Disco 3

[Black]

The XC90 is due to go back (end of contract hire) early June, and looking to replace it with a Discovery 3 or possibly RR. Can't justify spending for a D4, and don't really want to open the old debate of "don't buy a D3 buy a Jap car...!"

So....I've heard people say that the later D3 is more reliable / better than the early ones - now how late do I need to go to get one of these?

Are big miles are worry with these?
Is full dealer history worth much more that a good independent?
Whats the top size of wheels before they lose all off road ability / comfort?

[Leapy]

Had a D3...no problems. Space, security, comfort. Had D4 and got RRS now...all the same. Terrific

[mick]

It's worth Putting your hand deeper In your pocket for a D4 there are some good deals to be had at the mo even look at joining NFU for vouchers off land rover
You can get more gear in a D3 or 4 than a RR , the later D3 are good either but am sure someone will come along and slag them off like any motor they can let you down , we have done thousands of miles in them with no let downs.

[Pikey Dave]

I had a D3 & didn't think it could get any better, then I got a D4, incredible towing machine. Had problems early on with the D3 but this was down to software Once that was sorted (warranty), all we had was an EGR valve fail after 4 years. D4 has 16k miles on it, & not missed a beat. 37mpg on a run if I'm gentle, 22mpg towing the boat.

[mick]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I had a D3 & didn't think it could get any better, then I got a D4, incredible towing machine. 37mpg on a run if I'm gentle, 22mpg towing the boat.

My sentiment exactly unbelievable although I am on MTRs at the mo so it knocks mpg a bit.

[Chris Caton]

I had a go in a D4 HSE off road last weekend, brilliant!! D3 just as good, but suspension a bit softer, but probably not that noticeable for most of the time. Had a day out off road in a RR Vogue SE yesterday, again was brilliant, but no better than the D4, so save your money boat fuel!! I think the biggest rims for AT tyres are 19", but I'm sure someone will know better than me I would go for the black leather trim, easy to wipe the mud off almost as nice as my 90, but not quite

[Black]

Thanks for all the info so far - budget was circa £25K.

I had heard that LR did an offer a while back on some vehicles, whereby you paid 50% upfront and the balance after 24 months with no interest - could be a route into a D4 if its still around.

Whats the scoop with the NFU discount?

[mick]

I think you can get either 20 or 22 " with cooper ltz 12 ply a pal has some on his

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by discomick

I think you can get either 20 or 22 " with cooper ltz 12 ply a pal has some on his

i knew someone would know better than me

doesn't 20/22" make for a harsh ride off road, not much tyre wall flex

[mick]

285/50/20 cooper LTZ

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

i knew someone would know better than me

doesn't 20/22" make for a harsh ride off road, not much tyre wall flex

Go go 22. Too big...

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Black

I had heard that LR did an offer a while back on some vehicles, whereby you paid 50% upfront and the balance after 24 months with no interest - could be a route into a D4 if its still around.

that's the deal we got but it didn't last long, too many takers.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Black

The XC90 is due to go back (end of contract hire) early June, and looking to replace it with a Discovery 3 or possibly RR. Can't justify spending for a D4, and don't really want to open the old debate of "don't buy a D3 buy a Jap car...!"

So....I've heard people say that the later D3 is more reliable / better than the early ones - now how late do I need to go to get one of these?

Are big miles are worry with these?
Is full dealer history worth much more that a good independent?
Whats the top size of wheels before they lose all off road ability / comfort?

Nothing earlier than 2007 model year preferably 2008 onwards. 05/06 were awful, later ones less awful. Left the job before I could form an opinion of the D4 but on the basis that LR don't really understand electricity and they then went and put a lot more of it in the D4, I'd sort of expect a repeat of the D3 with the first year or two being more painful than later vehicles.

If you are buying one now with all the expected problems to come with wiring, air suspension, engine etc then whether it has a dealer history is less important than whether you have somebody who knows about them and has affordable labour rate to look after it now...

You can/could get an AT in 18", personally I wouldn't go any bigger than you have to. There are MTRs in 19" if you want a second mortgage!

[Rokraider]

D3 is fine as long as you don't plan on keeping it for long. They had a lot of software issues when they first came out ,which have mostly been sorted. We have one that has a whole list of issues ranging from wiring that needs replacing, all suspension bushes in trouble. It has a compression leak on an injector that means taking the body off to gain access! There are probably £4k of repairs to put it back on the road. It is not worth fixing.

The best 4x4xfar in this category is still the Toyota 80 series Land Cruiser. They are getting on a bit now, but will still wipe the floor with anything else. We send them on expeditions and Rallyes all over the world. They are the Dogs doodads!

My company prepares probably 10-12 vehicles per year for travelling off road overseas. No one who is serious chooses Land Rovers anymore, even the British Army have stopped buying them.

As for this trend for big rims and low profile tyres. A complete waste of time on an off roader. The tyre choice is pathetic, meaning you can't often get a tyre with any tread for your vehicle. I got held up in the snow by a new Range Rover driver who obviously hadn't read the handbook on how to operate the 4x4 settings. It was slithering about with no grip on its slicks, holding everybody up, before finally sliding into a hedge. At which point I then cruised past him in my old banger Cherokee running on the excellent BFG All Terrains.

Rant Over..

[Jeff Hutcheon]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

I had a go in a D4 HSE off road last weekend, brilliant!! D3 just as good, but suspension a bit softer, but probably not that noticeable for most of the time. Had a day out off road in a RR Vogue SE yesterday, again was brilliant, but no better than the D4, so save your money boat fuel!! I think the biggest rims for AT tyres are 19", but I'm sure someone will know better than me I would go for the black leather trim, easy to wipe the mud off almost as nice as my 90, but not quite

H,mmm

[Nick Hearne]

Had my D3 7 years now & still going strong, only time it has come home (except when someone drove in to me!)
was last year when the alternator went pop & had it back on the road next day!
Excellent family car & when I replace it will be for a D4 or D5!

[osprey__viper]

Driven both on and off road in a proffesional capacity. D4 by far the better buy, but prices still high. As boggy said go for a post 07 D3, all the glitches were sorted. Beware of silver / ebony leather HSE's with a locking rear diff. It may have had one of my customers driving it........

As for tyres, no more than 19". Any bigger and the side walls rip to shred's.

19" Goodyear MTR's were standard on G4 spec cars. Me personally would run 19" road tyres and 18" AT2's. That said on the road the D4 runs lovely on the 20" option.

No finer tow car either in my opinion. We used to use the D3 with a Brian James 4 wheel trailer and a Defender 110 on when doing trailer handleing courses.

Can be pricey to service but speak to Ian at Offroad Essentials.com, top bloke all round, and he will come to you.

[mick]

Can be pricey to service but speak to Ian at Offroad Essentials.com, top bloke all round, and he will come to you. [/QUOTE]

Ian gets my vote as well.
Don't forget 18" rims won't fit a D4 because of the bigger brakes

[Jeff Hutcheon]

Originally Posted by discomick

Can be pricey to service but speak to Ian at Offroad Essentials.com, top bloke all round, and he will come to you.

Ian gets my vote as well.
Don't forget 18" rims won't fit a D4 because of the bigger brakes[/QUOTE]

D1 200 tdi for ever, 30-35 mpg, no eletronictricory, 10,000 miles between services ,will pull a house down and lower band road tax ( but the body work is falling apart ) lol.

[mick]

Them 2&300 tdi bullet proof