Thread: Long term cost of ownership :Discover 4 vs Prado

Thanks all for your valuable suggestions/opinions.

I believe Coolum has the ability to read minds :-). ""imagine buying a Prado and every time you see a D4 drive past you'll be thinking how much more that lucky person is enjoying the trip. From the past few months I am carefully looking at every Disco on the roads and also look at the driver :-)

From the thread what I understood is Prado and Disco has almost the same maintaince and that it is all about how the used vehicle was maintained so far.

As I am more inclined towards the Disco, can somebody suggest where to inspect the used vehicle in Melbourne before I buy. I mean any mechanics to suggest. Further, if I am buying from a dealer, is it necessary to check with a mechanic or whether I can take the dealers assurance? I am looking at a couple of disco 4 in car sales currently.

Im going to add nothing to the original post here, but:

Originally Posted by garrycol

Can we stop calling then SUVs - they are 4wds. Yes I appreciate the battle against this Americanism has probably been lost but there is no reason to reinforce its use.

I agree. To me a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) would be a V8 falcon or commodore ute

And if it's a V8 commodore wagon, it's a "hot hatch"

Originally Posted by dazray

I drove a LC200 Sahara the other day. It drove really nicely and was very comfortable. The only 2 things I really wanted that the LC200 had was standard 18" wheels and 135 ltr tank.
Things I didn't like was the third row seats don't fold flat into floor and unless your 5 your knees are around your ears in the third row.
And of course I love the air suspension in my D4.
If the D4 had 18" rims and a larger capacity tank say at least 100 ltrs as standard, it would be the perfect 4wd for me..
I know you can get GOE rims, but then that is another $2750 + rubber for a set of 5.

Ill have to agree there i did love the big fuel tanks on the Toyotas and i mean the smaller wheels are better to but i figured something as lame as the fuel tank was not going to win me over a D4 it just does everything better but i wish some how they could just get it up to 100L as you said!!

And ill second the rear seats Toyotas design is just stupidity and there so uncomfortable plus the way the second row go aswell they roll forward and no flat floor!! The air suspension just make them so smooth and comfortable such a great car.

Originally Posted by discolandinaus

Thanks all for your valuable suggestions/opinions.

I believe Coolum has the ability to read minds :-). ""imagine buying a Prado and every time you see a D4 drive past you'll be thinking how much more that lucky person is enjoying the trip. From the past few months I am carefully looking at every Disco on the roads and also look at the driver :-)

I did that when i bought my Prado 150 was a big nervous about LR and the costs and it just peeved me right off going past every D4 and wanting one!!

Now i have it i just love it best car I've ever owned!!

A mates friend (who was driving a new LC 200) got in my D3 V8 HSE (with 250Kms on the dial) and after a bit of a run on the beach and on gravel road ....


just piped up -


"Gee, they have a nice ride don't they".


I haven't been in a LC200 but - how could I not agree!


Driving the D3, the only cars I look at on the road with "just a pinch of envy" are the new all Alloy 'Big' Rangies / Maybe some D4's


but - nothing else even slightly impresses me ... X5, Merc, Audi, Dubs, Cayenne - Meh


Sorry to mention / or not to mention Toyos, Nissn (there may be another I cant recall )- sorry I didn't see that one


(joke)

I have always had land rovers but did have a look around at Prado's and LC200's before I bought my D4 to see if the Toyota product could win me over. Although the LC200 is no bigger than the D4 it felt very big and you did not get a lot of fruit for your money. Was not too keen on the 3l diesel in the Prado after the motor in my work Hilux self destructed at only 140,000km. approx. $10000
The D4 has done 120,000km with no problems so far. Only additional items outside of normal servicing have been a transmission sump and oil change and pads a set of brake pads. First 104,000km was free servicing and since then have serviced myself.

Do take it for an inspection to a landrover specialist. We just bought a D3 and much to the annoyance of the dealer I insisted in taking it to have it inspected. Turns out the guy who inspected it knew the car and said it was a good buy but did point out a few things wrong that the dealer had to repair as they where roadworthyness issues. Dealer was a bit red faced considering they had just given it a road worthy. Well worth the $60. Love it by the way even though the mrs wont let me drive it, have. Even relegated to the D1