D3 V's D4 - Off Road

[DiscoWeb]

Can not recall this question having been asked before so hear goes.

For those lucky enough to have owned or driven both, the D3 and D4 off road or anyone just wanting to throw in an opinion, is there any difference between the D3 and D4 off road.

I know there has been many hours spent discussing the merits of 19in rims and tyres and the 2.7TDV6 V's the 3.0TDV6 but putting that aside, what is the consensus, is the D4 any better.

Regards,

George

[mowog]

I read a review that said the D4 Terrain Response system was better calibrated than the D3 version. But that would be natural outcome for a new model.

[roamer]

Hi
I've had both and on the sand the D4 is better (even wth 19'), the sand launch in TR does make a difference, other wise I can't tell any difference.
Cheers Ken

[CSBrisie]

I've had both - but D4 has e-diff, D3 didnt; D3 had 18's with ATR's, D4 19's with MTR's; had to tell difference to be honest, both excellent. Big difference for me has been that 600nm of torque. Its very noticeable! :)

[rmp]

Depends, depends.

If all else equal and both 2.7s the D4 is just ahead as the Terrain Response is slightly improved, certainly seems a bit smoother.

If a 3.0 vs 2.7 D3 then the 3.0's engine is much stronger, you can maybe use 2nd low where a 2.7 would use first, and it helps in sand as well. Throttle response is improved too, so better driveability. However, if the 2.7 has 17s and it was one of those really-need-to-air-down-low situations then it'd beat the D4 on 19s.

Put the e-diff in the D3 and it'd have the advantage over the D4 in most situations.

Most of the new D4 TR gimmicks are just that. I don't think sand launch is much good as it's one programme for all types of sand, precharge is fairly useless as are the HDC improvements. The TR improvement is in the calibration and refinement of existing programme.

Biggest difference would be the driver.

Any reason for asking or just interest?

[DanW]

The one thing that LR could have done to make a really big improvement they didn't do - no offroad height above 50km/hr. To be honest the biggest issue with this is that it starts annoying you at 40km/hr with warning chimes. I could handle the automatic lowering if they cut the alarms:mad:

So it is only opinion of course, but if D4 has the same annoying feature, then it couldn't be any better.

Oh and I hate that it resets the off road settings after a couple of hours - very annoying when spending a couple of days camping on Moreton.

I don't understand all of that offroad setting - it seems to have been made to make off roading simpler but it actually made it more complicated in the process.

[rmp]

Ahahaha...mine lets me drive as fast as I want at any height.

Thanks to LLAMS!!!

[Disco4SE]

Had a forum member tell me recently that his D4 2.7 went so much better than his D3 2.7. He was talking on road.
Not sure if LR made any improvements on the D3 engine????
Interesting to hear from others.
Cheers, Craig

[roamer]

Depends, depends.

Most of the new D4 TR gimmicks are just that. I don't think sand launch is much good as it's one programme for all types of sand, precharge is fairly useless as are the HDC improvements. The TR improvement is in the calibration and refinement of existing programme.

Biggest difference would be the driver.

Any reason for asking or just interest?



Well, Well
The sand up here on the sunshine coast (Cooloola, fraser) must be the type of sand it's designed for, cause I,m up the beaches all the time and the D4 handles the soft sand noticeably better, same driver,same air (18lb) :D
However different tyres D4..19' ATR, D3 18'..GG AT,
and motor ..3lt ..2.7lt

Cheers Ken

[rmp]

Had a forum member tell me recently that his D4 2.7 went so much better than his D3 2.7. He was talking on road.
Not sure if LR made any improvements on the D3 engine????
Interesting to hear from others.
Cheers, Craig

I don't think so, but the handling is slightly improved as is general refinement so the same speed would feel slightly more effortless.

