With the saddest thoughts of Puma still fresh in our minds and hearts, it was time to search for a new off road rig.
The criteria was pretty simple: An extremely capable 4×4 out of the box with a standard motor that had the grunt to pull G-String up hill and down dale in the best and worst of conditions, whilst sipping fuel ever so gently. It had to be stylish, have a personality and be easily accessorised. Colour didn’t matter, yet condition was paramount. Ideally the transition would be cost neutral. Critical, was a towing capacity, gross vehicle mass and gross combination mass that did not require thousands spent to make it legal.
For a few short seconds we considered a V8 Petrol Nissan Patrol. It ticked every box except cost a bomb for anything with less than 100,000 ks on the clock. The fact they suck at least 22l per 100km when towing anything other than a token dose of COVID, relegated it to an also ran.
Naturally we flung our thoughts towards a 200 series cruiser. The words of the mechanic in Broome telling us he replaces a Prado and Cruiser V8 motor at least once a week, had us nervous. Price made it not really a possibility, before boat like handling, an appetite for fuel and poor load capacity nailed the coffin shut for good.
With Landrover blood coursing through out veins, the only and obvious choice was a Landrover Discovery. As luck would have it, within five km of home a pristine example popped up, fitting all criteria perfectly.
One short test drive sealed the deal. She was shinny black, in perfect condition with under 100,000ks completed. Never been crashed, never been stolen, clearly never been abused. Within two days she was parked in our driveway.
Being beautifully painted in Santorini Black there was only one possibility when it came to a name. Welcome PANTHER. She came pretty much bog standard, save a Rhino roof rack. Although in the few weeks of ownership she has gathered an awning, towing mirrors, a spare tyre winder upgrade and a rear Anderson plug. A blank canvas; yes. An exciting possibility; definitely.
What’s she like compared to Puma? An unfair comparison maybe, but it is not hard to appreciate seats that are comfortable, dual zone air-conditioning, power windows on all doors, wipers that wipe, lights that light and the most magnificent air suspension one could ever imagine. Panther is one beautiful pussycat.
So how does Panther perform. On her maiden journey towing G-String, she flew. To say we didn’t feel the van on the back is not overstating the situation. Peter even outpaced a racer boy in his lowered Nissan rice burner through some corners. Ok it was not a fair fight. Poor bugger could’t drive a fork into a rare T-Bone, let alone a car. But it was fun!
So what’s in store. Panther needs some attention to bring her up to go anywhere standards akin to Puma. In the next year or so she will see, a bull bar, driving lights, snorkel, off road tyres, rear storage solutions, a UHF radio and a few other enhancements. Just the vital stuff you need when taking on the deserts and high country.
Be sure to follow our adventures. Welcome to the family Panther.