Advantages: 4 wheel drive with lowering prices Disadvantages: A little soft on cornering
If you have the money to spare and are looking for a car that has Looks - Style - Comfort - Reliability and a real name that's had a good following over the years, I would highly recommend the Land rover Discovery.
The biggest asset at the moment is that the price throughout the range has been reduced dramatically due to the recent changes in importation and dealership, and if you shop around you really can pick up an excellent deal, Even Secondhand.
With the TD5 ( Turbo Diesel ), you get real quality even with the earlier models. The only drawback with the earlier ones is that the ride tends to be a bit bumpy, but having said that the early models are more economical to run in general averaging 30 - 35 MPG.
The more recent models ( I.E 1997 Onward ) usually run at around 25 - 30 MPG, But obviously they are much more luxurious ...
Advantages: Goes and carries everything, everywhere. Disadvantages: Not quickly....
I've owned the Discovery for 2 years now. Yes it's had problems, a lot of these were down to previous owner and where he took it for repairs though. I rebuilt the head after gasket failure, only to find someone had already been in there and 'bodged' it. Radweld should be banned.....
After getting it running like it should do, I can say that I will keep this car as long as it still runs. It does everything. It goes everywhere. It carries and pulls anything.
We go skiing in the Pyrenees every year, the Disco does the job perfectly. Carries all the kit, no problems. Camping in the summer, not a problem. The Discovery will take you anywhere.... just not quickly. Off road, you will not find better (and yes mine does go off road, regularly).
Fuel consumption is between 28-30 mpg. Mind you, I don't do stop start journeys, and it's very ...
Advantages: Built like a brick **** house Disadvantages: Badly designed instrument layout
I have owned a Discovery 2.5TDi from new since 2003 and consider now that I have enough experience to comment fairly on it.
Good points
1. Excellent work horse. Can tow all day without noticing the load
2. Very comfortable and excellent seat movement
3. Makes you feel safe and secure
Bad points
1. Very poorly designed dashboard layout. Most displays hidden by the steering wheel
2. Very badly positioned switches for electronic seat controls. You have to have needle thin hands and be a contortionist to use them
3. Poor electrics (especially the sun roof which has a mind of its own). and the worlds worst SAT Nav. You can buy a top of the range Garmin for less than the disc upgrade.
Despite this we love it warts and all. ...