[rmp]

Well, Well
The sand up here on the sunshine coast (Cooloola, fraser) must be the type of sand it's designed for, cause I,m up the beaches all the time and the D4 handles the soft sand noticeably better, same driver,same air (18lb) :D
However different tyres D4..19' ATR, D3 18'..GG AT,
and motor ..3lt ..2.7lt

Cheers Ken

Out of that I reckon the engine would be the biggest factor. The sand launch is only for starting off.

[DiscoWeb]

Any reason for asking or just interest?

No, just interested.

I did not think there would be a significant difference and certainly from my recollection no one to date has note an improvement in off road performance as a reason for an upgrade to the 3.0 D4. Certainly most seem to like the increased power of the D4 3.0 on road an if towing etc.

As expected the two key questions remain , 19in Vs 18 or perhaps 17in and the 2.7 V's 3.0.

George

[rmp]

Agreed, the difference between them offroad isn't enough to justify an ugprade and if you want more offroad performance, add better rubber and a better driver. The D4's allure is not just the one feature but more the whole package of refinements to the interior, engine, cabin, handling...everything just adds up to an improvement. Not to say the D3 is poor, not at all, just the D4 is better. I think most people upgrading are about ready for a new car anyway. I don't know of anyone who has looked at a D4 and then junked their D3 ahead of time because they were so desperate to get into one. Certainly I'm in no rush with my '08.

I do think for tourers who don't tow, go offroad and don't have unlimited $ the 2.7 makes a lot of sense over the 3.0.

[Owl]

Had a forum member tell me recently that his D4 2.7 went so much better than his D3 2.7. He was talking on road.
Not sure if LR made any improvements on the D3 engine????
Interesting to hear from others.
Cheers, Craig

I believe the D4 2.7 has better fuel economy than the D3 2.7. They must have done something

[gghaggis]

In sand and climbing ravines or rocks, the D4 is better than the D3, due to (as RMP said) tweaks to the Terrain Response. In rocks it's quite noticeable, where the D3 will lose the line a little, the D4 won't, and scrambles less. The difference is more pronounced if the D4 has the 3.0 ltr and the rear eLocker (vs a D3 2.7 ltr with rear eLocker).

The D4 3.0 ltr is a rocket in sand, even on the 19" rims. However, I've now had my 3.0 ltr (RRS) on 18" rims for the last two weeks, and the performance is better yet again - you could put what you like on a D3, it would never keep up :twisted:

Cheers,

Gordon

[jonesy63]

Did someone say "rocks"!! I prefer my mapped, e-diff equipped D3 on 17" LT tyres, than a D4 3L on 19". One reason: sidewalls.

D4 2.7L on 17" tyres... ok, but I heard that they have the 3L crankshaft and are a bit more lazy.

As a side question - are there any LT 18" tyres available yet?

[jonesy63]

George - we need someone with a D4 to come along and do Mt Walker for comparison. :burnrubber:

[rmp]

No, just interested.

I did not think there would be a significant difference and certainly from my recollection no one to date has note an improvement in off road performance as a reason for an upgrade to the 3.0 D4. Certainly most seem to like the increased power of the D4 3.0 on road an if towing etc.

As expected the two key questions remain , 19in Vs 18 or perhaps 17in and the 2.7 V's 3.0.

George

Get the smallest diameter rim you can, ie 18s for the 3.0 and 17s for the 2.7 if you want to go offroad. Best tyre choice and performance.

Re 2.7 and 3.0 - as Gordon has 18s for the 3.0 the case for the 2.7 is less strong. Really it comes down to whether you want to spend the $10k or so for extra power that you don't absolutely need but is lovely to have. Personally I would love the 3.0 motor but I wouldn't pay the premium for it, but everyone has different priorities.

[Celtoid]

but everyone has different priorities.[/QUOTE]

Indeed Robert that is correct...

I had a heap of ideas about what colour I would like inside and out and options etc, but when I was looking at a massive waiting list I started looking at ex demo's.

I was lucky that I liked the Stornoway Grey with the black interior in the D4 SE that I bought but would have preferred white with the black interior.

If I had a choice again, that is still the colour selection I would make. Although the grey looks fantastic.......when clean......:(.

