Should I stay or should I go.....

[psproule]

.... to a D4 Discovery SDV6 SE?? The NP has served us well having had it from 20,000 through to 250,000 km currently. It's still fairly reliable and going well but I seem to have the itch to look at something else and the D4 seems to tick all the boxes for me. I'm contemplating a couple of used examples circa 2011, as they seem to be keenly priced. I have driven a couple of TDV6's and while the ride and finish was nice the power of the 2.7 was rather under-whelming. Thus thinking about the 3.0 twin turbo SDV6 with 180KW and 600NM of torque. That should drag the boat up to our hideaway in the Snowys quick smart. Actually, if I didn't need the boot space I'd have a Range Rover Sport with the TDV8. Below are links to a couple I am interested in. The former I can get for about $47k. So school me folks - Am I mad? I know the NP vs D4 is chalk & cheese in terms of refinement and power. But is it worth the coin?

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/_/OAG-AD-13233515

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/_/OAG-AD-12961708

Thanks - Pat

[skins2380]

should I say or should I go....

Remember, Google is your friend - do some research first on the vehicle. I was looking at Jeep Grand Cherokee until I did a bit of research & found out they were shitboxes with reliability and the Jeep brand the most complained about vehicles with dealership backing the worst in the country. But the ads are great. Personally I think the Discovery is a bit like Jaguars - you need two of them, one in the garage for spare parts. So glad I bought a 2015 NX.

[littleriver]

looks like a very nice vehicle ...

makes me wonder why they still leave the water around the car (just washed look) ...

...

[conquistador]

I reckon you have to be a little bit mad to be contemplating a disco 4. Certifiable perhaps with the tdv8 RR sport.

I have heard a few stories about the air suspension glitching out and the pump and suspension ecu can fail and cost a bomb. Then again tojos can eat alternators, injectors and pajeros can throw a timing chain.

Values seem to holding well. The d5 is a year off.

Did i mentIon i have a watch list on d4s, rr sports and paj exceeds 2011-12 vintage and the grey disco came up on the alert? Not sure about the big rims. Says something about the previous owner, also suggests the car itself has never been offroad.

[mrbitchi]

For only another $10k or so you could get into a similar aged cruiser. At least the cruiser would get you home again

[dean]

Tough call.
After 16 years with the NM I'm starting to think about something else and a Disco is also on my shortlist, or maybe a troopie if I thought I could handle a manual.
Whatever it won't be another Paj.
Dean

[G Potter]

I am also contemplating a D4 , spoke to many owners on my last trip up north. All I spoke to absolutely love them. No complaints about any breakdowns or excessive service costs.
A couple are worried about all the electronics, but that is all new cars.
I am also waiting to see what the next amarok will bring with the V6 diesel, but I am keen on the air suspension in the D4. At least with the Disco it comes with the towbar and wiring standard.
Enjoy whatever you decide on.
Cheers
Greg

[rotare]

Tough call.
After 16 years with the NM I'm starting to think about something else and a Disco is also on my shortlist, or maybe a troopie if I thought I could handle a manual.
Whatever it won't be another Paj.
Dean

I was in a similar situation with my NP before deciding to buy the NW. If you want something with plenty of towing ability, some off road capability whilst being comfy and sophisticated there's a few cars to consider. I did look at some D4's, Touregs and Cayennes. Unfortunately I'd read 10 good reviews and come across one horror story about servicing or maintenance costs which put me off straying from another Pajero at this stage. I suspect however that the NW will be the last Mitsi for me.

Having said this I do have a mate that is a Landrover mechanic and he rates the D4's and reckons like most cars they have their quirks and things that can go wrong - but reckons they are no less reliable than any other 4wd if maintained regularly. The advice he gave me which I'll pass on is if your serious on the car, pay the bit extra to get a Landrover specialist to check it over as some potentially costly repair items can sometimes be easy to spot by a person who is familiar with these vehicles.

.

[psproule]

Thanks for the feedback folks. I already know I'm nuts. Own 2 Alfa Romeo's! And have had both of them in complete bits more than once.

The one shown wont come with the 20" wheels. That's just dealer bling and comes at a $3k increase. No Thanks. They have the factory 19's for it.

I guess the electrics and potential faults don't bother me so much in that a) I'm highly competent in mechanical work / motor vehicle electronics, and b) there is a lot of information out there on the common problems, c) there is a great specialist here in the ACT called Roverworks and d) the repair costs are actually OK. A new air pump (common fault) is about $200 for example. Having owned a Freelander I have spent a bit of time in the AULRO forums checking things out.

