The Putjenters’ Adventures With Their Land Rover Defender
Story by Kara Schweiss // Photography by Bill Sitzmann
Jeff and Melinda Putjenter are always on the go, both professionally and personally. She’s a district manager for The North Face, the retailer known for its high-performance outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment. He’s a master tiler and business owner. They both enjoy various activities, from mountain biking and fat-tire biking to golf, so they wanted a vehicle with generous cargo space and practical features for a variety of conditions—but also one with style and maybe even a little pizzazz.
“We like to go outside to do a lot of things,” Melinda said. “And I don’t want to look like every Tom, Dick, and Harry.”
The couple’s new SUV, a 2023 Land Rover Defender, provides everything they need and is definitely out of the ordinary.
“We get compliments on it all the time because we went with the Tasman Blue. One thing I love about that is how Land Rover has a legacy around that color, because it was one of the very first original blues that they had when they first started, and they brought it back,” she said. “This Tasman Blue, it’s a very unique color.”
“And with that white leather interior, it pops,” Jeff said.
The couple has been a fan of the Land Rover/Range Rover brand for years—they’ve owned models including Velar, Range Rover Evoque, and Range Rover Autobiography in the past—which brought them to ONYX in the first place, and has kept them coming back when it’s time for their next new vehicle.
The Putjenters previously considered a Defender a few years ago, Melinda said, but “they didn’t have all the models yet because it was brand new.” They loved the Velar SVAutobiography they ended up purchasing (“an incredible vehicle,” in Jeff’s words) and looked into buying out the lease earlier this year, Jeff said.
“But Melinda wanted to get into something that was a little bit higher, a little bit bigger, more room,” he explained. “So, that’s why we went with the Defender, which we are both really happy with.”
The vehicle easily accommodates Melinda’s luggage for work travel, and there’s a handy feature that’s proven to be perfect for when Jeff picks her up from the airport, Melinda said.
“A luxury feature that was unexpected—that we absolutely love—is that the center console is a cooler,” she said. Jeff added, “When you’re picking your wife up from a long flight and happen to have a nice, ice-cold beverage for her to open up on the way home, it’s very convenient.”
The Defender has proven to be roomy enough for biking gear and outdoor equipment.
“Unfortunately, we are in the middle of doing construction in our house, so we haven’t had the opportunity to get both of our golf clubs in the back yet,” Jeff said. “But that is soon to come.”
Winter weather is impending, too, and while other Midwesterners may dread getting on the road when the flakes start to fall, the couple said they’re actually looking forward to driving the Defender in the snow. The Defender is also built for rugged terrain—perfect for expected future Colorado trips to visit friends—and the couple said they are looking forward to “playing around” with the different functions of the vehicle’s suspension, which can accommodate conditions like gravel or water.
It’s also a good SUV for passengers, Melinda said, with its third row of seats. It even has comfort and convenience features like ample power sources for chargers. The full skylight has also been an unexpected hit with several friends and family members.
“It adds a little bit more light into the back,” she said.
“I have never sat in the backseat, but a lot of people comment about it when they’re in the back,” Jeff said. “They’re like, ‘Oh, wow! That’s super cool.’”
The Putjenters said they’ve appreciated the ONYX team’s assistance in helping them acclimate to their new vehicle, from programming the garage door opener to teaching them about the Defender’s many functions and how to access them.
“I drove the car for about two weeks and then made the appointment [where they] came out and showed me all these features,” Melinda said. “Every single person at ONYX…just the attention to detail,” Jeff added.
“I love that specialized attention,” Melinda said. “If I have a question or I need something, I have somebody who knows me and can contact me personally.”
For more information, visit onyxautomotive.com.
