Thread: Disco 3 - Good, bad, and the ugly

Originally Posted by ak

Anyone with the TDV6 had any oil leaks let? My TD5 did not get any oil leaks until about 60,000 km.

No oil leaks after 120,000kms and still going strong.

Tombraider

Originally Posted by Dermie

The greater fuel efficiency of the diesel certainly appeals, but the tarmac/offroad ratio of driving will probably be around 90/10 and probably the standard 20000kms a year and I don't own a boat or anything I'll be towing so I'm thinking the petrol V6 will probably suffice. Again happy to be talked into a diesel but probably leaning to the V6 petrol at this stage.

Dermie, when I was trying to decide whether to stick with a diesel or go with the petrol, not only did the $8k difference in price help the decision. I worked it out that it would take me about 10 years to use up the $8k in the fuel costs of extra petrol used compered to what a diesel would save.

But there is also the additional maintenance cost associated with keeping a diesel running properly, so I am still happy I got the petrol V6 and still think I will be saving money, over all, in the long run.

There is one thing to seriously consider, when it comes time to sell the D3, I know a diesel will bring a better resale value BUT, how much better is the question.

Cheers.

BTW, Pedro, although the D3 weighs in at 2.7t, with the petrol V6, it still has loads of grunt.

One more point and slightly off subject, I have had 4 Land Rovers now and not one of them has leaked oil.

Also another point to consider...

Many remote areas in central Oz / South Oz do not allow petrol powered vehicles to pass through their lands.

Also, range is a factor... A D3 with LR tank can go Pt Augusta to Alice springs on 1 fill whilst there are other service stops on the way, this makes for decent long distance touring without associated fuel cans etc... that all Petrol drivers must use

Servicing costs dont differ too greatly nowadays IMHO.

Tombraider

I have only ridden in one back in Jan when we did mt airley. The D3 just walked up the track and made it look like a flat road. Most people were impressed with its ease but it did scrape a few of the pannels underneath but that is what they are for.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Dermie, when I was trying to decide whether to stick with a diesel or go with the petrol, not only did the $8k difference in price help the decision. I worked it out that it would take me about 10 years to use up the $8k in the fuel costs of extra petrol used compered to what a diesel would save.

But there is also the additional maintenance cost associated with keeping a diesel running properly, so I am still happy I got the petrol V6 and still think I will be saving money, over all, in the long run.

There is one thing to seriously consider, when it comes time to sell the D3, I know a diesel will bring a better resale value BUT, how much better is the question.

Cheers.

BTW, Pedro, although the D3 weighs in at 2.7t, with the petrol V6, it still has loads of grunt.

One more point and slightly off subject, I have had 4 Land Rovers now and not one of them has leaked oil.

I am looking at this after the Coffs trip my old man wants a hand looking at D3's in a few months. He wants to trade the Jag in on a D3 and start getting out and about in this great country.
We will be looking for a 12 month old D3 not to sure if we will go the petrol V6 or the diesel.
There will be a lot of test driving in the next few weeks.

Sorry to say that the D3 on the 4WD monthly comparison test on The Cape didn't make it off the main road. When we saw them in Palm Creek the D3 had already failed and sat on its bump stops. No tech help could get it back up so off to Bamaga with no suspension it went. Rough trip on the development road, impossible if it was on the telegraph track. But it was going. One of the D2 in our group had his auto fail without warning in Bamaga so Land rover had a bad rep in that part of the country that week. Both vehicles ended up on the barge to Cairns.

Dermie,

I've had my TDV6 for 1.5 years and it's got 30,000km.

It goes off road with a second set of wheels and tyres and has not let me down yet on any trips.

It has had a few niggly electronic problems but none that left me stranded of limping home. Sure the time to and from the dealer is an absolute pain but I could think of a better 4WD to replace it with.

There are some stupid designed things like inflexible mud flaps and spare tyre heat sheilds which split at the first sign of dirt and easily dented exhaust pipes but it will get you most places unless you are into extreme 4WDing.

Don't procrastinate just order one and be prepared to wait. Heard it could be 6-8 months for a preorder.

Chris