DISCO 3 GONE !!!

[Drover]

Hey Guys,

Just joined the Defender club.
Sold my techno crippled D3 TDV6 SE and got into a `08 SVX.

The Disco was not impressed with several out back trips, the latest to Cape York last July.

Got sick and tired of warning lights, beeps, chimes and visits to Alto's to get the thing re-programmed, re-paired and re-sorted over and over again.

The final straw was a suspension fault at "Loyalty Beach" due to air dryer failure. Resulting in the suspension locking it self in normal height and denying the opportunity to take the "Frenchman track, to Chili Beach".:mad:

Glad to back to basics, So no more D-3 zone and looking forward to lots of K's in Defender.

Cheers

[dullbird]

welcome to the dark side of the Puma.....drover

[Chucaro]

Welcome to the Defe club, now start shopping for adventure mods for it ;)

[eksjay]

Air Dryers? Hair Dryers????

Ctrl-alt-delete, software patches, software tech support, software upgrades, debugging, resets blah blah etc just does not cut it in the boosh - when you are in the middle of bugger all. The remote bush mechanic will give you a blank stare.

ALL of the 4WD manufacturers have lost sight of reality with their current offerings.

Welcome to reality - :twisted: the real outback.

[stig0000]

:rulez: PICS

and it would be good to here wat the svx seats are like on long bush trips,

[Allan]

Not as comfortable as they look unfortunatly, have fun kitting out the SVX:D

Allan

[JamesH]

This is the first post (that I've noticed) that has any negative comments to say about D3 reliability and ability to work well in the outback.

Strangely I've heard on the grapevine (not from the horse's mouth) that kevin Falconbridge, the major independent Landy repairer here in Perth is taking his D3 to Cape York from Perth for his holidays and leaving his Defender at home.

[SVX37]

Hi Drover,

I too have the SVX and just clicked over 9000k's.:)

Been on a few day trips, and just had the alternator replaced.

I love the thing and as for the seats that Allan mentioned, I think they are worth every cent but it is all a personal thing I guess.

Have fun and let eveyone know if you kit it up.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Allan]

This is the first post (that I've noticed) that has any negative comments to say about D3 reliability and ability to work well in the outback.

Strangely I've heard on the grapevine (not from the horse's mouth) that kevin Falconbridge, the major independent Landy repairer here in Perth is taking his D3 to Cape York from Perth for his holidays and leaving his Defender at home.



So would I! After doing the Gibb River Road, Bungle Bungles etc in a 300Tdi, no way would I do it again in any Defender. I just did a trip down south of WA in the SVX with a lot of off road use and find that 350kms is about as far as you would like to drive in one day. I find my backside hurts at any further distance than this! My old Disco I could drive from Exmouth to Perth in one go without any discomfort. My SVX is still a top vehicle - just not built for comfort on long trips!

Allan

Allan

[Bush65]

Air Dryers? Hair Dryers????

...
I'm guessing maybe filter for removing moisture from compressed air used in suspension system.

Industrial compressed air systems usually use refrigerated air dryers to remove moisture, but they are much larger systems. I'd be surprised if a disco would have anything more complex than a filter. But expect it would have some method to eject trapped moisture and sensors to detect moisture.

The higher the humidity the greater the quantity of water condensate that is produced when air is compressed. Humidity get high in the tropics.

[one_iota]

Seats are a very personal thing because we are all different shapes, weights and sizes.

I have no trouble driving long stretches in the Defender. I prefer the harder seat in the Defender to the softer seat in the Disco 1.

Both vehicles have natural sitting position whereas my partner's Subaru Liberty seats cripple me after 2 hours. :mad:

[Drover]

Wasn’t looking to elaborate on the first post,

But along with the failure of the air drier, The plastic air line between the compressor and the air drier also crack and failed. :mad:

Both faults were repaired by Cairns Land Rover Specialists (Who were awesome and I can't speak highly enough of them) who put the problems down to the many many mile of corrugations.

The corrugations also shut down the CD/Radio, centre consul display and sent the trip computer back to miles ???.;)

Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the D3 for the 3 1/2 years that I had it. It was a very comfortable and a capable vehicle and nothing on Cape York, prior to the failures,nothing could stop it, including the “Creb”, OTL and “Gun Shot”.

There in lies the problem. 1000k's of nothing between me and the closest mechanic that could handle a D3.

[slug_burner]

Wasn’t looking to elaborate on the first post,

But along with the failure of the air drier, The plastic air line between the compressor and the air drier also crack and failed. :mad:

Both faults were repaired by Cairns Land Rover Specialists (Who were awesome and I can't speak highly enough of them) who put the problems down to the many many mile of corrugations.

