New Defender, should I go for the P300?

[Jo3h]

Hi,

I am currently going through the purchase of a new Defender and I was wondering if anyone has any opinions or real-life reviews of the P300 motor in other land rover products they wouldn't mind sharing(are they juicy? Reliability etc). So far the motor options in the Defender are D200 D240 and P300 obviously, D for diesel and P for petrol and the numbers represent horses power, sorry just for those who might not know.

I test drove the P300 Defender and it was really enjoyable, then driving the D200 it was a little bit gutless, but I would rather gutless and reliable than quick but made of chocolate. Multiple people have been saying I should stick to diesel on "these sorts of cars". I was hoping to avoid my next car being diesel with all the persecution around the fuel. Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you

[camel_landy]

IMO - The power delivery of a diesel suits this type of car but a lot has changed in recent years to tip the balance. The combination of DPF, AdBlue, etc... means damage to the exhaust system gets very expensive, very quickly.

Whilst I like the big diesels, I'm now more looking more at the big petrols instead.

M

[300bhp/ton]

camel_landy said:

IMO - The power delivery of a diesel suits this type of car but a lot has changed in recent years to tip the balance. The combination of DPF, AdBlue, etc... means damage to the exhaust system gets very expensive, very quickly.

Whilst I like the big diesels, I'm now more looking more at the big petrols instead.

M

Neither of the engines in the new Defender are "big", petrol or diesel

[300bhp/ton]

Jo3h said:

Hi,

I am currently going through the purchase of a new Defender and I was wondering if anyone has any opinions or real-life reviews of the P300 motor in other land rover products they wouldn't mind sharing(are they juicy? Reliability etc). So far the motor options in the Defender are D200 D240 and P300 obviously, D for diesel and P for petrol and the numbers represent horses power, sorry just for those who might not know.

I test drove the P300 Defender and it was really enjoyable, then driving the D200 it was a little bit gutless, but I would rather gutless and reliable than quick but made of chocolate. Multiple people have been saying I should stick to diesel on "these sorts of cars". I was hoping to avoid my next car being diesel with all the persecution around the fuel. Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you

Why are people saying stick to diesel? Are they just preaching it, because someone else preached it to them?

If I was buying, I'd probably opt for the petrol myself. I have nothing against diesels, but the petrol certainly should be the quicker. Although I've only driven the D240 personally.

I thought the D240 went well enough though. Although it had a horrid delay pulling away and sometimes completely flat when pulling out of a junction from a roll. I think it was more gearbox than engine, or at the very least some weird programming. It was horrid enough however, I'd not want to own and drive one daily, just because I know that behaviour would annoy the fk out of me!

Did the P300 suffer similar?

[camel_landy]

300bhp/ton said:

camel_landy said:

IMO - The power delivery of a diesel suits this type of car but a lot has changed in recent years to tip the balance. The combination of DPF, AdBlue, etc... means damage to the exhaust system gets very expensive, very quickly.

Whilst I like the big diesels, I'm now more looking more at the big petrols instead.

M

Neither of the engines in the new Defender are "big", petrol or diesel

Keep up at the back...

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/ne...

M

[Deranged Rover]

The 5.0 S/C V8 is the correct answer, obviously, but how can Land Rover be offering this? I thought that the 5.0 Jag V8 cannot be made afor much longer due to the upcoming closure of Ford's engine plant in Wales, where it is built?

If the alternative is a BMW V8, then I'd stick with the P300.

[300bhp/ton]

camel_landy said:

Keep up at the back...

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/ne...

M

And the op isn't asking about that, so stop talking out of your arse.

Currently in the UK you get a choice of two 2.0 litre engines. Either a petrol, or a diesel which is offered in two outputs.

A 2.0 litre four pot in a 2 tonne+ vehicle is not a "Big" engine in anyones vocabulary.

[300bhp/ton]

Deranged Rover said:

The 5.0 S/C V8 is the correct answer, obviously, but how can Land Rover be offering this? I thought that the 5.0 Jag V8 cannot be made afor much longer due to the upcoming closure of Ford's engine plant in Wales, where it is built?

If the alternative is a BMW V8, then I'd stick with the P300.

Production is continuing of the AJV8. Has been an article here on PH and many Land Rover forums


However, I wouldn't hold your breath. JLR stopped the V8 in the D4 for the UK early on. And I'm not sure if the D5 has ever been offered with it in the UK.

[camel_landy]

300bhp/ton said:

And the op isn't asking about that, so stop talking out of your arse.

