remote repairs

[straydingo]

Just a thought to share;
To get tyres for European cars (Discos, Amaroks, etc) even in Alice is a challenge. Stuffed a tyre on the Loop Road - impact damage and the side wall bulged out a bit. So decided to replace it for hitting the Oodnadatta. From Glen Helen, spoke to the Coopers rep who quoted about a week to get it in from Adelaide. But could be 3 days or 10. Ended up having to get it thrown on the Greyhound bus to make sure I got it in time. Extra $80 but piece of mind.

So we read these reviews saying the 19" tyres are a problem, and others say that they're not. My experience - a problem, yes. (although I could get a second hand HT tyre)

While I still reckon the car is the best I had for towing and for overall comfort and capability, reliance on getting a spare part is not there.
I'm not saying I'm rushing out to buy a different car anytime soon, I will have to be more considerate of what I need to take with me if going a bit more 'remote'

 

[achjimmy]

Just a thought to share;
To get tyres for European cars (Discos, Amaroks, etc) even in Alice is a challenge. Stuffed a tyre on the Loop Road - impact damage and the side wall bulged out a bit. So decided to replace it for hitting the Oodnadatta. From Glen Helen, spoke to the Coopers rep who quoted about a week to get it in from Adelaide. But could be 3 days or 10. Ended up having to get it thrown on the Greyhound bus to make sure I got it in time. Extra $80 but piece of mind.

So we read these reviews saying the 19" tyres are a problem, and others say that they're not. My experience - a problem, yes. (although I could get a second hand HT tyre)

Then I had a few cooling system issues leaving Alice, and a flat flat battery (no idea why). Nearest dealer ... Adelaide.

While I still reckon the car is the best I had for towing and for overall comfort and capability, reliance on getting a spare part is not there.
I'm not saying I'm rushing out to buy a different car anytime soon, I will have to be more considerate of what I need to take with me when going a bit more 'remote'

In the end, I couldn't risk going down the Ood, with it overheating and a question of the battery being ok....

(and I was 20kg over GVM .....)

Sorry to hear of your woes SD. I know we always had a bit of banter but I'd hoped/thought that LR had got past that stage, although you will recall my story of the demo? Was the no service agent even who could help with the over heating?

Travel safe mate and hope you have no further issues.

 

[straydingo]

deleted

 

[MDS69]

It is a shame to hear stories like this. I really like the Disco 4 and don't mind the Jeeps when you look at the price with all the fruit they come with but with experiences like yours and it sounds like you weren't that remote it makes a difficult choice, purchase what you really desire or compromise to an extent to lower your chance of being stranded with major expenses. Jim will know the story of a member (well more than just a member) on myswag who has a very expensive 4WD that spends more time on a tilt tray than it does on the ground. He is not afraid to use it for its intended design either so kudos to him.

 

[blacky]

Ahem. Cough cough.. Toyota... ;D

 

[Bmhdg76]

Yes, it is posts like this that makes me go looking back at the tried an trusteds... Will be changing vehicle in the next year or so and we intend on doing a decent trip from Brisvegas, up through Longreach to the Isa, down through the centre to Adelaide and coastal all the way back in 2 or so years before the kids get too old to be taken out of school.

I really like the look of the Jeeps, but after my in-laws experience with Fiat's warranty service on their motorhome that had only done 3500klms - there is no chance. When travelling this big island of ours, you need a reliable car but you also need to know you can get it fixed in the middle of nowhere.

It is a shame @straydingo that you didn't do all you wanted, but yes, you certainly need to consider the possibilities. Anything can go wrong with any vehicle at any time even the most popular. You just need to know you won't be stuck in the middle of timbucktoo while you wait.

BJ

 

[davemc]

no good @straydingo the D3/D4 nice cars to drive although yes I get paranoid something will break and your stuck.
We drove all the way home from the Gold Coast with the engine warning light on and it not starting for 3-4 attempts almost half the time after we stopped. The local Gold Coast place thought it was just the sensor or maybe something else.
Took over a week locally in Melbourne to source a second hand sensor, touch wood no problems in the last week.
We cannot find another car that ticks the same boxes, we prob go D4 Diesel next.
I think everyone has times the car plays up, I hear a lot of cars that people say not reliable and others say they are the best.
My mini had problems the first three months I had it back twice, 7 years later nothing gone wrong touch wood.

 

[straydingo]

Ahem. Cough cough.. Toyota... ;D

Ahhh yes...and there it is....

Absolutely - if its a 76 Series. LCs are getting more and more electronics that cannot be repaired in remote places too. The dealers can't carry every part, and I've been told of people having to have parts ordered in not just from capital cities, but overseas.
The number of 76 series I saw on the last trip was huge - all because they are so basic, yes an owner or bush mechanic *can* repair them. (And I'd hesitantly add Defenders to that too as pretty basic mechanics)

In terms of a dealer network, look at any of their maps: Dealers at Port Augusta, Alice, Katherine, Mt Isa, Halls Creek, Kalgoolie. All pretty far apart so the reliance is on independents more so I think. And thus any vehicle with special needs is going to be a pain.

Dunno.......
but stories I get round the campfire of Toyotas don't convince me they are the solution to the everything in Australia.....

 

[blacky]

@straydingo think of Toyotas as a jayco... except they're heaps more $$ than most I guess..

they still are really quite simple, even electronically, compared to their counterparts. They are built tougher than their competitors, regardless of their haters opinions, and I see that every day I go to work. I've seen Mazda's, fords, Nissans, Mitsubishis, mahindras, great walls, volkswagens , Holdens, fords, range rovers, even BMW's on mine sites......

and you know what the demand is still for? Toyota.

the mine I currently work at is importing a shipment of left hand drive 6cyl cruiser utes from the middle east because they are the only things that can handle the conditions.

in my eyes, that handling factor puts them above the rest.. especially if you intend on putting them through the toughest bits.

don't get me wrong, I totally understand that it is a matter of each to their own, and vehicle choice is 100% circumstantial, but to expect the toughest you gotta buy the toughest

 

[achjimmy]

The consideration with Toyotas is every station also has them, parts and often mechanics. So support is far more wide spread. Yes they are mostly 76s but even the 200 still shares commonality in design, and certain things pull apart simalar to earlier models.There's just that familiarity.

The other thing is they are just built so tough, I often look at thngs on the cruiser and are amazed they are made like that. Stupid things like the fuel filler flap, on the Paj it's was paper thin, on the cruiser it will take a battering.

Yep all cars have issues and Toyotas aren't The 100% answer! but we live in a world where everything carries a risk or % of failure , the trick is to mitigate that risk to the lowest %. I think Toyota do that.

 

[Bushman]

I totally understand that it is a matter of each to their own, and vehicle choice is 100% circumstantial, but to expect the toughest you gotta buy the toughest

Then we should all buy Caterpiller