Thread: What happened to your D3/D4 today?

Originally Posted by RHS58

I’ve gone back to Toyota, a LC300, for better or worse.

I have a few friends with them and they all rave about them. I've only spoken to one person who's parents had theirs burn to the ground up North, and one mild roo collision that meant they had to drive 800'ks with a van on the back at 50kph in limp home mode because the collision damaged some front end wiring harness behind the cruise/front collision radar. Could have happened to anyone apparently.

On the other hand, Landrover owners tend to be honest about their vehicles and their failings while Tojo owners all seem to pretend they're the second coming of christ. Can't be seen to badmouth the fold, even after a mate lost his 3L Playdough to fuel dilution requiring a new short block and turbo (out of warranty). Not a Toyota issue apparently but something to do with the guys maintaining it missing leaking injectors (a Toyota dealer, but still).

I figure by now Toyota should have ironed out most of the early teething troubles, so based on my experience with the LC200 you should be good from now until the heat death of the universe. Except the 200 is a low stress, low RPM V8 and the 300 is strung like a tennis racquet.

All vehicles have their problems and time will tell. Keep us posted.

Originally Posted by BradC

I have a few friends with them and they all rave about them. I've only spoken to one person who's parents had theirs burn to the ground up North, and one mild roo collision that meant they had to drive 800'ks with a van on the back at 50kph in limp home mode because the collision damaged some front end wiring harness behind the cruise/front collision radar. Could have happened to anyone apparently.

On the other hand, Landrover owners tend to be honest about their vehicles and their failings while Tojo owners all seem to pretend they're the second coming of christ. Can't be seen to badmouth the fold, even after a mate lost his 3L Playdough to fuel dilution requiring a new short block and turbo (out of warranty). Not a Toyota issue apparently but something to do with the guys maintaining it missing leaking injectors (a Toyota dealer, but still).

I figure by now Toyota should have ironed out most of the early teething troubles, so based on my experience with the LC200 you should be good from now until the heat death of the universe. Except the 200 is a low stress, low RPM V8 and the 300 is strung like a tennis racquet.

All vehicles have their problems and time will tell. Keep us posted.

Yes indeed, I have found the AULRO forum to be helpful and
generally Positive.
Toyota forums and FB groups full of people who are complaining about this that or the other.

Tried hard to want a new Defender, got very close, but the kicker was it wasn’t going to be the tow vehicle I would be confident in, and my LR mechanic didn’t show much enthusiasm.
And trade-in and private sale prices for a LR at 12 yrs / 200k km are simply disconcerting. My advise would be to be mindful when buying a new LR that you gotta factor in a big lot of depreciation at the other end of the ownership experience.

Nonetheless, I’ve loved (almost) every moment with the D4.

All I can say is best of luck with it, and I hope over the next 10 years you check in periodically to say "My LC300 is wonderful and needs nothing more than a fixed price Toyota service". Sure as **** it'll hold its resale value better than an LR.

Originally Posted by RHS58

Yes indeed, I have found the AULRO forum to be helpful and
generally Positive.
Toyota forums and FB groups full of people who are complaining about this that or the other.

Tried hard to want a new Defender, got very close, but the kicker was it wasn’t going to be the tow vehicle I would be confident in, and my LR mechanic didn’t show much enthusiasm.
And trade-in and private sale prices for a LR at 12 yrs / 200k km are simply disconcerting. My advise would be to be mindful when buying a new LR that you gotta factor in a big lot of depreciation at the other end of the ownership experience.

Nonetheless, I’ve loved (almost) every moment with the D4.

Yeah. When you buy an LR you either have money to burn or intend to see it live out its life with no really recompense for it.
My 2010 D4 HSE was $130k new, sold to me for $36k at 190k km in 2016. It’s now not even worth $10k in 2025 and 385k km. For me, aside from repairs, that’s okay for 10 years in a car. Glad I wasn’t down the $100k to start with.

Originally Posted by BradC

I have a few friends with them and they all rave about them. I've only spoken to one person who's parents had theirs burn to the ground up North, and one mild roo collision that meant they had to drive 800'ks with a van on the back at 50kph in limp home mode because the collision damaged some front end wiring harness behind the cruise/front collision radar. Could have happened to anyone apparently.

On the other hand, Landrover owners tend to be honest about their vehicles and their failings while Tojo owners all seem to pretend they're the second coming of christ. Can't be seen to badmouth the fold, even after a mate lost his 3L Playdough to fuel dilution requiring a new short block and turbo (out of warranty). Not a Toyota issue apparently but something to do with the guys maintaining it missing leaking injectors (a Toyota dealer, but still).

I figure by now Toyota should have ironed out most of the early teething troubles, so based on my experience with the LC200 you should be good from now until the heat death of the universe. Except the 200 is a low stress, low RPM V8 and the 300 is strung like a tennis racquet.

All vehicles have their problems and time will tell. Keep us posted.

One of my boys bought a 4 yr old LC200 earlier this year with very low klms. Paid over $80k for it. Had the injectors, EGR's, and other stuff replaced and Toyota picked up the bill.
Saw him over the last weekend and I asked how he's going with it.
His response was that there is a lot to like about them and a lot to not like about them.
His wife drives it during the week as he has a Company supplied vehicle. Her only comment was that, quote, "its a very nice truck but not worth the money you have to pay for them".

Originally Posted by Discodicky

"its a very nice truck but not worth the money you have to pay for them".

What new vehicle is worth the money you pay for them?

None that i can think of except maybe something Chinese if you want a gamble...

Even a Hi Ace van is $56K,SR 2WD D/C Hilux,$59K,just rediculous.

FWIW,drove a mates 300GR S last weekend.

Sure it goes like a shower of ****,but is much more cramped inside than the 200,particularly when sitting in the front seat.The engine and gearbox combination is super smooth,probably smoother than any vehicle i have ever driven,particularly a diesel.

For the money,not really worth the upgrade ATM.
i would go the VX anyway,much easier to sort out a GVM upgrade,than the GR.

Originally Posted by discomatt69

Good luck with the 300 and hope it does as well for you as the Disco
Just watch out for oil temps if towing , moving up from 0/20 to 5/30 seems to be a common recommendation

And lock it up well,lots have been stolen in the last few months.

Forty seven Toyotas were stolen in Brisbane in the last month,Prado 250,LC300,and a few RAV4s.

I saw a on/off road test of the new Lexus Prado, impressive with very little wheel spin even in the air over dirt moguls, but no diesel available here yet.