UdderlyOffroad Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 Has anyone on here driven a MY12 Defender? Reason I ask is 'cos I've spent the weekend driving a new transit minibus from Snowdon to Fort William for the annual work 'charidee' challenge. It pulls bloody well for a tranny all through the 6 gears so an empty Defender should go like a scalded cat. If only there wasn't a bar-steward 62mph limiter on the thing!!! Ok, so I'm unlikely to buy a MY12 defender but just in case I do give up this engineering lark & start a business where I 'need' one...what are people's thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 Your best bet would be the Defender2.net forum, plenty of Trans-Fender owners on there. Including several of the MY12 2.2L variants. I've driven a 2.4L (2010 - 60 plate) one and think it's a bag of **** if that's any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UdderlyOffroad Posted July 2, 2012 Author Share Posted July 2, 2012 I've driven a 2.4L (2010 - 60 plate) one and think it's a bag of **** if that's any help Fair enough! Any particular reason? Maybe I'm just used to a petrol 2.5 NA... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 I don't like the new dash, and I don't like the horrible clunky clutch operation. Engine seems good otherwise, and it's nice and refined. But I'd have a late Td5 over one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Webster Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 I drove a new 90 a couple of weeks ago, the first since a late 300 tdi and I have to say I was very impressed. It had lots of get up and go, was reasonably civilised for a Defender, but definitely still a Land Rover! I only drive it down some country lanes unloaded so can't comment on what it would be like to live with or to work, but the little 2.2 didn't seem to be lacking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 I drove a 57 plate Puma 110 for work the other week and it was great. It was an assessment day for our driving and we will have two defenders on hire this weekend.... if they are MY2012 I'll report back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 Some people here actually own Puma's Would I go back to an earlier model [i've owned most of 'em] for day to day use? Nope. What do I think of the 2.2 over the 2.4? For me the jury is out, potential QC issues aside, unlike my first Puma I'll wait until the 2.2 has been out a while before deciding whether to buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 For what it's worth if I could have one without that dashboard and with a proper clutch then I wouldn't object. I have nothing against the new engine, which I think is quite good performance wise and pulls well. 6-speed box seems to work okay as well. The refinement is very nice. As above, QC appears to be an issue from what I read on Defender2. Many threads about corrosion issues, flaking paint, broken bits. But Land Rovers have always been horrendously built after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Again speaking as an actual owner who has also owned most of the earlier models going well back to Series days FWIW I find the Puma dash to be solid, user friendly and easy to use. The ability to be able to place heat or cold from a reasonably effective heater and blower pretty much where you want it in itself is an improvement over earlier versions. The 2.4 pulls and tows well enough and the 6 speed box makes for more relaxed cruising straight out of the box but I remain to be convinced that the DPF as fitted to the 2.2 is going to fit in with my Defender use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 What sort of MPG do you get from your 110 Steve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hiatt Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Again speaking as an actual owner who has also owned most of the earlier models going well back to Series days FWIW I find the Puma dash to be solid, user friendly and easy to use. The ability to be able to place heat or cold from a reasonably effective heater and blower pretty much where you want it in itself is an improvement over earlier versions. The 2.4 pulls and tows well enough and the 6 speed box makes for more relaxed cruising straight out of the box Exactly my experience, and I too have had Series 1, 11 & 111 and most incarnations of Defender/90/110 plus Discos and Range Rovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 What sort of MPG do you get from your 110 Steve? TBH I don't really monitor it that closely but my unscientific gut feeling is that that the Puma's have been on a par with the TD5's. I do a lot of short runs which doesn't help matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSG Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I'm currently on my second Puma, a 2011 2.4 and prefer it to the earlier models. The six speed gearbox is great and the clutch is not a problem at all. I like the dash layout, it's different at first but the layout of controls is much better. I have driven a 2012 2.2 demonstrator for 24 hours and it was very similar, not any better than the 2011 though. My 2.4 110 CSW does about 27 mpg average. Cheers John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSG Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 As above, QC appears to be an issue from what I read on Defender2. Many threads about corrosion issues, flaking paint, broken bits. But Land Rovers have always been horrendously built after all. This is the same scare mongering that the TD5s suffered from, build quality is no worse than earlier models (no better either lol) and as with most forums people don't tend to post that their Defender has been fine, only complain about problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve King Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I've driven a Puma off road, but not on road. Good points: quieter and the electrickery that stops the engine from stalling. Bad points that awful dash and an even worse seating position for the taller and (ahem) built like the brick proverbial!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 This is the same scare mongering that the TD5s suffered from, build quality is no worse than earlier models (no better either lol) and as with most forums people don't tend to post that their Defender has been fine, only complain about problems. Which, if you read my post that you've quoted, is exactly what I've said Shoddy build quality has always been an issue for Defenders. No scaremongering at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 I've driven a Puma off road, but not on road. Good points: quieter and the electrickery that stops the engine from stalling. Bad points that awful dash and an even worse seating position for the taller and (ahem) built like the brick proverbial!! I can't see that the seating position is any different from the TD5's, mind you that's not to say that either of them are exactly overburdened with right elbow and legroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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