I could also buy an NX for similar coin but frankly as much as I love the Pajeros I'm also a bit bored with them. The D4 and LC 200 are about the only vehicles with the rear space I need. LC200 excites me about as much as a Camry would though.

Finance cost just came in a fair bit better than I expected so it might just happen. Or maybe not....

Pat

[dbdb]

Have you priced 19' tyres?

[psproule]

Have you priced 19' tyres?

Yeah, $400+ a throw. Last set of 16" BFG's were $360 each.

[catsman]

Well since you have gotten not much more than brand sledging let me throw my $0.02 in having owned a 94 Paj, rented an NP and now own a D3. You're right the D3 is another league of car, it is the best vehicle I have ever driven on road and just eats the k's up.
The Pro's:
The design concept of the vehicle is second to none, the air bag suspension is very heavy duty and won't need an upgrade. Corrugations won't be felt and if you load it up or tow something it will always self level. If you chuck the traction program on it will mimic a live axle, while on road will be an independent set up. On demand you can get a 2 inch lift with a push of a button, more if you add an aftermarket module.
The rear door acts as a cover and table when folded down, the rear seats fold completely flat, a rear tyre carrier can be fitted directly into the bumper (as can a winch to the front) without having to add an aftermarket bar, and the diff breathers are extended well into the engine bay.
But my favourite part is the seat belt chime can be turned off (god I hate being nagged by cars!!)
For the negatives, yes all that refinement comes at a cost, and servicing is expensive. Can be reduced if you import some parts from UK and use an independent, but also there isn't many service agents out there. I wouldn't recommend taking it to a nonspecialist, it is a fairly complicated vehicle. For example to replace a front left bearing had to replace the entire front left hub at a cost (mostly the part) of $750). It was $40 odd dollars on the '94 paj.
The other negative is off road it does things so easy that it is like simply driving up a steep driveway, the lack of attitude off road and "oh shit" moments takes some fun out it, for me anyways.

Reliability is a bit of a myth, these cars have been around for 12 years now so most issues have been sorted, 05 models had some electronic issues but doesn't sound like you're going for that.
Yes you'll be restricted on tyre, it is possible to fit 18" rims from Green Oval Experience, however I strongly urge you to test the tyres it has off road first. I have a set of cheap taiwan road tyres fitted and the only thing I haven't tried yet is sand and I can tell you with traction control it goes much much further than my old paj on BFG's. You will be surprised what it will take to break traction.

For the D4, if you can, definitely go for the 3L diesel, that is if you can't find a petrol v8 . There was a recall for an oil pipe on that motor, just caused some exhaust smoke, but maybe check if that has been done. The 2.7 is lower on power and slightly less reliable although if you ever had to replace one could rip one from a ford territory. i think some of them had a hpfp recall item. Also at 100,000km you're looking at replacing the suspension bushes (circa $2000 job, the entire wishbones are usually changed) and also it is recommended to change the gearbox oil even though it is not scheduled, that is another $1000 odd depending who you get to do it. So check if they've been done or budget it in.

Did I mention how much I love my D3?? If I had to buy another car tomorrow it would definitly be a mustang, but if I had to buy 2 cars I would buy a D4 before they stop making them!

[psproule]

Thanks Catsman. Much appreciated. I'm fairly sure I'll end up in a D4 shortly, especially having driven a few now. There are quite a few available and most have been pampered. I am a little bit spooked by the stories of snapped crankshafts in both motors, due apparently to mis-fitted main bearings that eventually grab the crank. I'm still researching that one, trying to find out when in 2012 they fixed it. Have also noted the requirement to change the control arms around 100000km and then the cam / pump belts at 160k. Both large service costs.

We'll see.

Thanks - Pat

[entropy]

You only live once. This was us last Saturday. D4 HSE SDV6 MY16.5



We chose the D4 over a Cruiser. I guess time will tell whether we did good or not.

Still have our shorty for now. What a great truck it has been - still is !!

[catsman]

Yes the belts injectors and fuel pumps are the reason I went chain driven petrol D3, it was 10k cheaper to get into to over the diesel as well.

I'm fairly certain the main bearing issue was only the 2.7. It was a PSA engine and it was used in heaps of vehicles including territory and a version used in transit vans. The faulty can be catastrophic but extremely rare, it is still a very reliable engine. Its not in the same league as the patrol hand grenade or toyota D4D. The 3L diesel is a jag-land rover engine manufactured by themselves. The main reason to go the 3L is the 2.7 is a little underpowered for the job unless you're only cruising highways, plus you get a bit of extra kitty in the SE model.