GT2000: Just because something is popular, doesn’t make it good. Take Top 40 music, AFL, Neighbours for eg… Very popular, doesn’t make them good though.

With the current new car market conditions- dealers doing alot of heavy discounting, its quite possible to get a big discount on a Discovery 4.0 V6 SE or the TDV6 Auto S.

Thank you for your interest and advice. I’m looking at a minimum of 6 to 12 month purchase time for either a defender or disco3, so please don’t hang on my post. When it comes around I’ll post on whatever forum associated with this or following articles or even on this site’s car review for the defender or disco3. Either way I’m getting a rattler. Sod a petrol – top end performance but bugger all down low where you need it when you need it for how long you need it.

Post how the test driving and eventual purchase goes, Im interested to know. You should be able to talk them down a fair bit.

If it was just me, myself, and I, a defender would be the only consideration – out asap smack down money for factory fitted modifications. However, I’ve got to tow a family of girls so comfort (road noise, egonomics etc) needs to be considered.

Believe me, I would really love a defender. Pity they don’t provide the swb. Could get that for fun.

yeah the 3.2L i6 in the freelander is highly rated with good high torque.

“The DEFENDER is the shit when it comes to crossing through and around Aus and for going bush and hardcore offroading.”
^^^by that I mean its good. The 300 tdi equiped DEFENDER Im used to, has a top speed of about 135, that would be my only slight gripe. However its the type of indestructible engine that just keeps on going (a hard 310 000km without a problem). It cruises effortlessly at the speed limit. The new 4 would have to be better.

Smack-on there with transmissions, also rubicons thirst has always been a major consideration. Standing at a pedestrian crossing yesterday a 4-door wrangler drove past (so it’s going to be a 2007 model), not sure if the driver has been servicing it regularly or it’s just been flogged to buggery, but all the wrong noises were coming from the engine bay. Sounded half a dozen rasps heading down a long metal slide. I’m earing on the side of lack of service or as some seem to think that a 4bie is just as cabable on the road as a beamer.

…and i agree with u Bret!

They always talk resale. Apparently Toyota buyers are already thinking about selling their Toyota before they buy it.LOL.

If u get more for a Toyota at trade in time it is only because u pay more for it to start with. And don’t they sting with the options and that’s apart from the fact that new Toyota prices can vary by thousands from dealer to dealer for an identical spec vehicle.

I guess some Toyota buyers just get riped off more than others.LOL.