Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
Goodbye D4 😢
Well after about 7 years of overwhelmingly faultless D4 ownership, it was passed over yesterday to a dealer, quite unceremoniously after such fantastic service, and I hate to say it but looking rather bare and sad stripped of its black pack, prospeed rack and ladder. It's role of motorway cruiser, caravan tower, European expedition mule and adventure bus has been a rich and long one.
I've had a new (to me) car itch for a year or so, I tried the D5 for about 8 minutes, I went through a new Defender phase for about a month even getting to the stage of having a build specified and finance ready to go, but even the amazing defender never quite pursuaded enough me to move on.
My D4 was and is a fabulous vehicle. Supremely practical, stylish, powerful, comfortable, reliable, capable. I just don't think there is anything else out there (and sadly never possibly will be) that hits the centre of that Venn diagram bang on. Luxury, off road, family, on road performance. Speed, power, capacity, practicality. Undeniable Land Rover heritage.
Whoever ends up with VU60ZYF will be buying a great car, it wanted for nothing, was treated with love and care, and ran as sweet as a nut even on its last journey to the dealer for trade in.
Thank you, D4.
Its successor is a nice motor too, a 4.4 SDV8 FFRR Autobiography. Time will tell if it manages to impress me as much as the D4 did, every time I used it. I love it so far but the infotainment is bloody complicated.
End of an era D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
1st May 2021 5:56 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
Lovely looking D4 and lovely looking FFRR replacement.
Enjoy.
And of course you’ll still be hanging around here. ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
1st May 2021 6:06 pm
kirkyworld
Member Since: 01 Mar 2016
Location: Northampton
Posts: 566
Nice that
1st May 2021 6:39 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4519
Wow James, didn't know that was on the cards! Like the FFRR, very nice! Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
1st May 2021 7:20 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23824
Welcome to the D4 to FFRR club.
Nothing is as practical or versatile as the D4, but for me the FFRR ticked enough of the boxes on my list.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
1st May 2021 8:44 pm
Heath_DA
Member Since: 05 Aug 2009
Location: Stockport
Posts: 667
The D4, the jack of all trades, a good one is a hard thing to replace, enjoy the RR 2016 D4 SDV6 Landmark (Gone)
2013 D4 SDV6 HSE Lux (Gone)
2011 D4 SDV6 HSE (Gone)
2008 D3 HSE (Gone)
2005 D3 HSE (Gone)
1st May 2021 9:04 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14389
Moving from a D3/4 is a real struggle. There really is nothing like them to be a close replacement. The new Defender is pretty close if you need full off road capability without 7 seats and tailgate. I love my XC90 but my first D3 was something special.
Enjoy the FFRR. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
1st May 2021 9:08 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
wishing you good luck on your onward journey
1st May 2021 11:26 pm
Sylvester19
Member Since: 17 Jul 2020
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 128
Can't help but saying the D4 is better looking.
2nd May 2021 12:57 am
ashnaylor
Member Since: 04 Aug 2020
Location: rotherham
Posts: 35
I was almost in tears reading this but then I saw what you'd replaced it with. I'm very attached to my D4 but I could get used to that.
2nd May 2021 10:34 am
Ceekay
Member Since: 17 May 2009
Location: Bury
Posts: 2089
And here’s me reading that and feeling all sorry you have had to make this horrendous decision and then scroll down to find an extremely good looking RR. I think you’ll survive....most of the time anyhow D4 HSE Lux MY16 Club Waitomo
D3 HSE MY06 missing her still…
2nd May 2021 10:41 am
knwatkins
Member Since: 19 Sep 2018
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 716
A good choice on a replacement James. It looks very similar to my L405. They are great vehicles and the SDV8 is a cracking engine. Enjoy Kev
MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey
Does that mean, James, you've moved on from the virtual camp world too?.
Dean
====================================
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
2nd May 2021 11:50 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
Cheers all yes I admit that was a bit of a misleading post but I meant what I said about the D4. There will be quite a few bits and pieces coming up for sale later today or tomorrow. Someone already has expressed an interest in the rack and ladder but they need to go for a full bare metal refurb first.
The FFRR will still be towing the caravan once it has its bar fitted so I hope I'm still allowed on camp if you'll let me D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
2nd May 2021 12:29 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10676
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