What do you get after a D3?

[Mully]

Greets all...

I'm seriously thinking about selling the beloved 2005 D3 TDV6 HSE. It has all the fruit on it plus more and every time I get in I go "ahhhh...". It is a true beast but the costs to keep a D3 over 100,000 clicks on the road in the state it should be are starting to wear thin to be honest. Cannot believe the things that go wrong on the D3 and the cost of ongoing repairs... seriously silly stuff IMO.

Anyway... what do you get after a D3? I am beyond reluctant to change brand and have had a lot of Rovers now which all lead to the D3. What would anyone jump to after a D3? Assuming a D4 isn't an option of course.

If anyone says the new FJ I will need some strong reasons why.

Thanks for any input.

[LSD_AUTOMOTIVE]

A yellow '90.... If you don't want to drive it, I will.

Though I would say a Range Rover would perhaps be a more suitable pathway after a D3 (and forgoing the D4)?


Sarah

[bbyer]

Greets all... Anyway... what do you get after a D3? I am beyond reluctant to change brand and have had a lot of Rovers now which all lead to the D3. What would anyone jump to after a D3? Assuming a D4 isn't an option of course.

If anyone says the new FJ I will need some strong reasons why. Thanks for any input.

I see that for lots of money, you can get RHD Chev Silverados and maybe perhaps the Tahoe as well. You do not want an Escalade, but the 4x4 Tahoe with the G80 rear end and rear axle air ride is certainly a comfortable trouble free ride.

It will not do "no road" like you are used to, (or rivers), but maybe creek crossings, but even then, I would be careful. The vehicles are reliable however, probably nothing better in the world.

Other than tires and brakes, they do not need much fixing either for the first quarter million km which is good as I doubt that there is even less fixit experience in Australia than for Land Rover.

[unseenone]

I would go for a D4, fully kitted, and a Defender x-tech fully kitted for off road.

If you are tempted to change brands, perhaps a ford Excursion Diesel might be a good option? http://www.classyauto.com/image_larg...mage_id=264301

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Thats a how long is a piece of string question,,

price range?
capability?
qty of seats?
intended usage?

[Neil P]

..... What would anyone jump to after a D3? Assuming a D4 isn't an option of course.

What's your budget and do you need to tow ?

[Disco4SE]

Mully, thats a hard call.
After driving a D3, there aren't too many vehicles that will do what the D3 does and in as much comfort.
Would be interested to know your final choice.
Cheers, Craig

[tempestv8]

There's always the cheap and cheerful Kia SUV which is available in diesel, if you don't do a lot of serious offroading.

Or the uber luxury Mercedes Glendewagen at the other end of the scale.

[Wilbur]

Greets all...

I'm seriously thinking about selling the beloved 2005 D3 TDV6 HSE. It has all the fruit on it plus more and every time I get in I go "ahhhh...". It is a true beast but the costs to keep a D3 over 100,000 clicks on the road in the state it should be are starting to wear thin to be honest. Cannot believe the things that go wrong on the D3 and the cost of ongoing repairs... seriously silly stuff IMO.

Anyway... what do you get after a D3? I am beyond reluctant to change brand and have had a lot of Rovers now which all lead to the D3. What would anyone jump to after a D3? Assuming a D4 isn't an option of course.

If anyone says the new FJ I will need some strong reasons why.

Thanks for any input.

I find most modern cars vary between boring and plain unpleasant to drive.

A VERY notable exception was a rental Ford Territory AWD in which I have just covered 7,000 k's in New Zealand. Except for a bit of tyre roar, it is one of the most pleasant cars I have ever driven. Beautiful sharp steering, excellent comfortable suspension, good sensitive brakes, good all round vision and generally excellent vehicle dynamics.

There was none of that wooden steering that typifies Falcons, Toyota sedans and Commodors.

Of course it is not an off-road car like the D3, but for a road burner that can help you a bit on a dirt road, much better than I expected.

Of course I know nothing about the reliability........

[bbyer]

There's always the cheap and cheerful KIA SUV which is available in diesel, if you don't do a lot of serious off roading. Or the uber luxury Mercedes Glendewagen at the other end of the scale.

The KIA might be a better bet over the G-Wagon and too bad Suzuki is not still making that little 4x4 Samurai.

I did look at the G-Wagon when I was casting about for new wheels and decided that a G-Wagon made more sense than a Hummer, but a LR3 made even more sense than the G-Wagon.

I will agree that the body is probably more solid than the 3, (one can hang the spare tyre on the rear door), but the solid axles really were a bit yesterday. As to a luxury interior, well I suppose the G-Wagon is closer to looking like an off road vehicle than the D4 HSE.

I think it would do the off road bit OK and that the G-Wagon could wade rivers. It was deemed good enough that the Canadian Army bought a flock of them for use in Afghanistan - armoured even. Like everything over there, they did not work out too well and are now restricted to joy riding within the wire. Rumour has it we may be going back to the Iltis, unless the Samurai goes back into production - too light to set off mines and like, plus the population think it is locally produced.