Discussion
Looking to upgrade the family wheels. Think I want 7 seats so we can take kids and grandparents with us.
My current car is 4x4, and it's really handy. It's also an old Skoda, so Bork factor is very low. My wife wants a "useful" car. We keep cars for a long time.
I keep coming back to the D4 as a potential. My budget is slightly flexible at £20-25k, and this would get me a 2015 model with a bit left over for a warranty. I don't mind a bit of maintenance, and I know they're hard on suspension and brakes. I can sort simple things myself, but I don't want a daily starting lottery, or a high probability of getting stranded miles from home with a car full of kids and stuff.
I know that the D3 had its issues, and certainly the early D4 carried some of these over (crank, I'm looking at you). Thing is, I can't find nearly as many internet references to major problems with the late D4's after they became Eu6. Does this mean that LR finally got a handle on some of the problems? Can I buy one, get a warranty and relax?
Or should I just buy a Skoda Kodiaq?
My current car is 4x4, and it's really handy. It's also an old Skoda, so Bork factor is very low. My wife wants a "useful" car. We keep cars for a long time.
I keep coming back to the D4 as a potential. My budget is slightly flexible at £20-25k, and this would get me a 2015 model with a bit left over for a warranty. I don't mind a bit of maintenance, and I know they're hard on suspension and brakes. I can sort simple things myself, but I don't want a daily starting lottery, or a high probability of getting stranded miles from home with a car full of kids and stuff.
I know that the D3 had its issues, and certainly the early D4 carried some of these over (crank, I'm looking at you). Thing is, I can't find nearly as many internet references to major problems with the late D4's after they became Eu6. Does this mean that LR finally got a handle on some of the problems? Can I buy one, get a warranty and relax?
Or should I just buy a Skoda Kodiaq?
We had a EU6 Disco 4 for 4 years and covered approx. 74k miles in that time. Absolutely loved it and still miss it. I took out the extended warranty but didn't have cause to claim. Only issue in the 4 years was leaky cam cover, covered under warranty at around 2 years old. Other than that it was trouble free and only needed the usual tyres, brakes and servicing.
Having read all of the horror stories we may just have been lucky but it was one of the most reliable cars we've had.
Having read all of the horror stories we may just have been lucky but it was one of the most reliable cars we've had.
We have a (relatively) early D4 - 2012 so young enough to have the 8-speed gearbox. Took out a warranty through Motoreasy.
We had another 2012 D4 for 2 weeks before the crank went, so the issues are certainly out there
It's a great car, we did a long trip up into Scotland over the summer and it was perfect for family, lots of space, easy cruising on the motorway.
We had another 2012 D4 for 2 weeks before the crank went, so the issues are certainly out there
It's a great car, we did a long trip up into Scotland over the summer and it was perfect for family, lots of space, easy cruising on the motorway.
We picked up a 64 plate in February this year having lusted after one for quite some time.
Needless to say, we absolutely love it. It is effortless on the motorway and so comfortable to be in, and yet you can pile the thing high with many a load lugging duty. Having 7 seats was the real draw for us, since we had similar useage visions as you.
Despite it being a relative modern, it has charm and character in spades. In fact, having owned a small selection from the LR range, we see the D4 as the perfect mashup of a classic Defender & L322, which suits us to a tee.
We haven't had it long enough to properly comment on bork factor but I think you buy one knowing it could hurt at some point, and do what you can to mitigate that. We bought ours from a generic 4x4 specialist with a 3 year warranty. However, there is a cap per claim, and I am sure that cap could be surpassed in the blink of an eye with certain items.
If like me, you set your mind on a D4, but then spend the next few weeks desperately trying to justify a more sensible option, then you may well kick yourself every time you see one. Which will be often as they seem to be everywhere!
Ultimately, I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather have as a family car/van, and now we've had it for 8 months, I still can't
Needless to say, we absolutely love it. It is effortless on the motorway and so comfortable to be in, and yet you can pile the thing high with many a load lugging duty. Having 7 seats was the real draw for us, since we had similar useage visions as you.
Despite it being a relative modern, it has charm and character in spades. In fact, having owned a small selection from the LR range, we see the D4 as the perfect mashup of a classic Defender & L322, which suits us to a tee.
We haven't had it long enough to properly comment on bork factor but I think you buy one knowing it could hurt at some point, and do what you can to mitigate that. We bought ours from a generic 4x4 specialist with a 3 year warranty. However, there is a cap per claim, and I am sure that cap could be surpassed in the blink of an eye with certain items.
If like me, you set your mind on a D4, but then spend the next few weeks desperately trying to justify a more sensible option, then you may well kick yourself every time you see one. Which will be often as they seem to be everywhere!
Ultimately, I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather have as a family car/van, and now we've had it for 8 months, I still can't
Blueprint said:
We picked up a 64 plate in February this year having lusted after one for quite some time.
Needless to say, we absolutely love it. It is effortless on the motorway and so comfortable to be in, and yet you can pile the thing high with many a load lugging duty. Having 7 seats was the real draw for us, since we had similar useage visions as you.
Despite it being a relative modern, it has charm and character in spades. In fact, having owned a small selection from the LR range, we see the D4 as the perfect mashup of a classic Defender & L322, which suits us to a tee.
We haven't had it long enough to properly comment on bork factor but I think you buy one knowing it could hurt at some point, and do what you can to mitigate that. We bought ours from a generic 4x4 specialist with a 3 year warranty. However, there is a cap per claim, and I am sure that cap could be surpassed in the blink of an eye with certain items.
If like me, you set your mind on a D4, but then spend the next few weeks desperately trying to justify a more sensible option, then you may well kick yourself every time you see one. Which will be often as they seem to be everywhere!
Ultimately, I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather have as a family car/van, and now we've had it for 8 months, I still can't
This is pretty much why I bought a second one having killed one - I struggle to see what is a good alternative that does everything it does. Needless to say, we absolutely love it. It is effortless on the motorway and so comfortable to be in, and yet you can pile the thing high with many a load lugging duty. Having 7 seats was the real draw for us, since we had similar useage visions as you.
Despite it being a relative modern, it has charm and character in spades. In fact, having owned a small selection from the LR range, we see the D4 as the perfect mashup of a classic Defender & L322, which suits us to a tee.
We haven't had it long enough to properly comment on bork factor but I think you buy one knowing it could hurt at some point, and do what you can to mitigate that. We bought ours from a generic 4x4 specialist with a 3 year warranty. However, there is a cap per claim, and I am sure that cap could be surpassed in the blink of an eye with certain items.
If like me, you set your mind on a D4, but then spend the next few weeks desperately trying to justify a more sensible option, then you may well kick yourself every time you see one. Which will be often as they seem to be everywhere!
Ultimately, I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather have as a family car/van, and now we've had it for 8 months, I still can't
Gassing Station | Land Rover | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff