If the Jeep is the only one you choose to purchase new, I would go down that route. I owned a Jeep Wrangler and never had a problem with it. Although it was engineered like a tractor
Travelling with a second hand high tech euro vehicle in remote areas of Australia is pure folly. I have heard of vehicles having to be towed to the nearest capital city for repairs. This does not equate to "waiting a few days for parts".
Knowing your distaste for Toyotas, I am sure someone will read your post AND still recommend you buy one !!!!
Just my 2 cents worth to help you have a hassle free time in the playground !!!
P.S. A commercial rental company here in Perth has chosen VW to replace its' fleet of vans, due to reliability and cost of servicing.
P.P.S If you choose to buy second hand, make sure it does NOT have a towbar fitted. It could have led an easy life taking the kids to a private school instead of towing the huge boat or horse trailer....
-- Edited by vk6tnc on Friday 22nd of March 2013 12:08:20 AM
Plendo said
05:16 AM Mar 22, 2013
We have ordered our van, and now we need to make a decision as to which tow vehicle to use. We will have an ATM on our van of about 3,200kg (large payload), and thus we need a very capable towing vehicle.
We have narrowed the field, excluding vehicles that are too big, lack sophistication and comfort, have high running cost, very dated mechanicals, or we just plain don't like them.
We are left with three vehicles:
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD, probably based on a Laredo with a couple of options. It would also have the 8 speed auto which is due in July on the 2014 spec vehicle.
Land Rover Discovery 4, about 3 years old with 60 to 80k. We would wait for a 3.0 SE to come up at an acceptable price.
Volkswagon Toureg TDI (not the 150), again about three years old to get one for an affordable price.
I know and understand that none of these vehicles have huge dealer networks, but at the same time I expect a high degree of reliability, and if we need to wait a few days for parts, tis not the end of the world. We will also make sure we have a high level of roadside assist, covering both the car and the van.
I would love to hear from people who own, or have owned any of the above. I would like to hear positives, negatives, tricks, traps, unique service requirements (example the Toureg appears to need a tailshaft at about 110k).
For all the rest who hold strong views on vehicles, please resist the temptation to educate me.
Thanks in advance to all the people who do have relevant experience and do contribute.
blaze said
02:53 PM Mar 22, 2013
just had a vw amarak innto work that requires an engine transplant, drove through about 150mm deep water and it bowwaved in front of the vehicle and straight into the air intake. This happened in a heavy rain ob a road. the car in question had 10000km on it. Just a warn on the amarak air intake. Myself, I would go the d4 cheers blaze
Plendo said
03:12 PM Mar 22, 2013
Thanks Chris and Blaze, good advice, and the location of the air intake/wading ability is certainly something to consider.
BTW, it is not that I do not like Toyotas, I think they are excellent tractors. I just did not want the post to turn into another Toyota v the rest forum.
Santa said
07:33 PM Mar 22, 2013
Jeep, Landrover and VW, good luck Plendo, I suspect your going to need it if you go with any of these.
Hi Santa, I did specifically ask in my initial post for people with relevant experience to respond, I want to get first hand experience of the specific vehicles I nominated, not opinions or third hand gosip.
I should point out that I am past my bush bashing days, I have toured the outback in a Patrol, I am now focused on buying a tow vehicle, one that can tow the weight I need to tow, a vehicle that will be comfortable to live in over a long period of time. I want a vehicle that offers good reliability, and importantly good economy.
If I was going out to do the centre again, I would not be considering the vehicles I am looking at, I would be considering a Ford Ranger, or a Nissan Patrol. But that is not what I need, thus I have been specific about the vehicles I want to discuss.
And to focus the debate further I am looking to spend about $65k, thus I am looking at a 2014 Grand Cherokee (limited, or Laredo with options), a 2010 Discovery, or a 2011/10 Toureg. All are extremely comfortable, and all offer economy that many of the older popular options can only dream about.
rockylizard said
02:19 AM Mar 23, 2013
Gday...
This would be the best place to talk to and with people who own, use and know intimately the Discovery 4 - for all its uses including towing.
Those on here will tell you their experiences and where applicable, warts and all, about the Discovery 4.
