D4 Christened

[brad72]

Well, I have finally lost my 4x4 off road virginity and I must say the D4 is an amazing car. The slope was not all that bad by your standards. 25º slope at the bottom ramping to 35º at the top with 40º section 3/4 the way up. It was slippery loose dirt with tree roots and protruding rocks.

I have been procrastinating over this for a few days now since I could barely get up the hill on foot. The bottom section looked easy but the 40º part with a deep hole either side that would put the car on 2 wheels just didn't look possible with stock street tires at road pressures.

Anyway, off I went in rock crawl....this is easy i thought, hit the steep section, could only see sky, traction control clanking away but up she went over the crest of the hill. Woohoo I thought. My heart was beating like a jack rabbit. Just to make sure i didn't fluke it i tried again. She slipped a bit more this time and lost all traction at the 40º big holes but a few seconds later, off she went.

What a fantastic 4x4. Just getting to know what she can do is so much fun. The last guys i saw going up this track has huge tires an lifted suspension. who would of thought a stock vehicle was so capable. I did discover however that hill descent in reverse can be a little fast compared to 1st gear. Did get a scratch down one side however that SWMBO frowned at. Stupid lantana.

Added a few photo's to share my excitement

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Disco4SE]

Well done Brad72, another colourbond moment. Still smiling?????

[brad72]

Yep, still smiling. Just can't get over how this car can be so luxurious on the road yet still be able to tackle tough 4x4 tracks with ease, even for an amateur like myself. I did walk the track 1st though, that counts for something I guess. Maybe that's why my heart was beating so fast since I'm so unfit..

[rmp]

Such a good post I copied it to the Stories thread.

[WhiteD3]

Well, I have finally lost my 4x4 off road virginity and I must say the D4 is an amazing car.

.............and that's shod with Wrangler I suppose? The D4 is a fantastic car but beware, it'll go places that it's factory-fitted tyres shouldn't, a lesson I learned in my D3 a couple of times:eek:

[Ashes]

Having not done a lot of offroad (about 5 days driving in total) I'm not sure I would have had the confidence to try that hill by myself so 10/10 for getting it up there and back.

A scratch or two I recon is a good thing as it means you are getting the car into places that you can have some fun.

The 5 days offroad have given me more joy that the other 300+ days I've owned my D3 for.

Well done!

[brad72]

............. , it'll go places that it's factory-fitted tyres shouldn't, a lesson I learned in my D3 a couple of times:eek:

I did wonder this. Is it the getting into trouble or getting out of it once your have gone too far that is the problem? The 18" wranglers don't have huge lugs on them. I could either splash out for some ATR's now and save these for when i sell it, get a set of 17"s and change over when i go 4x4'ing, or just wait for the wranglers to wear out. So many choices.

[WhiteD3]

I did wonder this. Is it the getting into trouble or getting out of it once your have gone too far that is the problem? The 18" wranglers don't have huge lugs on them. I could either splash out for some ATR's now and save these for when i sell it, get a set of 17"s and change over when i go 4x4'ing, or just wait for the wranglers to wear out. So many choices.

2 issues with the Wranglers; useless in any that even looks muddy, wet or slippery, and the walls are weak as. I broke the side wall in two wranglers:( at great expsense.

I left mine on until they were had it (and then went to Scorpion ATR's) but that included replacing three of the set of five over 50,000km.

[DDdisco]

Wherebouts is that track Brad? Might go and have a look at it myself just for a laugh. Is it near Toowoomba somewhere?

[brad72]

Yep, in Toowoomba. Head to Echo valley (southern end of Ramsay Street) and keep driving south past echo valley to the dirt access road. About a K after echo valley you will pass a house on the RHS then start going down hill. The track is about a about a 500m on the LHS after this, heading up off the side of the dirt track. A Lot easier to see once you start heading north back up the track. The track itself is only 100 or so meters long but fun just the same. (GPS Co-ordinates 27º37'31.09"S 115º57'26.60"E (from google earth) In fact there a tracks strewn all over the place down there if you are prepared to do a bit of exploring.

[DDdisco]

Thanks a lot for that. No gates or fences or anything? That's a bit rare these days :)

[brad72]

The more I look at the D4 photo's the more i think that she deserves a spot on the mantle piece next to the wife and kids.

Also as i find more spots around Toowoomba I'l post the co-ordinates.

[DiscoWeb]

The more I look at the D4 photo's the more i think that she deserves a spot on the mantle piece

The more I see the D3 or D4 in white the more I think it is a great colour choice, good luck on putting in on the mantle and well done on breaking the D4 cherry.

I am always amazing how easily they will do things off road and then turn into a luxury tourer for the trip home. :D

I like the number plate as well :BigThumb:

George

[brad72]

Have to agree George, I came from a black car but the white just looks good, especially with tinted windows.

