Thread: Discovery 2 vs Discovery 3 questions...

Ok, a few opinions please

My D2 TD5 is now at 250,000km. Starting to show it's age a bit. Auto box rebuilt, new head new this new that... All the mods and I love it but I find myself looking at air suspension compressors on ebay for no reason and checking for leaks daily etc etc.
However, for my purposes my D2 is great.

I'd like some objective opinions for/against a D3 TDV6 auto upgrade (apart from the price ).

I have a few worries with the D3 though, and I'd like to know if anyone can put them to rest.

I like to 4x4 "fast and hard". I don't winch my vehicle over rocks camel trophy style, but it is raked with scratches and has had a 50mm lift over standard, with heavy-duty springs. I modified the rear bags with spacers etc. I guess some would say I like to drive relatively fast off-road, and I found the normal springs and air bags would easily bottom out, especially up north on roads like the Gibb and some of the "fast-uh-oh-creek bed-THUMP-fast again" tracks. I don't like trailers as I'm often alone vehicle-wise and have to able able to reverse easily, so I sometimes carry a lot of extra weight in-cab too.

Q: With the D3's extra weight, will it bottom nastily if hammered in a gravel/pothole environment? My D2 doesn't now, but the chassis bump stops were a bit mashed with standard springs earlier!

Q: The D3 with air springs is what I want (SE). Can they be raised permanently a similar fashion to the D2 rear springs with spacers or longer bags and ride-height sensor adjustments?

Q: Can the D3 ride height be set to remain high at speed, or does it descend as per the highly annoying speed limiting on my D2, which used to do this every time I lead-footed it between bog holes, until I raised it permanently as mentioned?

Q: On deep softer sand or mud, does the weight of the D3 make it less capable than the D2? Or does the power and technology win through? I am thinking of the old Austin Champ. Magic. Until they sink...

Q: I like installing my own dual batteries, cb and hf radios, extra power sockets and lighting etc. Can I still do this at home with the D3?

Q: I LOVE Nanocom, even if only for peace of mind. What, if any, D3 equivalents exist? Especially as regard bleeding the ABS and other hydraulic systems.

Q: Horrid, horrid question. If the D3 is not for me, is the Prado (gag reflex still to be overcome) closer to the D2 in "home mechanic friendliness/ability to be modified" and off-road toughness (with climate control)?

Q: How many out there have higher mileages than me ATM?

Convince me either way people!!

Dave

Considered it once, but didn't like having to keep the needles sterile so I could shoot up with adrenaline in the bush. Went back to a natural fix. Kidding kidding. I do it for the screams of my passnegers, and that shopping-centre-elevator weightless feeling when you take off.

Thanks for info Redback. Like you, ruled out Puma. I do too many on-road Kms.

PS Camel Landy I know where there is/was a Swiss team Camel Disco in SW WA. Converted to RHD in a rough fashion and I think B Bar missing. Maybe mid nineties? Near Augusta.