deciding to buy a Disco 4

[hammo1]

Hi All,

I'm wanting to get some valuable information on deciding to buy a disco 4. I have heard both good and bad reports. I would like to fit it out with a bull bar, winch, dual wheel rear carrier, snorkel and long range tank. Would like to know if anyone has taken them off road ie. desert and high country. Leaning towards a disco 4 rather a 200 series, as I think the disco is a better vehicle. Have concerns with adding the extra weight to venhicle, as limiting gvm. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Cheers Hammo1

[gghaggis]

It's a Land Rover - you don't need to ask if it gets taken off-road :cool:

I'd suggest looking through the FAQ (sticky post at the top of this forum) regarding all your accessories and then doing a search on "Simpson" or "Canning" "or "high country" etc etc. There have been some recent posts about GVM here:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/143461-how-heavy-yours.html

Lots of posts and useful info. Hopefully we can welcome you to the LR fraternity in the not-too-distant future!

Cheers,

Gordon

[camel_landy]

Yeah, you should find plenty of info on things like that with a quick search...

Personally, I'd question the winch as I prefer a hand winch option (more versatile) but that has been done to death several times too. :D

You are quite right to question the GVM. D4 is a heavy car but chosing the right spec can help... e.g. cloth, manual seats will be lighter than leather, etc. It also depends on how many people you need to carry, if there is only yourself +1, you could pull out the rear seats & carpets too.

There's always options... ;)

M

[camel_landy]

Oh yes...

...thanks to my job, I take D4 off-road ALL the time (as well as all of the other cars in the range). ;)

D4 TDV6 Auto is my weapon of choice these days... They are just brilliant off-road!!! :cool:

M

[discotwinturbo]

I was fortunate enough to have a 200 for a week and a D4 for a week. There was no comparison. More fuel efficient, much more comfortable vehicle, wife gave the 200 back after one day of running around (she really did not enjoy it at all). We did have the D4 the first week do that made comparing the 200 quite unfair.
D4 has blown me away offroad. It has blown me away onroad. Quicker than the 200, and hitching our 3.5 tonne trailer is so much easier and faster than using the wdh to stop the 200 dragging the spare tyre on the bitumen.
Carrying capacity is only 13kgs different so that does not come into the equation.....unless you are talking the gx spec yota.
Plus my niece is a yota mechanic....she sealed the deal for me.
Luv the D4....so happy I went with it.

[Disco4SE]

Hammo1,
I had a similar experience to discotwinturbo, with the exception that I had the 200 series & the Disco for a weekend, not a week.
Keep in mind that discotwinturbo & I have the 3.0Lt not the 2.7Lt. Although the 200 has more power & torque on paper and is almost identical weight, the D4 3.0Lt actually produces more power & torque at the wheels. In fact it is a full second quicker to 100 Kph (not that you will be drag racing).
The 3.0Lt produces 500Nm out of its 600Nm, at idle, so you have the torque down low where it is most needed.
Having had an 80 Series and a 100 Series Landcruiser prior to the D4, I wanted to make sure that I made the right decision.
Over the weekend that I had both vehicles (LC & D4) I found myself wanting to take the D4 whenever I had to go somewhere. Even the wife & kids were saying "Lets take the Discovery again Dad".
I have had the D4 for over 2 years now and covered 86,000Klm's.
Try prizing my arse out of it now :)

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Craig

[Plane Fixer]

Hi All
I have had a Patrol for the last 12 years and I was looking to change so I drove the 3.0 Disco 4 and I was blown away. I have also frequented these forums for the last 6 months to get a feel of the car and it so far has come up all positive.
As a result of this forum and the fact the Patrol motor blew up just before Christmas, I was given the go-ahead to buy the Landie. A few days ago I put down a deposit on a Fuji white 3.0 D4 with e-diff, reversing camera, xenon lights and I cannot wait to take delivery when I get back from a stint in the mines early March.
The ride, power, and comfort cannot be compared to the Patrol and I cannot wait to do some long trips in it. The only things I will be fitting to it is a bull bar, cargo barrier and some outback friendly tyres and I will be heading to Kununarra at the end of May.
I am counting the days!!!!
Graeme

