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caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
  
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Another Gong for the D3.  Best Wagon (diesel) and Best Overall. 
Long term test- positive write up.
And Me.  Should have beeen about the Hitch and how disco3.co.uk forum members were involved. Stickers all over the D3 and loads of photos were taken, but none of them used......yet 
Maybe in the next issue? “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
Last edited by caverD3 on 28th Jun 2009 11:39 am. Edited 1 time in total
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 28th Jun 2009 8:48 am |
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~Rich~
Member Since: 16 Mar 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 627
 
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More information please 
Where you involved with the magazine article Andrew?
Did you see the article in Australian 4WD Action? (Issue # 135)
They gave this Verdict:
Quote: The Discovery 3 would have to be one of the most capable and refined 4WD's on the market today, and all our testing reinforces this. However if you can only dream about the new D3, an earlier - model Discovery might be a more affordable option.
2005 TDV6 HSE Silver, LLAMS Height Controller, Tinted Glass, Onroad - 19" GG AT's, Offroad - 18" 275/65 MT, Traxside Dual Battery kit, Rasta Protection Plate, Alpine Roof, BAS Remap, ARB Air Compressor, eDiff Custom Drawer and storage unit -http://www.box.com/s/jem0ilac3cner2mexq64 UHF CB, 4x4 Intellegence RWC, 120ltr Long range tank, Rock Sliders and Compressor protection plate Beanie grill, De Tango.
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| 28th Jun 2009 10:26 am |
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caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
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Not involved with the main articles. A journo came and took a load of photos of the hitch and was supposed to do an article on that and how it came to be.
Mine is on page 16- "Keep it up" was only supposed to be a small side note to the main article, ended up whole page on it's own. 
4x4 Action is a very Nissan Tojo orientated mag and they slated the D3 when they flooded the control modules behind the battery when trying to break it.
So if they are giving it good reviews now it must be good! “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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| 28th Jun 2009 11:49 am |
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Verydisco
Member Since: 02 Jan 2005
Location: A bit there, a bit over there and sometime at home, France
Posts: 1006
 
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caverD3 wrote:
4x4 Action is a very Nissan Tojo orientated mag and they slated the D3 when they flooded the control modules behind the battery when trying to break it.
So if they are giving it good reviews now it must be good!
yep, I was VERY surprised to see them give that much credit to the D3 when usualy the don't mind burning everything coming anywhere else than Japan.
I really like the mag and Roothy, too bad they dont like Landies in general...
One might say that when one needs to travel OZ, one needs the very best, more capable and reliable vehicule, well we travelled OZ quite a few times, including in a 110 300 Tdi during a month trip in Vic/SA and we did not have a single issue with it.
Next should be the same with a D3 (too bad no one rents them there...) l=Oo\________/oO=l l:Ool======loO:l
Current
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L TDV8 - 2012 - Orkney Grey, on Black, on Piano Black.
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L V8 - 2002 - ex-2003 G4 Challenge Event Vehicle, Stage 3: Australia
FREELANDER 2 Td4 HSE "000" - Santorinin Black on Black
Gap Diagnostics' Classic and BT IID Tools!
Previous:
RANGE ROVER TDV8 x3
RANGE ROVER Td6 x1
RANGE ROVER Classic 3.5L V8 x1
DISCOVERY III x3
DISCOVERY II x3
DISCOVERY I x4
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| 29th Jun 2009 8:25 am |
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gps-au
Member Since: 14 Apr 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 57
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Verydisco wrote:
yep, I was VERY surprised to see them give that much credit to the D3 when usualy the don't mind burning everything coming anywhere else than Japan.
Many years ago I gave up on ALL the 4wd magazines as I completely lost interest when seeing nissan win things wholely undeserved, considering that nissan refuses in just so many cases to honour any warranty on their vehicles (I know from personal experiences).
Landies have always had the reputation of things falling off which has kept them from really being accepted. I just couldn't understand how such a bad reputation could still hold after so many years and did my own investigations amoungst a number or RR owners I knew and realised is was now bulldust, which is why I actually bought a Disco, it suited my needs and met my requirements.
