Member Since: 28 Dec 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 185
So it's good night from me and good bye to Britannia
After nearly 4 years.. my D3 "Experience" is over.
Sadly (really) last Friday we handed in our D3 (known as Britannia in our family) and took delivery of a new Holden Cruze Diesel.
(My daughter gave me a sympathy card for my loss of my D3)
But the Cruze is good value at $30K drive away for a 6 speed auto CDX with accessories.
Yes.. I know what you're all thinking! However over the next 4 years of lease i will look at what four wheel drives are around to replace the Cruze when the time comes. The only 4WD I like is the D3/D4. But after my toxic experience with my D3 and LRA I just wanted out. Like a bad marriage. My Range Rover owning mate calls Land Rover products Fiscal Loreleis because they call you onto the rocks of financial ruin.
The best designed 4WD in the world let down by dreadful quality in components and build quality. A couple of Land Rover owning mates who are having heaps of problems want to get Slater and Gordon to organise a class action against LRA for selling cars with known problems. I just want out! Don't want any more stress.
To you all I sincerely hope that your Land Rover Discovery journey is a lot more successful than mine has been and that you really do get years of trouble free motoring. I see that a British newspaper recently named the D3 as the most unreliable car on the road. Well that has been my experience too!
The British car industry is nearly finished... Land Rover must lift their game or they too will be gone like all the others before them who turned out rubbish and then fell to the Japanese invasion of quality cars.
Perhaps send the plans to Hyundai and get them to build them.
The final straw was worn front suspension components at 70,000 k and an expected bill of $2500 to repair them. Crazy. Just makes the ownership cost per kilometre too high. That equates to 4+ payments on a new Cruze. Land Rover must know they have a problem with suspension.. but they keep churning them out. And the new prices seem crazy to me too!
My SE V6 petrol with the factory accessories spec in a new D4 with 3 litre diesel is around $30K more than I paid 4 years ago. That is nuts. D3 to D4 add in a diesel and the cost goes up by around $30K??? I guess they are building in a bigger margin for warranty claims.
I read where they new owners of Land Rover wanted to take them upmarket... increasing the price would be one way I guess.
I will miss the air suspension and that wonderful ride.
I won't miss the payments and the agony of not knowing how much each new repair will cost me as it slowly deteriorates with each kilometre I drive.
Now and then i will stop in to see how you are all going with your cars... and if you see a Cruze driver waving at you.. well that will be me.
Cheers
Mark TaylorNothing of any value is ever achieved without some sacrifice.
20th Oct 2010 9:02 pm
Rob Bruce
Member Since: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 687
Mark,
All the best with the new 4wd, I understand where you are comeing from, its a shame its a all to common experience.
I made it five years with my D3, loads of trouble but great when it was working. We all move on and I too keep in touch with the D3 owners and are very jeolouse of the ones that have no trouble. When one goes past I look and think what a lovely 4wd but are very pleased to have replaced it.
Cheers
RobMY05 TDV6 SE, dirt colour, Now cremated !!!!!!!
21st Oct 2010 11:32 am
Rob Hollonds
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 69
Some of us are Land Rover tragics and turn the other cheek with faults. I too had the front end re-done after 40,000 ks under warranty but that has been really the only issue. I heard somewhere that the front suspension is of Ford (Territory) DNA which apparently has the same wear weaknesses. Good luck with the Cruz and hope you retaurn to our Marque in the future.MY07 D3, TDV6S; Bull Bar, Cooper S/T's, Dual Battery, UHF, GPS; 03 D2, 94 D1, both departed & 1950 S1 80" going strong. 06 Astra CDX Coupe.
Humanity has no capacity to influence the global tidal wave of cyclical climate change!!!!
21st Oct 2010 5:29 pm
Neil Pettersen
Member Since: 23 Nov 2007
Location: Cutting the grass
Posts: 1254
Like yourself Mark , I've been reading these forums for years , and you've certainly had
a heap of problems . What really annoys me is the fact that failures have NOTHING to do
with the amount of wear/useage.I'm at 36000km of highway driving and had new diffs .WTF !
The amount of time we're expected to wait for parts is a disgrace. I don't give a damn what
their delays are , I just want acceptable service.
I wouldn't have thought there was a hope-in-hell that a D4 was going to appear on your drive.
