Member Since: 19 Mar 2016
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 34
Impressions of my First LR
Hi All,
As a new LR D4 convert/owner I thought I’d write a post on my first impressions.
I've always thought that the Land Rover was a farm vehicle or for those fortunate enough to have the time to travel the world on mad adventures, not for the likes of me, and thought anyone who owned one and didn't live on a farm or travel the globe was pretentious. I started working in Chelsea last June seeing numerous "Chelsea Tractors" everywhere you look and I actually started too really like the look of them although I didn't get why anyone who wasn't driving across fields would want one other than a status symbol.
I had a BMW 520d Touring and while I absolutely loved the car, a never expanding family and dog meant it was no longer suitable (or safe as the eldest was crammed between 2 car seats) so I had to look at alternatives. The majority of people carriers we looked at like the Seat Alhambra and Ford S Max just didn't do anything for me as they looked to plain and boring to drive, basically just a bigger car and that was it. If I was going to change from the BMW it had to get me excited. My eye was getting drawn more and more towards the D4 despite the hike in the price tag and running costs.
I went for a test drive in a 2012 HSE 3.0 SDV6 and I wanted to sign on the dotted line there and then. It was like driving a sofa it was that comfortable. It was so quiet that we were all chatting comfortably at normal conversation level (Salesman in the 7th seat) without realising the speed we were doing (got to keep an eye on that one). I had a good look over the car and was happy with everything I saw but decided to walk and go over numbers and insurance etc first. That was on the Sunday and by the Wednesday I had decided I was taking the plunge and paid a holding deposit over the phone. I had to wait until the Friday to pick her up and it was painful, like a kid at Christmas. I took the day off work and went to collect her and haven’t stopped smiling since.
She is mainly used by the wife on the school run although I did take her up the A3 to work on the first Monday and it was so much better than my daily commuter Passat.
Her first real test was last Thursday when we loaded her up for a family holiday to the South of Poland. On the BMW we would normally fill the boot, pack under the seats and around the legs of everyone (driver excluded obviously) and have a roof box that would be fully loaded. The D4 boot is enormous and swallowed everything –even with an extra child’s set of stuff- with room to spare, nothing around the legs and no roof box so the wife bought even more presents for the family just so we could fill it.
I updated the Sat Nav on the way to the Eurotunnel terminal and switched the lights over for continent driving.
Despite a 28 hour drive due to dodging immigrants walking in the road at Calais, diverting around Brussels (it was 2 days after the bombing) a few accidents in Germany and what appeared to be the whole of Poland driving home for the Easter Break we made it and the car never missed a beat. I got out at the Mother-in-laws feeling fairly fresh and very relaxed which was a new concept on arrival there. I was feeling that good that I emptied the car, hoovered the inside, adjusted the tyre pressures and went to fill her up and have a car wash rather than sleeping.
Whilst starting the car following the car wash the OBC indicated that I required a service. It was the 96k miles Service B. I went to a dealer in Krakow and they conducted the service, changed the brake fluid and informed me that there was a recall outstanding on the car, the panoramic glass replacement, so will have to get that booked in when I’m back in the UK. They couldn’t do it out here due to the lead time on the parts required.
I’ve purchased the cable and software and had a little snoop around the SDD and will get into that a bit more as I do on all of my cars, so far I’ve only turned on the DRL’s.
Now I've never been one to worry too much about fuel costs as if you want something you have to accept the costs that go with it and it's more about Smiles per gallon as opposed to MPG. I'd rather pay more and get there safe and comfortable than save money and feel like death at the end. But I am a little OCD with recording data.
Stats for the trip to Poland as indicated on the OBC:
Miles covered – 1105.9
OBC Avg Speed - 48 mph
OBC AVG MPG - 31.2 mpg
Total Fuel consumed 180.88 litres. Meaning a calculated fuel consumption of 27.75 mpg.
All in all I can say that this is probably the best family car I have owned and now completely understand why people have these as the main family car. I also apologise unreservedly to anyone who I may have called pretentious.
Are there any things that I need to do or buy or recommended mods?
One very happy D4 owner!
1st Apr 2016 9:51 am
Geoff at Drym
Member Since: 18 May 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 584
Welcome to Disco3/4. You'll get lots of info on Discos but also lots of non tech stuff including some hilarious jokes and off topic politics.... Great fun. I think I read the forum more than my e-mails.2007 Disco3 2.7 tdv6 SE
gvif with reversing camera
V8 brakes with new EPB module and shoes
Later D4 grille
Alive tuning remap
Mazda MX5
Ferguson ted20 tractor
Hyundai Getz 1.4 (wife's )
1st Apr 2016 10:06 am
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6402
Witamy!
recommended mods will come to you as you develop more need to throw the thing into more off the tarmac adventures
G
1st Apr 2016 10:08 am
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6402
and to keep the forum theme no pictures it has not happened
1st Apr 2016 10:15 am
Nick H
Member Since: 25 Feb 2013
Location: Southampton
Posts: 659
Welcome and see you around as I'm just down the road
1st Apr 2016 10:21 am
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9424
Welcome and I enjoyed reading your post
+1 to the 'We need pics" comment Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
1st Apr 2016 10:29 am
Fitzy73
Member Since: 09 Feb 2014
Location: Truro
Posts: 2407
Welcome to the forum and a great review of your new D4 Andy
NJSSAm I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
1st Apr 2016 12:47 pm
wee-man
Member Since: 19 Nov 2012
Location: IP14 4PP
Posts: 389
welcome
Hi from me too from just up the road in Locks Heath
...I went for a test drive in a 2012 HSE 3.0 SDV6 and I wanted to sign on the dotted line there and then...
That's exactly how we ended up with ours. After a day trying all sorts of other things, the Discovery was a revelation. Loved it since, best family car we have ever had.____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey
1st Apr 2016 1:07 pm
Fleet_Stoker
Member Since: 19 Mar 2016
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 34
Thanks for the welcome chaps. Quite a few local guys, do you have meets and planned green landing days?
In keeping with forum rules, these were taken today in Krynica
1st Apr 2016 3:14 pm
Fleet_Stoker
Member Since: 19 Mar 2016
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 34
NJSS wrote:
Welcome
and as Nick H says, see you around.
You will need a good "Indy" many of us recommend West 4x4, just up the road at Waltham Chase:-
Are they able to conduct recalls or must that go via the dealer? Just had the B service so hoping I wont need anything for a while.
Always prefer an Indy to main dealer as I feel you get a more personal expereience and have someone who takes care of your car more as they rely on recommendations.
Last edited by Fleet_Stoker on 1st Apr 2016 6:43 pm. Edited 1 time in total
1st Apr 2016 6:37 pm
Fleet_Stoker
Member Since: 19 Mar 2016
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 34
grzesiul wrote:
Witamy!
recommended mods will come to you as you develop more need to throw the thing into more off the tarmac adventures
G
Dzieki Grzesiu,
So far the only off Tarmac I have done is the area around the now snowless but muddy ski slopes of Krynica. It was a chance to engage low range and use the special function button for the first time.
1st Apr 2016 6:40 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6402
Like the reg plate kinda reads czad in Polish hihi
In English something like far out
Nice one
G
1st Apr 2016 6:59 pm
Fleet_Stoker
Member Since: 19 Mar 2016
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 34
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