Another Disco or an LC200

[BradC]

Wife has a Hundai. It's too small, too light and gutless.

We are tossing up between a 2.7L D4 and buying mums LC200.

The LC200 is solid, but dad had a GVM upgrade fitted that I'd want to remove (makes it ride like a pogo stick).

Plenty of sub 200k 2.7 D4s coming up for less than $20k, but then they're going to need LCAs and there's the unknown HPFP life.

We've looked at 3.0 D4s, but I'm not sure I'm that much into crankshaft roulette. Whereas we know the LC200 inside and out.

The D4 is in every way a better vehicle unless it's on a flat bed.

Decisions decisions.... Spend nearly 50 on the LC or sub 20 on a D4 knowing it's going to need plenty of love and parts in the near future.

[V8Ian]

Better the devil you know. I've been driving the Paj of late, better brakes, more grunt and bigger doors, but for venturing further than Aldi, the Disco is a better vehicle hands down.
Will Mrs. C be confident in a car that rolls on four roulette wheels, or prefer a reliable, boring appliance that gets her to work on time every day.

[shack]

Decisions decisions.... Spend nearly 50 on the LC or sub 20 on a D4 knowing it's going to need plenty of love and parts in the near future.

What do you want to be driving?

I know it's not that simple, but that's where I start.

[Tins]

Wife has a Hyundai. It's too small, too light and gutless.



The LC200 is the absolute opposite of all those things. Talk about seismic shifts. IMO you sit IN a LC200, a D4 wraps you up and cossets you. $30k buys a lot of spare parts, even at OEM prices.

As Christian from Germany says, LR dealer service history is probably not a positive on the pros and cons ledger though.

[V8Ian]

The LC200 is the absolute opposite of all those things. Talk about seismic shifts. IMO you sit IN a LC200, a D4 wraps you up and cossets you. $30k buys a lot of spare parts, even at OEM prices.

As Christian from Germany says, LR dealer service history is probably not a positive on the pros and cons ledger though.
Not quite that simple, John. Is Mrs. C happy enough to play the "Turn the key and play the "will it get me home again" lottery."? Bear in mind if/when anything goes wrong, it'll be Brad's fault and he'll be the one who has to suffer for it.
Does $30k rectify a busted crank?

[BradC]

What do you want to be driving?

I know it's not that simple, but that's where I start.

Me? My D3. Happy driving a D4 or the LC when required.

Pams folks were here for a couple of months and they had her car. We borrowed the LC200, and with the exception of the rougher ride she rather liked it.

On the other hand, yes $30k is a lot of spare parts. The other elephant in the closet is the V8 LC200s are depreciating very, very slowly. So

[Tins]

Does $30k rectify a busted crank?

Brad is talking about a 2.7. Don’t believe they have the broken crank issue.

[BradC]

Absolutely. Which is the reason I told her to look for 2.7's only.

Mind you, the crank went in the D3 before it hit 80,000 miles. But I've not heard of any 2.7s in the D4 popping.

[ozscott]

I thought the 2.7 were also quite capable of soiling the bed via the crank/bearings. Cheers

[Tins]

I thought the 2.7 were also quite capable of soiling the bed via the crank/bearings. Cheers
As can any poorly maintained engine. The V8 in the 200 series isn’t exactly without its issues.

[ozscott]

As can any poorly maintained engine. The V8 in the 200 series isn’t exactly without its issues.

Agreed. The L200 is prone to dusting. Unfortunately the design of the D3 and D4 diesel cranks is problematic. The petrol V6 in the D3 was a good engine. But all things considered i think the L200 would be well ahead of a D3/4 TD (better) in the catastrophic engine failure stakes. But in terms of ability and enjoyment when they are working, the D3 and 4 are streets ahead of the 200 series. Cheers

[loanrangie]

I would never entertain the thought of any toyo product i despise them so much, if i was going Jap it would be a late model Paj.
Roughly the same size as a disco and the 3.2 has the same power and torque figure of a 2.7 TDV6.
Honestly unless i can afford a Grenadier i would probably just throw 10K at the D3 and maybe find a cheap terri motor to stick in the shed just in case.

[scarry]

I am sure Brad knows which way i went,best thing we ever did.
But a different situation,we bought new.

The main real advantage of the D4,remembering i had one for almost 10yrs,and now the 200 for almost 5,is the ride,and handling.
Saying that,the ride of the 200 is pretty good,and with the KDSS,handling is not bad either.It is no sports car,nor is a Disco...
The D3/4 ZF auto is also smarter,but a good tune on the 6 speed does wonders,it is like another vehicle to drive.
In many ways the 200 is ahead of both the D3 and 4.

Lots of BS around,the dusting issue is one,if you do not maintain the vehicle properly,or fit after market filters,it is going to happen.
In fact Berrima diesel have never seen a 1 VD "dusted".
Downstream of the air filter on ours is clean like new,and it has spent a fair bit of time on dusty roads.
But the D4 air filter IMO is a better set up,as the seal is clamped well with screws,a huge improvement on the D2.

If looked after,serviced correctly the engine is probably the most reliable diesel of its class.With close to 500,000 sold in Aus in all models,issues are pretty scarce.
And thousands pull blocks of flats around all day,there are also probably hundreds of thousands around that are tuned.
Put that into perspective with the number of D3/4 engine failures and the number sold,makes the Ford Lion engine,and other LR engines, look very problematic.

Buying a second hand vehicle no matter what brand is always a lottery,good service records are critical,to say the least.
The DPF 200s,2016 onwards, had injector issues,but Toyota are still fixing them at no charge,no matter the year ,or the ks.
Apparently there is a 10yr warranty on the injectors,and it didn't affect all vehicles.
The issue was caused by the EGR coolers leaking.

