Thread: Soon to be D4 owner, seeking reassurance.

Thank you all for informative and helpful comments. My decision to go with the 2.7 was purely due to the wheel rim diameter issue. I have read that the 3.0 motor is much improved, but the low profile tyres scared me. I wanted to upgrade the tyres before delivery, not not possible. I am considering getting a set of steel rims and Cooper tyres and putting them on the vehicle when going away, but it is a bit of an expense, and realistically I am not sure how often this will be. I will probably wait until the stock tyres fail, and upgrade then. An additional genuine rim was quoted to me at nearly $900, wihtout the tyre: bit of a sting to have two spares!

I have heard it is bitumen all the way to gregory downs, but we will be heading up to Kingfisher Camp, and coming back through burketown, which is a bit more dirt to negotiate.

Brian

Regarding new tyres for 18 inch rims there are a number of posts on the forum.

I just replaced mine with Continental Cross Contact AT's, check out "New Boots for the D3" thread.

Regards,

Hi CNSPERIO (Brian),

I picked up my first ever LR (D4) in June this year. I must admit I was apprehensive because LRs just tend to have a bad (and underserved) reputation for some reason or other.

I haven't done any of the big trips yet, but I've done a bit of towing, and a fair bit of highway work. Previously I'd been a Toyota man through-and-through.

Come near me and my D4 now and I'm like a rabid dog with a bone - try and take it away from me and you'll get your arm bitten off! I love it! I reckon you'll love yours too.

Regards, Ron

Thanks Watpub,
I'm a little stressed about my purchase too - D4 SE, being built next month and delivered in Dec. I've been a Toyota man too, but the LC200 just didn't stack up. The D3/D4 is just a much better design and drives on the road so much better, considereing 98+% of our use would be on road. My wife and I set the bar low so our expectations will hopefully be exceeded and joke about how good it'll be when it's actually working! We are just joking - everyone on this forum has been very reassuring that we're making a good decision.

Hi CNSPERIO (Brian) and Marty JB,

Like Ron I collected up my D4 3.0 HSE in June. I haven't yet been on a big trip just using it as a daily drive to and from work in Sydney. It is a fantastic car to drive. Importantly for me my wife loves driving it too. My fuel economy is a bit higher than I expected but I'm told it will settle down in time.

Sadly my NP Pajero sold last Saturday. I am sad in that it gave me great service for 6 years and has never missed a beat on or off road. The chap from Kempsey who bought it got a really good deal, especially as it is already set up as a long distance tourer. No more to spend. Oh well out with the old and in with the new.

I go on a LR 'Experience' Day on Saturday where the Disco will get some highway miles and hopefully get dirty too. Lots of expected fun.

Enjoy your cars as I am sure I will enjoy mine. I think you have made the right decision.

Cheers

George

It is sealed from Mt Isa or Cloncurry all the way to Gregory. Sealed the first 20-40k towards Lawn Hill. The rest of that road is gravel but kept in good nick for the mine trucks, very dusty though. We went over to Adel's Grove a while back & sat on 100kph for most of the trip, stopped when trucks came the other way due to the dust.
The road from Gregory to Tirrana turn off is both sealed & gravel, about 50% of each. Tirrana to Doomadgee is all seal. Doomadgee to Kingfisher turn off is gravel & dirt recently graded & OK with caution for bull dust & a couple of wash out areas. Turn off to Kingfisher is kept reasonable during tourist season but about 80kph most of the way.
There is an interesting drive from Lawn Hill to Doomadgee through Lawn Hill & Bowthorn Stations. All dirt, rough in places but a very nice drive, shorter & more fun than going back to Gregory. The creeks are all, now, passable without a snorkel.
The road into Burketown has about 10k of stony gravel, the rest is seal & all of it in good nick.
If you get a chance call in at the Doomadgee Store (in town on the road along the river) & ask for Paul. Be happy to say gooday & look at your D4.
I may be going on leave around then but no dates decided yet.
Jonesfam
PS In '94 I drove a Hi-Lux dual cab from Mt Isa in the wet, 2nd gear, lo range from 40k out of Burke & Wills to Doomadgee (the good ol' days of no seal), 2 full tanks of diesel, out of washer water after 50k so drove with my head out the window. Stopped at Gregory for fuel, climb out, car covered in mud, me covered in mud, drunk truckie on the fence asked how the road was!.
Can't remember what i said but it probably wasn't nice. About 450k only took 10 hours.
Jonesfam

I have a D4 TDV6 and it is a great car I got this model for the samller wheels as i intend to get out and about in it. The power is adequate although the 3.0L is nicer. It is a great all rounder plenty of space for touring excellent seating flexibility and comfortable for 7. Easily the most comfortable and relaxed upon road cruiser you will find and it is able to mix it with all the popular 4WD brands in Oz off road. I have been on an off road driver training day and it did it all with ease me on the other hand is for another post.

I have also been up the beach in some soft sand and with the extra height at the touch of a button it was not bottoming out on the soft stuff, the electrics also did their thing very nicely in the sand and if i kept my foot on the gas it would allow all 4 wheels to spin and never overrode my instructions as soon as you let go of the gas the electrics jump in and stop spinning wheels as quickly as possible for you. Then there is the little picture of the front wheels telling you where they are pointing. Oh and being able to gran, all the camping gear, or getting into the local carpark by going into access mode. Brilliant just Brilliant. It has excellent recovery points to and is a capable snatcher.

If you want an uncomporomisng, comfortable, capable 4WD which can get out and about without any mods then this is the one for you. Enjoy.

My 3.0L SE D4 has just hit one year old (Aug 2009) build. It's been in Oz since October last year and I've owned it since January.

I had a couple of issues at the start, only one of those was an actual failure which was in the suspension. 90% of the time it was fine but occasionally was slow to rise. LR replaced the compressor and it's been great since.

I've done about 16,000ks....have been off road (not crazy stuff) quite a few times. Rough torn up trails and tracks...generally gravel and rock. I also had the car on Fraser Island for a week. The car handled all of those conditions without any issue at all....in fact it was brilliant.

It is a fantastic car to drive and just draws admiring looks and comments all the time.

Unfortunately I broke it on Fraser Island but that was just an accident and had absolutely nothing to do with the car. In fact, I was impressed that the D4 sustained so little damage considering what happened to it (story in D4 Beach Work ).

My only complaint.......it takes forever to get parts....just about everything I needed to fix the Fraser Island damage was Ex UK....

Other than that.....it's fabulous. You'll love it!!!