My wife wants us to move back to a large car on the next trade .
Best wishes to ya !
Neil.
21st Oct 2010 8:24 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73085
Mark know exactly where you are coming from!! SWMBO's D3 is up for replacement and it will probably be with a BMW or VW. Running 2 x 4 1/2 year old D3s (luckily with warranties) you get used to one of them visiting the stealer every few weeks. My car stays as an offroader but for main family car it will not be a LR product. That's after owning LRs since 1989 and driving them since 1981.
21st Oct 2010 8:41 pm
MarkTaylor
Member Since: 28 Dec 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 185
Yes.. I am truly sorry to see it go.... but God the thought of a reliable car is to hard to walk away from. Our BMW Z4 is now over 5 years old. When it was out of warranty it had a switch failure in the braking system.
BMW replaced it FOC as they said .. "It really should have lasted longer:
In not quite 4 years and 78,000k the D3 cost around $88,000 in leasing charges, fuel and repairs.
I am a commercial photographer and my clients loved the car. All lighting gear and cameras swallowed up in the back and still room for 5 up front.
The most common comment was that they felt safe in it.
We also used it for my wife's business. She supplies breast prostheses to women who have had breast cancer and so the Disco travelled to outback and northern QLD loaded to the hilt with prostheses, bras and swimsuits etc.. These rural ladies all felt ignored so they loved to see the big old Navy Blue disco roll into their town.
The poor build quality is just so unacceptable in 2011.
I mean the bloody P76 were better built.. and they were canned by the media back in 1975!
Eventually unless they lift their game, they will run out of people to sell the bloody things to. I mean.. would you line up for another one?
Cheers
Mark TaylorNothing of any value is ever achieved without some sacrifice.
21st Oct 2010 9:33 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
I think I have had a good list of faults and failures but I find nothing else compares. No problems that have stopped the vehicle though.
Looking at anther large 4x4; but practicality handling and comfort of the D3/4 is go good others feel like trucks. I think the D3 spoils us for other vehicles. Seriously looking at a D4 and keeping the D3 as well.
Glutton for punishment? “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
21st Oct 2010 10:15 pm
disco4x4au
Member Since: 19 Jan 2006
Location: Perth
Posts: 409
caverD3 wrote:
Glutton for punishment?
2 D3's and an RRS in 5 years. Never had a problem that stopped the car (well, a broken CV joint _almost_ stopped us). I too had the front end done around 70 000km in the first D3, but after several Gibb River/Docker River/Pilbara/CooberPedy trips, I don't think that was out of order. Have had the occasional electrical gremlin, but usually the ones that are easily fixed or reset.
My first D3 had a very hard 110 000km life (and an even harder end ) but I never experienced any of the mechanical dramas that some have reported. I still think it's the strongest drivetrain LR have ever built. Either I was very lucky, or these problems aren't as endemic as it appears from reading forums?
Cheers,
Gordonex - 2006 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, with lots of stuff - R.I.P.
ex - 2009 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, had lots of stuff too!
Now - 2010 RRS 3.0 TDV6, rimini red, 18" rims + Cooper LTZ, rear eLocker, Spider tuning box, GOE protection plates and rock sliders, GOE 3way shortened rods.
21st Oct 2010 11:40 pm
Doc
Member Since: 17 Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 352
Hi Guys
Touch wood but I have not had any trouble with the two D3's that I have had and the many Defenders before that. I know that some D3 owners have had a really bad experience with the vehicle but console yourselves that other marques also suffer the same fate.
TOYOTA was in the news this morning recalling another 30000 cars in Oz for serious brake problems
Sorry to see you go Mark D3 2005 HSE V8 model, snorkel, nudge bar, uprated tow hitch (12T), Goodyear Wrangler MTR (MT) tyres, National Luna battery box, Outback roof-rack, Takla seat covers.
22nd Oct 2010 12:00 am
StornowaySA
Member Since: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 406
gulp. These threads always make me sooooo nervous.......!!
So far so good - a brilliant D3 that did some very memorable trips (and got older brother convinced to join the D3 club.) and now a 1month old D4 that is kitted out and ready for its first trip.....fingers, toes, everything crossed again!! LOL!!
