D3 V8, awesome

[slydr]

So, after many months of deliberation, and looking and re-looking at alternatives, I took the leap and bought a MY07 D3 HSE V8.

Yes, despite the nay sayers "go buy a Prado" and "buy 2 so you can drive 1 while the other is in the shop". All I can say is they live with their heads in the sand.

What an astounding vehicle, it'll do 200 kph, handles like it has no right to, sounds horn when you're up it for the rent, takes me to remote locations, all in a quiet and refined way beyond that provided by any vehicle in my experience.

Ok, so she does like a drink, but all bad girls do, and they're more fun, so a small price to pay for the brilliance.

I'm a convert, and I'll never be the same again. It's love.

[SBD4]

well done mate. There is no better feeling that's for sure.

What finally clenched the deal for you to make you ignore all the 'good' advice?

[DoctorJ]

Glad to hear another D3 owner absolutely over the moon, they are amazing vehicles and that permagrin never ceases, let all your friends in their Toyotas and Nissans think they have the better vehicles and when you go out 4wding show them what the Land Rovers are all about

Cheers
Julian

[gazm3]

I seriously thought about the d3 v8 but I had a series 1 disco 3.9 and was scared by the 25ltr/100km consumption.

[sniegy]

Good on ya, see what you have been missing :-)

Enjoy.

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[Disco_Ben]

Congratulations!

I too have a D3 V8 HSE... and love it!

Not that thirsty on the freeway if your quiet, i am getting 12.5l/100kms to work and back at the moment (no tail wind, and yes, the engine is running). :wasntme:

Enjoy the smooth, sweet sounding 4.4!

Don't forget to post a few photos!

Cheers
Ben.

[AnD3rew]

Enjoy it is a great vehicle, although there may be days when you have stopped for fuel for the third time when you wish you had bought a TDV6 instead:wasntme:

[Mike_S]

Enjoy it is a great vehicle, although there may be days when you have stopped for fuel for the third time when you wish you had bought a TDV6 instead:wasntme:

But I get back in the car happy in the knowledge that a) My hands don't stink of dismal and b) I'm doing my bit to keep the sun shining :p ;)

[slydr]

Loved the replies. Re the thirst, yesterday we drove Esperance to Mundaring (Perth Eastern Suburb) via Hyden on 1 tank, so not so bad, 700km, and yes we travelled 105 to 110km the whole way, except for the 140kph stretching her legs bit...our 99 NL Pajero SWB uses more 16-18L/100km v's 12-14s for the D3. Try the 18 when it's 2.33cpl at Bamaga.....ouch.

Did a recent return trip to Kalgoorlie with a colleague in his GU Pootrol, 3lt 4cyl manual, used 13.7lt /100km at 114 indicated. No lift, std tyres but he does have a roo bar, but where is the economy in the Diesel? And listening to the thing at idle, sounds like a tractor, and he paid double what I did......but I got a bargain

Thought long and hard about the D3 diesel, but adding the BS cam belt change at 150km (same with the v6) plus more expensive servicing at shorter intervals, didn't add up for me. And it was $10k more to buy one in same condition....Plus I now have a V8

[slydr]

Here are some pix of the mighty one, no idea how to put them at full size, newbie and all. Picture on the beach was taken at Warren Beach, far SW corner of WA, 5 km of 16psi to get down, 13psi to get back up. that hill in the pic is the first of 3, the last known as heartbreak hill....maybe for hilux's but not me, smiling all the way.

[discotwinturbo]

Slydr,

Lovely spot around the Warren...been going there for about 10 years. I have a friend that owns one of the last 3 lots just before callcup. Which one is heartbrake ? Is that callcup or yeagerup dune ?

I had big problems trying to get up callcup last time. Dsc off, and still it kicked in. Found out from Gordon (GOE) that I should not be using full throttle...should use a little less so as to not force the dsc on. Only way I got up was dsc off, sand mode, low range and 12 psi.....patrol always sailed up on second high at about 15. I almost decided to ditch in the sea....but have learnt a lot more about the D4 in the last 10 months.

Can't wait to go back down again.....try to get down there atleast 2 times per year.

Brett.....

[slydr]

well done mate. There is no better feeling that's for sure.

