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Tony
Member Since: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 183
  
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| A bit of a drive in the bush... |
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The D3 had a good work-out a few weeks ago - a round trip of about 5500km. of fast bitumen and sloooow and rough dirt.
I drove to Alice Springs via Owen Springs Reserve, just before Alice and out to the West. The Reserve had been highly touted by 4X4 Australia mag. as an interesting drive - it was, but dry as the proverbial and very rough corrugated tracks with deep, loose sand in the river crossings. These really tried out the coil-sprung D3, which dragged it's belly but made it through. The high ridge of stones in the centre of the tracks proved a problem though and necessitated driving with one side up on the verge. The exhaust system is now a different shape..
Into Alice from the west along Larapinta Drive, then back on the boring black-top. No speed limits there (But now the NT Gov. has just announced a limit of 130km/h), so cruise control on 150 and the MP3 player plugged into the stereo and sit back for the 770km. to Elliott. I met up with my son there and the trip back was via the western edge of the Tanami Desert on some Aboriginal Community tracks, then a short run on the Tanami Track and then into the West MacDonnell Ranges via Haarst's Bluff. Very rough in places - dust and corrugations, which the Disco handled well, and a low frequency series of 'jump-ups', probably caused by the locals' cars which have long since lost their shockers. These the D3 did not like and the 3 tonnes of metal sometimes left the ground.
Final bit of the trip was along the Oodnadatta Track and here we had the only problem of the trip - a stone fracture through the centre of the tread on a Wrangler. The Oodnadatta Track is mostly well graded but very stoney and it is recommended to run tyres at reduced pressure. It's also remote and lonely - on the 211km. stretch from Marla to Oodnadatta we did not see a single vehicle - and it was hot! William Creek registered 42 degrees C.!
So I can report that the Disco is dust-proof (A change from the Defender!!) and very comfortable, and the average fuel consumption, actually used as I do not have a trip computer, was 11.2l/100km., mostly premium, but a few tanks of standard unleaded where premium was not available. And I don't feel bad about buying a petrol version, as even Premium petrol was cheaper than diesel in the bush! Total trip time was 10 days, and now the Disco is just about due for it's 24000km. service.
I'll post some photos shortly. Ex Defender 110 200Tdi owner.
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 29th Nov 2006 9:14 am |
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Jamo
Member Since: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Esperance, Western Australia
Posts: 1170
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Sounds like a great trip, Tony!
It's a bit of a shame that LR prduced such a well though out vehicle and then let the exhaust pipes hang down in such a vulnerable way. Mine are no longer perfectly round! Have a nice day!
2010 Cayenne Diesel with PASM & Off Road Pkg
2005 HSE D3 (Sold)
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| 29th Nov 2006 11:09 am |
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LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
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Hi Tony, Jamo is right on; sounds like a great trip through some very interesting country and it is a shame that at least two things weren't considered for Aussie conditions - a larger fuel tank option and the clearance of those pipes under the chassis.
BTW, your fuel economy is commendable especially as I assume the car would have been loaded up. I hope my diesel does as well when I get out that way. My 24,000 service is coming up next month.
I look forward to your pictures in the gallery.
Leigh LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
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| 29th Nov 2006 12:12 pm |
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Tony
Member Since: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 183
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Nine new photos uploaded. Ex Defender 110 200Tdi owner.
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| 29th Nov 2006 10:56 pm |
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Tony
Member Since: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 183
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Hi Lee & Jamo,
Yes, the car did have a small load - 30 litres of water, 20 litres petrol (Those Canadian jerrycans are the duck's - no leaks or smell of fuel, no flaking paint inside, and they are no dearer than the Chinese steel ones!), plus tucker and stove and the Chescold fridge plus an emergency slab of Coopers Sparkling Ale. All this went along the left side with the rear seats folded, leaving plenty of room to sleep on the right side. A self-inflating treking mattress made it very comfortable! Of course I had to leave Annie at home to look after the cats, and when I met up with my son, he used his swag.
Just be a bit careful re diesel supplies in the NT outback, and even on the highway. A lot of servos are struggling - take a look at the condition of their premises and pumps - and the incidences of dirty fuel seem to be rising, according to the truckies. Might be an idea to chuck in a spare fuel filter.
Sadly, the budget will not stretch to a rear spare mount and big fuel tank, but I am considering a set of King springs to get the thing a bit higher.
Cheers,
Tony. Ex Defender 110 200Tdi owner.
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| 1st Dec 2006 8:40 am |
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Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
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Awesome pictures and trip, it is certainly an amazing country, if only we could camp like that  DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
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| 1st Dec 2006 9:42 am |
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