Is is worth spending on Petrol D3??

[4evershiva]

Hi guys, had the 2009 Disco 3 V6 Petrol for a year now, had installed on board air compressor, roof racks and awning. My plan is to do the Cape York and Simpson Desert in the next 2 year time. I know the list of mods that needs to be done like long range tank, dual battery, bulbar with winch, Llams module, etc. However, is it worth putting the money on the V6 petrol or shud I just wait and get a diesel D4 down the track. I got the 2009 Disco with 53,000kms . It is now sitting at 73,000kms, planning to get the steel pan transmission done in the next service.

Do you guys think that the Petrol V6 is capable of conquering the Cape ?

[Geedublya]

Easily...

[BMKal]

My boss has the V6 petrol D3 (coil spring "S" model) - he takes it everywhere. Not afraid to put it through a bit of rough stuff, and he travels with a mate with a very well set up Jeep Wrangler - the Disco will go anywhere the Wrangler goes.

The V6 petrol (Ford Explorer engine) is a bloody good engine - with the low km's on yours, it should be good for many good trips.

Don't believe all the crap you read in some magazines that you need a "lifted and locked" Japanese 4WD to get to the Cape - I did it with friends in a couple of Holden wagons many moons ago (I was in an EH).

[4evershiva]

Ohh yeah, have given her a beating already with the help of fellow Aulro members...first one was to glass house mountains and it was intense...hopefully one of the members here will organise a Cape York or Simpson desert trip next year where I can tag along...

[rar110]

Hi guys, had the 2009 Disco 3 V6 Petrol for a year now, had installed on board air compressor, roof racks and awning. My plan is to do the Cape York and Simpson Desert in the next 2 year time. I know the list of mods that needs to be done like long range tank, dual battery, bulbar with winch, Llams module, etc. However, is it worth putting the money on the V6 petrol or shud I just wait and get a diesel D4 down the track. I got the 2009 Disco with 53,000kms . It is now sitting at 73,000kms, planning to get the steel pan transmission done in the next service. Do you guys think that the Petrol V6 is capable of conquering the Cape ?

I would just get bar and dual battery system. I don't think you will need a winch if your travelling with others I doubt if you will need extra height. For fuel I would try to use jerrys on a roof rack But not sure about fuel use on a v6. I used about 100 lt in the Simpson to Mt Dare in my old 110 Isuzu.

[AnD3rew]

It wouldn't be so much the petrol that would worry me but the age. I did all those mods to my 2009 TDV6, but I did them 2 years ago when the warranty ran out. I am happy I did them but you need to understand you won't recoup the not inconsiderable cost if you sell the car and that like any car the older it gets the more you will worry about reliability which is pretty important on remote trips. I'm sure it is fine now, the question will be will you get enough years from it to justify the investment you are about to make.

At the age it is now I would be more inclined to either replace it with a newer vehicle before Doing the mods or limit the mods.

As others have said a winch is probably not essential if travelling with others. I have never used my winch for recovering myself. You can probably get by with a couple of good snatch straps a shovel and possibly an exhaust jack. I love my Llams but the GOE rods are cheaper and do a great job.

The one thing that might be more of an issue for you in the Simpson might be fuel. I don't know how much you will need but I understand the v6 is very thirsty. I personally don't like carrying fuel inside the car and I also don't like the weight of it on the roof, particularly if you also need to carry a second spare and a gas bottle and a tent etc up there. Don't forget you will also need a good supply of water which you also need to store somewhere. I'm sure it can be done in a petrol v6 without a long range tank, but I think it would make it much easier.

[Drizzle]

Hi guys, had the 2009 Disco 3 V6 Petrol for a year now, had installed on board air compressor, roof racks and awning. My plan is to do the Cape York and Simpson Desert in the next 2 year time. I know the list of mods that needs to be done like long range tank, dual battery, bulbar with winch, Llams module, etc. However, is it worth putting the money on the V6 petrol or shud I just wait and get a diesel D4 down the track. I got the 2009 Disco with 53,000kms . It is now sitting at 73,000kms, planning to get the steel pan transmission done in the next service.

Do you guys think that the Petrol V6 is capable of conquering the Cape ?

We also have a 2009 Discovery 3 V6 Petrol that we purchased a year ago and we went through the same questions you are now asking.

Everyone has their own budget, and not all of us are fortunate enough to have a large enough budget to spend on a relatively expensive new vehicle.

I know the preference for most people is to buy a diesel vehicle and we also explored the possibility of buying a diesel Discovery when we made the decision to buy our current vehicle. But a similar year and mileage vehicle in a diesel was substantially more in price. i.e. $10k to $15k more, which adds around another 25% to the total cost of the vehicle. Would I get a full return on this extra investment for our intended use of the vehicle? For us, most likely not...

As previously mentioned, the return on aftermarket items are most likely for only our own benefit and not for future financial gains when reselling. As we hope to have the car for another 5 years or so it came down to what we hoped to achieve in our travels without overcapitalising on the vehicle. With a 2009 Discovery 3 currently valued at around $30k (redbook) we couldn't really justify spending thousands on a rarely used bullbar and winch, and also neither a long range fuel tank and the subsequent required aft wheel carrier.

