£7k - reliable - good off road ?
Discussion
300bhp/ton said:
Just a heads up, a coil sprung D3 is the below base spec model (pretty much only sold in the UK, wasn't even offered in markets like the USA).
This isn't a bad thing exactly, but it will be lacking any of the modern toys. But more importantly is also lacks the Terrain Response System, it only comes with a basic traction control.
Without the air suspension they are also comparatively worse off road. The air suspension uses cross linked air bags, so as one wheel is pushed up, it automatically pushes the opposite wheel down. It does this to simulate how a live axle works off road. And makes the vehicle far more stable and capable.
The coil springs cannot do this. And of course you get much lower ground clearance too, as they aren't able to raise themselves up like the air suspension does.
If you aren't going to off road much then it's not an issue. The coil D3 will have similar off road abilities to a Freelander, just bigger and heavier. So wet grass, snow, even sand it'll be very good. But anything really rough or even deep tramlines, such as man green lanes, you find it's not as capable as you were expecting.
Also, to fit MT's on a D3, the normal route is to buy some lift rods/Johnsons Rods. These are small metal/plastic rods that set the air suspension height. Super easy to fit, about 10 mins and completely reversible. But it allows an air sprung D3 to run an inch or so higher, so you can fit bigger tyres without rubbing.
But it really comes down to how much off road use and the type you are expecting to do.
Or to paraphrase a coil spring D3 is too off roading what a 1.2 Clio would be as a track car, vs the air sprung D3 and Clio 182.
Yeah I understand all of that, there is a blank space next to the hi/lo range button where the suspension lift and terrain response should be but I think for what I want to use it for it should be ok. I have also found that old man emu do a 2" coil for the D3 that would be an option if I needed more lift.This isn't a bad thing exactly, but it will be lacking any of the modern toys. But more importantly is also lacks the Terrain Response System, it only comes with a basic traction control.
Without the air suspension they are also comparatively worse off road. The air suspension uses cross linked air bags, so as one wheel is pushed up, it automatically pushes the opposite wheel down. It does this to simulate how a live axle works off road. And makes the vehicle far more stable and capable.
The coil springs cannot do this. And of course you get much lower ground clearance too, as they aren't able to raise themselves up like the air suspension does.
If you aren't going to off road much then it's not an issue. The coil D3 will have similar off road abilities to a Freelander, just bigger and heavier. So wet grass, snow, even sand it'll be very good. But anything really rough or even deep tramlines, such as man green lanes, you find it's not as capable as you were expecting.
Also, to fit MT's on a D3, the normal route is to buy some lift rods/Johnsons Rods. These are small metal/plastic rods that set the air suspension height. Super easy to fit, about 10 mins and completely reversible. But it allows an air sprung D3 to run an inch or so higher, so you can fit bigger tyres without rubbing.
But it really comes down to how much off road use and the type you are expecting to do.
Or to paraphrase a coil spring D3 is too off roading what a 1.2 Clio would be as a track car, vs the air sprung D3 and Clio 182.
I have looked at what tyres will fit the 17" wheels and I can get some pretty decent 245/70/17 size tyres on there without any lift at all. BF Goodrich do a mud terrain and an all terrain tyre in that size. That should also give more lift all around aswell.
Edited by NickColl89 on Wednesday 10th May 10:09
Hainey said:
I'll save bandwidth and not repeat what 300 said but he is right. That's the worst of the worst combination there is. I'd go as far as to say its a pastiche of what the D3 is capable of not just in off road ability but in all important ride comfort and driving flexibility with that pot stirring manual box that doesn't suit the car at all.
Good luck with it if you get it but be aware at the very least if you hate it you'll struggle to give it away unless you really mark it down. I don't know whats being asked for it so maybe its cheap enough you can do that but in context proper D3s can be had for 5/6k that are in good cared for condition and will have world of difference residuals.
I'd go as far as to say right now in the D2/3 market if you buy right you can have a years free running and sell it on in 12 months for what you paid for it. If you buy right that is.
This is £3,800, 140k, 2007Good luck with it if you get it but be aware at the very least if you hate it you'll struggle to give it away unless you really mark it down. I don't know whats being asked for it so maybe its cheap enough you can do that but in context proper D3s can be had for 5/6k that are in good cared for condition and will have world of difference residuals.
I'd go as far as to say right now in the D2/3 market if you buy right you can have a years free running and sell it on in 12 months for what you paid for it. If you buy right that is.
Its cheapish, but not for me stand out cheap tbh.
A 2 second whizz around the bay of dreams shows a very clean and obviously well cared for 1 owner 05 auto in silver with 144k, leather and all the right buttons for less than 5 from a dealer.
For what would likely be an extra grand..well. But thats me.
Do what makes you feel right
A 2 second whizz around the bay of dreams shows a very clean and obviously well cared for 1 owner 05 auto in silver with 144k, leather and all the right buttons for less than 5 from a dealer.
For what would likely be an extra grand..well. But thats me.
Do what makes you feel right
Hainey said:
Its cheapish, but not for me stand out cheap tbh.
A 2 second whizz around the bay of dreams shows a very clean and obviously well cared for 1 owner 05 auto in silver with 144k, leather and all the right buttons for less than 5 from a dealer.
For what would likely be an extra grand..well. But thats me.
Do what makes you feel right
I've just read countless threads on people coming into issues with the air suspension and because of the cost of replacement parts for it etc. they have swapped it out for coil springs. To me buying a 12 year old air sprung car with 144k miles on the clock is a large biill waiting to happen. But each to there own and all that.A 2 second whizz around the bay of dreams shows a very clean and obviously well cared for 1 owner 05 auto in silver with 144k, leather and all the right buttons for less than 5 from a dealer.
For what would likely be an extra grand..well. But thats me.
Do what makes you feel right
NickColl89 said:
Hainey said:
Its cheapish, but not for me stand out cheap tbh.
A 2 second whizz around the bay of dreams shows a very clean and obviously well cared for 1 owner 05 auto in silver with 144k, leather and all the right buttons for less than 5 from a dealer.
For what would likely be an extra grand..well. But thats me.
Do what makes you feel right
I've just read countless threads on people coming into issues with the air suspension and because of the cost of replacement parts for it etc. they have swapped it out for coil springs. To me buying a 12 year old air sprung car with 144k miles on the clock is a large biill waiting to happen. But each to there own and all that.A 2 second whizz around the bay of dreams shows a very clean and obviously well cared for 1 owner 05 auto in silver with 144k, leather and all the right buttons for less than 5 from a dealer.
For what would likely be an extra grand..well. But thats me.
Do what makes you feel right
The airbags are not expensive to replace nor is it difficult to do and should be regarded as a consumable on a decade old truck. Thats common sense. Its pressurised rubber, same as a tyre. Who runs around with decade plus old tyres on?
The whole airbag and suspension system on the 3 was regarded as ground breaking when it was launched and the blokes in Banbury who came up with it and the programming deserved the widespread industy praise they got for it, thats for sure. To rip that out changes the whole feel of the truck so much it's almost criminal.
The other point to consider, although your going for this one thats obvious, is that selling on slightly oddball variants of cars can be difficult. Been there, done that. They need the right buyer and those arent always easy to find and have call you up and it becomes a waiting game. Fine if you dont need the cash for something else but grim if you do.
Anyway, all that aside, good luck with it and throw some pictures up if you get time. Always nice to see another one go to a good home.
Gassing Station | Off Road | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff