Thread: Maybe upgrading to discovery

Originally Posted by Flaps

Hey everyone i hate to say this but the misses wants a new car cause i now have 3 kids she wants something decent so i maybe getting rid of the trusty defender. But the up side i might buy her a discovery 3 she wants something with 7 seats and more comfortable then the defender for when we go camping so i only have a few questions:

Are the discoveries as good as people make then out to be?

What should i be looking out for when buying one?

Why does everyone seem to be getting rid of them at about 150000km?

Are they expensive to run and repair?

Do they break a lot?

Are they any good for towing?

Cheers everyone

Are the discoveries as good as people make then out to be?
Yes!

What should i be looking out for when buying one?
Service history.

Why does everyone seem to be getting rid of them at about 150000km?
Not everyone! There's a lot of high mileage ones around.

Are they expensive to run and repair?
All big complex cars cost money to run. The disco 3 for me at this early stage is OK. Parts are a lot cheaper than VWs!

Do they break a lot?
A bit early for me to tell, but from what I read and the people I speak to, no more so than other big complex cars. From what I have read and heard the V8 is the most trouble free. Mine is great!

Are they any good for towing?
I have towed a car on a trailer with no problems at all. 2007 D3 V8.


In a nutshell, go for it. You won't regret it.


Willem

Originally Posted by Flaps

Hey everyone i hate to say this but the misses wants a new car cause i now have 3 kids she wants something decent so i maybe getting rid of the trusty defender. But the up side i might buy her a discovery 3 she wants something with 7 seats and more comfortable then the defender for when we go camping so i only have a few questions:

Are the discoveries as good as people make then out to be?
What should i be looking out for when buying one?
Why does everyone seem to be getting rid of them at about 150000km?
Are they expensive to run and repair?
Do they break alot?
Are they any good for towing?

Cheers everyone

You are bound to see a varied response to your request for data. From our point of view the D4 has been the best vehicle we have had. My other half loves it, and would have trouble moving down to anything else. I say moving down, and I mean it. It is quiet ( like a limo compared to other 4WD's ) eats the distance on long trips. It is economical, particularly so for a vehicle lugging 2.6 tonnes around, with the aerodynamics of a brick.......and to top it off it is awesome offroad. You will however have to unlearn some old 4WD habits. Gordon's GOE courses are a good intro to life with a Disco.
As what to look for, pretty much the same as any other vehicle. If it has had a hard life it will be evident in the condition, especially underneath. I would look for full service history, and low klms, the same as any other vehicle.
As for 150000klm, I had not heard of that one. I would assume it is owners selling off before the vehicle gets too old, and heading off any potential issues that may come with age or klms. I can empathise with this attitude, but make the point that there are not too many vehicles on the market now, that don't have a fair degree of complexity, and the issues that this can bring. If you are concerned, investigate a diagnostic tool such as a Hawkeye or Faultmate. They have different degrees of complexity and usefulness, and you will need to research them a bit before deciding on one.
Ditto on being expensive to repair. Show me a comparable vehicle that isn't. If you wish to follow the factory service schedule and use an authorised dealer for repairs, it will cost. It is no better or worse than a 200 series Landcruiser. The only obvious negative, is there is not an LR dealer on every corner. ( unlike Toyota ) As for the cost of parts, if you want an expensive 4WD for parts, buy a Jeep. Anything else is cheap by comparison.
As far as breaking a lot, ours is only up to 55000klms and we don't have issues to this point. Others will no doubt cite their own history. Certainly the D3 & D4 are a far cry from the reliability issues of the older series Disco's.
Towing, you will get plenty of response on that score. They excel at towing, and if you read any of the crop of caravan magazines, you will often see Disco's being used as tow vehicles. ( and RRS's )

Happy hunting and use the forum.

