Thread: One year after choosing D5 over Defender

Just checking in for the first time to say hi!

My first 4wd was a new 100 series Landcruiser from back in the 90s. Engine blew up at 130,000 kms in third year and cost me over $10k. So that put paid to any concepts of Toyota reliability and I have since always negotiated a 5y warranty on a new purchase as any car will cost a bomb for that sort of problem.

Bought a 2012 Disco 4 SE with Ediff. It made me happy every time I drove it. Paid $82k on road with 5y warranty & servicing. Added $6k for bullbar, winch & Traxide DB system. Circumstances determined I should sell it 3 years later and I got $70k back. Only running costs were fuel & a new set of boots so that was a better depreciation story than I was expecting.

Last year I was hanging out to go again and was waiting for the Defender. The choice of engines were the lower spec diesel ~147kw I think, or a petrol version(s). Had the 225kw diesel been an option I may have looked harder. Had a 130 Defender been available, I would have been more interested again. At the time, COVID was slowing car sales and a 19MY SE SD6 Demo with 5k on clock had been gradually reduced to $102k with the Capability Plus pack. I decided to forget the Defender and maybe reconsider for my next vehicle when it had been in the market for a while & more choices of engines, sizes etc. Ended up picking up the Disco for $96k on road with 5y warranty & servicing again. When I think about people madly snapping up 200 Series LCs at premiums, I just shake my head. LRs are expensive but so are the alternatives which are not nearly as good or advanced.

I just love this vehicle. Haven't done any mods yet but planning on pulling out third row for a compressor & dual batt and changing over to 18" wheels. Not going to bother with a BB & winch and just take my chances and/or 4wd in company. With a family of 4 plus the dog, I appreciate the extra space of the D5 over a 110 also. Very happy with the choice.

The wealth of knowledge and experience on AULRO is such an amazing resource - it's almost too good to be true!

Shame the Defender 130 isn't going to extend the wheelbase. Chopping and extending a 130 cab chassis defender for a Tommy Camper or similar is a distant fantasy that may come to fruition one day...

Chieftain

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

so , Chieftan, 6 mths later , have you been out in your vehicle?

Hi ramblingboy42. Restrictions weren't so long in regional vic. Have done about 30k in the 18 months.