What finally clenched the deal for you to make you ignore all the 'good' advice?
The clencher for me came down to a few points. D3 choice due to - no need to get a suspension lift, huge levels of refinement compared to Pajero (what I was looking at first), it's not a Toyota (like a$%holes, everyone has one), it is / was 4x4 of the year in the opinions of those who test and drive cars for a living (not opinionated brand loyalists). Also did consider Pathfinder and came very close to the Grand Cherokee, but drove a few and found them nice to be in but remarkably uninspiring and as a keen driver felt isolated from the experience. Previous cars E39 530i M-Sport, Focus XR5 & Golf GTi all involving drivers cars. I can tell the D3 had Ford influence due to the way it steers, thank you Richard Parry - Jones.

Having then driven a few D3's, courtesy of Alf and the online sale ads, found the diesel ok and loved the V8. Never considered the V6, why bother when the 8 is near enough the same $. And didn't want a black one, had a few before and keeping it clean is a pain. Then decided must be Leather and have electric seats as I found the manual seat base to not suit me (too flat almost forward sloping) so it had to be the HSE. Then mine came up for sale in Tassie at a number that was well within the budget. Ok so it doesn't have the sat nav and fridge console, but I have an engel and a Navman. e-Diff would be nice but definately no deal breaker.

Wordy, yes, but no one thing, rather many factors.

[slydr]

Slydr,

Lovely spot around the Warren...been going there for about 10 years. I have a friend that owns one of the last 3 lots just before callcup. Which one is heartbrake ? Is that callcup or yeagerup dune ?

I had big problems trying to get up callcup last time. Dsc off, and still it kicked in. Found out from Gordon (GOE) that I should not be using full throttle...should use a little less so as to not force the dsc on. Only way I got up was dsc off, sand mode, low range and 12 psi.....patrol always sailed up on second high at about 15. I almost decided to ditch in the sea....but have learnt a lot more about the D4 in the last 10 months.

Can't wait to go back down again.....try to get down there atleast 2 times per year.

Brett.....
Hi Brett,

Not been down that way before, so not sure which one. We met the ex local copper at the top before heading down being nervous and seeing no one else didn't want to get bogged on an isolated beach, on our anniversary (can you imagine the grief) during the first bit of offroading we'd done in the D3. The heartbreak was a name he used. Looked at Google maps this morning, while SWMBO was sleeping, and I'm sure as that we were on Warren Beach road, so heartbreak would be the last part of the climb in the sand blow before turning right into the scrub.

[sniegy]

Well done Slydr,

Love the color too, had one for 3 weeks over Easter about 5 years ago thoroughly enjoyed it.
That V8 sounds brilliant.
I too now have a friend looking for one also.

Enjoy & we all enjoy lovely photo's

Cheers

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[slick]

So, after many months of deliberation, and looking and re-looking at alternatives, I took the leap and bought a MY07 D3 HSE V8.

Yes, despite the nay sayers "go buy a Prado" and "buy 2 so you can drive 1 while the other is in the shop". All I can say is they live with their heads in the sand.

What an astounding vehicle, it'll do 200 kph, handles like it has no right to, sounds horn when you're up it for the rent, takes me to remote locations, all in a quiet and refined way beyond that provided by any vehicle in my experience.

Ok, so she does like a drink, but all bad girls do, and they're more fun, so a small price to pay for the brilliance.

I'm a convert, and I'll never be the same again. It's love.



Could not agree more just went trough same process and got the same result and reactions from ill informed other. Just back from towing boat Melb - Lake Macquarie and back 2200k @ 19.1 very happy with that

[~Rich~]

Hmmm, fairly inconspicuous on the road. :eek:
Not going to paint the car to match? :wasntme:

[Marmoset]

Nice Slydr, one of my favourite colour combos on the D3 as well - I'm jealous :D

[slydr]

Nice Slydr, one of my favourite colour combos on the D3 as well - I'm jealous :D
Thanks Marmoset, originally I wanted a white one with black interior, but not now.....it's beautiful.

[slick]

Hmmm, fairly inconspicuous on the road. :eek:
Not going to paint the car to match? :wasntme:
Car stays Silver (or bloody grey like most cars ) for now but i may get bored !

[JayBee75]

Could not agree more just went trough same process and got the same result and reactions from ill informed other. Just back from towing boat Melb - Lake Macquarie and back 2200k @ 19.1 very happy with that


I swear I saw you on the pennisula link on the way to Frankston Saturday I think Slick?

[slick]

I swear I saw you on the pennisula link on the way to Frankston Saturday I think Slick?


Yes that was me i guess it does stand out a bit but aleast its not just another white boat