I have owned a Disco TD4, Range Rover and Jeep.. Disco was great until it developed a fault in the ABS system... $8000.00 for a new computer..Traded it in for the Rangerover.. Rangerover never had an issue other than fuel pump at 140,000klms then it caught the electrical gremlins...Traded that for a Jeep. Jeep was nothing but trouble.. windows failing to operate, Engine issues, noisey and drove like a tractor (Diesel Cheroke) now traded for a Hilux and all good.
The European cars are incredible when new or only a few years old.. once the Ks get up a bit they can be a nightmare. The Jeep.. You can get a good one or a pile of %$%$% however the Merc Diesel is suposed to be in a class of its own. I have heard good reports about the VW and we also have a couple of Amorocks at work and so far they seem pretty good. The Hylux (now at 160k) has been the most reliable I have owned but unlike the European machines has no soul (if you know what I mean) only 2300 KG towing so no good for you anyway.
Hope that Helps
Cheers
Mike
Plendo said
03:33 AM Mar 23, 2013
Thanks John and Mike, I have taken your advice and posted my question on AULRO.
I must admit Mike's experience is what worries me, and if we decide to go Disco (we both love the Disco), then we would look for a vehicle that was still in Warranty, and extend the factory warranty by two years $2,700. This has the side benefit of also extending the Land Rover roadside assist, which is the only one in Australia that will come off road to find you.
I am looking forward to the feedback on AULRO, I believe there is the potential for me to learn a lot. At the moment so much of what I think I know has been seeded by rumour, and gossip like tales.
Thanks again guys, it is feedback like your's I am looking for.
Mike C said
03:42 AM Mar 23, 2013
Dont be scared by my comments.. You need to be happy with the car and I loved that Disco.. (much older machine than you are looking at). I would have another tomorrow but now need to get somthing to tow behind the MH.
all the best
Mike
blaze said
04:18 AM Mar 23, 2013
Santa wrote:
Jeep, Landrover and VW, good luck Plendo, I suspect your going to need it if you go with any of these.
I am a spare parts manager atm in broome and rest asured that I need to buy in plenty of toyota parts that airnt stocked by the local toyota dealer, filters and brakes are ready avaiable at any mechanical outlet but boy oh boy they certainly use them. Now granted there is no service agent for landrover here but basics are available local and the same as the other brands you need to get it from the city, thats overnight for mmost stuff.
Its a bloody myth that toyota parts can be got any where. Now lets go back pre electronics, yep you could keep a toyota running in any single pub town (that is where you went to source ya bits by local knowlegge), fact is you could keep most makes going like that even a bloody old falcon cause there was always one in the scub on that road 1/2 a mile past joes place.
cheers
blaze
blaze said
04:23 AM Mar 23, 2013
just a little more on toyota parts, you would surprised at some of the failures they have. By the way I have owned toyotas, nissans, land rovers , mitsubishis, ford, holden, vauxals and the list goes on, each vehicle has had good and bad points, they all done a job, currently own a landrover, kia and a falcon.
cheers
blaze
Plendo said
04:40 AM Mar 23, 2013
Thanks Blaze, you have confirmed something I had suspected, and heard hints about from others.
Given the complexity of all the modern vehicles, I would imagine the good workshops in remote centres would have similar issues working on any of them, and most would have the equipment to hook up for electonic diagnostics, etc.
Drifters said
11:20 PM Apr 7, 2013
Hi I have also been looking at all of these. I dont have any personal experience with any of them but my son in-laws father has a Toureg that he purchased second hand from a horse person, it hasnt given him any trouble. He only uses it for blacktop driving pulling a large Jayco all over and loves it. My issue with it is its lack of a spare wheel which he resolved by carrying one on the back of the van and the fact that as far as I know you cant fit them with a bulbar. Evidently the front is not designed to take it and none of the bulbar companies have come up with a way to adapt them. Phil
GaryKelly said
11:54 PM Apr 7, 2013
The great thing about being poor like me is a total lack of options hehe. I bought my Ford ute at Christmas because it was cheap and available. I didn't even bother to ask anyone's opinion. So far so good. In fact, if I may so say, I think it's just scrumptious.
hitchngo said
07:24 PM Nov 4, 2014
Love our jeep grand cherokie after having nissan patrols and toyota,s We get 7.5 L - per 100 k,s
Our van is 23 ft 3.5 towing with the jeep and bells and whistles. The earlier 3 litre diesel motors were german, Now they are made by fiat. Unreal milage.
