Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: Bristol
Posts: 1
Confused Newb! - Is Landrover the right Choice?
Hi All ,
Can someone please give me some helpful advise!
I am looking to purchase my fist 4 x 4 mainly to tow my 18Ft boat and also have two young children.
I have read SOOO many BAD reports about the reliabilty of Landrovers that I am very concerned if buying a New Discovery 4 is the Right thing to do or not.
I have also read some VERY good reviews on the new discovery 4 and have also test driven one which felt very good and I am very keen on buying one.
Can someone please give advise on weather all the BAD reliability issues etc is really that BAD or do the good points out way the bad!
I really like the New Discovery 4 ...BUT am I reading too much into the reliabilty / Bad reports / reviews from previous Landrover owners.......!
I would welcome good advise from previous Discovery owners and new Discovery 4 oweners that have used the vehicle for a reasonable time.... Thanks !
21st Jan 2010 10:23 am
2DISCO3ORNOT
Member Since: 27 Apr 2009
Location: at sea
Posts: 1209
YES!
21st Jan 2010 10:27 am
jm105845
Member Since: 21 Aug 2007
Location: dublin
Posts: 271
good points out way the bad
i am on my 2nd disco3 and yes i have some issues
but i have had them from new so warranty fixed any
issues
it is a dream to tow
take the plunge you wil not regret it
regards
jj
21st Jan 2010 10:33 am
Matthewnoble
Member Since: 22 Sep 2009
Location: Cordes sur Ciel
Posts: 31
Our kids love the vehicle, no bugs or problems on our second hand disco 3 as yet. It tows beautifully!
MattOne day I'll get there!
21st Jan 2010 10:43 am
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
There are good ones, there are bad ones. There are far more good than bad ones, but you mainly hear about the bad ones. This is the same for any marque.
Re: Confused Newb! - Is Landrover the right Choice?
confusednewb wrote:
I am looking to purchase my fist 4 x 4 mainly to tow my 18Ft boat and also have two young children.
Although it is a very clever and technically advanced vehicle, the D3/D4 will not be able to assist you in getting two young children.The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us yet.
21st Jan 2010 11:00 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73090
I complain all the time about the reliability of mine but the hassle factor is way outweighed by the plus points. Up here in the Heelands nothing else does the job as well in all conditions. Just don't expect Japanese reliability, the premium image LR like to crow about is not matched by the build quality, as long as you accept that all will be well.
Mind you, just discovered a 6" crack in the screen of one if mine few days before MOT(I run 2) but SWMBO wouldn't let me change it for a nice new D4 HSE sitting at the dealer to avoid the hassle of getting the screen changed!
21st Jan 2010 11:01 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
confusednewb, where in Bristol are you.
I would be happy to meet up - you can have a ride in mine and have a good poke around !!
they are no where near as bad as people say - or beleive.
thing is, you only hear all the bad bits on forums. I gues LRs have a reputation fopr breaking down because there a re so many old one on the road. ie how many 25 year old + mercedes, BMW, VW 4x4's do you see driving around - most have dropped to peices years ago.
there are a few things to look out for if buying second hand like any used car.
i used to tow a 7m RIB and it towed perfectly and was launced in soft sand, pebbly beach etc with ease. plenty of room inside to dump the trailer board without getting road grime and other crap all over the seats
I dont agree that the build quality is poor (sorry DSL ) - my D3 has been much more reliable than my previous Merc and the niggly problems ive had have been sorted by the dealer first time - none of this back and forth to the dealers with lots of head scratching....
Happy to meet for a chat if you like. Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
Last edited by DiscoDunc on 21st Jan 2010 11:43 am. Edited 2 times in total
21st Jan 2010 11:34 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
Re: Confused Newb! - Is Landrover the right Choice?
Snowy wrote:
confusednewb wrote:
I am looking to purchase my fist 4 x 4 mainly to tow my 18Ft boat and also have two young children.
