What is wrong with the D3/D4?

[Silenceisgolden]

I have just returned from 18,000 k's around Central Australia and the deserts. I saw literally thousands of Toyotas, maybe a hundred Defenders, a couple of dozen Disco 1 and 2's, one lonely D3 in the Gibson desert, and two D4's at Poeppels corner.

So what is wrong with these cars? Why aren't people using them? I have never had the opportunity to try mine seriously off-road. Are they any good for serious heavy corrugated outback work, or do they fall apart?

[sheerluck]

You just have to look through some of the trip reports to see that the D3&4 are great for offroading. They suffer no larger number of issues than the equivalent LandCruisers or Patrols. But because people view them as being highly technical, they probably shy away in favour of motors that can be fixed with a hammer.

Add to that the small number of LR dealer out in the wilds....

[Marmoset]

For travelling around the country I think people generally tend to buy Toyota's due to the myth that they never break down and, if they do, any garage can fix them. Combined with a lot more aftermarket accessories manufacturers and it's probably an easier option for people to stick with what they know.

LR is also a relatively small company without the marketing budget and market penetration of someone like Toyota.

There's nothing wrong with the vehicles IMO, if they were everywhere though that would detract from them!

[Disco Muppet]

they probably shy away in favour of motors that can be fixed with a hammer.

And perform as such

[Redback]

We bumped into a couple of guys on their way back from a 15,000k trip up through the Kimberly in their D4, we were on our 8000k trip around Sth Australia and Vic, we sat and talked for an hour or so, his only problem was two flat tyres(running 19s 3.0Ltr model) he said it was faultless, commenting "what corrigations"

We have been pretty quiet in regards to touring, due to unforseen curcumstances, but that's about to change now that things are back on track again

In short, the D4 is an awesome tourer!!!

Baz.

[jonesy63]

There are corrugations on the Gibb River Road? Not in a D3/D4! We did just on 16,000km last year up to Broome and never had a problem... apart from hitting a wallaby in the Flinders Ranges.

[BobD]

I did Perth to Cape York and return last year via all the gravel roads we could find in Central Australia and Queensland with no problems (14,000km). We have just completed a trip from Perth to Kakadu, the Binns track to Alice Springs and back to Perth via Uluru and the Great Central Road (11,000km). Again no problems. No rattles or squeaks, nothing falling off and as others have said, no better car for heavy corrugations and very rough roads or tracks.

My 2010 D4 has just ticked over 134,000km. The only things that have deteriorated due to rough roads are the front supension bushes that are now clunking more on rough roads and the rear shocks that are now pretty bouncy, although still great on corrugated roads. Also lots of stone damage on the plastic bits and scratches down the side!

Bob

[discotwinturbo]

Nothing beats riding on air over corrugations.....it's sweet!

Brett.....

[Eevo]

So what is wrong with these cars? Why aren't people using them?

they are ugly.

[sheerluck]

they are ugly.

And cue another Eevo "subtle as a house brick" post.