The corrugations also shut down the CD/Radio, centre consul display and sent the trip computer back to miles ???.;)

Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the D3 for the 3 1/2 years that I had it. It was a very comfortable and a capable vehicle and nothing on Cape York, prior to the failures,nothing could stop it, including the “Creb”, OTL and “Gun Shot”.

There in lies the problem. 1000k's of nothing between me and the closest mechanic that could handle a D3.


The SVX will also need a few specialist bits of kit to diagnose and reset fault codes etc. A bit difficult to get away from electronics these days.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

So would I! After doing the Gibb River Road, Bungle Bungles etc in a 300Tdi, no way would I do it again in any Defender. I just did a trip down south of WA in the SVX with a lot of off road use and find that 350kms is about as far as you would like to drive in one day. I find my backside hurts at any further distance than this! My old Disco I could drive from Exmouth to Perth in one go without any discomfort. My SVX is still a top vehicle - just not built for comfort on long trips!

Allan

Allan
I've never had any troubles and have done 1000k in our defender in a day on several occasions. My only gripe is handbrake position... it's a little annoying but not enough that I can be bothered moving it :)

Having said that, it was only yesterday that the idea of selling the defender AND our small car and replacing it with a D3 popped into my head. Then I read this thread and it's been pushed out of my head again. So far, touch wood, our defender has been pretty much the perfect long distance remote tourer for us.

[dullbird]

I've never had any troubles
and have done 1000k in our defender in a day on several occasions. My only gripe is handbrake position... it's a little annoying but not enough that I can be bothered moving it :)

Having said that, it was only yesterday that the idea of selling the defender AND our small car and replacing it with a D3 popped into my head. Then I read this thread and it's been pushed out of my head again. So far, touch wood, our defender has been pretty much the perfect long distance remote tourer for us.


x2 with the K's but the handbrake we plan on moving ours;)

[Allan]

The hand brake's always been a good foot rest. I must say if I did Gibb River etc again I would truck the SVX to Derby or Broome and fly up to join it, but if I had a D3 I would drive. Car v tractor.:cool:


Allan

[Scallops]

Good choice getting a Defy - it's a real Land Rover, just like a Series 1. :D :wasntme:

I have had loaner D3's - all very nice, but it just doesn't push my buttons - it's just a car. Personal opinion only, of course - I'm fully aware of the D3's ability. :)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hey Guys,
Just joined the Defender club.
Sold my techno crippled D3 TDV6 SE and got into a `08 SVX. ...

...Got sick and tired of warning lights, beeps, chimes and visits to Alto's to get the thing re-programmed, re-paired and re-sorted over and over again.
There was one of your D3s problem in the first place!

Defenders seem to be the ones don't they. Let us hope they sort out the Puma problems and the few silly design faults like the tank breather position and it's be back to a decent vehicle again. :)

[Michael2]

... I just did a trip down south of WA in the SVX with a lot of off road use and find that 350kms is about as far as you would like to drive in one day. ....

Allan

I'm so surprised to hear that. 350km is what I'd do with the wife and kids in the 300Tdi Defender before morning tea! My wife tells people it's a really comfortable car for a long drive (even when I take back roads), and she's coming from a Range Rover.

On our Simpson Trip we drove 12 hour days for 2 weeks (Defender ute and SIII) and no one had a sore back, over highway, corrugations, or dunes. You'd reckon the SVX seats would be a lot more comfortable.

We're planning a 10,000km over 4 weeks road trip, and despite the various 'concerns' raised about such a trip, no one even thought to mention vehicle comfort as even being an issue.

[Allan]

They are honestly like race car seats on your bumb. I drove my 300tdi six weeks through the north west without a moan but not this one. May be I'am getting old.
Allan

[Barra1]

The hand brake's always been a good foot rest. I must say if I did Gibb River etc again I would truck the SVX to Derby or Broome and fly up to join it, but if I had a D3 I would drive. Car v tractor.:cool:


Allan

Allan this has shocked me:eek: In all my years of driving, talking and dreaming of Defenders I have never heard any Defender (or County) driver express anything other than a never-ending urge/desire to get into their vehicle and travel and keep travelling :D

I look for excuses to drive my Defender;) Drove from Broken Hill to Albury on the recent public holiday - only just under 900K's. I loved every minute, every kilometre and like a youngster at Christmas I get excited when I see another Defender driver because I know he is experiencing that wonderful adventure - the Defender Experience.:D:D:D

I'm disappointed for you mate, not only because of the dollars you have outlayed but mainly for the "experience" that you are missing out on:(

Especially in the magnificent vehicle you own:)

Possibly you need do a bit of research regarding the seats and find a couple that suit you. I'm sure there are a lot of blokes over there in WA who will "assist" in relieving you of those seats. They will probably even supply alternative seats, fit them and wash and polish the vehicle for you:D