[bigd]

Hi All,
Just joined today and was interested in this thread. I have recently put a deposit down on a new D4 2.7 with a few factory options added including 20" wheels. I am not a regular off-roader but have been up to Big River and surrounding areas previously(in a Patrol). I now intend to take ol wifey and my little boy up there again soon and want to get a jet ski and/or fishing boat in the future. I loved the test drive of the 3.0L but was directed toward the 2.7L for my purposes and budget. Do you guys have any opinion on the 2.7L or am I going to kick myself for not forking out the extra cash? Cheers

[mowog]

You will love it.. Great choice.

[sniegy]

Bigd,
You wont have any issues with the 2.7Ltr whatsoever, its not as quick as the 3Ltr, but then again you just saved a heap of cash to spend on other goodies if/when you require them.

Have had mine now for 2 years & still smile (permagrin:D still lives) everytime i get in to drive it.
It has taken me to many places around Vic, SA & NSW & is just a great comfortable vehicle to drive.
If thats all you plan on doing, you have made a wise choice. Even if you decide in the future to start doing more, then you wont have to upgrade, its all in the package waiting to be unleashed.

ENJOY;)

[Redback]

I have the 2.7l D4, lovely car to drive, we went to the High Coutry at Christmas and then again 3 weeks ago for a long weekend, handled everything with ease.

Next trip(June/July) is York Pen in SA, then 2013 the CSR

Ours has
Safari Snorkle
Opposite Lock Bullbar and VRS winch (plasma rope)
Kaymar rear bar (twin carriers)
Outback Long Range tank (109l)
Drawers
Roof rack platform
For more tyre choices we added 17" rims (with 18" originals in the garage)

Baz.

[eddomak]

Do you guys have any opinion on the 2.7L or am I going to kick myself for not forking out the extra cash? Cheers

I have had the D4 3.0SE for 2 years now and it is awesome. The amount of help and knowledge on this forum as well as the UK one (DISCO4.COM - Index (http://www.disco4.com)) is phenomenal. The number of tricks and tips and illustrated instructions on how to DIY a lot of things is great as well.

With the 2.7 vs 3.0 thing, you won't miss it if you don't have it, but I hear that there are quite a few remaps and chips out there that reliably boost the power/torque and have been doing so for quite a few years without problems. It is still cheaper than buying the 3.0.

[bigd]

Thanks guys. I figured as much. I too had a smile on my face when I drove it. I have been working for a Japanese and European marque for the last 13 years, so I have driven plenty of different makes and models of PVs, SUV's and LCVs. Let me tell you something for nothing which you probably already know...this Disco 4 is a cracker and the competitors know it. Have a look at the sales stats and see why these Jap brand die hards are a bit nervy and feel they have to justify every little nook and cranny about their pride and joy...hehe, cant wait to take delivery of my Disco end of July. All the best

[Plane Fixer]

I have taken delivery of my new 3.0 D4 on Monday and have clocked up a few kilometers so far on some of the back roads near Coffs and I am stuck with a permagrin as it is so enjoyable to drive, especially in the twisty bits.
I was reminded by the DSC that it is a heavy vehicle when I threw it a bit quick into one corner as there was also a dip there as well.
The comfort, get up and go, and the sheer ease of driving has made me very happy. The sheer ambiance in the cabin surpasses the other offerings.
I have moved up from a Patrol I have had for the past 11 years which was a very capable vehicle; I am yet to try the Disco's capability as it came with an e-diff as well.
On another note the range of 19" tyres is expanding as yesterday I was told Cooper have now the LTZ 19" which is between an LT and AT. It certainly has an agressive tread and I intend to try them later.
Graeme

[~Rich~]

That is most probably the Cooper LTZ which has only been available in 18's 20's, 22's & 24's
It has now been released in 255/55 R19 in the states.
Cooper Tires - Tyres (http://www.coopertires.com.au/index.php?page=tyres&tyre_id=9)

[BobD]

I have moved up from a Patrol I have had for the past 11 years which was a very capable vehicle; I am yet to try the Disco's capability as it came with an e-diff as well.



