lccl148 wrote:

Hi John,

I'm not sure of the previous owner/user as I didn't question the dealer about it and haven't seen the logbook. In fairness, I'm not overly concerned as it is immaculate and very well presented and I still can't get over the difference between it and my old Disco 3. It seems an absolute world apart from the old model, though that was an XS with cloth seats and what I thought was a good sound system from the radio/cd player. By contrast, the Meridian audio system is something else entirely and I suspect I may suffer perforated eardrums as a result.

Still have nagging thoughts over the old Disco 3 issues though; my alternator failed at 36,000 miles which seemed very untimely for a supposedly reputable vehicle. I've heard a few horror stories about the handbrake issues and air suspension problems on the old mode too; I know I still have a couple of year's warranty to play with on this one but am hoping these items haven't found their way into the 4 as well.

I have another week to go before collection, so plenty of time for others to comment; I'd gladly accept any further opinions, good or bad.

Jim.

It was only a matter of curiosity about it being an ex LRM car; I've owned two new and three ex LRM LR's now and it's not an issue. If the number plate begins with an "O", then it almost certainly is

What you've got there is the ultimate development of a great car and you've bought it just in time too Please remember to post some side by side photos from your collection day

lccl148 wrote:

John, you're spot on as it is on an OE65 plate suggesting that's where it came from. Given the spotless condition both inside and out, I sense that it has wanted for nothing and I fully intend to keep that tradition going. As for buying it at the right time, I guess you're right there too. I was invited to my local dealer's open day regarding the launch of the new Discovery (5) with the thought that I would possibly stretch the finances even further if the car was right. Frankly, I was a bit disappointed and felt that the car had lost some of it's charm and had morphed into a conglomeration of other 4X4's that are now hitting the market. Undoubtedly it has some clever engineering, but the Disco3/4 is unmistakeably distinctive and stands out from the crowd.

So are these vehicles originally used as demonstrators or just for carting the well paid LR executives around the country? I'm interested to know what they're used for from new and why they're kept for a relatively short time. Residual values I suspect...

With the Discovery having effectively been discontinued with the introduction of the D5 thing, I knew that I needed to get the newest D4 that I could (with the HSE Lux's full choice of colours) to replace a 14 month and 35,000 mile old HSE. That meant that I would then be able to hang on to a late D4 for as long as possible!

My current HSE Lux is also an "OE65" plate car, so they are both definitely ex LRM. If you drive near Solihull you'll see a great many, 12 month old or less, JLR cars, all on an "O" plate. It's only the white and silver ones that I'd be concerned about, as some of those are taken off the Land Rover Experience circuit.

These cars are prepared and then go onto a closed (dealer only) website where the dealer then places their order for used stock. Since the D5 was launched, the used D4 section has gone completely mad! I had my dealer checking the site every hour - he then phoned me and I gave him my Visa card straight away. There had been two that had come up earlier, but I missed them as they were both snapped up within an hour or two and I'd been too darn slow!

Manufacturer's seem to thrive on registering as much stock as quickly as possible and then turning it over as used stock into their dealer network. They all do it. However, such is the demand for recent used D4 stock, that they seem to be selling them on earlier than usual; I've seen some coming through at as little as 4,500 miles and 9 months old (but priced accordingly).