We are also planning a Simpson Desert crossing this year, and might do the Cape next year. We currently visit Fraser Island twice a year as well as other regular off road camping driving both inland and on the beach. In the winter school holidays there are plenty of Petrol Discovery's, Prado's, Pajero's, Patrol's plus the rest thundering across the Simpson like its a highway. You don't need a diesel, its a want.

We have GOE rods and fitted a Traxide dual battery kit for our engel fridge. We have a Rhino platform roof rack with awning, holders for 4 fishing rods, Trax Rax holders for Max Trax and 2 jerry can holders which allows us to drive on Fraser for a week with out the need to refuel at island prices (the jerry cans and holders have already paid for themselves!). We have also picked up a bargain priced roof top tent from gumtree. All the external items are easily removed and installed and can be fitted to a Discovery 4 when we decide to upgrade. We only fit them when required due to the negative effect on fuel economy. We're under no illusion, we live in a city and 90% or our driving is city driving.

From our experiences with fuel usage: Driving on the sand at Fraser with all our gear fitted it was indicating 18.5L/100km's. Highway driving home from our last trip at Fraser we were getting 13.5L/100km's with all the external gear installed. Last weekend we drove down to Byron Bay for the Bluesfest with all the gear removed and it was indicating 9.9L/100km's driving at the legal 110km/hr on the M1. City driving usually floats around 15L/100km depending on how heavy the foot is on the day. Although, it can get up to 20L if in a spirited mood...

At the end of the day, your vehicle only has 70,000km on the clock. If its well maintained, will the vehicle do what you want it to do without spending huge amounts of dollars on rarely used aftermarket items? I reckon yes.

[rar110]

We also have a 2009 Discovery 3 V6 Petrol that we purchased a year ago and we went through the same questions you are now asking. Everyone has their own budget, and not all of us are fortunate enough to have a large enough budget to spend on a relatively expensive new vehicle. I know the preference for most people is to buy a diesel vehicle and we also explored the possibility of buying a diesel Discovery when we made the decision to buy our current vehicle. But a similar year and mileage vehicle in a diesel was substantially more in price. i.e. $10k to $15k more, which adds around another 25% to the total cost of the vehicle. Would I get a full return on this extra investment for our intended use of the vehicle? For us, most likely not... As previously mentioned, the return on aftermarket items are most likely for only our own benefit and not for future financial gains when reselling. As we hope to have the car for another 5 years or so it came down to what we hoped to achieve in our travels without overcapitalising on the vehicle. With a 2009 Discovery 3 currently valued at around $30k (redbook) we couldn't really justify spending thousands on a rarely used bullbar and winch, and also neither a long range fuel tank and the subsequent required aft wheel carrier. We are also planning a Simpson Desert crossing this year, and might do the Cape next year. We currently visit Fraser Island twice a year as well as other regular off road camping driving both inland and on the beach. In the winter school holidays there are plenty of Petrol Discovery's, Prado's, Pajero's, Patrol's plus the rest thundering across the Simpson like its a highway. You don't need a diesel, its a want. We have GOE rods and fitted a Traxide dual battery kit for our engel fridge. We have a Rhino platform roof rack with awning, holders for 4 fishing rods, Trax Rax holders for Max Trax and 2 jerry can holders which allows us to drive on Fraser for a week with out the need to refuel at island prices (the jerry cans and holders have already paid for themselves!). We have also picked up a bargain priced roof top tent from gumtree. All the external items are easily removed and installed and can be fitted to a Discovery 4 when we decide to upgrade. We only fit them when required due to the negative effect on fuel economy. We're under no illusion, we live in a city and 90% or our driving is city driving. From our experiences with fuel usage: Driving on the sand at Fraser with all our gear fitted it was indicating 18.5L/100km's. Highway driving home from our last trip at Fraser we were getting 13.5L/100km's with all the external gear installed. Last weekend we drove down to Byron Bay for the Bluesfest with all the gear removed and it was indicating 9.9L/100km's driving at the legal 110km/hr on the M1. City driving usually floats around 15L/100km depending on how heavy the foot is on the day. Although, it can get up to 20L if in a spirited mood... At the end of the day, your vehicle only has 70,000km on the clock. If its well maintained, will the vehicle do what you want it to do without spending huge amounts of dollars on rarely used aftermarket items? I reckon yes.

Good advice. On reflection if you are planning an upgrade in under 2 years I would only buy accessories than can be fitted to next car. You shouldn't need extra tank on the cape unless venturing to places like Cape Melville. Fuel availability is good on the Peninsula Development Rd. On the Simpson trip we drove everyday. If you turn the fridge off an night (will be plenty cold in the morning) you can get away without a 2nd battery. Obviously a nice to have setup.

If you avoid dusk & night driving, and keep a good eye out for roos & emu in the day, you can go without a front bar.