Good luck Cruzing!! MY2010 D4 HSE 3.0, e-diff, 19inch MTR's; LLAMS Height adjustor, LR f & r light guards, LR side steps, LR bright finish side door mouldings; LR/Mantec G4 front bash plate, LR G4 Winch kit, Warn 9500lb Winch; GOE compressor guard, Uniden UHF, LR bright finish roof rails, LR G4 driving light kit, LR G4 ladder, 4 x extra rear compartment 12V sockets, Traxide dual battery system and Optima Yellowtop battery, ORS drawer system / fridge slide, LED rear compartment lighting.
22nd Oct 2010 2:19 am
PerthDisco
Member Since: 21 Jun 2010
Location: Perth
Posts: 87
Hi and Bye Mark
Lovin' the D3 so far - cool factor worth a few $$ extra. My complaint with the new D4s is that the marketing gap between RR (pretty boy) and Disco (action man) has shrunk with the D4s oh so nice but very fancy. The D3 is ripe to be a retro classic - last of the breed.
I take it you did not buy an extended warranty for yours?
22nd Oct 2010 3:21 am
PerthDisco
Member Since: 21 Jun 2010
Location: Perth
Posts: 87
Apologies to Gordon but we all know the RRS is really a Disco with different body panels
I've also had a lot of bad experiences - and even though mine has left me stranded too many times, it has never happened in the bush. That's where it shines. 8)
Come to think of it, the cost of warranty on my D3 to LR Australia... they could have bought your new Cruze and still had plenty of spare change!
I often wonder if LR have been trying to copy airline service routines - replace all parts often - so it remains safe and feels like new!
Cheers,
Rob
22nd Oct 2010 6:31 am
MarkTaylor
Member Since: 28 Dec 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 185
Yes.. I bought the extended warranty.. that was what paid the $10K for the transmission rebuild.
But it doesn't cover "wear and tear" such as the poor quality front suspension that clags out around 70,000 km. A local LR specialist had 3 or 4 of the D3 Discos in just for suspension bush replacement.
I mean.. mine didn't go off road. it lived on bitumen. So does that mean that in another 70,000k I have to fork out for another set of bushes and tie road ends.. that's just crazy. No matter how much a Land Rover tragic you are. This is my second LR. I bought a new series 3 back in January 1974. Leyland made them then. Good car for what it was.. but Jesus.. did it leak oil? Was always in for new oil seals under warranty. Mainly in the transmission area.
Now that I don't own one and am not attached to it... I can see it for what it really was. A rubbish quality car. It really was.
No car no matter how sophisticated should give as much trouble as a lot them seem to. It's crazy.
Like I said to LRA in my letter... give the plans to Hyundai in Korea along with a box of Land Rover badges and you will have a better quality car.
Any day of the week.
I mean.. a British newspaper ran the headline last June (I think or July) that the D3 was the most unreliable car on the road!
No matter how devoted to the brand you may be.... constant ongoing faults like diffs/EPB/ball joints.suspension bushes etc are obviously a weak point and need improving. There is a reason why Australians buy Land Cruisers no matter what we as D3 owners must think of them... they are bloody reliable compared to Land Rover products. Yes I know they have odd issues... but nothing like the D3.
Think back 50 years.. 1960. How many British cars were on the market. How many now?
It is because they turn out crap and eventually motorists vote with their wallets.. and go elsewhere.
No I'm not "pommy bashing" cause I'm 3/4 pom myself.
But their cars are crap.
That should stir up the natives!
Cheers
Mark TaylorNothing of any value is ever achieved without some sacrifice.
22nd Oct 2010 8:30 am
PerthDisco
Member Since: 21 Jun 2010
Location: Perth
Posts: 87
I assume all the same faults must happen to the RRS as it's got the same parts?
What about the RR. Did it get better steering & suspension components?
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We all move on and I too keep in touch with the D3 owners and are very jeolouse of the ones that have no trouble. When one goes past I look and think what a lovely 4wd but are very pleased to have replaced it.
) but I never experienced any of the mechanical dramas that some have reported. I still think it's the strongest drivetrain LR have ever built. Either I was very lucky, or these problems aren't as endemic as it appears from reading forums?
but I have not had any trouble with the two D3's that I have had and the many Defenders before that. I know that some D3 owners have had a really bad experience with the vehicle but console yourselves that other marques also suffer the same fate.
their cars are crap.
