Thread: Discovery 3

Well as most prolly know I just can't help myself...
Besides I believe my point of view is prolly more balanced than some.

So IMHO...
*Neither the D3 / D4 are difficult to work on with the exception of doing an auto service (pan change) and rear wheel bearings.
*Fuel filter is a bit of a fiddley thing to change.
*Everything else is well within the realms of a half competent repairer.

*Both D3 / D4 suffer typical Land Rover build quality.
*Reliability I covered on another thread somewhere, but is related to build quality.
*A D4 is the newest Land Rover apart from the new Defender I would ever own.

When asked what my favorite vehicle is? I say apart from a Defender (classic?) because I'm a bit of a nut job like the owners, then its a D4. You can have a D3 / D4 (more so) that is at least 10 years old, 300K on the clock and it still drives like a new car and still goes off road like a beast.
When I get asked; so you recommend them? I say No.

What the fan boys miss is as a indy Land Rover repairer I am dealing direct with the owner when I tell them the issue is an engine failure, see how you go the next time a lady owner cries in front of you because they have no idea what to do next.

Your experiences as a repairer are very valid but you see the worst where the majority of vehicles never see a mech except for planned services.

I my case my RRS is the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned and I have been into Landrovers since 1978 and have bought LRs new on two occasions.

My RRS is over 14 years old and I have owned it for 11 of those and covered just under 200,000km. The only time it has been worked on by an indie was to replace the belts and oil pump as I was too lazy to do them myself.

All other work and maintenance has been done by myself, all routine stuff and expected stuff like EGRs, rebuild of the air compressor and changed the gearbox sump and fluids.

Clearly people's experiences are different - some good and some bad but my thoughts is that overwhelming good with people like Daz seeing the others.

Routine maintenance is cheap and easy and more technical stuff like belts etc is really no more expensive than other vehicles so not sure where the view that they are expensive vehicles to maintain comes from. Even with a major failure like an engine are they any more expensive to repair than other makes - I dont believe so.

At 200,000km my LCAs need doing and being lazy I will get an indie to do it - expensive yes but when you take its 14 years of age and 200,000km the cost per km is pretty cheap.

The difference between LR owners and other make owners is that we often feel we have to apologise for ownership and put the brand down - we can complain more about our brand more than Toyota owners can put our brand down.

I certainly do not look at LRs through rose coloured glasses but I just wish owners would stop apologising and get on enjoying their vehicles.

Garry

carsales.com.au

Owner says that they're original kms.

If I could afford it this it would have been of interest ...

Originally Posted by Pippin

Hi Keegan, I'm sorry your experience has not been good, I've also had my moments with mine but they so far have not dented my pleasure in owning and driving one. Like you I also have a TD5, my first I took to 550k and was still going well when sold and they are much simpler to work on, but they are very different beasts. Nick

I won't have another tdv6 in this garage. I can't believe it took 3 companies collaboration to build this motor. Just read all the forum in regard to inherent problems

Originally Posted by Tombie

Sounds more like you purchased a very poorly looked after vehicle and inherited its previous owners neglect.

Its not all neglect rather very poorly designed and built vehicle.
like one quote I read
"LOOKS GOOD parked on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck"

Originally Posted by Tombie

Sounds more like you purchased a very poorly looked after vehicle and inherited its previous owners neglect.

<br>Its not all neglect rather very poorly designed and built vehicle.<br>like one quote I read<br>"LOOKS GOOD parked on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck"<br>
<br>
probably good enjoy driving it, if it didn't need the bonnet up or drive train repairs. Nice car BAD design and construction

Originally Posted by BradC

What do you mean? Having 3 companies would imply it's "design by committee" and the outcome is exactly as you'd expect. No different to the PRV (Peugeot, Renault, Volvo) 2.7L V6 back in the 80's.

Ford land rover and that French company.

Originally Posted by Keegan

Ford land rover and that French company.

Thats not correct.
It was designed by Ford with at the time their joint venture partner, Peugeot, then used by Jaguar Land Rover.


P.S Not a poor design either, its nothing more than poor build quality.