All good you buy what suits where you live.

3 Months into the ownership of the D4 and it hasn't had a single hiccup. Despite some profits of doom here and on other forums.

It's a good time to add some feed back on the D4.

Performance, no 2.5 ton 4WD should go like this thing does the power is simply astounding.

Fuel Consumption: Is pretty bloody good for a car of its size. around town is about 11L/100.

Comfort & Ride: Its refined & quiet on any road surface

Handling: Its no sports truck but open road running it has great turn-in and is a pleasure to drive.

Fit & Finish: Nothing has fallen off the interior is classy and well put together lots of leather surfaces and very little drab grey and plastic (unlike some other brands). The paint and panel are excellent.

No towing yet the big trip is in June....

Brisbane -> Canarvan Gorge -> Longreach -> Undara Lava Tubes -> Brisbane.

I hope you don't intend to go onto dirt roads with the low profile hoon tires!

Now there are dirt roads and then there are real dirt and rock roads.

If you dont do hard core rock hopping then the 20's are fine. The D4 is complianced for wheels from 17" to 20" and there is some work being done on suitable 18" wheels that will go over the brakes.

You might find this youtube video interesting. Note the 20" wheels in use...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmCrS7_wzOM

I imagine that puts to bed any doubt about 20" wheel equiped Land Rovers....

Maybe it does but if you ruin a tyre in say Leonora where would you buy one and for how much.

Guy next to me in Kununurra chopped a tyre on a Prado which had a different tyre size to what I expected.

He was moaning he couldnt get the same brand and the price for what he could get was $400 take it or leave it.

Suprprising and there are plenty of mine Prados running around up that way so what chance something even more uncommon.

I dont really mind what you drive but that is something to consider.

tyres for a 100 ser are everywhere as are the vehicles so thats what I will stick with.

Spare parts, and their costings in general would be a concern for many vehicles in out of the way places.
The more common tugs would probably be less of an issue but the further you go, the more you pay I guess.

Its all about planning isn't it.

Problem is most people head out and dont think about what can go wrong. When they are available I will buy a set (plus) of 18" wheels for the D4. But for 98% of its life on normal roads the 20" wheels are just fine they will even do a little rough stuff.

It's horses for courses.

A 4X4 is chosen for the particular role that it is required to perform in. For example, if you want something that has a bit of weight, good comfortable ride on the tarmac, perhaps a bit of caravan towing, or just to look the business at the supermarket parking lot on a Saturday morning, then the Toorak Tractor is for you. It is interesting to note the comments above regarding tyres. A mate drove his Disco from the Gold Coast to the NT to join me at the fishing camp, he only had one spare, I might add. On the way out from the camp, before we made the tarmac, he had a tyre failure, the result was that he then used his one and only spare, so we went to Mataranka to buy another one. Too Bad, So Sad, he waited two days for one to be sent from Darwin before he could commence his trip home. However, if he needed something a more available, like those fitted to Landcruiser/Nissan Patrol he would have been on his way within the hour. I suppose that extra spares could be carried, and in fact I would recommend it in any place which might be regarded as slightly remote. I would rather be looking at it than looking for it.

For sustained towing (caravans or whatever) a bit of off road stuff going to the fishing hole or just camping where not many others venture, with an equal, if not better, lashing of comfort, time proven reliability, a bit more weight when it is needed, then you cannot go past the Landcruiser.

Don't get me wrong, the Range Rover is probably a good rig, and it suits some, but not others, and it's certainly not for me, equally as much as Nissan in any form, and I would rather walk then lower myself beyond the gutter to be seen in a Sanyyong.

I'll probably attract some spray from others with this post, but I've got broad shoulders and can take whatever is thrown at me......................in spades!

But that's what makes this so interesting, a bit of banter in support of ones choice will always be a welcome addition to an otherwise dull evening.