Thread: D3 offroad

Last month l was out with the GO Bush 4x4 club, sole Range Rover and only LR product, got all the normal rubbish about break down reliability from the toyota, nissan and mitsubishi brigade.

Went to the Julimar Forest area about 100kms north of Perth and a brand new toyota hilux ute broke its front steering arm whilst crossing a small muddy creek bed. The vehicle had to towed out and trucked back to Perth.

Unless someone can say LR always breakdown, are more unreliable and have higher failure rate than any other brand, one must simply say that there is a risk of vehicle failure which requires it to be towed/transported for repair.

I think its just a question of accepting the risk of failure same as accepting the risk of having a crash.

Personally if l could afford it l would prefer the Mercedes Benz G Wagen to the D3

I bought the 1993 Range Rover as a trade off of offroad ability and electronic sophiscation risk compared to later 1990 P38 models.

The Range Rover wasn't intended to be a daily driver but a toy for weekend bush/beach play but l use it now as a daily driver as it's such a great car.

In making a decision to buy the Range Rover l did my research on service/repair costs, fuel consumption and made a decision based on my ability to budget for it.

Anyone buying any expensive vechicle like a 4wd regardless of brand without taking into account all the variables isnt someone l would want to be travelling to remote places with.

Originally Posted by Ace

As the D3 ages and the technology becomes cheaper diagnostic software in non dealership service agents will be more achieveable. Matt

My point, somewhat more concisely put! But the question is, will there ever be enough of them in Australia for this to spread to remote areas? What is needed is a standard, so that e.g. Toyota dealers could trouble shoot a Landrover! (Actually I suspect there is one, but nobody uses it).

Given this, most electronic failures are more easily fixed than most mechanical failures.

John

Another win for the D3.

Just watched Sky News and they have the latest crash test results.

The Subaru was the only 4x4 ahead of the D3 and the D3 rated very high up in the results.

What can I say.

In 1986 drove to the tip of Cape York in my 1984 swb nissan 3.3 litre diesel turbo, along the way came across vehicles of all makes and models with damage of varying degree of effect. Vibrations from constant corrugations snapped off my cb antennna my oscar spot lights on the ARB winch bar and the ARB rear wheel carrier locking mechanism and destroyed the TJM second battery holder in the engine bay on my patrol.

The 2 worst vehicle breakdowns on that trip had to wait for the barge to come to be shipped back around the coast to have major repairs done, they were toyota's but wouldnt matter who the manufacturer was they simply couldnt be repaired in the remote area they had failed in.

Lots of places in Oz where any vehicle which has serious breakdown has to be simply shipped out to a major centre.

Vehicle Breakdowns aren't unusual and should be expected and its part of any sensible contingency planning on major outback trip to plan for a vehicle retrieval. Same as we plan for medical evacuation by RFDS for a human being.

Originally Posted by cartm58

Vehicle Breakdowns aren't unusual and should be expected and its part of any sensible contingency planning on major outback trip to plan for a vehicle retrieval. Same as we plan for medical evacuation by RFDS for a human being.

And these days nowhere in Australia is really remote as long as you take precautions, like plenty of food, water and good communications. A vehicle breakdown used to be a matter of life and death but not any more.

life and death and vehicle breakown's ?

hmm wonder if the last couple of horrendous deaths in remote Australia where people stranded in desert and left their vehicles in search of help knew that fact.

anything can happen at anytime to anyone its always a question of being aware, having a contingency plan and keeping to the basics until suitable help arrives.

yes you may be inconvenienced but thats part of the adventure and story telling process isnt it.

Another win for the D3.

Just watched Sky News and they have the latest crash test results.

The Subaru was the only 4x4 ahead of the D3 and the D3 rated very high up in the results.

What can I say.

I can concur after someone crashed into mine last night whilst Sharlea was driving ( see thread Another D3-1, piece of crap-0), I cant say I am happy about the damage but compared to the other car taken off on the back of a truck, I can't complain either. If she was in her car, would have been a lot worse

Regards

Stevo