As for the number plate, well that's just a bit of photoshop. Would be good however, but bet it would be expensive.

[Watpub]

For what it's worth, I just got off the phone from my dealer about my vehicle - just establishing some delivery dates, etc. While in the ordering process several (many:mad:) months ago I changed the colour from Ipanema Sand to Arctic White - couldn't personally justify $1,800 for a metallic finish!

The dealer just told me that white has now become "the new black" - apparently it's the current fad colour (is white a colour?). He reckons he could outsell white from any other colour 10 to 1. Anyhow, I feel glad I'm keeping up with the Joneses and that I'll be able to cruise down the High Street with my head held high...:p

Regards, Ron

[Disco4SE]

Hi Watpub, white is a good colour, better than Ipenema Sand and probably better for resale as well.
The only reason I went for silver is that my last 5 (yes 5) vehicles have been white. Always got good money for them when sold.
Hopefully I have been reassuring.

[weeds]

(GPS Co-ordinates 27º37'31.09"S 115º57'26.60"E (from google earth) In fact there a tracks strewn all over the place down there if you are prepared to do a bit of exploring.

one number is out of place.....;)
it takes you to western australia:p

151 instead of 115

[Watpub]

Hi Disco4SE,

After 5 white cars yes I'd feel inclined to go for a change as well!;)

My last Cruiser, which I sold in February, was white and after 5 years I decided it would be good to get some colour. But then I recanted and went back to white - hence the order change.

My previous Cruiser was a green colour - and boy did it show dirt and get hot. Looked great in the showroom but crap on the road.

I'm currently driving an old Pajero as an interim vehicle. It's burgundy and has no air conditioning (busted compressor). Jeez, do you know about it when the temperature outside gets above 18 degrees!

I've had a silver (or pewter as the posh name was) car too. Silver's like white - great for keeping heat out and dirt off.

Regards,

Ron

[brad72]

Have to agree Ron, my last car was a metalic black Calais. Looked awesome for the 1st 10 minutes after it was washed then, well, we know how much they show the dirt. And to be honest I am stunned how much cooler the white D4 is even with the Black leather interior. And hey, it's not really white like Toyota white (stark), it's Arctic White, it has a softness to it which just looks plain good

[Watpub]

Hi Brad,

That's an interesting move - from a Calais to a fourby. Any regrets? Do you miss the responsiveness and agility you get in a sedan?

I've been driving fourbies of one variety or another now for more than 25 years. I love the ability to see the traffic, tow what I want and virtually go anywhere I want without hassles. I've noticed how much more refined and comfortable they've become over this time (my first one was a demo 1984 Holden Jackeroo with vinyl in lieu of carpet and a Gemini 4 cyclinder motor - added new meaning to the word "gutless").

Just interested to hear why you've gone to a fourby.

Regards,

Ron

[brad72]

Hi Ron,

Well, I had a started in a Datsun Sunny & 120Y(neck breaking 69hp under the bonnet), went to Corollas, Mazda 3, 97 triton then an '04 rodeo but wanted some luxury and went for the '07 VE Calais (black with black leather). I had looked at an SE D3 but was just too much money at the time, but as soon as i got the Calais i missed the 4x4.

As good as the Calais was for zipping into traffic, the D4 handles itself better on the road at to be honest surpasses the calais in almost all areas. The engine isn't as responsive from a standing start but once you learn to compensate for the Turbo lag it isn't a problem. The Disco feels more composed and in control around corners than the Calais ever did. In fact following my brother in his 09 RRS, I was unable to keep up in the Calais as it just didn't feel safe. Maybe it was the Calais tires, who knows. Being above the traffic again is fantastic. The kids love the Disco as they can now see out of the windows again. I can fit as much in the boot & roof pod as I could in my Rodeo with a canopy. The D4 gearbox compared to the Calais is like night and day. The D4 always seems to be in the right gear and in manual mode changes are swift. The D4 is quiet, ride is smooth, offroading is excellent and, well, I just feel proud when i'm driving the Disco, (colourbond moment coming)

Would I go back to a sedan again.......no. There are just too many positives to the Land Rover. Plus now that my youngest is 3 we will be doing a lot more camping and as DiscoWeb said, you get to drive a luxury tourer to get you to and from your destination, but have a capable 4X4 once you get their. I think I had said in a previous thread that even with the D4 completely loaded with all our camping gear, the discovery drove like it was empty.

Sorry for the long winded answer..my wife says i never shut up

brad

[Watpub]

Well thanks heaps Brad,

Now I REALLY can't wait till mine arrives. If your move up from a Calais has been so dramatic they'll probably have to sedate me when I move up from the 1992 Pajero - either that or I'll need a facelift to get rid of the permagrin!

Thanks for the response and I hope you have many good times in the Disco.

Regards,

Ron