Should I buy the new TDV6 Disco

[blitz]

Now that I am my own business what I drive as a work vehicle is important. As much as I love my old 93/4 Disco she is showing her age as a work car.

I have been pondering the choice of cars, it will need long range and comfort because of the miles I will be traveling. Can any one with the new disco or any one with experience of them give me a heads up about them please.

I am also looking at the defender but not so sure about the comfort for upwards of 50 000km per year.

Blythe

P.S. it will also have to tow a three horse float I know the defender can do that but not sure about the disco.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I would just say yes,,
but maybe you should ask these guys too,
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/forumdisplay.php?f=183

[ivery819]

Like it or not, in business, people assess you by the car you drive. Your car needs to reflect the business message you wish to convey to your customers. As well as this, the vehicle should give YOU an overall sense of enjoyment.
I was reading recently that the two most relevant factors to enjoyable distance driving are cabin space and layout and engine torque. The D3 TDv6 excels on both these counts.

[stevo68]

G'day mate, I have the V8 and do about 40000kms a year. Pure comfort. Towing wouldnt be an issue from what I can gather from the TDV6 crew either. Can't talk about the fender as have never driven one in that capacity ie for work,

Regards

Stevo

[Tote]

I'm currently in the same boat and here's a summary of my decision process so far:
Requirements, Load space at least the same as my D2, reasonable economy, four wheel drive ability.
Contenders
Cruiser: Unable to get any info on the new v8 one until it's released, Toyota not interested in finding me a 100 series to test drive (or buy)
Prado: Too small
78 cruiser wagon: Too utilitarian, reminds me of my old Daihatsu Rocky inside. Nice motor though.
Patrol: Only available with the 3 litre diesel, old design (but cheap )
Defender: Too utilitarian for a vehicle that needs to be a family vehicle for 40,000 KM at least a year
Disco 3: Nice inside, lots of clever technology but bloody expensive especialy when you compare it with a Patrol where $65K gets you leather everything with hot and cold running satnav.

At the moment I'm looking at a Disco 3 and will probably lease one when I start my new job next month. It's just an issue of getting my head around the cost, but a 100 series cruiser would cost about the same and have a lot fewer features.

Regards,
Tote

[stevo68]

I'm currently in the same boat and here's a summary of my decision process so far:
Requirements, Load space at least the same as my D2, reasonable economy, four wheel drive ability.
Contenders
Cruiser: Unable to get any info on the new v8 one until it's released, Toyota not interested in finding me a 100 series to test drive (or buy)
Prado: Too small
78 cruiser wagon: Too utilitarian, reminds me of my old Daihatsu Rocky inside. Nice motor though.
Patrol: Only available with the 3 litre diesel, old design (but cheap )
Defender: Too utilitarian for a vehicle that needs to be a family vehicle for 40,000 KM at least a year
Disco 3: Nice inside, lots of clever technology but bloody expensive especialy when you compare it with a Patrol where $65K gets you leather everything with hot and cold running satnav.

At the moment I'm looking at a Disco 3 and will probably lease one when I start my new job next month. It's just an issue of getting my head around the cost, but a 100 series cruiser would cost about the same and have a lot fewer features.

Regards,
Tote
Hey mate, D3 kills D2 on loadspace by a country mile. Blasphemy on mentioning toyota :p, but in terms of cost, you would be mad to buy new unless you are not paying for it. I did, $105k, went against my belief of not buying new. When at one stage I was looking to sell because I started up my own business, I had already lost over $20k in less than 12 mths. There are some excellent, low kms Disco's around. Thats where I would be looking. Yikes I couldnt even dream of looking at that Jap stuff :eek:

Regards

Stevo

[PCH]

I can't compare the two but I'd say the D3 is built for comfort more so than a new 07 Defender.

Being up in NT, I'd double and triple check that the Darwin dealer really has the capability to fix a D3. My mate's D3 was tray trucked to Darwin from the Gibb River Rd and after anumber of weeks at the Dealer in Darwin they could not fix to the satisfation or confidence of the owner and it got transported all the way back to Melbourne (at LRA cost of course) where it was finally fixed.

Chris

[mittadisco]

I can't compare the two but I'd say the D3 is built for comfort more so than a new 07 Defender.

Being up in NT, I'd double and triple check that the Darwin dealer really has the capability to fix a D3. My mate's D3 was tray trucked to Darwin from the Gibb River Rd and after anumber of weeks at the Dealer in Darwin they could not fix to the satisfation or confidence of the owner and it got transported all the way back to Melbourne (at LRA cost of course) where it was finally fixed.

Chris

Why would you bother buying a car like that up there! Buy a car that any mechanic can service ala Toyota or Nissan.....

[Pedro_The_Swift]

If you have a severe problem in Darwin,, its a very pleasent drive to Alice,,

Why would you buy a toyota or a nissan?

[Jamo]

If it's a new D3 you're buying, the latest models should have had all the niggles sorted out.

I do around 50,000km a year and it's one of the most comfortable cars I've ever been in.

(A lot of the farmers here drive LC100 saharas and the seats are garbage. Not at all comfortable for long distance driving.)

Chris has a point about the servicing, but that should only be a problem for major faults, which hopefully you wouldn't have.

I'm 700km from a half decent LR service technician (and thousands from a decent one) and I'd by another D3 in a shot.

You can't compare it to a patrol. Totally different worlds. If you ask me $65K is too much for 20 year old technology even if it does come with satnav.

[inside]

One thing to think about when using your vehicle for business is that a TDV6 D3 is well into the luxury car tax zone which could have implications when you are calulating depreciation. Best to speak to an accountant about it.

[BigJon]

(A lot of the farmers here drive LC100 saharas and the seats are garbage. Not at all comfortable for long distance driving.)


My Dad has a 100 Series (not Sahara) and I would have to agree with that. My 19 year old Rangie has better seats.

[spudboy]

One thing to think about when using your vehicle for business is that a TDV6 D3 is well into the luxury car tax zone which could have implications when you are calulating depreciation. Best to speak to an accountant about it.

Any amount over $59K and it is coming directly out of your pocket with no deductibility allowed. Doesn't matter if you buy or lease.

[blitz]

Thanks guys
I agree about the service up here, in seven years I have only taken my disco to them once was so discusted with them vowed to never go back. Landrover service agent has changed it is now run by the mitsubishi outlet.

never thought about the tax on them will have to talk to my accountant about it?

choosing a landy because I prefer them to any Japanese vehicle, and they stand out as a business car here because they are not every second car you pass.

In reality about the tax no matter what brand vehicle I buy it will be over the tax thresh hold due to wanting a 4x4 for it,s towing ability

Blythe

[DirtyDawg]

"NIke" it your along time dead...;)