10,000km tow test: D4 vs LC200, Munja Track

I had an order in for a new Sahara. the dealer took $30k off for a sale on the 31st of December. But I rang up at 11am. and they called back and said hey could not register it i time. The dealer wanted a sales record.

So I bought a demo type 2014 Disco. No issues so far. The service is much more expensive v a new Toyota with fixed servicing. But its made up for in fuel economy. Plus it drives like a sports car and rides like a 7 series. And it goes up and down when attached the Matrix van. plus the reversing camera tracks onto the van.

Only problem I have had so far is with the rubber door seals on the drivers side, and the dealer refuses to pay for them. And there was some sort of maintenance on a front suspension which cost $600 or so more than I expected.

There's lots of reasons why the Disco is good on fuel. One is the engine is made from a better metal than Toyota use. Another is that the 8 speed is far more efficient than the Toyota's transmission. The 8 speed maybe the best gearbox in the world, its saves 6% of fuel over the 6 speed too. And the 6 speed uses far less fuel than Toyota's 200 gearbox too. Its not all about injection or capacity.

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Originally Posted by Melbourne Park

Only problem I have had so far is with the rubber door seals on the drivers side, and the dealer refuses to pay for them.

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Known issue AFAIK. I had 2 replaced under warranty but had to push hard to get it done the second time. First one went in less than 6 months. The rubber is soft and wears easily but creates a great seal. Out of warranty now so I'll let it degrade until really necessary to replace it.

Martin

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Originally Posted by Graeme

The LC200 transmissions overheat easily due to TC slippage unless an after-market TC lock-up module is fitted which also significantly improves fuel consumption.

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Correct, I have a LC200 Sahara TTD 2012. I tow a 3ton type caravan, 4 people and two dogs (yea I know... on the weighbridge they might have something nasty to say).

After I installed an after market (richardsauto) the fuel consumption went way down. I now use in brisbane city traffic around 6-7 liters per 100km. When towing the van up and down to victoria mount hottam last winter I averaged 14 liters per 100km.

I recently installed an oil cooler, still testing if it makes much difference to the temperature. Time will tell when I tow the tractor over mt glorious. That be about 2.5ton. or when hauwling hay.

At the end of the day, if Toyota would had done it's homework then there would not be a need for aftermarket stuff like this.

Would I buy a LC200 Sahara again (or what ever the number might be). ABSOLUTELY NOT, the electronics are a royal pain in the ...... towing wise... can't fail it though.

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Originally Posted by itfarmer

Correct, I have a LC200 Sahara TTD 2012. I tow a 3ton type caravan, 4 people and two dogs (yea I know... on the weighbridge they might have something nasty to say).

After I installed an after market (richardsauto) the fuel consumption went way down. I now use in brisbane city traffic around 6-7 liters per 100km. When towing the van up and down to victoria mount hottam last winter I averaged 14 liters per 100km.

I recently installed an oil cooler, still testing if it makes much difference to the temperature. Time will tell when I tow the tractor over mt glorious. That be about 2.5ton. or when hauwling hay.

At the end of the day, if Toyota would had done it's homework then there would not be a need for aftermarket stuff like this.

Would I buy a LC200 Sahara again (or what ever the number might be). ABSOLUTELY NOT, the electronics are a royal pain in the ...... towing wise... can't fail it though.

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That's interesting, I'd never heard of a lockup kit for the 200...I've got two mates with late model Sarahas, I'll be passing that info onto them. THey both complain about getting 13-14litres per 100 around town. Seems a hell of a chore to install it though, found this explanation on YouTube: YouTube

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Originally Posted by GregMilner

That's interesting, I'd never heard of a lockup kit for the 200...I've got two mates with late model Sarahas, I'll be passing that info onto them. THey both complain about getting 13-14litres per 100 around town. Seems a hell of a chore to install it though, found this explanation on YouTube: YouTube

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Once again, thirstier than my petrol v8 patrol[emoji6]. Anyway, I can't see how a converter lock up will halve those fuel figures! [emoji848]

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Originally Posted by Vern

Once again, thirstier than my petrol v8 patrol[emoji6]. Anyway, I can't see how a converter lock up will halve those fuel figures! [emoji848]

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Mate of mine gets less than 12/100 around town,in his Sahara,he records the fuel and K’s at every fill up.

Very few accessories.

I bet that Patrol of yours doesn’t have many if any.

It’s the weight,and large tyres that hurt fuel economy,including driving style,etc,etc.

FWIW,fuel economy isn’t everything.

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Originally Posted by itfarmer

Correct, I have a LC200 Sahara TTD 2012. I tow a 3ton type caravan, 4 people and two dogs (yea I know... on the weighbridge they might have something nasty to say).

After I installed an after market (richardsauto) the fuel consumption went way down. I now use in brisbane city traffic around 6-7 liters per 100km. When towing the van up and down to victoria mount hottam last winter I averaged 14 liters per 100km.

I recently installed an oil cooler, still testing if it makes much difference to the temperature. Time will tell when I tow the tractor over mt glorious. That be about 2.5ton. or when hauwling hay.

At the end of the day, if Toyota would had done it's homework then there would not be a need for aftermarket stuff like this.

Would I buy a LC200 Sahara again (or what ever the number might be). ABSOLUTELY NOT, the electronics are a royal pain in the ...... towing wise... can't fail it though.

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I find the 6-7 litres around town a bit hard to believe. That would probably make it the most efficient turbo diesel on the market.

Yes, 6-7 litres per 100 in a 200 series LC does seem pretty remarkable. I only get about 9 litres per 100 around town, although that drops to about 8.4 (indicated, not tested) on the highway, not towing.

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Originally Posted by BradC

How odd. My old man did a lap 2 years ago and averaged ~17l/100 in his LC200 towing a 20ft 2.8T block of flats. Under the same conditions his LC200 uses about 1-1.5L more than my D3.

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Now in context I understand the comments about the LC200 consumption. When my father bought his someone recommended he buy an OBDII display to watch the transmission, so he drives it to maximise the time the converter is spent locked rather than just hook up the van and "point and squirt". That explains why he's getting a more reasonable consumption while towing than some of the figures I've seen thrown around.

I'll now go away and point him toward some of the auxiliary converter locking electronics to see if they pique his interest. It's a bad day when you don't learn something.

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Originally Posted by scarry

Mate of mine gets less than 12/100 around town,in his Sahara,he records the fuel and K’s at every fill up.

Very few accessories.

I bet that Patrol of yours doesn’t have many if any.

It’s the weight,and large tyres that hurt fuel economy,including driving style,etc,etc.

FWIW,fuel economy isn’t everything.

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Sahara runs 31.5 tyres vs y62 32.6.
Yes, very few accessories.
And for sure, fuel economy isn't everything, reliability, driveability, performance, cost and value for money are to me, that's why I got the nissan.