Anyway,good luck with your choice,we have had five years of no issues,(touch wood)which is a huge difference to the first 5 yrs of any LR product we owned,all also bought new.
If you do go the dark side,i would get the vehicle checked by someone who knows them extremely well,even if it has been in the family.[smilebigeye]

[Discodicky]

The LC200 is the absolute opposite of all those things. Talk about seismic shifts. IMO you sit IN a LC200, a D4 wraps you up and cossets you. $30k buys a lot of spare parts, even at OEM prices.

As Christian from Germany says, LR dealer service history is probably not a positive on the pros and cons ledger though.

Absolutely is the LC200 the opposite of all those things!
One of my boys just bought a s/h LC200, 2022 I think he said it was, for $86,000 and about 60,xxx odd klms from memory.

I drove it. Compared to my D4 it has no finesse whatsoever. Just a luxurious light truck.
Not as quick (admittedly I have a "Cambo ECU tune" 230 Kw/700 Nm); inferior braking; ride comfort & handling is abysmal when compared to the Disco.
Even my wife made a comment about the ride comfort ("and it's so BIG") and she couldn't care less about cars.

I figure that in the event of a catastrophic engine blow, (I clocked 222,222 today!) I'll spend $25k ish and still end up with a better car, and be better off financially than paying $60-80k odd (I need to tow a 3.0 tonne caravan) when I could buy a s/h 'something' and still have an expensive problem later.

I firmly believe that, in principle, if one is happy with one's present car then stick to it.
If it makes you feel better, amortise the expenses over the klms travelled which may make the costs look slightly less gruesome! [bigwhistle][tonguewink]

[BradC]

I suppose I should have said the LC200 is a 2010 and has been in the family since 2018, so it's very well sorted, maintained as well as the D3 and I know it like the back of my hand. In that time it has done 2 big laps with the van also.

Mum is going to move it on in the second half of the year, so it's a case of do we buy it off her?

Anyway, appreciate the input. Ultimately it's the wifes decision as it'll be hers. I've run all this past her and we'll see what falls out over the next couple of months.

[Tins]

I firmly believe that, in principle, if one is happy with one's present car then stick to it.

Main reason I resurrected my D2. I have absolutely no regrets doing so, unless it's the folorn D1 that looks at me beseechingly.

[Tins]

This is an obviously speculative discussion. An interesting one for sure. I have absolutely no skin in the game and agree with Paul in wishing you luck with the choice.

I have no knowledge of Mrs C, but I do know that the late Mrs T wouldn't have driven something the size of any LCxxxx at gunpoint. But then she refused point blank to even get in the D1. Loved the D2. Funny cattle. My DIL, on the other hand, absolutely loves her Y62. Go figure.

[BradC]

Like I said upthread, she drove it for 2 months while her folks were over and loved it. On the other hand, she's still browsing D4s on carsales, marketplace and gumtree. I think a part of that is she knows she can sell the "much newer" korean child hauler and buy a second hand D4 with cash in hand, whereas the LC200 will require some additional outlay.

[Tins]

If looked after,serviced correctly the engine is probably the most reliable diesel of its class.With close to 500,000 sold in Aus in all models,issues are pretty scarce.




Not so sure about that. Bloke I worked for had two 'Yotas. One was an admittedly awesome, tuned 78 (79? Dual cab thing anyway ) Series which I drove at every opportunity. Thing would fly. He towed a massive fishing boat with it. OTOH, his wife had a LC200 ( all of this was pre 2016 ). Both cars were bought new. The Wagon was stock. It had three engines in it before 100JK. Massive oil consumption on the first two. Dunno about the third as we had parted company. But she used to leave a smokescreen that would have done a WWII warship proud. And this is not the only 200 that I have seen doing this (Recent model D4D engined HiLuxes as well). That said, 'Yota were far better at honouring the warranties, both actual and implied, than LR have been with the 3.0.

Stories, admittedly apocryphal, abound about the new 4 Cyl 7xx series engines as well. Probably too soon to really tell, and possibly sour grapes from the V8 mob, but 'Yotas are fallible too.

[V8Ian]

Does any family deserve two D3/4s?[bighmmm]
Take that as you wish.[biggrin]

[loanrangie]

Does any family deserve two D3/4s?[bighmmm]
Take that as you wish.[biggrin]

You mean does anyone deserve that much punishment [bigrolf].

[V8Ian]

You mean does anyone deserve that much punishment [bigrolf].
As I said, take it as you wish. [biggrin]

[BradC]

I fed all the advice gathered here back to the decision maker and she's said that while she really likes the LC, she loves the Disco and therefore a D4 it'll have to be.

Because we have the LC to use I've suggested she sell her car now and bank the cash. She can drive the LC until a suitable D4 comes up at the right price (budget is tight ATM).

[scarry]

It had three engines in it before 100JK. Massive oil consumption on the first two. Dunno about the third as we had parted

Yes some vehicles had that issue early on,caused by the vacuum pump from memory.

Mate of mine has just ordered a new LC,his 200 has done almost 300,000Km,not one repair.Just service stuff,brakes,batteries,etc.Tuned,runs 33s, and drags a huge block of flats around regularly.In fact it leaves ours for dead,goes like a rocket.

One thing we did notice when we got ours was how much more comfortable the seats were compared with the D4,but some models of both brands probably had different seats.Recently did a trip to Tassie and SA,just over 8,000Km.Going down we did 1150Km in one day,not much wrong with the comfort.One fill up on the way,next at Devonport,still had just under 1/4 of a tank.The big fuel tank is so convenient.