RDR wrote:

interesting point on the delivery date, if you have it in writing and it slips creating additional cost through the tax increase could be an interesting conversation with the dealer.

They won't worry about it too much. You stick with it coz you've no choice or walk and they sell it to someone else. Unless you've spec'ed it all weird & wonderful that won't sell easily, now that would be interesting. Key word re delivery is "estimate".

  

dantheman wrote:

J77 what would you do if it didn't arrive till after the jealousy tax comes in? Genuine question

Must type faster

If the car is good enough I know I will still take it, but I'll try my luck with my dealer . It just grates on me, it serves no benefit other than to line the governments pockets. Nothing wrong with the current scheme based on emissions.

BLFarrar wrote:

To me the with motor vehicles the new model should eclipse the outgoing model.....should
But the Discovery "large" model 5 clearly doesn't....the LR guy at the look I had today has said that all D3/4 owners have commented on:

Shape of loadspace being hugely compromised by the rounded shape...yes you maybe do not use the complete extent of the cube the 3/4 had...but if it isn't there you simply can't ....so the uses I've made with my D3 doing lots of tasks using the volume capacity are simply not there. What were they thinking about ?
Well obviously not the uses many Disco 3/4's are right now & to me pandering to the needs of those who want 7 seats.....ok I could buy or hire a van....but I bought a Disco 3 that the original concept was a multi use vehicle.
Neither visit I did I had RTÉ tape measure with me but SWMBO'd commented that the 2nd row seats up load space wasn't as usable (bulk volume wise) as our FL2

The activity platform....this is a joke.....it stays up when the tailgate open & when down is about as much use as a chocolate fire guard ....what were they thinking about ?
The absence of the FFRR & previous model Disco lower tailgate this is the very debatable & ineffective answer. If this is a "marketing" compromise it defies the logic of LandRover in being practical & usable.

2nd row seats......unbelievable poor with 5' 11" adults in front seats...."knees up" sitting position - for this class, size, cost of vehicle inexcusable.....in comparison inferior to even a Freelander 2....not a £60 odd grand multi use vehicle.
What were they thinking about...I don't think they were thinking at all...they got the VR or clay model sizes & had to do the best they could making it into a seven seat vehicle regardless of the compromises of 2nd row seat passenger comfort.

OK the shapes different but very much like it's stablemates....little thought on model differentiation.....as said above like a puffed up Freelander 3 / Disco Sport & to me LandRovers are all about using not posing with.

The infotainment system is almost identical to the XF which I've used on some long journies....not that bad, but nowhere near the integration example of VW/Audi & thats at least 4 year old technology on a far lower cost volume car.

It's lighter, more economical, better off road etc etc me it should be as technology & things move on....you sort of expect this....
I just wonder if the eventual Defender replacement will fill the gap that has been left by the demise of the Disco 3/4 ?......i.e a practical reasonably priced multi purpose vehicle that stand head & sholders above the competition as regards capacity load wise, off road / winter driving, towing etc the friendly practical workhorse that can double as a comfortable motorway cruiser.

I suspect many D3/4 owners will now be planning to keep thier vehicles on the road far longer than they originally planned, also be looking elsewhere at other makes that will fill this gap - not as competently maybe but will provide capability & reliability at realistically better cost.

I just can't understand that Jaguar have a very differentiated model range & LR is bunched up at the top with similar models at outrageous prices.
I feel sorry for this who have already ordered to be "1st on the block" with the new Disco 5......whatever ego boost this has will be very short lived when the cost of attaining this is realised in owning a compromised excuse for a new model.
Land Rover should be ashamed......as if this were a vehicle from another maker it would be ridiculed with all its shortcomings.

BLFarrar wrote:

Russell
I didnt have a tape measure with me....or a notebook, however I knew what I was looking for
I did what I always do....sit in the front seats get the seat set up for driving so I have the right hieght position, then fore & aft....then move into the second row.....

It was a busy demo area in both cases.....so had to wait for the queues to decide to stop prodding dashboard buttons & vacate the seats......but when I got there to me disappointing as regards the second row knees up position.

I'm 5'11" & normal build with 13.5 stone superstructure....so readily fall into the average size / hieght percentiles...fit nicely into my Disco, FL2 & VW golf (recently did an 11.5hour journey & wasn't crippled as a result).....my XK seats Im lost in with masses of spare room backwards.

Realistically it's the second row seated passengers suffer when front row seats are taken right back (when they don't need to be with smaller front seat passengers)
The check I did was convincing to me...
Maybe what we are discussing is so what objective as what's comfortable & viable (for everyday driving or long journeys) to you won't be to me.

Unlike the other cars I have & have had this isn't a nice place to sit....the line some Jaguar salesmen use when introducing new prospective owner / customers.
If these cars are pre production ones there's a possibility some alterations could be done with seat positions fore & aft (these can be altered) - but not with the heights as they have to conform with the daft shape of the car.

So here we have it....the LandRover Discovery Compromise
To consider buying one just now is constrained not by cash flow but by the wait I would have to do not to be an early adopter (solving all the issues that will crop up & be saddled with an "early model" with issues that can't be solved).

By that time the Defender replacement will be more a known & may suit me.
What was said above as regards the D3/4 shape them being taken into the defender concept is a smart suggestion as the D3/4 is already adapted for many things & has a chassis that can cope.

Fundamentally you can look at cars all day & either like the shape, gizmos, bling....(& I don't have to pander to my ego scoring points with colleagues or relatives justvto get something "new")
But to me you sit in it, actually drive it & use it as the workhorse.....it's made to be used & has to be usable & above all practical.