D3/4 or RRS -which is better for offroad play + touring? [Archive]

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gobrood

24th July 2015, 10:35 PM

Dear LROs,
Having just been barred/discouraged by 'er indoors from buying another Defender 90, I am being forced to consider and research a more comfortable 4X4. So- RRS or Disco? Are there any difference in the offroad capabilities of the two vehicles, which I understand have the same running gear? Is there the same availability of aftermarket mods for both vehicles (bulbar, toolbar, snorkel, rock sliders, wheel/tyre combination,wading depth, approach departure angles, rear bar spare wheel carrier, cargo barrier) etc. I know I can go on LR websites, but some personal experiences would be very helpful. Does the RRS have as much rear room as Disco?

Having come from tricked-up 80s Rangies and Defender 90s, I am a bit wary of softroaders, but I do understand the D3/4s are very capable. (I do prefer the look of the RRS though). Thanks in advance for any comments.
-robg

AnD3rew

24th July 2015, 10:46 PM

Pretty much the same car from a basic capability perspective. Will probably find more standard accessories for the Disco but people have managed bull bars etc for RRS.

Probably the biggest difference is less room in the back.

letherm

25th July 2015, 12:51 AM

Having come from tricked-up 80s Rangies and Defender 90s, I am a bit wary of softroaders, but I do understand the D3/4s are very capable.

D3/4s are definitely not soft roaders. :) Very capable vehicles but you need to retrain yourself as it needs a different mindset to drive. I had a Pajero before my D4 and it was like chalk and cheese. The D4 beats the Pajero hands down. Some sort of familiarisation course would be very advantageous so you understand how to get the best out of it. If you can't get to a course, Gordon's (GGHAGGIS) book is well worth getting and he gives a discount to members.

Martin

scarry

25th July 2015, 06:58 AM

Both have very similar off road capability.

More aftermarket accessories are available for the D4,than the RRS.

The D4 has way more room inside.

The D4 may also have a better selection of tyres available,depending on what model you end up with.

scomac

25th July 2015, 11:50 AM

gobrood,

After having lived with both vehicles, my opinion is that the D4 is better suited for off road/touring and a family. Not by much tho.

The D4 is a softer side and has more room as Scarry as said.

While I loved the RRS, I like the D4 better.

Cheers
Scott.

nat_89

25th July 2015, 04:10 PM

I think there is a few people here who have done the exercise before choosing one, for me it was the D4 that won due to the awesome interior room the extra seats the fully flat interior floor its amazing what you can fit in there!! Also when purchasing new it was nearly $45k difference and we just couldn't justify that for less space and less seats although they hardly get used they are handy to have on the odd occasion. Mine gets little offroad use so i dont have any accessories fitted but as said above there is many more accessories for the D4 over the RRS. But it all comes down to what suits your needs.

ozscott

26th July 2015, 01:04 PM

D3/4s are definitely not soft roaders. :) Very capable vehicles but you need to retrain yourself as it needs a different mindset to drive. I had a Pajero before my D4 and it was like chalk and cheese. The D4 beats the Pajero hands down. Some sort of familiarisation course would be very advantageous so you understand how to get the best out of it. If you can't get to a course, Gordon's (GGHAGGIS) book is well worth getting and he gives a discount to members.

Martin

Having driven Pajeros off road they run out of wheel travel and clearance in a heart beat. Its not unlike what a D4 would be WITHOUT all the bits that simulate live axle articulation and clearance...ie they run out of off road ability very quickly. I also dont like their slow steering and onroad noise. However their brakes are excellent and they are very well sorted reliability wise with little to go wrong given the lack of electrickery in the suspension etc.

Cheers

carlschmid2002

26th July 2015, 01:14 PM

I think the only advantage the RRS has over the D3/4 is the engine choice. You can't get the supercharged V8 petrol or Twin turbo V8 diesel in the D3/4. I haven't driven either but I thought if I won lotto I would buy a Supercharged 5 litre V8 RRS and put all the good bits from my D3 and get some GOE 18 " rims. That is my dream car. (One of them anyway)

gghaggis

26th July 2015, 04:10 PM

If you take the time to set them up properly, the RRS has a slight advantage offroad - it's more manoeuvrable due to shorter wheelbase. The D4 is a much better tourer though, more space and better EAS valving for distance travelling. So overall, the D4.

