Thread: When will you upgrade to a D3?

You dont have to be a luddite to dislike electronics (not electrics). I love electronics in my heart rate monitor and my other 'appliances'. Own a vehicle packed with electronics for 5-10 years like the D3, then get back to me about electronics.

i'm with lucy and spudboy

nothing past the very last D2 for me, and that's a stretch... i've come to realise over the year and a half or so of owning the D1 that just being able to afford the purchase prise ain't quite enough... so i'd have to be earning a loooot to buy a D3, and i can't see myself earning that much. so i say screw it, if i'm never going to be able to afford it, i might as well go for an RR

plus i don't really like the looks. in my opinion, facelifted D2>D3. much much much >. that's not to say the D3 is ugly on its own, but when compared to the D2...

Seriously...am I the only one who thinks its obscene that a mass produced and hardly complicated MAF sensor for a modern car should cost between $500 - $1200 and modern TD diesel injectors costing $1000 per injector or more? Take a MAF sensor, bit of plastic with a wire stuck in it, probably costs $10 to make - now compare that to a inctricate hand assembled new carby for the same price (or less for the carb) or compare it to a winch of about the same price...its utter madness; and dont get me started on the costs of re-building a modern Turbo Diesel...and they WILL break; it only takes a blown hose and too much heat and they will crack and then its utter heartbreak - if you think Im off my rocker ring a wrecker and ask for a quote to supply a modern TD - usually without warranty or a 3 month one at best).

The modern vehicle with as many electronics as the D3 is a great machine in warranty, but it cannot be a long term ownership proposition as with the older models when the costs and lack of long term reliability of electronics is taken into account unless you like being stuck in the middle of nowhere, without any idea of a fix, without any mechanic who can work on it short of a full computer in a stealership or similar, or like forking out big $$$$s and convince yourself thats its a hobby

Originally Posted by ozscott

Seriously...am I the only one who thinks its obscene that a mass produced and hardly complicated MAF sensor for a modern car should cost between $500 - $1200 and modern TD diesel injectors costing $1000 per injector or more? Take a MAF sensor, bit of plastic with a wire stuck in it, probably costs $10 to make - now compare that to a inctricate hand assembled new carby for the same price (or less for the carb) or compare it to a winch of about the same price...its utter madness; and dont get me started on the costs of re-building a modern Turbo Diesel...and they WILL break; it only takes a blown hose and too much heat and they will crack and then its utter heartbreak - if you think Im off my rocker ring a wrecker and ask for a quote to supply a modern TD - usually without warranty or a 3 month one at best).

The modern vehicle with as many electronics as the D3 is a great machine in warranty, but it cannot be a long term ownership proposition as with the older models when the costs and lack of long term reliability of electronics is taken into account unless you like being stuck in the middle of nowhere, without any idea of a fix, without any mechanic who can work on it short of a full computer in a stealership or similar, or like forking out big $$$$s and convince yourself thats its a hobby

it's the whole throwaway society thing. you don't fix your tv, you just buy a new one. same with cars, it seems

Well my Disco 1 V8 goes so well and is so easy to work on, except for getting at the ex manifold nuts , I can't see the problem of keeping it for the next 10 years at least and rebuilding components as required. It is what I am doing with my S1 and S2A after all!

As much as I would like a D3 I really can't justify the expense and where I live I really need to do the repairs myself.

Even a rebuilt automatic gearbox, is cheaper than buying a second hand D2 or D3 with the new problems it brings with it.

Well, I've had a D1 V8 & D2 Td5, I don't think I'll be getting a D3. I'd go a RRS first, but the next Landy will be a Deefer.
Might even tart up completely one of the Series 3's
The D3 is incredible off road, awesome on, and I agree with Stevo68, except about the looks, It's too bulky and too Renault/Merc van for me.

P.S. The D2 cruised through that section Stevo & his pink snatch got stuck in (not quite), didn't handle the slide backwards down the grass hill so well though. Thanks for the backstop Dranged

P.S. The D2 cruised through that section Stevo & his pink snatch got stuck in (not quite), didn't handle the slide backwards down the grass hill so well though. Thanks for the backstop Dranged

The pic with my RED snatch strap was at Crystal Creek ,

Regards

Stevo

Having bought one of the first ever Disco II V8s to come into Australia back in 1999, I've had a ball of a time in doing trips, modifying the Disco, fixing the things that have failed and generally developed a lifestyle to appreciate the outdoors for the last 9 years.

So this question of when would I consider it the right time to upgrade to a D3 is particularly tangible for me, because my Disco is getting on a bit, and my four wheel driving wish list has evolved and matured a bit.

In the early years, I was the Toolangi State Forest weekend warrior, but these days those challenges that stinky bog holes with abrasive mud that eats seals and pulleys no longer appeal to me. I long now to travel the outback more and instead of tenting it, I'd most likely be towing my campervan.

Also, I had a 5 seater and with the very clever 3rd row seat design on the D3, it's become a very compelling solution for the odd occasion when I have more than 5 people that would need transportation, e.g. overseas visitors staying with us.

So the D3 seems to be a good solution - I'd go for a TDV6 which is just so refined compared to the "angry" clatter of the TD5 in the DII. I really like the idea of a ZF 6 speed auto - the ZF 4 speed auto in my DII has been bullet proof but really needed an extra cog (or two), especially when towing.

I've spent some time with a D3 on a few different weekends and in different scenarios, and have to say that it has really grown on me because it just seems to fit my changing lifestyle and 4x4'ing requirements so much better.

It's definitely more spacious and comfortable for the sort of touring that our long and distant roads impose on us. It's so quiet and refined that the TDV6 is a far more desirable motor than the Rover V8 even if I factor out the fuel cost savings.

I'm certainly on the look out for a nice used HSE TDV6 example with a glass sunroof and rear diff lock.

Will I buy one soon? With all this fuss about "peak oil" and ridiculous diesel pricing structure in Australia, I'm just holding off for now. Maybe pay off more of my house and then reconsider once the US economy looks like it's beginning to turn around.

I think that it's still "dangerous" time currently ahead from a financial perspective, as there may well be more fall out from the slowing world economy, so it could be poor decision to buy something right now when I really don't have to.

That's my two bob's worth!