Thread: Advice on new car?? Landrover or???

Thankyou everyone for your comments.
I certainly had a lot of thinking to do, and after careful consideration, l have come up with the following outcome.
After looking at the various makes, l really cannot move over to the dark side.
The Landrover product just offers the best overall package.
So where do i go from here? I have three Landrovers at present.
My sons 99 Freelander, which l just rebuilt the engine and gearbox for him, my D1 (Gumboot) which is a fantastic fun machine, with dent and scatches and no computers and last of all the D3.
I like each and every one for there own characteristics.
The D3 has now 173000kms on it and has been really reliable up until about 6 months ago.
Since then l have replaced both diff centres, hand brake acuator, front ball joints, major svc to inc cam blets, idlers etc.
Now I have had recently auto issues, with slight shuddering in top gear under load..
I have taken the car to the dealership, and had the full auto service completed. It was expensive and did not solve the problem, but the up side the gear changes are certainly smoother.
This has led me to the change over of car situation.
After considering my options and ringing around for second hand auto trans, to recon ones to new autos, the cost was at worst $9,000, yes $9.000 quoted for a new auto installed by the dealership, and the cheapest $7,000.
After further research l found out from my local Auto Trans business, that he has fixed quite a few D3's, and the issue is the Torque Convertor. Cost to repair $2200.
Easy to identify symptoms are particles in the trans fluid after the main service, attributing to the degeneration of the material in the TC>
Not main trans issues, as the gear changes are smooth at all times, inside the shudder range in top gear under load.
I can live with this cost, if the outcome is a fully operational auto trans.
The rest of the car is running well, and in excellent order throughtout.
So l have decided to keep the car and carry out this repair in a week.
I have 18 months left of the payout, so l will knock that off soon, and be left with yes alot of expense repairing the car, but the outcome around $50000 plus interest less to fork out.
I will look at a D4 when the leasing cycle comes around and look for a bargain. They do come up from time to time, and alot less capital outlay.
If my business was a bit more buoyant, l would consider the new car option.

Thanks once again everyone, and l will keep D3 ing on for a while, with my existing vehicle.

Originally Posted by Busman

Thankyou everyone for your comments.
I certainly had a lot of thinking to do, and after careful consideration, l have come up with the following outcome.
After looking at the various makes, l really cannot move over to the dark side.
The Landrover product just offers the best overall package.
So where do i go from here? I have three Landrovers at present.
My sons 99 Freelander, which l just rebuilt the engine and gearbox for him, my D1 (Gumboot) which is a fantastic fun machine, with dent and scatches and no computers and last of all the D3.
I like each and every one for there own characteristics.
The D3 has now 173000kms on it and has been really reliable up until about 6 months ago.
Since then l have replaced both diff centres, hand brake acuator, front ball joints, major svc to inc cam blets, idlers etc.
Now I have had recently auto issues, with slight shuddering in top gear under load..
I have taken the car to the dealership, and had the full auto service completed. It was expensive and did not solve the problem, but the up side the gear changes are certainly smoother.
This has led me to the change over of car situation.
After considering my options and ringing around for second hand auto trans, to recon ones to new autos, the cost was at worst $9,000, yes $9.000 quoted for a new auto installed by the dealership, and the cheapest $7,000.
After further research l found out from my local Auto Trans business, that he has fixed quite a few D3's, and the issue is the Torque Convertor. Cost to repair $2200.
Easy to identify symptoms are particles in the trans fluid after the main service, attributing to the degeneration of the material in the TC>
Not main trans issues, as the gear changes are smooth at all times, inside the shudder range in top gear under load.
I can live with this cost, if the outcome is a fully operational auto trans.
The rest of the car is running well, and in excellent order throughtout.
So l have decided to keep the car and carry out this repair in a week.
I have 18 months left of the payout, so l will knock that off soon, and be left with yes alot of expense repairing the car, but the outcome around $50000 plus interest less to fork out.
I will look at a D4 when the leasing cycle comes around and look for a bargain. They do come up from time to time, and alot less capital outlay.
If my business was a bit more buoyant, l would consider the new car option.

Thanks once again everyone, and l will keep D3 ing on for a while, with my existing vehicle.

Are there vehicles out there that are as complex and capable as a Disco, that fare better after after so many Ks?

Just a thought.