$120 bucks to fill and 1200 ks not towing, when towing with tanks full water and loaded from sth aust to townsville trip meter said we adverage 13- 13 .6 litres per 100 ks
Plendo said
07:35 PM Nov 4, 2014
Good to hear you are happy with your Jeep.
When I was looking I initially thought the Jeep was the car for me, but when I drove it I found it unsettling to drive, I just was not comfortable with the dynamics. When I drove a Landrover Discovery, I felt right at home, it just feels right. Plus the technology was a level above the competition at that point, but the rest of the field has caught up now.
I have now been driving the Disco for 18 months, I have done about 29K, it just does everything fantastically well. I used to drive along admiring other vehicles I would love to have, that just does not happen now.
If the Jeep is the only one you choose to purchase new, I would go down that route. I owned a Jeep Wrangler and never had a problem with it. Although it was engineered like a tractor
Travelling with a second hand high tech euro vehicle in remote areas of Australia is pure folly. I have heard of vehicles having to be towed to the nearest capital city for repairs. This does not equate to "waiting a few days for parts".
Knowing your distaste for Toyotas, I am sure someone will read your post AND still recommend you buy one !!!!
Just my 2 cents worth to help you have a hassle free time in the playground !!!
P.S. A commercial rental company here in Perth has chosen VW to replace its' fleet of vans, due to reliability and cost of servicing.
P.P.S If you choose to buy second hand, make sure it does NOT have a towbar fitted. It could have led an easy life taking the kids to a private school instead of towing the huge boat or horse trailer....
-- Edited by vk6tnc on Friday 22nd of March 2013 12:08:20 AM
We have ordered our van, and now we need to make a decision as to which tow vehicle to use. We will have an ATM on our van of about 3,200kg (large payload), and thus we need a very capable towing vehicle.
We have narrowed the field, excluding vehicles that are too big, lack sophistication and comfort, have high running cost, very dated mechanicals, or we just plain don't like them.
We are left with three vehicles:
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD, probably based on a Laredo with a couple of options. It would also have the 8 speed auto which is due in July on the 2014 spec vehicle.
Land Rover Discovery 4, about 3 years old with 60 to 80k. We would wait for a 3.0 SE to come up at an acceptable price.
Volkswagon Toureg TDI (not the 150), again about three years old to get one for an affordable price.
I know and understand that none of these vehicles have huge dealer networks, but at the same time I expect a high degree of reliability, and if we need to wait a few days for parts, tis not the end of the world. We will also make sure we have a high level of roadside assist, covering both the car and the van.
I would love to hear from people who own, or have owned any of the above. I would like to hear positives, negatives, tricks, traps, unique service requirements (example the Toureg appears to need a tailshaft at about 110k).
For all the rest who hold strong views on vehicles, please resist the temptation to educate me.
Thanks in advance to all the people who do have relevant experience and do contribute.
cheers
blaze
Thanks Chris and Blaze, good advice, and the location of the air intake/wading ability is certainly something to consider.
BTW, it is not that I do not like Toyotas, I think they are excellent tractors. I just did not want the post to turn into another Toyota v the rest forum.
Jeep, Landrover and VW, good luck Plendo, I suspect your going to need it if you go with any of these.
Check this link http://www.dogandlemon.com/2007/12/10/car-surveys Land Rover in particular are notorious for being unreliable, VW and Jeep don't fare a whole lot better.
For good reason Toyota are up near the top.
Hi Santa, I did specifically ask in my initial post for people with relevant experience to respond, I want to get first hand experience of the specific vehicles I nominated, not opinions or third hand gosip.
I should point out that I am past my bush bashing days, I have toured the outback in a Patrol, I am now focused on buying a tow vehicle, one that can tow the weight I need to tow, a vehicle that will be comfortable to live in over a long period of time. I want a vehicle that offers good reliability, and importantly good economy.
If I was going out to do the centre again, I would not be considering the vehicles I am looking at, I would be considering a Ford Ranger, or a Nissan Patrol. But that is not what I need, thus I have been specific about the vehicles I want to discuss.
And to focus the debate further I am looking to spend about $65k, thus I am looking at a 2014 Grand Cherokee (limited, or Laredo with options), a 2010 Discovery, or a 2011/10 Toureg. All are extremely comfortable, and all offer economy that many of the older popular options can only dream about.
Gday...
This would be the best place to talk to and with people who own, use and know intimately the Discovery 4 - for all its uses including towing.
