Dilemma

[~Rich~]

Yes many have had this before I know!

The D3 is coming to the end of it's lease, many have said the most cost effective time to sell a car is less than 10yrs old and less than 200,000k.
Mine is 9yrs and 180,000k.

I love the car, best 4x4 I've ever had.
I'm concerned about keeping it and the possible big expense bills that may be coming too.

If I upgrade though I can transfer all my accessories to a D4.
The issues are I have a set of 18" wheels which will fit the last of the 2.7 but not the 3.0.
The additional cost for a 3.0 over the 2.7 is also a factor.

So is it worth upgrading or keep the D3 and just keep looking after it well doing regular maintenance including the Auto every 50,000k?

[phl]

Everyone is different but I always dispose of my vehicles at the 9 year mark. Not worth the risk off-road in remote areas.

After trying the 3.0, you'll never go back to the 2.7.

[lpj]

I had the same dilemma with my 2004 Subaru Liberty GT- great car but i should have moved it on at the end of the lease (circa 150ks).

Since then I have had to rebuild the engine at the cost of about 4K. Now I have to keep it to get my money back.

An almost 10 yr old D4 will start to cost you money at some stage. You have most of the good bits to go on a new D4 apart from the GOE 18's!!

[kingo]

I've just traded in my 2005 D3 with 180KMS for a 2009 RRS with 70KMS. The last service on the D3 cost $5k, the service before that not much short of $3k, that's $8k in 12 months. My thoughts then was I had always looked after it and should hang onto, but $8k in 12 months was a waste.

Move on and get a newer car, who needs an excuse to upgrade, basically you can't afford not to.

Good luck

[willem]

Everyone is different but I always dispose of my vehicles at the 9 year mark. Not worth the risk off-road in remote areas.

After trying the 3.0, you'll never go back to the 2.7.

Wish I could afford to do that. I just sold my 15 yo Rangie with 275k and moved up to a 7 year old D3 V8 with 120k on the clock. I'll be keeping that for a few years.

Willem

[BobD]

Just me but I would keep it. No matter how many thousands of dollars you spend on servicing it is nothing compared to the depreciation hit you will take when upgrading it.

I have just had new rear shocks, new parking brake, new front lower control arms, coming up for the cam belt etc and probably other things I haven't thought of on my 2010 D4. Does that mean I should sell it? Not in my opinion, especially when it is used off road and is not the most presentable vehicle at the moment! It is worth much more to me to keep it going and up to scratch.

Bob

[Epic pooh]

I would also keep it, but it depends on your usage profile etc - but the depreciation hit on another vehicle will likely outweigh repair expenses over a several year period. I've been on a program to fix up a pile of wear and tear things on my 2005 D3, but the expenditure there has not been huge (particularly compared to depreciation) and as far as direct breakages go the only one I've had over the last few years has been wheel bearing (wear and tear) which was no big deal thanks to NRMA premium care.

I tend to keep cars for a pretty long time because I get used to them and cant see the financial sense in getting rid of perfectly good cars (my record is my 1993 Daihatsu which we've had since new and is still going strong in its role as 'third car/loan to folks/drive for fun' car).

Good luck either way !

[Graeme]

After 9 years of the 2.7 would you want to spend up to get another 2.7 when the 3.0 can be had albeit for more money, or have you spotted a cheap 2.7 D4?

[rb30gtr]

There is a well priced white 2.7 D4 on Carsales

I have a similar dilemma, only my upgrade is to start a lease, I am not in one on my D3.

Good luck with your decision, it will be interesting to see what you decide to do??

[drivesafe]

Hi Rich and not sure if this is of any help to your decision but I went through a similar situation as you, back in 2007.

I had a 2002 TD6 L322 RR with 180,000 on the clock, and I, like you, worried about the possible costs of keeping the old RR or getting a new one.

I opted for getting a new one and have regretted it from the day I drove the new TDV8 out of the showroom.

In my case, it has worked out far more expensive getting a new RR over keeping the old RR.

Besides the fact that my NEW 2007 RR came without a warranty, the new RR has proven to be no where as good as the old RR so I actually went backwards on both the cost and the usability over what my old RR could do.

I had my old RR for 4.5 years and had it off road more than 100 times, and clocked up 180,000.

My new RR has only been off road 3 times and after 6 years, only has 120,000 on the clock.

The primary difference in your case is that the D3 and the D4 are both good vehicles.

[~Rich~]

I'm starting to think that paying twice as much as this D3 is worth plus the depreciation that will happen would pay for a lot of repairs to this 'reliable looked after' D3.
Besides it has everything I want on it.

"Some would say" that better the devil you know than the devil you don't.

Still I have some months before I make my decision.

All the feedback appreciated.

[BobD]

When the new D5 comes out it may change our thinking. However, if it is much more desirable for current owners the value of the D3's and D4's will likely drop a lot and still make the decision hard.

Bob

[oldsalt]

If it's running well and you're happy with it (which you seem to be) I'd stay with it... as you said "better the devil you know than the devil you don't".

I'm sticking with my 2007 (runs like a top) maybe in a few years time I "may" be tempted by a new D5 (depends how it turns out:() but I'm happy every time I turn the key on my vehicle - invested quite a bit of time and effort to get it to where it is today so it's a keeper (for now) ;)

cheers

[jon3950]

I had the same dilemma a year ago. Loved my D3 and had it set up just how I wanted it. At the end of the lease I ordered a D4 and agonised over the decision for the 6 months I waited for it.

Thought I'd made the wrong decision right up until the day I picked it up and have never looked back since. I didn't realise just how much better the 3.0 D4 is than the 2.7 D3.

The only thing I miss on the D3 is the 17" rims and because of this there are now a few places I wouldn't take the D4 that I would have taken the D3, but when finances permit a set of GOE 18"s will solve that problem. Meanwhile I have been pleasantly suprised where the 19"s have got me - it will have done 3 trips to the High Country and a trip to the Flinders by its first birthday in March, on one set of Zeons. Also I haven't been able to bring myself to fit a bar and winch to this one as it handles so well without them.

Was it the best financial decision? Don't know, don't care. I'm happy.

Good luck with your decision.

Cheers,
Jon

[chuck]

Yes it is a hard decision.

I regret selling my D3 & wish I still had it.

Not that there is anything wrong with the D4.

By know I would have paid for the D3 & it had all the good gear.