Graeme, just remember that it is different from a Patrol and slow down in ruts. I am for ever scraping the front cross member on the ground and banging it hard into the ground when I forget and drive it like my raised Patrol. You just need to go much slower where ground clearance in the middle might be a problem and it is fine.

The e diff and traction control means that it can keep going easily with wheels in the air on stuff that you need momentum to get through in a Patrol so you don't need speed. Go slower and the car will thank you!

Bob

[drowell]

Graeme
You'll love it. I've had my HSE for 18 months and I love it. Never had a 4wd before and there was no choice. I looked at the 2.7 so I coud get 18" wheels, but made the mistake of driving a 3.0 first!
We've kitted her out with the lot. Electronic diff lock, ARB bar and Warn winch, IPF lights, Kaymar rear twin tyre bar, Long Ranger aux tank, BW cargo drawers and barriers / shelves. Front Runner roof rack, 82L water tank, two aux batteries with Piranha isolator. Also have the Llams system.
We just did 9200km through Lake Eyre, Up to Kata Tjuta, Alice, Ambalindum, across the Plenty/Donohue, down to Birdsville, into the still flooded Eyre Ck (the reason we couldn't cross the French Line). Completing the Oodnadatta, Birdsville and Stzelecki tracks on the one trip.
Heaven to drive and it was fun doing the hard track up the back of Big Red without a runup, unlike the two poor guys in the diesel Partsaremissins who tried all afternoon and gave up.
Very keen to findout more on tyres. I have Goodyear MTRs on a second set of rims. Great tyre but noisy and they are wearing fast. Not good at $525 each!
She got herself in the January edition of Overlander.
Enjoy!
Doug

[Disco4SE]

Doug, I recently took the plunge and ordered some 18" rims through Gordon at GOE.
I am going to order some Cooper AT3's.
The tyre choice in 18" is far greater than 19".

Cheers, Craig

[drowell]

Hi Craig,
I thought about that, but when I bought my tyres, Gordon was still sorting the 18's out. I bought 6 x second hand RRS rims for only $1000 (slightly lower load rating, but in the bush I've had no issue).
The MTRs are wearing very quickly. My D4 is a bit heavier now and is definitely overweight on a long trip. Having said that - I have had no tyre damage at all, and I have given them a pretty tough time.
What are the 18s and the AT3's worth? and what's the view on caliper clearance with the 18s? Even with the 19s you can get a lot of mud and rock jammed up there.
Cheers

[Disco4SE]

Hi Craig,
I thought about that, but when I bought my tyres, Gordon was still sorting the 18's out. I bought 6 x second hand RRS rims for only $1000 (slightly lower load rating, but in the bush I've had no issue).
The MTRs are wearing very quickly. My D4 is a bit heavier now and is definitely overweight on a long trip. Having said that - I have had no tyre damage at all, and I have given them a pretty tough time.
What are the 18s and the AT3's worth? and what's the view on caliper clearance with the 18s? Even with the 19s you can get a lot of mud and rock jammed up there.
Cheers

Hi Doug,
I did the same as you originally. Bought the second set of rims etc.
Re: The brake calipers - Gordon has been using them for quite a while with no problems at all.
The AT3 tyres range between $360.00 - $380.00 each. Far cry from $525.00 each.

Cheers, Craig

[Graeme]

I have Goodyear MTRs on a second set of rims. Great tyre but noisy and they are wearing fast. Not good at $525 each!
Are the 19" MTRs still available? Having seen a picture of a 19" GY Duratrac on a D4 in the UK, perhaps the Duractrac is the LR/GY replacement. The Duratracs are less aggressive and are reported to be rather quiet, by comparison with MTRs at least.