I’m well aware of the engine options ‘currently’ available and in the context of the conversation at the time, the statement was correct.

M

[cowboyengineer]

Just get the p400.

I’ve plumped for the d240

[Mining Subsidence Man]

300bhp/ton said:

And the op isn't asking about that, so stop talking out of your arse.

Currently in the UK you get a choice of two 2.0 litre engines. Either a petrol, or a diesel which is offered in two outputs.

A 2.0 litre four pot in a 2 tonne+ vehicle is not a "Big" engine in anyones vocabulary.

I would have thought they were 3s at least.

So it's more of a freelander than a discovery.

Everything has a 2L TDi these days. rattle rattle rattle.

I would have thought that JLR would have made something which was a bit more meaty.

[Jo3h]

300bhp/ton said:

Did the P300 suffer similar?

I found the P300 a nice ride. I had jumped out of a D300 Range Sport and found it just as enjoyable. I only had an hour in the car so I couldn't really get to the nitty-gritty and I did not have any gearbox issues that I have seen reported.

[Jo3h]

Deranged Rover said:

The 5.0 S/C V8 is the correct answer, obviously, but how can Land Rover be offering this? I thought that the 5.0 Jag V8 cannot be made afor much longer due to the upcoming closure of Ford's engine plant in Wales, where it is built?

If the alternative is a BMW V8, then I'd stick with the P300.

Ashamed to say this is my family car so V8 would be out of the question... Now if I could convince the missus to get a Defender 90 V8 to sit along side....

[595Heaven]

As of today, you can now consider a D300...

[leemind]

595Heaven said:

As of today, you can now consider a D300...

I think this is big news. They have dropped all of the 4 cylinder diesels, even the D200 is a 6 cylinder 3 litre (of course they are all the same engine, just in different states of tune)

Addresses one of my biggest concerns (although I know a lot of people were happy with the older engines). Also the PHEV is available, though I wish that was a 6 cylinder and bigger battery like the X5 PHEV. We know from the RRS P400e that the eRange isn't great.

[FunkyNige]

300bhp/ton said:

Why are people saying stick to diesel? Are they just preaching it, because someone else preached it to them?

If I was buying, I'd probably opt for the petrol myself. I have nothing against diesels, but the petrol certainly should be the quicker. Although I've only driven the D240 personally.

I thought the D240 went well enough though. Although it had a horrid delay pulling away and sometimes completely flat when pulling out of a junction from a roll. I think it was more gearbox than engine, or at the very least some weird programming. It was horrid enough however, I'd not want to own and drive one daily, just because I know that behaviour would annoy the fk out of me!

Did the P300 suffer similar?

I'm a bit lower down in the Land Rover range and have a Discovery Sport P200 and haven't noticed that behaviour, as a bonus it's a bit quieter and more refined in the cabin.
I mainly chose because of the type of journeys I do (short) got me a bit worried about owning a diesel with DPF issues, taking a long time to get up to temperature, etc. plus the miles I do don't make the mpg too painful.

[djc206]

I have a RRS P400e which if I’m not mistaken is the P300 engine with some gubbins attached. If it is the same engine it’s ok, it’s pokey enough even in the heavy RRS but it’s a pretty rough sounding thing and obviously the fact that it’s a small 4 pot turbo means the power delivery isn’t very linear. I don’t dislike the engine, I would say I was mostly indifferent with a touch of disappointment in the sound.

[A.J.M]

I would personally have the 3.0 diesel.
200/250/300 power levels from the same basic engine. So pick one and you could have it mapped up for better power and torque.

However, having driving a 240. I suffered none of the issues that 300bhp claims with his.
My own 3 hour test drive never highlighted it and I did enough varied driving to provoke it.

So I would take his claim with a pinch of salt.

[595Heaven]

A.J.M said:

However, having driving a 240. I suffered none of the issues that 300bhp claims with his.
My own 3 hour test drive never highlighted it and I did enough varied driving to provoke it.

So I would take his claim with a pinch of salt.

I’ve done a few thousand miles in my D200 now and I’d agree with you

[EdJ]

djc206 said:

I have a RRS P400e which if I’m not mistaken is the P300 engine with some gubbins attached. If it is the same engine it’s ok, it’s pokey enough even in the heavy RRS but it’s a pretty rough sounding thing and obviously the fact that it’s a small 4 pot turbo means the power delivery isn’t very linear. I don’t dislike the engine, I would say I was mostly indifferent with a touch of disappointment in the sound.

I have the same P400e in the FFRR and agree entirely with your comments on the engine.