What convinced you?

I recently ordered a disco. I had the opportunity to grab a Prado for a day of 'rural' driving (dirt, hills, creeks, but nothing hardcore). Then got to grab the disco for a weekend.

The Prado was more than capable, but you still know that you're driving a truck.

The Disco is refined. It soaks up the bumps like they don't exist. The fit and finish is just excellent. Even the small stuff is well thought out. Middle seat on the second row is super comfortable thanks to 35/30/35 config. Seats 6&7 are comfortable enough to travel decent distances and the perfectly flat fold away is brilliant.

To me it just seems it ticks all the boxes. Town, country, highway (and from what fellow formumers suggest, hardcore) driving is a pleasure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Martyboy

I loive the look and drive of the Disco but when you read this forum there seems to be more horror stories than good ones. most horror stories are costing ownsers some significant $$ or at the very least time and headaches.

---

Marty,

What you read is what people want to talk or get advice about, and what they generally want to talk about are the bad stories, the problems. I've got a D4 and have had no probs in 2.5 years of ownership so there's nothing for me to post about. I'm sure this is true of all product related forums, not just LR.

Maybe this thread is what you're looking for?

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...es-thread.html

For me it was the overall package. Comfort, ride, equipment, off road ability, on road ability, and in particular air suspension to allow easier access for my wife. I also looked at a Jeep with air suspension after eliminating the others but it had less space and also had that :confused: foot operated parking brake - I hate those :p

I just ordered a new HSE yesterday - my first Land Rover. Been looking at replacing the existing 4WD since the last motor show - (I like to research these things :p ) and I really liked what I saw in the Discovery. Sure, the service can be pricey but I wouldn't think it would be overly so compared to its peers. Modern 4WD vehicles are complicated these days and the higher service cost is the price you pay for the technology. That said, there are private service agents (look in this forum) who do it at less cost and do a good job from what I have read.

With regards to the horror stories, I agree with earlier posts. You usually hear about the bad things more than the good things. The forum is for information, advice and help so it's bound to have the odd horror story etc.. I have a Pajero at the moment and it has been a great car but it cost me nearly $10,000 in the last 12 months. It's 12 years old and Mitsubishi don't stock parts past 10 years. Transmission died 6 months ago and I could only get a second hand one - not even a reconditioned one - $4,500 later :(.

Martin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ~Rich~

I too drove the Prado, Pajero, and wouldn't bother with a Pathfinder........

In the end it had to be the TDV6 ;)

---

Like most of the others, I felt the Discovery was just better to drive. The reality for me is that it spends most of its time on bitumen and it was the most comfortable and practical (interior set up).

I have a 2.7. Deliberately did not drive a 3L as I couldn't afford it when I was buying, but I am sure that they are in an even better class.

I will admit to being nervous about major problems, but touch wood, my ownership has been trouble free, as it has for most of the others.

I do plan to keep it for a long time, and maybe one day I will get to drive it more than my wife does.

Pat

I got on 07 TDV6 D3 HSE for less than I could get a far older Diesel patrol or cruiser for.

And it is far superior in every way.

Has had a few issues, but spending so low on a vehicle you expect a few things to happen.

New to LR myself having just purchased a MY13 D4 SE.
Previously driven pajeros and lexus470.
Only the D4 offered the package -quality, style ,without sacrificing offroad ability.
And current gen toyotas just silly money for the tech/spec level.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BobD

The cars are brilliant and the main negatives are probably related to that brilliance. The cost of shocks, bushes (lower control arms) and the EPB are all close to $2000 a set, not to mention the compressor etc which wears out. My 2010 D4 is at 140,000km and I have recently replaced the EPB, lower control arms and before Christmas will do the rear shocks.

The cost of these wear items are much higher than parts with similar funtions on other lesser cars but I love the D4 and am willing to pay these higher costs of ownership, many of which are due to my choice to use the car off road and for touring all over Australia on very rough roads.

After travelling in remote areas with others in 200 series, 100 series, 80 series, GU and GQ Patrols and as a current modified GQ Patrol owner, I can safely say there is no better long distance / rough or off road tourer than the D4 / RRS.