After 6 months of ownership, I must admit that this is the happiest I have ever been with the purchase of a motor vehicle, I hope and expect the next probably 6 years will continue the same way.
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| 29th Jun 2009 9:07 am |
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Dan W
Member Since: 21 Jun 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 355
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Verydisco wrote:
Next should be the same with a D3 (too bad no one rents them there...)
...if it's not made in Korea then rental companies in australia don't seem interested.
You could go to a specialist 4x4 hire company but then again it might be cheaper just to buy a D3 when you get here! 2012 MY13 SDV6 SE D4 Ipanema Sand with Almond leather
2012 TDI Passat - they reckon the DSG is crap, I reckon it's awesome
2010 MY11 Mitsubishi Challenger - Gone (it was a "Challenging Year")
2007 MY08 TDV6 SE - gone
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| 29th Jun 2009 10:51 am |
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Dan W
Member Since: 21 Jun 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 355
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caverD3 wrote:Not involved with the main articles. A journo came and took a load of photos of the hitch and was supposed to do an article on that and how it came to be.
Mine is on page 16- "Keep it up" was only supposed to be a small side note to the main article, ended up whole page on it's own.
I wondered if that was you! I'm not surprised they ran with that story. The auto lowering of the suspension has been the topic of a few recent articles and letters in "Roverlander" (as my Tojo-Driving mates call it.) 2012 MY13 SDV6 SE D4 Ipanema Sand with Almond leather
2012 TDI Passat - they reckon the DSG is crap, I reckon it's awesome
2010 MY11 Mitsubishi Challenger - Gone (it was a "Challenging Year")
2007 MY08 TDV6 SE - gone
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| 29th Jun 2009 10:55 am |
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Ramjet
Member Since: 10 Mar 2009
Location: Lara Vic
Posts: 12
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Folks, In my humble opinion, a lot of 4 x 4 mags are written for the market ( buyers and suppliers) who want to buy a strong piece of body work, and then modify the mechanicals (motor, diffs, suspension etc etc) in it to their hearts content. Now the D3 has no or little appeal to that market. Makers of shocks, springs and lots of other widgets who keep those mags in valuable advertising probably see little appeal in the D3 also. The few D3 mods that can be done without a concern about the warranty is limited, and for me thats fine, as I like most of what I got in the car out of the box. The way I look at the D3 is, what SOME others spend endlessly on mods on their vehicles has been factory built in on the D3. What is left to do with the D3 is to trim it, to suit your style, as there is not a lot of major mechanical rework required and hence the spend with the 4x4 after market industry is comparatively small and option limited. Both ways of doing things are legit, they just are different. In the future as time moves away from the first release date of the D3, and warranties expire, more people will be prepared to do what might have been warranty compromising, yet legitimate, mods to the vehicle. As this happens, the 4X4 aftermarket industry, will show more interest in the D3. And the publishing sector of that market will correspondingly show more interest. Probably this is the cusp of where evolution of the D3 is now in the eyes of the after market industry. I suggest we will see more stuff about the D3, both positive and negative as the publishers play with your mind. I am also guessing the D4, in some sectors, will get a bagging, until it becomes "after maret legitimate" also. I am also waiting for the D3 counter arguement articles that will appear from other publishing houses as they try the one up manship on their compeditor mags. Personally, I lots of articles in those mags about the trips, 4x4 driving tips etc interesting reads, but I expect that my current favorite car, the D3, will still not have much relevence to the publishers advertisers for a while to come.
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| 30th Jun 2009 8:50 pm |
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rmp
Member Since: 15 Jan 2009
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 73
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Ramjet, that's not quite correct. Yes, to modify a vehicle for better offroad use there's no point starting with a D3. Putting large tyres on it and reworking the suspension is pointless as the electronics won't be reworked and those are what makes the car so good.
