Thread: Brand spankin'

Welcome,

I have been working with Land Rover Brand for nearly 3 yrs and have heard lots of things about people who have had problems but most of all I hear people good stories. With everything that is manufactured these days how can you be reassured that one car is going to be more reliable than another. One thing that Land Rover has over Toyota is that they only make 4WD and SUV so for some one looking at a 4WD or SUV that's what I would be looking at. Mine you Toyota are good but they is better out there.

So for a car that can carry 7 Adults, tow 3500kg with 350kg on the ball, has good fuel economy has good features for it price why would you look past the Discovery 4 one awesome car.

DJK90

Originally Posted by applesandoranges

( I just wish for Jap reliability )

Be careful what you wish for....

D4, 16 months old and had a hard life already. 52k including 2 outback trips and 4 trips to the High Country. Biggest problem to date? The latch on the fuel filler cap filled up with dirt and got a bit sticky.

Previous D3. 5 years, 160k, again not an easy life. Had a transmission problem from new, which was replaced in the first couple of weeks. After that, one suspension fault caused by a loose battery cable. Very reliable vehicle.

Sisters D3, now 8 years old. Biggest problem to date? Broken tailgate latch.

BILs RRS. Now 4 years old. No problems.

I'm happy to stick with Land Rover reliability, thanks.


Cheers,
Jon

Reliability as poor as that must be very frustrating Jon. Really must make you wary about driving a car, and you must lie awake at night wishing you had listened to your Nissota driving mates.

Originally Posted by jon3950

Be careful what you wish for....

D4, 16 months old and had a hard life already. 52k including 2 outback trips and 4 trips to the High Country. Biggest problem to date? The latch on the fuel filler cap filled up with dirt and got a bit sticky.

Previous D3. 5 years, 160k, again not an easy life. Had a transmission problem from new, which was replaced in the first couple of weeks. After that, one suspension fault caused by a loose battery cable. Very reliable vehicle.

Sisters D3, now 8 years old. Biggest problem to date? Broken tailgate latch.

BILs RRS. Now 4 years old. No problems.

I'm happy to stick with Land Rover reliability, thanks.


Cheers,
Jon

To right there!! Great cars, the reason Toyota have no issues is they have no problems the most advanced thing in my FIL's 120 Prado GXL is either the power windows or the power door mirrors or maybe the central locking other than that there is no technology to help you so there is nothing that can go wrong!!

Never underestimate the complexity of a modern Toyota, or any new car for that matter. They are all complex these days and all have their share of problems.

From what I have seen, 200s don't have a very good reputation in the bush. In fact, on my last trip something very unusual happened. I came across more people who were impressed with the Disco and bagged Cruisers than the other way around. I've never experienced that before.

Cheers,
Jon

Got to say I sweated reliability comments the same considering a D2 TD5. 10yo diesel not as nice Toyo/Nissan were avg $10k+ more tho. and I loved the drive of the D2. I have NO mechanical nouse. Found a noice D2 took it to LR specialist for check over...he gave it the all clear BUT given 180k warned of possible imminent issues, worst being head gasket, that might cost $6k to fix. I rolled the dice and sure enough within 6 months blown head gasket. Fortunately this forum, and an experienced mate, helped me fix gasket (and replace mounts, hoses, radiator, drive shaft, coolers etc). Cost way less than $6k and I now have a bullet proof disco that is brilliant to drive, comfortable, and goes like stink (in a steady diesel sort of way). I figure all cars are gunna cost big if you keep them for long enuff. I would have regretted settling for something touted as reliable, spending more, and having something go wrong. Go the disco.

Originally Posted by bsperka

What's the difference between a motoring journalist and an elephant? The journalist has a longer memory. LR had quality and build problems that haven't been around for 15 years.
Toyota is now suffering from reliability issues in most of it's offerings - D4D carboning up the oil strainer and killing the engine(some workshops inspect at every service), brake issues, v8 diesel with ordinary outputs, poor fuel economy and some with oil consumption issues. D4s are very sophisticated and better engineered than most other offerings. Toyota usually follows LR's lead, like they have since they built their first 4WD. (Landcruiser name was due to having to compete with Land Rover for mindset in the marketplace).
However a D4 will still have issues, like any complex modern vehicle. So make an informed decision by using this forum and others (both LR and others you are considering).

You'd have to include Jeep in that "Follow LR's lead" statement. Jeep are now so Landrover'ish it's not funny. Then again ... LR started with a Jeep copy didn't they?, so maybe that's OK ... LOL!!!


I have to say I loved the Prado advertisement demonstrating it's HDC .... it looked like an uncontrolled rock falling down a bloody hill .... love to see how well it would fair with it's 'Control' system turned off ... :-)

Originally Posted by jon3950

Never underestimate the complexity of a modern Toyota, or any new car for that matter. They are all complex these days and all have their share of problems.

From what I have seen, 200s don't have a very good reputation in the bush. In fact, on my last trip something very unusual happened. I came across more people who were impressed with the Disco and bagged Cruisers than the other way around. I've never experienced that before.

Cheers,
Jon

I work with a bloke who 8 months ago sold an absolutely beautiful 100 series, so well decked out for a 200 series and he is regretting it, so much so he has tried to buy his old 100 back. He just doesn't think it's as good as the 100 and is not impressed with the fuel consumption either.

But then there are plenty of people who swear by them. All I know is that I'm ecstatic with our Discovery.