I have posted on here before on a different thread about looking to get a defender, for various reasons... I don't think it’s going to happen as it’s not really suitable.
What I am after is a truck that is both suitable for work and play. Work would include driving to sites across the country (often c. 100 miles), driving around the site (dirty, muddy, wet quarries), then driving me home in relative comfort. As for play, I would be using it for camping, holidays, up to Scotland / N. Wales etc.
After the defender idea fell through, I gone down the Jap pickup route (I am thinking either L200 or maybe a Hilux) – the logic being that there good off road, got equipment akin to modern SUV’s and have a reduced road tax rate. But the down side is that a 10 year old car with no features costs between 10-17K… I also don’t really have a need for a true pickup load bay anyway (oh and there completely soulless).
I never really considered Discoveries much, I don’t like D2’s (don’t shout at me!) and the road tax on a D3 is £500!?!?! But recently I spotted that some D3’s have a rate of around £300. Though this is more than the pickup option, they are also a lot cheaper to buy and rough ‘fag packet’ calculations gives me the impression it would be cheaper to buy and run (not accounting for any maintenance on either). Moreover it would be better to most of my needs.
So my question to you guys – what would you recommend? Is a D3 still a worthy option for what I want, or should I just stick with a pickup. My heart tells me that a D3 would be the best option, cheaper (which also means if it got a nock or two greenlining (if I chose to do it) I wouldn’t cry), I can afford one pretty much in cash right now so I would be able to kit it out with a few toys and it has a nice charm about it. But my head is saying that I should fork out the cost of a new’ish pickup which will be reliable, cost less to maintain, better Mpg (?), and be good for many many years to come. I think my main concern that puts me off a D3 is the thought of hugeee maintenance & fuel bills and most of them have been to the moon and back.
What I am after is a truck that is both suitable for work and play. Work would include driving to sites across the country (often c. 100 miles), driving around the site (dirty, muddy, wet quarries), then driving me home in relative comfort. As for play, I would be using it for camping, holidays, up to Scotland / N. Wales etc.
After the defender idea fell through, I gone down the Jap pickup route (I am thinking either L200 or maybe a Hilux) – the logic being that there good off road, got equipment akin to modern SUV’s and have a reduced road tax rate. But the down side is that a 10 year old car with no features costs between 10-17K… I also don’t really have a need for a true pickup load bay anyway (oh and there completely soulless).
I never really considered Discoveries much, I don’t like D2’s (don’t shout at me!) and the road tax on a D3 is £500!?!?! But recently I spotted that some D3’s have a rate of around £300. Though this is more than the pickup option, they are also a lot cheaper to buy and rough ‘fag packet’ calculations gives me the impression it would be cheaper to buy and run (not accounting for any maintenance on either). Moreover it would be better to most of my needs.
So my question to you guys – what would you recommend? Is a D3 still a worthy option for what I want, or should I just stick with a pickup. My heart tells me that a D3 would be the best option, cheaper (which also means if it got a nock or two greenlining (if I chose to do it) I wouldn’t cry), I can afford one pretty much in cash right now so I would be able to kit it out with a few toys and it has a nice charm about it. But my head is saying that I should fork out the cost of a new’ish pickup which will be reliable, cost less to maintain, better Mpg (?), and be good for many many years to come. I think my main concern that puts me off a D3 is the thought of hugeee maintenance & fuel bills and most of them have been to the moon and back.
