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View Full Version : One year after choosing D5 over Defender



Chieftain
21st August 2021, 05:41 PM
Just checking in for the first time to say hi!

My first 4wd was a new 100 series Landcruiser from back in the 90s. Engine blew up at 130,000 kms in third year and cost me over $10k. So that put paid to any concepts of Toyota reliability and I have since always negotiated a 5y warranty on a new purchase as any car will cost a bomb for that sort of problem.

Bought a 2012 Disco 4 SE with Ediff. It made me happy every time I drove it. Paid $82k on road with 5y warranty & servicing. Added $6k for bullbar, winch & Traxide DB system. Circumstances determined I should sell it 3 years later and I got $70k back. Only running costs were fuel & a new set of boots so that was a better depreciation story than I was expecting.

Last year I was hanging out to go again and was waiting for the Defender. The choice of engines were the lower spec diesel ~147kw I think, or a petrol version(s). Had the 225kw diesel been an option I may have looked harder. Had a 130 Defender been available, I would have been more interested again. At the time, COVID was slowing car sales and a 19MY SE SD6 Demo with 5k on clock had been gradually reduced to $102k with the Capability Plus pack. I decided to forget the Defender and maybe reconsider for my next vehicle when it had been in the market for a while & more choices of engines, sizes etc. Ended up picking up the Disco for $96k on road with 5y warranty & servicing again. When I think about people madly snapping up 200 Series LCs at premiums, I just shake my head. LRs are expensive but so are the alternatives which are not nearly as good or advanced.

I just love this vehicle. Haven't done any mods yet but planning on pulling out third row for a compressor & dual batt and changing over to 18" wheels. Not going to bother with a BB & winch and just take my chances and/or 4wd in company. With a family of 4 plus the dog, I appreciate the extra space of the D5 over a 110 also. Very happy with the choice.

The wealth of knowledge and experience on AULRO is such an amazing resource - it's almost too good to be true!

Shame the Defender 130 isn't going to extend the wheelbase. Chopping and extending a 130 cab chassis defender for a Tommy Camper or similar is a distant fantasy that may come to fruition one day...

Chieftain

Numb Thumbs
12th September 2021, 08:38 AM
Chieftain, welcome to the Forum.

I love my 19MY SE Sd6, even though it has spent a lot more time in the garage than I would like... We did manage to get away for 4 weeks to do a Darling River Run last year and the car was fantastic. We also had two weeks in the Victorian High Country earlier this year.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh78/drj153/20200619_072954.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/drj153/a/2605d4b6-8728-49d8-8dc2-3efecd04bce4/p/90a180d5-571a-472c-b111-20c6e91580d7)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh78/drj153/20200616_072124.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/drj153/a/2605d4b6-8728-49d8-8dc2-3efecd04bce4/p/e8395af1-e73f-47cd-aaf4-d479be79e429)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/hh78/drj153/20210502_115535(1).jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/drj153/a/1d15af7d-baf9-4678-a0be-a5d480fa8870/p/9a346224-d316-4e21-bff3-b5b8f3cb8804)

I vowed I would not fit an auxiliary battery and compressor/air tank permanently in the car, but Lockdown Boredom got the better of me!

Cheers
Numb Thumbs ;)

Chieftain
13th September 2021, 05:30 PM
Thanks Numb Thumbs.

I have a 13yo pushing me to get out in the bush (within 5 km, to exercise, as appropriate, ahem, [bigwhistle] :coplight: ) at every opportunity and the wetter and sketchier, the better in his view. Def need a bit more grip than stock tyres in wet but has proved very capable and great fun. Looking forward to knocking up some touring miles as you have done.

Chieftain

ramblingboy42
2nd February 2022, 08:34 AM
so , Chieftan, 6 mths later , have you been out in your vehicle?

Chieftain
7th February 2022, 11:01 AM
so , Chieftan, 6 mths later , have you been out in your vehicle?

Hi ramblingboy42. Restrictions weren't so long in regional vic. Have done about 30k in the 18 months.