The first month or so.

**jonesfam** · 21st February 2018, 04:06 PM

I have had the D2a for a bit over a month now so I thought I would give my impressions of her &, as I can't help it, some comparisons to the D3 we owned for 8 years.

General:
yep, I like it. Nice to drive, comfortable, capable & not as big a step down from the D3 as I imagined.

Interior:
It is narrower & shorter than the D3 & feels quite a bit smaller. In saying that it is quite big enough for our needs. The seats (front anyway) are as good as the D3 IMHO & for some reason I don't get a stiff neck in the D2. It is more basic but not an unpleasant place to be.
There are a few things I either don't like or will have to get used to, no bottle holders, useless cup holders, the indicator & wiper/washer stalks are really low on the steering wheel, don't seem to be able to slow down with CC? And the door handles are in a funny place, to low on the wheel.

Drive Train:.
Really quite impressed. Mine has some sort of ECU upgrade/chip but it goes very well power & torque wise. Less turbo lag than the D3, sits on 115kph all day, overtakes & accelerates quite well. I think the D3 did 80 - 120 faster & was certainly less dramatic doing it but I'm certainly not disappointed. It has not used any oil or fluids but it is noisier, has a pronounced diesel rattle & that 5 cylinder THRUM takes some getting used to.
The gear box (auto) is pretty good. The 2 less gears is noticeable & the box is less subtle than the D3 but works well & seems to have the correct gear selected better than the D3, I think it tried to hold a higher gear a little to often.
I also have an after market suspension I know little about, it's all yellow & has air helper bags in the rear. Considering the 2"+ lift & huge mud tyres it handles pretty well, less body roll than expected & doesn't bobble about. It steers reasonably, remembering the lift, tyres & design, and everything feels nice & tight underneath. On rough, rocky roads & corrugations the D3 gave a better ride/handling combination but in no way is the D2 uncontrolled or scary & I think it takes the big hits into deep washouts & holes better than the D3.
Braking is good, not brilliant but good. Stops well but I have not had to do a PANIC stop yet. I like the ABS better than the D3, seems less sensitive on loose dirt?

I have so far driven from Brisbane to Doomadgee, Doomadgee to Burketown twice & Doomadgee to Mt Isa & back including 400k of very rough dirt. 1 off road trip for 30k or so where I discovered how to lock the diff (D3 is automatic) & that the TC works as advertised.

So, I'm a happy Chappie! SWMBO not so much as I keep buying little extras for it which she reckons all cost over $500 each! I think she is exaggerating, the Nanocom was $498 I'm sure & the wipers were only about $40 delivered.

Summery:
It's not a D3 but I didn't expect it to be. The D2 will need a closer eye kept on maintenance/electrical issues. But it is an excellent drive & probably suits my current use better than the D3 not to mention that I don't open the bonnet on the D2 & just shake my head, I actually can work out or know what different bits under there are for.

Jonesfam

**ozscott** · 21st February 2018, 05:05 PM

Nice on m8!!

It took me a while but I discovered you can get a ridiculous number of water bottles in the side pockets and can access them when driving. Cheers

**donh54** · 21st February 2018, 05:28 PM

Good write-up!
Gives me hope for SWMBO's D2 that I'm currently sorting out.
Bought it dirt cheap just a week or so before my heart attack, so I'm only just getting into it now. Put new SLS airbags in the other day, and going to go right through the oils and fluids, and then start seeing how reliable it's going to be. It's got 320k on the clock, and no service history since December 2012 at 250k.
A few leaks (what a surprise!), but the underpinnings look like they've not been offroad, a sticking passenger side window, and the drink holder has fallen out. But it started as soon as we charged the battery, and sounds pretty good.
Here's hoping!

**Graeme** · 21st February 2018, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by jonesfam

don't seem to be able to slow down with CC?

Oh that's easy - cancel CC then reset at the desired speed!

**V8Ian** · 21st February 2018, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Graeme

Oh that's easy - cancel CC then reset at the desired speed!

That's the only way it can be done.

**trout1105** · 21st February 2018, 06:49 PM

I put my water bottle between my seat belt and the console. It fits perfectly and when that one runs out I get a new one out of the fridge

**V8Ian** · 21st February 2018, 07:10 PM

WATER! I won't even put that stuff in my radiator!

**trout1105** · 21st February 2018, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by V8Ian

WATER! I won't even put that stuff in my radiator!

Isn't it funny that we have absolutely NO problems knocking back 3 stubbies/cans of beer in short order But find it incredibly hard to drink a litre of water in the same time

**Chops** · 21st February 2018, 07:25 PM

I miss our old D2 V8

,,, I think the driving position/view is about as good as it can get in a car. We had the rear air and the ACE which gave it an absolutely beautifully controlled ride. Handled like it was on the proverbial "rails".

I can't remember JF,, why did you go to the D2 from the D3?

**Lemo** · 21st February 2018, 07:49 PM

Great write up!!
Water bottles sorted

I'll chase up the place I got them from when I get home

Lemo

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