Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
Finally I got to drive one...
Dropped my D3 into Shukers today (intermittent dreaded Engine System Fault errors and loss of power) and the Dave the service chap asked me if I'd driven the D4 yet ?
"No" I said.
"Come on then" he said as he handed me the key.
Damn him... I like it
Black HSE with 3.0L engine and automagic 'box.
Very impressed with the take up on the engine and the way it hunkers down into corners (far far better than the D3). Overall ride and handling is way ahead of the already superior ride and handling we enjoy with the D3. Steering is far far better and far more direct. Less wooly in feel.
Interior is great with all the soft touch cladding and those super cool cameras. Not too sure on the 'almond' colour though, still would prefer black or a very very dark grey.
They took away all the buttons and added an over complex SatNav instead... not my preference personally, would far rather have buttons to press without having to look than have an arms length away touch screen with multiple menu options.
Why people are moaning about the TR dial placement is beyond me though, its right there in front of you and as the programmes are in the same order as before, its easy to flick it into GGS, M&R, etc. Suspension and low range selectors are fiddly I admit, but then how many times do you actually ever need to use them on or off road ??
TR you would use interactively off road (and on road with GGS) and this is easily done as with the D3's large dial. Having the dial display graphically on screen in the dash removes any confusion as to what it selected.
Love the new dash with its TFT display and speedo / rev counter that look computer generated even though they are not. The graphics and lighting match the centre display perfectly. Crisp and very clear.
Had no issue with knee or leg room, the seat travels far enough back to allow for some very long legs. Profiling of the area below the steering wheel looks to be the same.
Door cards are the biggest change visually to me, even though the whole design of the centre console is new. But this just blends into the interior scenery so well, that you don't really notice. The doors cards being far more angular do stand out far longer visually.
New front end design is a winner IMHO and removes the 'Judge Dredd' chin from the D3 without loosing its overall presence.
From what I am told, the LED's in the halogen headlamp units can be activated and Shukers thought that some dealers were just not activating them correctly.
To sum up, Discovery 4 is not quite the version 4 it could be, but its damn close to being one. So I would peg it at about a Discovery 3.8, Discovery 3.5 doesn't really do it justice enough considering the changes that have taken place... certainly not on the 3.0L anyway.
So, assuming the job front improves over the next year and a half, I will be looking to happily upgrade to a new or nearly news D4.
And thanks again Dave for being a tease
Last edited by simon on 18th Sep 2009 9:11 pm. Edited 1 time in total
18th Sep 2009 12:48 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
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Posts: 21361
Nice review and if I'm honest, it sums up my thoughts on it too (with the exception of the drive as I'm yet to do that bit) Bodsys Brake Bible
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18th Sep 2009 1:02 pm
DigitalJunior
Member Since: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 4401
Yes nice review. I'm with you as well in your summary. What did you think of the stopping power? bigger brakes improved this to a lesser or greater degree..SOLD - 23my Range Rover Sport D300 Dynamic SE
18th Sep 2009 2:10 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
Braking was very good, feel is better than with my D3 and the auto 'box steps down very nicely to assist. Didn't try any hard braking TBH, it was a bit new to be mucking about in too much
But yes, brakes seem far improved... to match the extra oomph the engine delivered.
18th Sep 2009 2:59 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15264
Re: Finally I got drive one...
simon wrote:
Dropped my D3 into Shukers today (intermittent dreaded Engine System Fault errors and loss of power)
Good reveiw there Simon, but the important bit .... what's the D3's prognosis?
Not the dreaded T**** is it?? ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
18th Sep 2009 3:09 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
I have a copy of the report here from IDS.
Only reported DTC's / ERR's listed :
Audio amplifier module [01 DTC]
Auxiliary heater control module [01 DTC]
Body control module [04 DTC]
Digital audio control module C [ERR 0x2cf]
Powertrain control module - P2199-22 Intake air temperature 1/2 correlation. General signal failure - signal amplitude>maximum (above mx or below min threshold)
Powertrain control module - P062B-46 Internal control module fuel injector control performance. System internal failure - calibration/parameter memory failure. Monitoring unit fault: replace ECU
They have cleared all faults and apparently there were 2 other error codes that were unknown and had to call LR tech to find out what they were. Advice from LR was to clear all faults and if return, replace ECU.
The audio related faults may be due the odd habit the system has to go completely silent (not happened again for months) until a restart.
Nice, review, also agree re Shukers, mine was in for an MOT on Tuesday, they drove 50 miles to collect my car and left me with a TDV8 FFRR to play with for 2 days, then bought the D3 back to me after they repalced a lot of suspension rubbers and ball joints under warranty
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you read is not what I meant"
18th Sep 2009 3:50 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
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Chris, was that Shrewsbury or Ludlow, I find Shrewsbury terrible from my last experience with them......Bodsys Brake Bible
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18th Sep 2009 4:21 pm
AndrewS Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10442
Bodsy wrote:
Chris, was that Shrewsbury or Ludlow, I find Shrewsbury terrible from my last experience with them......
And there was me thinking you were at Ludlow
Si great review
I agree with the door card comments they are very different. When I drove a D4 with manual seat adjusters eew I found that an extra elbow 1/2 way down my forearm would have been advantageous as the bit one pulls to close the door protrudes into the car quite a lot, so one has to open the door to slide the back In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
18th Sep 2009 6:05 pm
bigcarpchaser
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Camberley
Posts: 2270
What was it like off road?
Welcome "Lola"
18th Sep 2009 6:54 pm
MartinR
Member Since: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Oxon
Posts: 708
Re: Finally I got drive one...
simon wrote:
Very impressed with the take up on the engine and the way it hunkers down into corners (far far better than the D3). Overall ride and handling is way ahead of the already superior ride and handling we enjoy with the D3. Steering is far far better and far more direct.
That, plus the improved braking feel, pretty much sums up what sold me... just hope we all like the almond interior when it turns up!
18th Sep 2009 7:56 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
Yep Ludlow, top chaps
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you read is not what I meant"
18th Sep 2009 8:04 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
bigcarpchaser wrote:
What was it like off road?
Very good. I drove it around Shukers car park and did reversing with the camera system and everything.
i even selected M&R just for the hell of it
I'm sure its as good or better than the D3 due to upgraded TR programs (inc Sand Launch or whatever its called).
One thing, the spats under the front bumper are easily removed
18th Sep 2009 8:06 pm
Landylad
Member Since: 23 Dec 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 366
Pretty much concur with everything you said Simon. Better in every single aspect as far as I'm concerned.
What did you say about LED's again? Did your dealer have first hand knowledge of having the ability to activate these for halogen or was it that they only work on xenon but have to be activated?
Very interested in the LED's - I wanna my big LED grin If in doot, flat oot!!
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I like it 
I found that an extra elbow 1/2 way down my forearm would have been advantageous as the bit one pulls to close the door protrudes into the car quite a lot, so one has to open the door to slide the back 