Cheers,

Gordon

ozscott

26th July 2015, 08:13 PM

Is wheel travel, clearance and articulation the same on both Gordon?

Cheers

Nicky

26th July 2015, 08:24 PM

??... the RRS has a slight advantage offroad - it's more manoeuvrable due to shorter wheelbase. ?.

Cheers,

Gordon

Are you sure? can you provide measurements please.

TerryO

26th July 2015, 09:21 PM

Having driven Pajeros off road they run out of wheel travel and clearance in a heart beat. Its not unlike what a D4 would be WITHOUT all the bits that simulate live axle articulation and clearance...ie they run out of off road ability very quickly. I also dont like their slow steering and onroad noise. However their brakes are excellent and they are very well sorted reliability wise with little to go wrong given the lack of electrickery in the suspension etc.

Cheers

Sorry Scott but what vehicle are you talking about? ... are you having a shot at the Pajero or the D4 or both?

ozscott

27th July 2015, 05:42 AM

Pajero

Redback

27th July 2015, 07:33 AM

Are you sure? can you provide measurements please.

Wheelbase for the RRS is 100", D4 is 110" or there abouts, I'm fairly sure the approach and departure angles are better on the RRS also.

Overall, the D4 is a better package, it's cheaper, has more available accessories, softer ride and has more load space.

That's not to say you can't set the RRS up as a tourer, far from it and I would imagine it would make an excellent tourer.

Baz.

SBD4

27th July 2015, 08:23 AM

Nicky

27th July 2015, 09:35 AM

Wheelbase for the RRS is 100", D4 is 110" or there abouts, I'm fairly sure the approach and departure angles are better on the RRS also.
Baz.

Well, from the official Land Rover site:-
wheelbase RRS 2923mm
D4 2885mm

Redback

27th July 2015, 10:20 AM

I think the wheel bases are 108.1" RRS(L320) vs 113.6" Disco. Funny thing is that the turning circle is very marginally better on the Disco 11.50M for RRS vs 11.45M on the Disco. The L494 RRS is bigger in every way than the disco, 115" wheelbase & 12.3M turning circle.

I did say there abouts:angel:

According to the website as you say it's, 113.5" D4, 115.1" RRS, which supprised me, I thought it was the other way around still.

Well, from the official Land Rover site:-
wheelbase RRS 2923mm
D4 2885mm

Yep going on the 2015 specs, but 108.1" for previous models as said above by Sean.

I haven't quite got to rivet counting status as yet, when it comes to Land Rovers:p

Baz.

Nicky

27th July 2015, 05:07 PM

"Thereabouts" is not an engineering spec.

Plane Fixer

27th July 2015, 06:40 PM

:angel:
"Thereabouts" is not an engineering spec.

Close enough with an assumption.:angel:

gghaggis

27th July 2015, 11:11 PM

Are you sure? can you provide measurements please.

Yes I'm sure. No I can't provide measurements (I'm not at home), although I did in an old thread on here
Do a search. The OP was referring to the L320 RRS, not the new L494.

Cheers,

Gordon

Redback

28th July 2015, 06:20 AM

"Thereabouts" is not an engineering spec.

I'm not an engineer, so thereabout is close, besides what's 3" in the sceem of things:p

Stuart02

28th July 2015, 09:03 AM

Which turning circles were being compared? Our L320 feels more manageable in general around town than our D4 did. Having driven toyotas and mitsubishis a lot I can say the D4 was still excellent for its size. The RRS low roofline is a bonus. For general offroading I have no qualms about the RRS other than wheel choice but for touring its the D4 hands down. Not just space and ride but most of all payload.

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SBD4

28th July 2015, 09:37 AM