Although it is a very clever and technically advanced vehicle, the D3/D4 will not be able to assist you in getting two young children.
unless you are looking to pull the more sophisticated utilitarian chicks !!!Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
21st Jan 2010 11:36 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73090
No worries DD, mine have been good as gold during our little month long freeze, saying that the'll both go on strike now! Up here during the proper snow & cold stuff it wasn't permagrin, it was permasmug!!
Regarding the "unreliable" reputation, just remember that reputations lag. About 30 yrs ago the reputation of Japanese products was that they used inferior metals and were very agricultural. Now they're.... Also remember that Mercedes had the reputation of highly reliable (then joined up with Chrystler....). I'd say the same for Land Rover. After being oned by BMW and Ford, the reliability is now tops. That said, Land Rovers are capable but that means they're sophisticated and complex machines. More of an Airbus than Tiger Moth, so maintenance has to be sophisticated as well.
Until my beloved D3 was stolen last month, I typically used it for high speed runs to very remote, hot, and rugged pipeline locations - often pulling heavy trailer full of pipe flanges and other iron items through sand and over rocks. Okay, the paint doesn't survive impact with rocks but in all that time the D3 only suffered one failure of the EPB, which was a known item now much less frequent. Since I used my D3 to its maximum capablities I greatly decreased service intervals (eg trans and diff fluids changed at 40,000 kms and they needed it).
There are certainly a lot of us who may have written about problems (which in overall context should have been characterise as "niggles") but are delightedly now buying D4's.Jim Dowell - D4 HSE TDi, 12,000 hydraulic winch & hidden winch mount, MTRs, TyreDog, Traxide 2 x aux battery system, fixed air compressor, Dolium roof rack, MitchHitch.
RIP 2005 D3 HSE V8 5 seater gold (stolen and torched)
22nd Jan 2010 3:40 am
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
D3 and D4 both I have had both and love both, would go for a D4 if you can afford it but that is partially to do with resale value latter. However having said that I think the D4 drives better and is much smoother.
I would suggest that you will not regret buying either. MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
22nd Jan 2010 10:25 am
Supercharged
Member Since: 07 Oct 2006
Location: Northants
Posts: 171
I was a Land Rover newbie a couple of months ago. Go for it!
Forums tend to focus on problems, but the truth is that the D4 is a fantastic car and feels very well built.
I am delighted with mine (and I have only driven German cars for years so am used to top engineering and quality). The D4 matches up well.Paul
D4 HSE Zermatt Silver / Ebony
23rd Jan 2010 3:40 pm
sock
Member Since: 23 Jan 2010
Location: herefordshire
Posts: 37
I'm new to the forum and I'm considering a D4 HSE or XS. I'm in the same position as the OP with my main concern being reliability.
The main reason I want a large 4x4 is I'm having problems with my back and as I'm 6"4 and 20 stone getting in and out of these types of vehicles is a blessing.
We have a 10 month old baby daughter and 3 large dogs so the extra room is also needed now.
I've been offered a great px by Chelmsford ( though I live in Herefordshire ) and roughly a £2500 discount on a new HSE. I'm tempted but looking at residuals of the disco 3 and the fact I do around 27000 miles per year I'm going to take a loss with depreciation.
My other concern is reliability . I understand that forums generally bring up threads on problems but I've read over the years so many issues with Landrovers that I am slightly concerned. It doesn't help having a father in law who is a contractor and has a Landcruiser. As soon as I mentioned I was considering buying a Land Rover the jokes strarted. He's informed me that he's not towing me when it breaks down!
Problem is that the D4 really it's the only vehicle that ticks all the boxes.
24th Jan 2010 9:58 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73090
Welcome sock!! Just tell your FIL that you won't give him a tow when he gets stuck!!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Take one for a test drive.
- most have dropped to peices years ago.
I typically used it for high speed runs to very remote, hot, and rugged pipeline locations - often pulling heavy trailer full of pipe flanges and other iron items through sand and over rocks. Okay, the paint doesn't survive impact with rocks but in all that time the D3 only suffered one failure of the EPB, which was a known item now much less frequent. Since I used my D3 to its maximum capablities I greatly decreased service intervals (eg trans and diff fluids changed at 40,000 kms and they needed it).
