Thread: When will you upgrade to a D3?

I would never get rid of my D1, Madge is a part of the family. When i get a new Land Rover it will be a Defender. That's not to say i don't like D3's cause i do they just are not for me.

We have been tossing up whether to get a D3, but we have been thinking of a new Defender too, but we have also considered (ducking for cover) a Pajero, that said, which ever we decide on, there will still be a Land Rover in the family, cause i'm not all that keen about getting rid of the D2.

The techknology doesn't bother me, it's gotta be better than the D2 and that's never worried me, cause the electrics haven't let us down yet.

It won't be for a while yet, maybe next year sometime.

Baz.

Based purely on financials - about another 6 years or more.

Based purely on the D2:

To honour, love and cherish,
To be faithful to each other,
In sickness and in health,
As long as we both shall live ...

A few things stopped me upgrading to the D3.

Weight: Its a heavy vehicle, makes it feel solid, but it weighs a lot for off-roading.
Servicing: My understanding is there is no complete aftermarket service software. I believe Blackbox is still evolving Rovacom to be fully functional. As the vehicle is more reliant on what the ECU's are telling everything, I think this is an important tool for a remote location. In short lack of dealers or service agents for LR
New Defender: It was considerably cheaper, has a really nice gearbox and does everything we needed without all the luxuries to get really dirty. Software is available and it doesn't weigh as much.

Its an interesting question. I love my D1 and D2. I have thought of a D3 but when you consider that I got my D2 brand new V8 5 speed in the colour I wanted for $43k on the road with upgraded sound system in mid 2002...arrrhhh I cannot be convinced on the value of the D3 with terrain response and air bags linked - ie the only one that would challenge/beat by D2 off road (in sand I reckon the D2 with 31 inch wheels - 16 inch mags would beat the D3 given the weight difference) because the base model certainly wouldnt, costs new almost twice what my D2 did. I know the D3 is bigger and has more fruit but bugger me if it isnt a lot of splash. Discos use to be good value, now they are just another expensive truck - along the same lines as the 200 series Cruiser.

I also have a problem with the D3 because I hold my trucks out of warranty...and the D3 has far more electrickery than the D2 and much much more than the D1. Electronics are brilliant when they work - ie when they are new. Electronics work on 1.2 volts approx or less to trigger switching. As such the slightest amount of oxidisation - even when you cannot see it physically on a terminal - is enough to upset things, and make the problem intermittent at times and hard to locate. The same applies to the earthing of the systems.

If I did get one I would get a V8 and install LPG vapour injection and bugger the rear seats - I would leave the original petrol tank in and use a big tank in the cargo area. I dont like modern turbo diesels; mark my words these new motors in any brand will not give you trouble free 500k + mileage of the older engines and will be so expensive to repair if you blow a radiator hose and cook one you might as well, literally, stick that 7-10 year old D3 in the landfill because the engine will be worth more than vehicle if the engine had not cooked. Same for injectors and pump if they all go. In the age of ceramics and pezzio injection god help us. It used to be that the diesel motor would be far more reliable (without the need for spark) and provide far more miles. Now...I would pit, over a 10-15 year period the mileage and running costs of my V8 D1 and probably V8 D2 (even if both were not gassed up as they are and getting far better $/mile day in day out than a big 4WD diesel) against a D3 diesel, prado 120 diesel; jackeroo diesel, 200 series diesel' Pajero NM Td etc any day.

But, alas, one day I might 'upgrade' to a D3 V8 because I like new toys, but it would be that side over my practical side that would be doing it.

Cheers

I for one would never even consider the D3. I'm afraid that Land Rover has lost me with the D3.
For me it has lost what the Discovery was all about, looks like an off shoot of the Jeep Cherokee and just looks plain UGLY
Even the interior is boring and ugly!

I'm looking at D2s at the moment.

I think that is about as advanced as I'd be willing to get.

As current vehicles get older and future engines get fancier, I would personally rather go backwards - get myself an Isuzu County and keep it going forever!

Gee, Some people haven't thought about it much

Would love a D3, but it would have to have all the gadgets, Terrain Response, Diff Lock and Air Suspension, therefore won't be at least until they drop under the $30K mark.

Judging by the significant lack of bad reports you here (excluding dealers) the D3/RRS Appear to be very reliable 4wd's. The Air suspension is nothing like the late classics or p38's, The TDV6 is a great modern engine (not like the 30yr old 4.6). And build quality is said to have improved. And I wouldn't imagine Black Box are far off developing the software.

When the P38 came out the cost of repairs were exactly the same, and I believe the d3 has taken another significant step forward in 4X4 evolution. I can now buy a full set of P38 air springs and shockers for just over a grand, you can download free software for the EAS and engine management, Blackbox sell Faultmate SV for ~$1000. How much would all this gear have cost in 1999?

In time parts for the D3 will become cheaper and more readily available aftermarket. There are plenty of aftermarket accessories available too, which I believe is a downfall of the P38.

At the end of the day, like it or not electronics will be inevitable in all vehicles. Take a look at the venerable defender with the 2.4TDCi, its computer controlled. We just need to learn and adapt.

So YES in 5 years i would like to have a SE TDV6 Disco 3, if we still have enough oil

Stu