PUMA - worries

Hi all

In nearly all posts I notice that for most overlanding and 'expedition' type trips, most people have an older version 90, mostly 300tdi's.

Has anyone tried out the new PUMA for this sort of thing?

Am I right in thinking that the new Puma engined Landie is just as capable?

What about reliability for the purpose?

Would you ever consider taking a brand new landie without any mods on a trip through europe using mainly back roads. Or are you asking for trouble?

Ultimately, is the new landie destined to be a city/light country work vehicle due to the amount of electrics which if they fail leave you stranded. Hense not suitable for all the things that most people on these forums do?

Sorry about all the questions?

regards

for overlanding it boils down to one thing - complexity

basically, with a 300tdi if you go to africa the vast majority of bush mechanics will know the engine, or even if not thanks to their simplicity they can work on them. if things go wrong which they invariably will it can be fixed, even people with little mechanical experience can often do repairs on earlier land rovers because they are just so simple. no complex ECU, so no computers required to fix it

if you have a puma go wrong in the middle of somalia say, i would be very very surprised if you would be able to find the management systems and infrastructure required to fix the engine.

see what other people reckon, but for simplicity, ease of maintenance, familiarity etc etc the TDI engines are the one to go for

carpy said:

...if you have a puma go wrong in the middle of somalia say...

Click to expand...

Just as a fair example

woods767 said:

Just as a fair example

Click to expand...

i dont think morocco, algeria, mali, burkina faso, ghana, togo, benin, cameroon or any other of the potential countries an overlanding landy may drive through will be any better

as above, that's why i picked a 300 over a td5, that said if your carrying a spare ecu and a nanocom you may be alright, if you understand all the error codes etc. a puma is even more complex than a td5, just a transit engine really with electronic trickery.

"Would you ever consider taking a brand new landie without any mods on a trip through europe using mainly back roads. Or are you asking for trouble?"

Western Europe, no problem, just have good breakdown cover; RAC comprehensive cover IMHO is one of, or the best. Further afield, same as always; yes s*** happens, but ensure any vehicle is serviced and maintained very well.

just enjoy it whatever you take.

300tdi & td5 is still offered for sale in "rest of World vehicles" precisely because the puma is too complex and unreliable for 99% of the third world.

If you got into Somalia in the 1st place you deserve to break down.

As 1life stated, Europe will be fine. Just take out comprehensive recovery cover, but that goes for any engine. It would also be worth making a note of dealers in each country/city along with speaking to your local dealer (independent or otherwise) with regards to shipping parts out to you etc.

you might as well give it a go

G

Thanks all for your answers,

So what you are all saying is, if you plan to use it in Europe only then it will be just as good as any vehicle, but if you go further afield then you are making a wiser choice with an older more well known and easier to work with landie.

cheers I think that covers it

If you are only travelling in europe then why take a landrover in the first place ? other than a lifestyle choice it is not the best move from a speed, comfort, economy point of view . JMHO