They are better than most people make them out be! Just take a drive and you will see. Just as quiet and comfortable off road as on. The only thing is that you have to take big bumps and ruts slowly compared with a live axle vehicle. If not you will whack the front cross member on the ground, as I did when I first drove my D4 off road after being used to a GQ Patrol. There is plenty of clearance as long as you change your driving habits and slow down when necessary.

My D4 is coming up for 150,000 and I won't be selling it. Mine has had a hard time, towing, travelling all over Australia on the roughest roads, sand tracks, rock tracks, beaches etc plus city driving the rest of the time. The sides and underneath are all scratched and chipped but if you drove it you would barely be able to tell it from a new one.





Bob

You will however notice the corrugations have been graded out of all the dirt roads once you get one.

My RRS TDV6 has been all over Australia as well and has 201K on it - no way in the world am I selling it! Had it for 60k and replaced
-a set of tires
-oil pump and belts (the oil pump is worth doing on the TDV6 due to a design fault)
-wheel alignment
-changed the trans fluid and filter


They're not as good as people say... they're better!


3500kg towing. I have towed a large stock trailer full of hay bales (worked out about 3t) with no issues whatsoever - car and trailer very stable. I have also towed a 2t camper trailer up to Tamworth and back - averaged 11L/100km at between 100 and 110km/h. We also took a 2H 60 Series Cruiser on that trip and while my RRS was fully loaded -and- had the camper on the back, it was still getting 200km+ more to 80L of diesel than the relatively lightly loaded 60! The owner of the 60 was pretty impressed by that. With no headwind the car was registering 8.2L/100km.


What 4wd'ing I've done in the RRS I've been seriously impressed with, as have those that have tagged along with me. Stuff it shouldn't have done with road tires it's done easily. Even sand, where I had done all the wrong things like leave the traction control on and not let tires down... Amazing wheel articulation for an independently suspended vehicle. Handles corrugations better than any vehicle I've experienced, even with 20's.


Feels much more upmarket than my Audi A4 sport and that's a great car so saying something there. It's quieter, ride much more refined, a/c works a lot better and doesn't destroy the car's performance. Driving position is fantastic. If you're a music buff, definitely opt for at least the mid range Harman/kardon stereo (9 speakers I think?). On road performance for a proper 4wd is top of class.


To conclude? If you're after a car that:
-can rough it with the best off road, but:
-handles better on road than the best (because that's where you'll be 99.99% of the time, right?)
-looks trendy outside your favourite wine bar (has latte cup holders too!)
-your missus will love it


There really isn't anything better.

DO IT!

I love me tdv6 D3 HSE.

My mates were all against me going down the Toorak Tractor route, they are all Nissan, Toyota fans.

My D3 eats them alive on the road, I can overtake them mid corner. It drives like a car, is more comfortable, and fuel economy is amazing. Half of a diesel Cruiser.
Then off road, I head out with the big boys, all on lifts with big tyres and lockers, rock sliders etc. All I have is M/T 31inch tyres. I am the only standard vehicle, and have no issues going where they do, and sometimes further. And in pure comfort!

You will get a bit tired of the Tea jokes.

You know when you are ready, and when you make the change a whole new world of car happiness opens up, for all the reasons you and others have stated.

One thing I must take issue with, though. One does not "upgrade" from a Defender into something "decent". You cannot upgrade from a Defender. It is the pinnacle of automotive capability, grace, and beauty. Some of us evolve over time to a place where Discoveries and Range Rovers may have things to offer us. But we are not upgrading.

We did exactly what you are considering. Traded in a Defender and bought a D4.
Early days for me but the so far could not be happier. I bought new and was able to organise free servicing (corporate package I think).
The only issue is tyre choice, looks like I will end up buying a set of 18 inch rims from GOE (Member of this forum).
I have taken the D4 along many of the tracks I took the Defender and so far so good. Terrain Response takes a bit of getting used to.
Plenty of info on the forum.
You will never get your wife out of the driving seat.
Cheers
Tony