Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Leicester
Posts: 20
Wanting to buy a D4. Do i need bringing down to earth?
Hi,
Im new to this forum, sorry if i shouldn't be posting this. I've been wanting to get a disco 4 for 3 years and the itch is still there. We have 3 kids and enjoy camping and at the moment i we have to take two vehicles to get everything in. At the weekend we went and had a look at alternative cars and nothing was large enough. We then made the mistake of looking at Disco 4 and and now we really want one (me more than the mrs). Currently the mrs has a Peugeot 208 and only works 6 minutes from home everyday. I have a work van for business use only. The Landrover will only be used for weekends and holidays unless? I have been told that we wouldn't be able to use it for her commute as it wouldnt get up to temperature and would ultimately lead to engine failure. We are not rich and i would have to use some finance/bank loan for the initial purchase. I love fiddling with my cars and diagnosing problems myself and doing my own services on them to a point. I previously removed my dpf on a mazda 6 and remapped it myself so could do alot of my own maintenance.
Should i get the idea out my head and buy a pick up or something, is it just a pipe dream and i can't actually afford to run and keep one of these? Could the mrs use it for 6 minute commutes to work? Would it be ok sat on the drive all week
Thanks
Clark
5th Apr 2022 7:42 am
popsdosh
Member Since: 09 Nov 2009
Location: cambs
Posts: 442
Make yourself aware of all the issues you may encounter before you buy . Some bigger than others im afraid. Can you afford to repair it when it goes wrong ?? which it will . I would only ever consider one that has a full dealer history and can have a warranty because the risk are to great especially if buying with finance.
5th Apr 2022 8:04 am
Oxford-boy
Member Since: 07 Sep 2015
Location: Oxford
Posts: 1065
Super vehicles the D4s. You'll read more of the issues some have than is maybe a fair balance of the reality of reliability of the D4 as that is often what a forum is for, problems and faults diagnosis and help with them. That said if your vehicle suffers from them then you'll know all about it.
Warranty Direct is well worth looking at if you want a decent peace of mind cushion for larger bills (if they happen).
A good independent maintainer should be who you use to maybe inspect and certainly look after the car. You'll pay top dollar through a JLR dealer but there is a warranty or should be.
I'm on my second D4 and touch wood, have not any serious issues. I keep mine well serviced and I drive it, I drive it a lot.
Good luck with your deliberations..Jim
2014 Discovery 4 XXV SDV6 Causeway Grey
2016 Discovery 4 HSE Lux SDV6 Loire Blue - now gone
5th Apr 2022 9:09 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13944
These beasties don't like short journeys so its not a replacement for the 208. They are great family cars and we used to take ours camping and I was great.
If you do buy one, buy a 'known' one that's been well looked after like this one. However, just go in with your eyes open. If they go wrong, and they will, they can be expensive to repair. I used to recon it would cost me about £3k a year in servicing and repairs on about 18- 20,000 miles.
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
5th Apr 2022 10:37 am
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6271
I am on second Discovery first base model on coils / manual and 2.7 l took us everywhere we wanted even with slipping clutch, broken drivers sided hub some EGR issues
new one SDV6 more complex but also 7 years of trouble free motoring with some leaks covered by WD apart from that solid long haul motor
still looking for replacement as thinking of adjusting to climate change vibe / BS but hard to find something as capable comfy and fun to modify and play with
good luck
G
5th Apr 2022 10:55 am
leeloo26
Member Since: 27 Sep 2021
Location: Bereldange
Posts: 11
If you know a specialist in LR, who will not say "ah we need to take the body off" for any light coming on the dash, and you know your way around a diagnostic tool.. can be a rewarding experience.
That being said even normal maintenance like timing belts and such is more expensive than other cars.
Brake pads it will eat for breakfast for example. And so on.
5th Apr 2022 11:33 am
ianm27
Member Since: 02 Jun 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 2154
The problem with an itch is that it NEEDS to be scratched and "man-maths" can be made to make the purchase a positive event, even convincing Mrs Boxhacker86
D4 is a great car, versatile, comfortable and delivers lots of smiles.
