Thread: D3 review on Drive

I liked these snippets:

"...previous models come into pretty sharp focus for somebody looking for a well-equipped, old-school off-roader.
Are they old school because they can actually go off road?

"Bigger in every direction than the Discovery 3, the 4 also sported electronically-controlled air-suspension, permanent all-wheel-drive and a proper set of low-range gears courtesy of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system with its driver selectable modes."

I haven't actually measured a 4 but aren't they the same? Or is the 4 literally millimetres bigger in rach direction?

weren't they car of the year in their class for many years running ? if old school then the competitors wouldn't have much going for them.
and not seen much in the MULGA and bitumen drivers. about the brands reputation , maybe they are confusing it to the Freelander 1 ?
Quote:/:
"While the Discovery’s off-road ability was well known, you don’t often see them slogging through the mulga on a regular basis. The brand’s reputation for having things go wrong played against that sort of use, as did the cost and complexity of the thing.

In fact, a high percentage pf Discoveries have never been off the bitumen and, thanks to the seven-seat layout (standard on most versions, optional on the base-model) many of them have been confined to family-car duties. And they’re the ones to buy now, of course. /unquote
Bitumen! We could say the same about Landcuisers in shopping centres and school drop offs

They probably meant that it was bigger in every way than the D2. Most journo's don't know the Land Rover products very well....

A month ago I was stranded for a week in Alice Springs waiting for an alternator and coolant junction to be freighted. I was then delayed two days for the uncommon 19 inch replacement tyres to be freighted in. I've just been stranded in Darwin for 2 weeks waiting for an intake manifold to be shipped in and fitted.

I have watched hundreds of land cruisers driving around whilst I'm waiting for exotic parts to be specially shipped in.

In outback australia, the reality of distance kicks in. I wouldn't like to own and i wouldn't like the feel of driving a land cruiser, but numbers don't lie. Outback equals land cruiser...

Most common vehicles I've seen from my hire cars in the last 6 weeks.
1. Land cruiser 200
2. Land cruiser 78
3. Prado.
4. Pajero.
5. Bt50
6. Dmax.
7. Hilux.
8. Ranger.


I've seen less than 10 d3&d4s. But they look awesome and when they work, they are wonderfully capable, comfortable and stylish machines.

Land rovers are like a religion not a conscious decision. I'm still a believer but I've been well shaken.

Don't be fooled by the amount of Tojo's running around thinking it's all roses. Plenty more are laid up waiting for parts just like you are as the amount of stock that regional workshops carry isn't the same as it used to be. The increasing sophistication of modern vehicles means that the ability to diagnose and fix electrical/component problems is beyond the reach of many regional centres no matter what the make of model. Hang in there!

I think if you had similar issues with any of those vehicles in your list you'd likely be up for a decent wait for parts as well(except maybe the 78 series)

worked as a spare parts manager in broome for while, if you want oil filters, disc pads, wiper blades you right with just about all vehicles. If you have a show stopper with any vehicle its wait a while, maybe even a while longer. I could get stuff from perth next day if you paid the price. 3 day wait from the east coast. Jc sent me an engine from Tassie and that was only about a week.
The best thing to carry when travelling is a diagnostic tool, even if you don't understand it well
cheers
blaze