19_Hue_95

Active Member
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.
 
I love mine but they do have issues as the newest are nearly 10 year old, but parts are becoming reasonable, and if you have a quality diagnostic most tasks are doable but access is sometimes harder,
I wouldn’t use mine as a hardcore off-roader(have a 90 for that) but it’ll green lane takes me fishing tows brilliantly returns around 27mpg fits 2 Dobermans in. Seats 7 if needed, and with the rear seats down makes an excellent van.
 
Judging by the posts on here I personally wouldn't go near a D3. Buy a newish pick-up if you must.
 
I love mine but they do have issues as the newest are nearly 10 year old, but parts are becoming reasonable, and if you have a quality diagnostic most tasks are doable but access is sometimes harder,
I wouldn’t use mine as a hardcore off-roader(have a 90 for that) but it’ll green lane takes me fishing tows brilliantly returns around 27mpg fits 2 Dobermans in. Seats 7 if needed, and with the rear seats down makes an excellent van.

The age is my concern, even though they still look modern and new... they are old... is reliability going to become an issue! Outside of the quarry I doubt it will ever go off road, maybe a field trip or a snowy day here and there. I think for my purpose the size and layout suits me well.

Judging by the posts on here I personally wouldn't go near a D3. Buy a newish pick-up if you must.

Why? Any particular reason? I have heard that they have a lot of niggles with them, but then I have been looking at the pickup truck forums and there the same. People only post the bad not the good! You dont seem to favour either much, any other sugestions?

Boring :)

You only live once, go for it, prior to March/April 2006 road tax is £300ish

Shhhhh! Isnt it only some of them that have the lower tax? I am thinking even though the tax is slightly higher, the purchase cost of the truck is lower so it all works out even if not cheaper in the long run.
 
Judging by the posts on here I personally wouldn't go near a D3. Buy a newish pick-up if you must.
People said the same about the td5 engined cars as well but once people understand how it works then there pretty reliable
 
When I had a 110 Defender using it to do similar to the D3 I would be working on some part of it virtually every weekend, generally just niggly little things. The Discovery 3 has given me my weekends back as I don’t have niggles to fix all the time, but I think you need to be prepared to fix stuff on any old car. Buy new and warranty should cover it all
 
When I had a 110 Defender using it to do similar to the D3 I would be working on some part of it virtually every weekend, generally just niggly little things. The Discovery 3 has given me my weekends back as I don’t have niggles to fix all the time, but I think you need to be prepared to fix stuff on any old car. Buy new and warranty should cover it all

The age is what concerns me, though I can just about work out how a 200 or 300 tdi works, the shear amount of electronic on a D3 terrifies me. If something did go wrong, more than likely I would have to send it to the garage. I wouldn't buy new, I dont want to pay silly depreciation costs. The pickups I have been looking at vary between 2016-2014

People said the same about the td5 engined cars as well but once people understand how it works then there pretty reliable

I tend to agree with you, granted I know nothing about D3's, but most of the D3's have 100K+ on the clock and still running find, they are more than capable of huge miles - not every car can do that.
 
Disco 3 is very capable, on a nd off road, comfort, quiet, efficient, a very good towing vehicle, what’s not to like, not stupidly expensive to run either, we had ours seven years, put 140 k on the clock, battery, compressor, belts, oil pump, wishbones, brakes twice, tyres twice is all we spent on it
 
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.

Hi mate

Also a D3 owner, I done a buyers guide if it may help u

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/buyers-guide.312800/

Alas I bought mine as a project nearly 2 x years ago and done all the spannering myself , wouldn’t be able to afford one if I had to rely on a garage

There are a lot of myths around saying the body has to come off for a lot of jobs which is rubbish, can replace all the front and rear belts , turbo etc with the body on

Indeed these are very nice landies , insurance though may be any issue if ur young and haven’t got much NCB

Must, buy these with care or will end up a money pit, average price for a half decent one is 7k , base models are cheaper on insurance

Decent diagnostics is a must , £400 as u won’t stand a chance diagnosing a fault without one, like everything some like them some don’t

Hope that helps a little
 
Buy a good one and you will be a happy bunny
Buy a bad one and it will totally ruin your life and your wallet
3.5 years Ive had mine and compared to every other land rover Ive ever owned (quite a few) its been totally reliable and boring, just like normal cars.

I wouldnt worry about the road tax, pay it monthly and 300 quid ones are 25 a month and 500 quid ones are 44 a month, so thats an extra fiver per week for what you really want, a few people on the D3 forum have said the 06 models are the ones to get and thats what mine is, plus people worry so much about the tax they will pay more for an older car, meaning the 06 ones arent as desireable so may be better value?

Be very aware 07 models onwards are the ones with the oil pump issues.

After running a defender as my everyday car for 4 years the D3 was literally a revelation.
 

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