The only places where I would rather take the Patrol are deep water crossings with a chance of getting stuck, deep mud holes with a chance of being stuck, steep and car destroying rocky hills and narrow scratchy tracks. The main reason for that is the cost of cosmetically damaging the expensive car or getting the electronics too wet, especially the amplifier under the drivers seat and any other computers that are subject to water damage. There is also a slight lack of ground clearance in some extreme conditions where a raised D1, GQ Patrol or old cruiser on bigger tyres will cope better. Having said that, I have still taken the D4 through many deep water crossings, rocky hill climbs and down many scratchy narrow tracks, so the car is no longer pristine anyway.

Bob

---

thanks for sharing some of the maintenance issues and costs you have had with the LR4 Bob, thats very helpful.

one of the main advantages i think the LC200 has (and by association some things might apply to Prado as well, also some duel cabs like ford Ranger etc), is you can up the GVM. e.g. if you want to load your vehicle up with all the off road bling as well as carry a few friends or family, e.g turn it into an expedition vehicle with long range tanks, carry multiple wheels, steel roo bar, 15Kg of spot lights, water tank, fridge, awnings, duel batteries, air compressor, hot water systems, winch, draw systems and the list goes on and on, not to mention carrying a pile of firewood to some remote national park, that is often seen..

for most cars the GVM doesn't let you put near half that stuff on before you are over or precariously close to the limit, not even the LC200. but the LC200 is easy to have the GVM uprated by about 280kg from memory, no questions asked, if purchasing new (before first rego) for just the cost of upgraded suspension components or an additional engineers fee of about $400 the GVM can be risen by 500-600kg or so. car needs that load on it though to handle properly so if its mostly taken off when not on holiday its not a nice (or safe) car to drive on highway or in the city

i am with you if you want to take your car (continually or repeatedly)places with large risk of swimming or damage such as you mentioned then an old vehicle or a patrol is a better option. they are tuff underneath, simple, electrics at a minimum and it doesn't make you ill if you dent a panel.


cheers
chippy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gribbsmy13

Have you looked at all of them side by side? It's as big on the inside as a cruiser, but unless they are side by side you would think its half the size. They drive like a soft roader, but have more ability than any other standard 4x4. I came from a 1 year old jeep grand Cherokee, which spent 3 months in the dealership with issues, I got a return to store voucher on that one and bought the disco. I couldn't be happier and can't wait to February when I get my first 3 week camper trailer holiday.

The only other car that came close was the jeep, but after twelve months of pain, this was the only option that was viable

---

wow, very interesting Gribb...

i had my mind set on a GC until i recently took one for a test drive and it had some problems in that drive. It stopped unexpectedly, wouldn't go..then unexpectedly just took off, then did it again later in the test drive. i dont know if it was a just a one of, computer glitch thing or what but it made me just worried enough to pause and go look at Land Rover...i am still trying to make my mind up which to get

i do like the inside design, more or less, overall in the GC, looks good i think. plenty of headroom (for a tall person), nice big computer screen. does have a some quirks thou, the hand brake is not ideally located and they were too slack to change the indicator stalk to the correct side, both obvious to chang items, ignored from its left hand drive design origin. australian versions also miss out on some basics electric features that are standard on US cars, like garage door opening etc, no idea why .

the LR do feel a little better quality or perhaps fit and finish build inside. i personally think the LR4 is not necessarily the perfect vehicle to match against the GC, 2013 Range Rover sport is perhaps closer (not in price obviously, the GC is cheapest and gets plenty of extras) due to it size, function etc, head room is poor in the RRS so far i notice though which lets it down for me.

the LR4 is way more vehicle being 7 seater, heaps more functional with split tailgate, better view all around in traffic (GC if you pick top of range, benefits from those warning proximity alerts as the slim windows do restrict vision somewhat).

and according to the salesman the other day the LR4 is bigger than LC on the inside in practically every way (side to side for example there is more space, but i cant remember the exact measurements he said now), but outside the body measures marginally narrower, they are exactly the same from mirror to mirror though...

no comparison with length of cargo space inside the back, the LC is terrible due to its huge seats that fold up to be in the way, not out of the way! Prado is the same from mem. even the GC is better. i can just lay down in back of GC if i move the fronts seats forward all the way (cant be driven in this position though), the Disco has plenty of room (and some to spare) to lay down without having to do anything special. the practicality and functionality of the D4 looks amazing to me

I looked at the Prado, Pajero, Jeep/Dodge and then a Discovery before settling on the Discovery3.