However, many people are not interested in seriously modifying any vehicle for improving offroad capability, but they are into touring. The touring mods required to say a Pajero, Prado or LC200 are pretty much the same as the D3 -- bullbar, roofrack, spare carrier, tyres, lights, winch, cargo systems and more, and even shock absorbers plus coils for the others. In other words, the total $ spend to kit out a D3 for touring won't be any less than for its competitors. Not all accessories are model-specific either, for example batteries, lights, winches and more.
The difference is there are a lot less people wanting to buy say a D3 bullbar than a Prado bullbar. That is why there is a relative lack of interest in the D3, it's a commercial decision. If you think D3 owners are hard done by, drop by the Sorento, Touraeg and other forums. Then again, they bought the car and should have known the accessory situation before they parted with their hard-earned.
There are also many advertisers who do not rely on specific brands models to sell their wares or services. In fact, those that do are very much in the minority. --
Robert
Life is better in low range
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| 1st Jul 2009 10:29 am |
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Ramjet
Member Since: 10 Mar 2009
Location: Lara Vic
Posts: 12
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Good points rmp. However, I have obviously lead you to believe that I consider D3 owners are hard done by, by the after market purveyors of off road/touring wares. That was not my intention, as I agree with your point that the market is/was not there and I do not expect business people to make silly decisions targeting a limited market. Why that market is limited is however probably where we differ slightly in opinion. I agree the D3 market is limited by the volume of the sales of the car, but I also do believe that more people need to do more to some other makes and models, particularly the popular entry level vehicles, (ie 4x4 tradies utes etc) to get them near to equal the D3 as a tourer, or "serious" 4x4 out of the box. Hence, my hypothesis that in the past magazines will see more potential in promoting vehicles that are more ready or need more mods, than a vehicle that provides little market opportunity for the after market products in whom the publishers depend on promoters advertising. However, now that more D3's are coming out of warranty, and now that more are entering the second hand market, we could see more "heavy" mods and rebuilds being done to the D3. And as such, if I am correct, and only time will tell, in the future the makers, resellers, promoters of equipment for the D3 will increase and so will the acceptance of the magazines of the D3 because the after market - demand for D3 specific products will increase. It is more an issue of market dynamics, than the D3 being hard done by.
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| 1st Jul 2009 11:50 am |
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rmp
Member Since: 15 Jan 2009
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 73
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In the future there will be less and less highly modified vehicles, such as those running 6" lifts and say 37" tyres with high output engines. This will be because:
1. The increasing cost and effort of modification as vehicle complexity increases
2. Less need to do it as vehicles become more capable anyway, more powerful engines, efficient traction control and more.
3. Regulations becoming increasingly strict.
For example, I honestly don't think lockers are required for the LC200 despite their availability. It's traction control is just so good. The case for them has been diluted with traction control on other models as well, and engine mods are becoming more a case of why bother in an age when 500Nm and 6 speeds are not uncommon.
Magazines feature vehicles of interest to their readers, regardless of modifications. Not all modifications relate to improving vehicle offroad capability, and in fact look at the average $ spend for say Pajero/Prado owners and see how much of that is on improving offroad capability; not much. If the readers are interested in it the advertisers will follow, not vice-versa. The objective of a magazine is to attract and retain readers and through that, advertisers, not to directly do what advertisers want as that'll only work for one or two issues before readers lose interest. Even if magazines focused on advertisers needs only few advertisers are vehicle-specific.
You'll never get a ute to D3 capability overall. Nor will you get a D3 to match a ute's strengths. To get a ute to match a D3 offroad really you just need a lift and twin lockers -- there can be a whole thread of the detail of that comment which is a generalisation, but put it this way I'll happy follow any D3 anywhere in a ute so equipped. That will still leave the ute way cheaper than a D3. Now to make the D3 match the ute's payload and cargo space you're looking at a trailer.
D3 coverage will increase in the future as more people buy them for touring and the D4 comes online, but not because the vehicle will become a target for extreme buildups. I think the D3 has been well and truly featured in the magazines now and will continue to be so in the future, unless you're referring to specialist extreme magazines. --
Robert
Life is better in low range
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| 1st Jul 2009 12:09 pm |
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