Mine had also been specced up for the show room...so more bits and bobs and gizmos.

I was placed with the decision of a X month wait and pay premium dollars or take what was on offer in the ex-demo range.....more gizmo's, less money and immediate delivery.

Over a year down the track,,,still wearing the Permagrin...:)

It's a bugger to keep clean but I like the sound system and intergreted gadgets (but would never buy the car for those). The car is fantastic on and off-road...the 3.0L defies the concept of diesel and a 2.6 ton truck!

On a side note.....I've used Rock Crawl on numerous occasions where I was getting very close to getting bogged in deep slippery mud, with the OEM's like racing slicks. It's like magic....no throttle required till on a slope...and just 'walks' out of everything I've been in. I guess all that low end torque helps.

Of course the Blinding Flash of the Obvious (BFO) is that fact that I still can't drive for pooh off-road, as the Rock Crawl is replicating what a calmer more experienced hand would do anyway.

A friend suggested that the selection should be called the CTFDM...meaning Calm TF Down Mode :)...as that is precisely what it does.

Out of the super slippery stuff the 3.0L is superb...climbs gravel and rutted hills with no fuss at all....barely above idle required, meaning you can pick your lines etc.

That's my 2C.

Cheers,

Kev.

[Dingmark Jim]

FWIW: I had a petrol V8 D3 (no rear e-diff) and replaced it with the 3.0 D4 (with rear e-diff). Both had 19" MTRs for offroad. My D4 is noticeably better on stably climbing rock ledges, soft sloping beaches, and even sand dunes (where the KW of the V8 should have trumped torque). Both engines are very capable, but the D4 auto trans works smoother, and its sand and rock crawl modes seem more fit for purpose than did the D3's. The 3.0 TDi also burns about 1/2 of the fuel on soft beaches, but doesn't quite have the same V8 thunder:twisted: on prolonged full throttle.

Now to spend some time in Oz enjoying it instead of "termporarily" in an icy USA.:mad:

[TerryO]

I keep reading that the D4 has superior software to early D3's in the various off road modes which means the vehicle is more capable off road.

My question is if alot of this superior off road ability is due to software upgrades then is it possible to download the new programs into a early D3?

I have on a number of occassions gone out bush bashing with various people from this website and they have proven to me that superior software in serious and tricky off road driving will in 99% of cases work better than more grunt or even lockers.

Mind you the software they use is the old fashioned variety that is programmed between their ears, on the bright side anyone can obtain the same software with experience and practise. ;)

cheers,
Terry

[DiscoWeb]

George - we need someone with a D4 to come along and do Mt Walker for comparison. :burnrubber:

Absolutely jonesy, Mt Walker this Sunday for anyone with D4 they want to get dirty !!

George

[Owl]

Mind you the software they use is the old fashioned variety that is programmed between their ears, on the bright side anyone can obtain the same software with experience and practise. ;)

cheers,
Terry


True! ......Too true

[TerryO]

I'm still interested to find out, that is if anyone knows on here, if a D3 can have the upgrades in the updated off road software that a D4 has installed?

I'm sure other owners of D3's would also like to find out if this is possible.

cheers,
Terry

[Graeme]

Hi Terry,

This doesn't answer your question but as the MY10+ Disco & RRS vehicles use a different CANBUS standard, the ecus are not physically compatible. EG, the supension ecu now has the CANBUS wires on a different connector, possibly to prevent incorrect fitment between models. This doesn't guarantee that the software cannot be loaded or wont function if loaded, but increases the liklihood that earlier ecus wont run the later software.

[JPI]

I concur with the others inasmuch as my D4 is much better in sand than my D3. However my D4 has the rear eDiff locker which I'm sure makes a big difference. I have also found that low ratio is better when churning through the soft sand at the beach entry points. Hitting it fast in high often had me bogging down and being forced to reverse out and try again, now I just select Sand in Terrain Response and low ratio and just drive through with minimal slippage and no drama, it's really quite uncanny.