Thread: What convinced you?

Go drive a Disco or RRS.

Go drive a Prado.

You'll work out pretty quickly why we all chose the LR.

If you think there's more horror stories than good ones, you haven't been looking very hard.

People tend to post on car specific forums because they have something they want resolved - you will note that there are not a lot of posts saying my vehicle is great - afterall we already know that, hence the bias of posts seeking information prompted by an issue.

I am sure a Prado forum is the same - I know the HiLux forum is very similar to our own.

The reality is that the D4 is no certainly no worse reliability wise than most other makes.

Garry

What Rich said...there is no comparison.

I compared my D4 to a 200....still no comparison. Really wanted to go with the 200, but the D4 won hands down.

Brett.....

I came from a Patrol (3,0 hand grenade which blew at 146,000km) and was rather undecided until I drove a D4 on a test drive around the hills at the back of Coffs.
I found the D4 smooth, quiet and plenty of power (3.0) and superb comfort.
I have now done 50,000km and have had no problems and have been to the Bungles, Mereenie loop and Chambers Pillar.
From my experience it is the best value for money. I looked at Prado and L200 and considered both Toyotas overpriced.
At the end of the day it is all a personal opinion and what you really want, but I am over the moon with my choice.
Cheers. Graeme

I too drove the Prado, Pajero, and wouldn't bother with a Pathfinder.
I came from a 80 series and then a 100 series Cruiser, didn't want a 200 too big, ugly and expensive.
The Patrol is too ancient, why would I go there!

Drove the D3 in both V6 petrol & diesel and was sold on how easily it just got everything done.
Thought about getting the V8 and converting it to LPG but it was all too hard and would still have a crap range.

In the end it had to be the TDV6

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

I drove a D4 and after 500m new it was the car for me. Comfortable, capable on and off road and responsive. I then drove the 200 series, I thought it looked cheaply and poorly finished and was not as comfortable or responsive. I then drove a Prado and finally a Patrol and nothing compared to the D4. Placed my order a few days later.

7 months later the car still hadn't arrived so I cancelled and went and bought a Hilux. Been kicking myself ever since. A bit over a year later I am now considering selling up and ordering a D4 after test driving one again a few weeks ago. It is a fantastic 4WD.

As all the guys said above,done 25000 in mine with no issues,can't stay out of it.