D3 or D4?

looking at selling my defender as I want a bit more comfort for the long trips.
Had a look at a couple of Discoveries and looking for some recommendations/opinions. One was a 2009 D3 HSE well spec’d car and the other was a few month younger D4 but with quite a bit less spec. Not a huge difference in mileage about 5k but quite a few quid in price! I’m sort of guessing what the defender is worth but would think I could get enough to get the slightly newer D4 but to be honest I preferred the D3 in layout spec etc! Are the last of the D3’s that bad or is it worth saving a few grand for what looks like a nice vehicle with a good service history with a few quid to sort any potential (but hopefully none) problems

Gspdad said:

looking at selling my defender as I want a bit more comfort for the long trips.
Had a look at a couple of Discoveries and looking for some recommendations/opinions. One was a 2009 D3 HSE well spec’d car and the other was a few month younger D4 but with quite a bit less spec. Not a huge difference in mileage about 5k but quite a few quid in price! I’m sort of guessing what the defender is worth but would think I could get enough to get the slightly newer D4 but to be honest I preferred the D3 in layout spec etc! Are the last of the D3’s that bad or is it worth saving a few grand for what looks like a nice vehicle with a good service history with a few quid to sort any potential (but hopefully none) problems

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If you have the resources then the last of the D3s will be your best bet in terms of 100% all teething problems are sorted and the HSE spec is amazing, D4 = nothing at all, and if anything a lower spec vehicle that is a couple of years newer for more money, the mileage has so little in it that it's irrelevant, same with the age as you mentioned that they are of similar age by year and merely months in it says that it's not worth a second thought, D4 sounds nice but we're on the D5 now and as this is a 9yr old vehicle already it's well out of any warranty and if anything the running costs are so similar that I would go for the savings in cash and the upgrades in spec over and above the mere notion of grandeur from numerical superiority.

Best of all no one will want to nick the D3.
Plus there will be less depreciation than the D4 as both models prices are dropping.

lynall said:

Best of all no one will want to nick the D3.
Plus there will be less depreciation than the D4 as both models prices are dropping.

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Great points there about theft and depreciation, especially as this sounds like it will be a long term keeper for this prospective owner.

dieseldog69 said:

Great points there about theft and depreciation, especially as this sounds like it will be a long term keeper for this prospective owner.

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Very good points and yep this is for a long term keeper. Had the current Defender about six years and the only reason I’m thinking of changing is a bit of a change of direction the way we’re working things with the Falconry business and don’t carry as much stuff and fewer birds but have to do a few longer journeys!
I did buy an old l322 to run for the summer as a kind of trial, even although it was a bit of a heap of junk(new this when we bought it) it was absolutely a pleasure to drive. Thought the Disco would be a great alternative and still able to carry all the birds and equipment when needed!

Gspdad said:

Very good points and yep this is for a long term keeper. Had the current Defender about six years and the only reason I’m thinking of changing is a bit of a change of direction the way we’re working things with the Falconry business and don’t carry as much stuff and fewer birds but have to do a few longer journeys!
I did buy an old l322 to run for the summer as a kind of trial, even although it was a bit of a heap of junk(new this when we bought it) it was absolutely a pleasure to drive. Thought the Disco would be a great alternative and still able to carry all the birds and equipment when needed!

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Much more room in a D3/4 than the l322, especially the boot and no one thinks you are a cock in a D3/4!
As an example Ive just stuck a full size dishwasher in the back of my D3 upright and it has about 2 inches clearance at the top, more if you push it further forward.

Also a late D3 is still a class motor along the same lines as when you see a late high spec D2 and think to yourself thats a nice car as it still stands out but in an understated way.
Late ones 58/59 are also I believe safe from the failed oil pump problem that blighted the 2007 models.

Apparently the in thing with D4s is to have their headlights nicked, why I dont know?

I've owned 2 D4, traveling for around 65,000 miles between them and they were amongst the very best cars that I've ever owned. I'd still have one now if they hadn't stopped building them and that's the only reason that I've had to transfer to the nearest modern equivalent with the Fatty.

Unfortunately, I've never had an opportunity to drive the D3. However, while the D3 is probably the better looking and more practical car, inside and out, I'm told that the 3.0 litre in the D4 is a substantial improvement, while the 8 speed in all but the earlier D4's is an outstanding gearbox.

If I were to run one again, I'm not sure I'd want to run one without a decent warranty, as total crank failures are not unknown - on D3's and D4's of all ages - and an engine replacement can be a 5 figure repair (and that's without going to a dealer!). Oddly, Land Rover's own Approved warranty excludes crank failure, while Warranty Direct's doesn't. Also ensure that it's running the modified oil pump.