Those on here will tell you their experiences and where applicable, warts and all, about the Discovery 4.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/
Cheers - John
Disco was great until it developed a fault in the ABS system... $8000.00 for a new computer..Traded it in for the Rangerover..
Rangerover never had an issue other than fuel pump at 140,000klms then it caught the electrical gremlins...Traded that for a Jeep.
Jeep was nothing but trouble.. windows failing to operate, Engine issues, noisey and drove like a tractor (Diesel Cheroke) now traded for a Hilux and all good.
The European cars are incredible when new or only a few years old.. once the Ks get up a bit they can be a nightmare.
The Jeep.. You can get a good one or a pile of %$%$% however the Merc Diesel is suposed to be in a class of its own.
I have heard good reports about the VW and we also have a couple of Amorocks at work and so far they seem pretty good.
The Hylux (now at 160k) has been the most reliable I have owned but unlike the European machines has no soul (if you know what I mean) only 2300 KG towing so no good for you anyway.
Hope that Helps
Cheers
Mike
Thanks John and Mike, I have taken your advice and posted my question on AULRO.
I must admit Mike's experience is what worries me, and if we decide to go Disco (we both love the Disco), then we would look for a vehicle that was still in Warranty, and extend the factory warranty by two years $2,700. This has the side benefit of also extending the Land Rover roadside assist, which is the only one in Australia that will come off road to find you.
I am looking forward to the feedback on AULRO, I believe there is the potential for me to learn a lot. At the moment so much of what I think I know has been seeded by rumour, and gossip like tales.
Thanks again guys, it is feedback like your's I am looking for.
You need to be happy with the car and I loved that Disco.. (much older machine than you are looking at).
I would have another tomorrow but now need to get somthing to tow behind the MH.
all the best
Mike
hi santa
I am a spare parts manager atm in broome and rest asured that I need to buy in plenty of toyota parts that airnt stocked by the local toyota dealer, filters and brakes are ready avaiable at any mechanical outlet but boy oh boy they certainly use them. Now granted there is no service agent for landrover here but basics are available local and the same as the other brands you need to get it from the city, thats overnight for mmost stuff.
Its a bloody myth that toyota parts can be got any where. Now lets go back pre electronics, yep you could keep a toyota running in any single pub town (that is where you went to source ya bits by local knowlegge), fact is you could keep most makes going like that even a bloody old falcon cause there was always one in the scub on that road 1/2 a mile past joes place.
cheers
blaze
just a little more on toyota parts, you would surprised at some of the failures they have. By the way I have owned toyotas, nissans, land rovers , mitsubishis, ford, holden, vauxals and the list goes on, each vehicle has had good and bad points, they all done a job, currently own a landrover, kia and a falcon.
cheers
blaze
Thanks Blaze, you have confirmed something I had suspected, and heard hints about from others.
Given the complexity of all the modern vehicles, I would imagine the good workshops in remote centres would have similar issues working on any of them, and most would have the equipment to hook up for electonic diagnostics, etc.
I have also been looking at all of these. I dont have any personal experience with any of them but my son in-laws father has a Toureg that he purchased second hand from a horse person, it hasnt given him any trouble. He only uses it for blacktop driving pulling a large Jayco all over and loves it. My issue with it is its lack of a spare wheel which he resolved by carrying one on the back of the van and the fact that as far as I know you cant fit them with a bulbar. Evidently the front is not designed to take it and none of the bulbar companies have come up with a way to adapt them.
Phil
Our van is 23 ft 3.5 towing with the jeep and bells and whistles. The earlier 3 litre diesel motors were german, Now they are made by fiat. Unreal milage.
$120 bucks to fill and 1200 ks not towing, when towing with tanks full water and loaded from sth aust to townsville trip meter said we adverage 13- 13 .6 litres per 100 ks
Good to hear you are happy with your Jeep.
When I was looking I initially thought the Jeep was the car for me, but when I drove it I found it unsettling to drive, I just was not comfortable with the dynamics. When I drove a Landrover Discovery, I felt right at home, it just feels right. Plus the technology was a level above the competition at that point, but the rest of the field has caught up now.
I have now been driving the Disco for 18 months, I have done about 29K, it just does everything fantastically well. I used to drive along admiring other vehicles I would love to have, that just does not happen now.
Do I like our Discovery, no I love it.