitably modified chassis. Has it ever been done? Discuss MINESAPINT

Thanks Top90, The penny is dropping. The Private/Light goods class has been replaced with the Light Goods Commercial class but if my vehicle is Private/Light goods (which it is) it will remain so. If I buy a brand new Defender Hard Top it will be in the new class Light Goods Commercial. In both cases I will pay the more favourable rates for road fund licence. Now the side windows issue: I believe this is relevant (or certainly used to be) when a farmer (or other vat registered person) buys a Hard Top & claims the vat back. He then adds side windows. He then receives a routine visit from the VAT person who notices windows in the Land Rover. The vehicle now no longer qualifies to have the vat reclaimed as a commercial vehicle and the vat person claims the vat back again? MINESAPINT

Can we just clear another thing up while we are on. The independent Land Rover dealer who recently told me confidently "ALL LAND ROVERS ARE REGISTERED PRIVATE/LIGHT GOODS" and so attract the reduced rate of road tax was (put politely) pulling my leg? MINESAPINT

Thanks for replies guys, Clear as MUD! When I said change my Td5 110 for a new model I meant brand new 08 reg and was wondering what rate of road tax it would attract. Top90 says his is £180 for Private/Light goods so the Private/Light goods rates are not superseeded with the emissions table for cars for vehicles registered after March 2001. Hard Top Land Rovers still attract the more reasonable PLG rate? £180 or £185 PA Any more offers? MINESAPINT

Thanks Madcowz, Sorry if I am being a bit thick. The way I read it now is that from 2001 the PLG (TC11) category has been replaced with the Co2 emissions for cars table? Vehicles registered before 2001 (as mine was) will continue to attract the TC11 rate depending on engine size? If I was to replace my Td5 with a new model 110 hard top it would attract the appropriate rate from the second table? Does anyone know what this rate is? Any more questions? MINESAPINT

Thanks OILIT, Looked at the link but it seems to be about cars. My Land Rover is PLG which as far as I understand is under another scale? Or has it been changed? Still confused. MINESAPINT

I think in fact most or all cars are vatable but this is only an issue if the car qualifies as a commercial vehicle, in which case a vat registered person can claim the vat back ie a van and that the purchaser/seller is VAT registered. MINESAPINT

Apparently there were changes in the budget relevant to Td5 Defenders. My 110 Hard Top is registered PLG Private Light Goods. I was recently advised by a dealer "ALL" Land Rovers are PLG and so would not be affected by increases in Road Tax for large cars (gas guzzlers). I have recently renewed my Road Tax for £180. I think I read the changes were to be introduced April 2009 in another thread but no indication what the changes are. Can anyone help? MINESAPINT