If you can bare with my story below - i'll share my experience of going through different options and settling on a D3.

4yrs ago I was driving a 1983 Nissan Datsun 720, 2.5L diesel NA, slow, clunky but at the time a good ute and off-road fun! Things started to go a bit off with 2 headgaskets in 1 yr, clutch and brake master cylinders - so I thought i'd upgrade.

Straight away I started looking at Toyota and in particular the hilux (build around 2000). Quiet a jump from the old 720, turbo etc. What a disappointment that was. I quickly learnt that the circa 2000 Hilux's were pure pieces **** with a hefty price tag. Sure - Toyota Reliability but what I was finding is rust from all the salt and beach driving, molested seats and plastics, custom hack jobs - all for the price of 12-15K.
I thought i found a good one about 80km from home but when I called it was already gone - but the dealer asked if I had considered a Triton? Not at that stage thats for sure. I had the car within a week - 2003 Turbo diesel, 260000 country kms but a fleet vehicle with history, unmolested and well taken care off by the guy who had it for 5yrs of the lease - 12K!. I was hesitant of the 260000km however in 4yrs the car cost me only in services and a $50 oil pressure sensor - not including the bunch of accessories I wanted on the car.

Triton - a hugely under rated vehicle, I couldn't be happier with it over the last 4yrs and 50000kms.

Fast forward to about 3 months ago - long story short: we moved house, ute was very useful but I was a bit tired of the 'favours' i was asked to do regularly, bring this, take that, can i borrow your ute etc - I don't like saying no basically. The triton clicked over 310k, rear main seal and thrust bearing were going, central locking playing up a bit - small things but had to be done sooner or later and also gf complaining the ute it too big to drive (ironic because the D3 is actually bigger).

I've done my research and settled on a Prado & Pajero. We went to look at the Prado's and Pajero at the dealer and soon realised i was looking at the same situation from 4yrs ago - Toyota vs Mitsubishi but this time the difference was obvious! Pajero was walking all over the Prado - quality vs name. Prado has the toyota name but boy do the skimp on the quality. The interior plastics, seats are shocking - Pajero wins hands down. Add to that the high kms of the Prado (because people buy them to travel long distances) and the higher price tag and the Prado was quickly crossed off the list. Pajero was number 1 - better, cheaper and less kms - and i already tasted the mitsubishi reliability.

Thats when the Disco3 popped its head out. I went to see a couple and was impressed with what I was seeing and reading - despite some of the theories of unreliability I decided to test drive a couple and my eyes were wide opened with its comfort, the quality of the plastics (even though harsh to touch they look and feel like they can withstand the time and use/abuse), the power of the V6 diesel, airbag suspension etc - all i was thinking is WOW.
The other part which was a winner for me vs the prado/pajero was the rear tailgate opening - rather than doing the whole barn door opening it was a simple up and down setup - love it. Prado's and Pajero's are known for having an issue with opening the rear when there's a camper or boat attached - I didn't want that. and so much room in the back - perfect for a baby seat, shopping - lots of leg room - oh the list goes on!

And the price was also within the budget - surprisingly the Prado is more $ than the D3 - those people in the Prado's don't know what they are missing (shhh - don't tell them).

So far 600km in the D3 and every day I like it more and more! waiting for my girl to take the car for a drive too - i'm sure she will enjoy it for the driving comfort. oh and quickly - I did 100kms last night on the highway and came home with more 'miles to empty' then when i left hahaha... 100km free trip! Fuel will come out around 9l/100km I think.

Unless i get hugely burnt on this car for what ever reason (i doubt it) I will be just as happy with it as the Triton which is hugely under rated vs the over rated Toyota or Nissan (Patrol) and as a second hand car owner - I get more luxury and perks out of the D3 than i ever would from the Prado or even the Pajero!

Hope i haven't bored anyone - just wanted to share how my search for the 'family' car worked out and why i now drive a Landrover.

stay safe

cheers
Mike

Chippy, the same thing happened to me after all ready spending 7 hours on the road it stopped dead and wouldn't restart. I couldn't trust it after that.