4X4 selection

dwwakefield · 18th May 2012, 10:45 AM

Hi all,

I'm going to get a serious 4WD (currently driving an Outback) and in my usual process of paralysis by analysis I can't reach a conclusion. I've owned and used many different models and like most except for series II LR.

In looking at various forums it seems that the Pajero is probably the most reliable vehicle out there, or is it that they don't see as much heavy duty as some others. That 5/10 warranty says a lot though. I have owned an NP and found it terrific as a long distance cruiser but I didn't really do very much with it off road. The little I did was fine. The car was bullet proof in the couple of years I owned it.

I wouldn't own a petrol Patrol and wouldn't be patient enough to wait for a decent 4.2TD. The 3.0TD is not an engine I'd want to own so that's the Patrol out.

I've owned a few Landcruisers, all petrol, and every one of them felt like they'd never let me down. Expensive to run in terms of fuel but I'm less concerned by that depending on the circumstances.

I've never owned a LR or even ridden in one since the Disco came on the scene. I very much respect their capability from all the tests I see but have doubts about their reliability. For that reason and the fact that I'd prefer not to spend too much I've been thinking about a late (2003 or 2004) DII with the TD5 in auto. This would seem a sensible budget for me if the car is not going to let me down much and cost me too much to keep on the road. I can do basic oil, coolant and filters servicing but no more.

The Pajero is high on my list and the Landcruiser 100 V8 is in there too. The other one I have thought about a little is the Jeep Grand Cherokee in either V8 or diesel but I'd prefer to see it score some runs over time first I think.

I'd love to have some input from LR experienced guys about my LR choice. Is it going to give me trouble if serviced and looked after? Off road I take care with a vehicle so that I take care of myself too. I'm not looking to do anything extreme. Towing ability will be important in future. Should I look a little bit later in the LR range or even consider a RR which I really covet?

**101RRS** · 18th May 2012, 11:19 AM

By 2004 any issues that the D2 had were largely resolved. It has a CDL.

The TD5 has the towing capability and can be worked to safely give a bit more oomph with too much effort or great expense.

A 2004, D2a would be a nice buy.

Garry

**MightyJosh** · 18th May 2012, 11:53 AM

i own a 02 D2 TD5 great car and most the problem are easy fixes. But if your wanting a great offroader get a 130 Defender ute no later then 1998 les to go wrong.

**Blknight.aus** · 18th May 2012, 12:03 PM

the D2/D2A configuration from about 03-10 with the TD5 (Or V8 if thats your thing) will hit all the major points, Plenty of power, reasonably easy to maintain and still repairable without a computer diagnostic kit (which is cheap enough to purchase aftermarket anyway) and the comfort level is Excellent (to put that in perspective I'm perfectly happy with the ergonomics of a stock series)

A D1 will still hit all of your boxes but will be a fair bit slower on towing but the maintenance cost falls off to nearly buggerall with the exception of having to do the timing belt every 80K Km.

Both suffer from complaints of weak final drives but they're easily upgradeable and if you're buying second hand and prepared to look you'll find them already sorted if you're patient enough.

dwwakefield · 20th May 2012, 08:34 AM

Thanks for the feedback fellas. I guess buying well in the first place is the secret.

Dave

**Blknight.aus** · 20th May 2012, 10:31 AM

not really...

"Sir, I see you've purchased a landrover. You've bought well."

Think of it this way...

you buy a brand new $50K landy you get $45K worth of get the job done and $5k worth of "well thats got nothing to do with the job but it'll make the customer happy"

do that with pretty much any other vehicle and you get mayby $20K work of :get the job done and $30K worth of oooh look shiney thing the customer might like.

also up to the D3, the landrover was made to be worked on, The poms know their quality control, metalurgy, ability to make a seal seal or electrons do as required from within the insulation is rubbish so compared to other countries so they made it to be maintained, ergo they're a piece of cake to work on.

**MightyJosh** · 22nd May 2012, 02:51 PM

I have never been a huge fan of the D3. To me it lost a lot of its ruggerdness and became a soccer mums car. Though I highly respect the car as a both on/off road performer and a extreemly comfortable drive again both on/off road. It was all the dramas with the air suspension and constant electronic faults. (And now with the D4 and the new twin turbo 3.0 Diesel due soon if you have the cash is better again.)

But saying that get a good one that an independant like M.R Automotive have fixed these dramas and you have a good car. Still though the Disco TD5 is a great all purpose 4x4.

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