As with any previously owned car you go in with you eyes wide open, do your research (this forum is great for that) and your own ability with the spanners will keep maintenance costs down. A diagnostic tool (IID for example) is a must and a well respected independent LR specialist for those jobs you can't tackle (again this forum will point you in the right direction).
It will give you lots of pleasure driving and it will attempt to empty your wallet quite a few times
Take your time about choosing a D4, look at and drive a few before deciding.
Happy hunting
PS As others have said, a D4 will not like 6 minute journeysUncle Ray's spare wheel protector
Limo Tint
Blackvue front & rear dashcam
Cruise control switch pack
Bodsy's remote for FBH
5th Apr 2022 5:07 pm
Boxhacker86
Member Since: 03 Apr 2022
Location: Leicester
Posts: 20
Thanks for all the reply’s and feedback. Would spending the money on a D3 with full service history and less than 100k on the clock be a better bet at this current time?
5th Apr 2022 5:48 pm
aqua0
Member Since: 02 Mar 2019
Location: Chorley/Sunderland
Posts: 86
I simply love mine.
Yup, it's had a few issues but nothing that wasn't expected for its age/mileage. I've had it a few years now and I know I need to change it, but there simply isn't anything out there I want to change into.
By far, and I mean by a long way far, this is probably the best vehicle that I've ever had. It knocks spots off everything else I've ever driven in terms of comfort and visibility.
I managed a full 3 seater sofa, 2 lounge chairs and the foot stool in the back of mine in one go, so fitting camping gear in there definitely isn't a problem.
Just make sure you buy one with a detailed service history, know what bits should've been changed and when (belts etc,) and as long as your capable with a set of spanners and a diagnostic tool, there isn't much you can't do yourself. The only thing I didn't like about mine was the old tech radio/cd player. Now I've swapped that out for a tesla screen version, I love it even more.
My advice, take your time finding the right one. There's plenty out there and once you've found it - you'll never look back
5th Apr 2022 6:08 pm
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1210
Do it! It’s an itch that deserves to be scratched.
Yes, they probably are more “sensitive” than other cars, but they are 10-15 years old most of them
I use mine for camping all the time and my son loves it
2008 HSE Stornoway Grey
My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕
I got my D3 new in 2006 - its my daily driver and I still love it.(all fingers and toes crossed)
My son has a D4 and he's had one or two issues with it but nothing insurmountable Original Owner.
Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2136
Boxhacker86 wrote:
Thanks for all the reply’s and feedback. Would spending the money on a D3 with full service history and less than 100k on the clock be a better bet at this current time?
What’s your budget / year mileage you’re looking at?
I reckon you will need about 2k / year to keep one going (if it doesn’t throw up any major faults). VED is nearly £600 a year and insurance will take that to around £1k. Then servicing and consumables on top and you’re at £2k per year without turning a wheel.
They are amazing vehicles, probably nothing better, but they are not cheap to run. Just go in knowing all the facts so you don’t get a fright.
Lots of info on this site, so do lots of research!
Current: D4 HSE
Previous: BMW Z4M Coupe
Previous: Land Rover Defender 90 CSW Td5
Previous: Land Rover Discovery Td5 ES
5th Apr 2022 8:06 pm
Breg90
Member Since: 04 Feb 2017
Location: Falkirk
Posts: 348
Ask your self:
1/. Can you cope with the fuel consumption? You can do upper 20's on a run, but on short runs it will more likely be 20 mpg.
2/. Can you cope with the maintenance costs - bear in mind it is a luxury car with multiple complex systems (compared to a 208). Tends to take more hours to repair then a Peugeot 208. It's also heavier, so wears out components like suspension bushes faster.
To me you either need to be happy to spend the often quoted £2000/year on maintenance, or be happy and capable to do a good chuck of the diagnostics and fixing your self.
Only you know the answers, but it will never, ever, be as cheap as a 208 to run.
However you could just buy a new 'normal' car and find that the head light you broke by accident is a £3000 jobbie because they are all built like that now...Series one 1949 - in bits, chassis is strapped to the ceiling in my garage (beside the canoe)
LR 90 - In bits
Disco 3 - currently in bits
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
. I would only ever consider one that has a full dealer history and can have a warranty because the risk are to great especially if buying with finance.
