Member Since: 19 Aug 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 5
Disco 4 Commercial
Evening,
After some advice if you would be as kind?
Looking to replace my company car as of the 1st of March 2015, currently using a Skoda Superb 4x4 DSG with all the toys (literally) & it really is an amazing car if a little underpowered with 140 bhp. It manages bled amazing comfort with loads & loads of space and at 6ft4 I can comfortably sit behind me so to speak and still achieve 50mpg driving well with a substantial weight on board. The problem is the company car tax issue......
As a company director I get a almost free choice of vehicles within reason & subject to my mother & sisters sign off (joys of a family business!)
Current vehicles on my "list" :-
VW T5 4x4 DSG Kombi with a few toys around £40K for a van.....
VW Amarok Highline Auto 180 not far off £40k for a pick up truck once adapted and fit for what we need it to do.
Mercedes Vito, would wait for the new one which foes look good but delivery & cost are unknown.
or the reason I'm here a Disco Commercial
Secondly does anyone know if a passenger car parcel shelf will fit directly into a commercial? If so do you have any photos? Main reason for this is there will be a custom made safe installed into the boot holding a large quantity of keys for our customers sites so its preferable if they aren't on show!
We are maned security and response company and most of the time I'm he duty on call and as such I ned a vehicle that can go anywhere in all weathers (occasionally assist with the LA emergency response plan too) and with my parents having small farm, the Mrs with horses 4x4 is a must. After a accident on the Lifeboat I've got dogey knees I need a auto and the VAT situation it does push me towards the Disco. My only issue is the Land Rover dealers, had several issues with the service department at the dealer in Colchester during Defender ownership and the failed estate agents the employ to sell the vehicles really do rub me up the wrong way.
Spec wise looking at Disco 4 XS Commercial 2015MY with:-
Rear Axle Locking Differential - have managed to get several D4's stuck in the past so hope this would assist & prevent
In Control Apps - anyone know if this is what Apple call CarPlay?
Metallic Paint - hate paying extra for paint but got to keep it corporate in silver to match the rest of the fleet.
Towing Pack 13 pin - our tipper & recover trailer are 13 pin, whats the best way to order a multi hight plate?
Heated Seats- Driver and Passenger
Vision Assist Pack - is this the best way to get Xeons and cameras? Can anyone advise on what Proximeter mirror camera & Integrated approach lamps are?
Exterior Detection Pack - mainly for the wading sensor!
Any suggestions on purchasing, toying between outright purchase & finance lease over 4 years (my sister the Finance Director has decreed that we now have to expect a minim of 4 years from vehicles prior to replacement) Do you know any discount dealers or brokers? Currently awaiting a call/email back from http://www.directvehiclesales.co.uk who seem to offer some form of discounting & finance but I'm open to suggestions.
Lastly is anyone able to clarify the situation with fuel burning heaters, am I correct in assuming that remote heating can be enabled very easily and cost effectively as a retro fit?
Thanks for your assistance, been lurking around this forum for a while and pondering options and you seem a friendly bunch!
19th Aug 2014 8:45 pm
gensetsteve
Member Since: 01 Jan 2014
Location: hampshire
Posts: 340
I am not a LR enthusiast and feel the reliability of my d4 commercial has been dire in the short time I have owned it. Having said that it is fantastic to drive and I would not swap it for any of the other vehicles on your list. It is one of the best vehicle I have ever driven.
If you must keep it an extra year out of warranty go for the land rover extended warranty for about £1000 in my experience if the vehicle has more than 60,000 miles on it, will save 3-4k in repairs.
I have the tow trust fixed bar and think its far better than the rest and only costs £160 they stock the only eu adjustable drop plate for £80 but the whole lot is a hell of a chunk hanging off the back of my truck but I know it wont fall off.
I am running around with a 16ft trailer and scorpion zero tyres ( very road ) and have yet to get stuck a rear diff lock will help ( I know people who pay to have this ) but also General grabber ATs will make a big difference.
Try a good LR Dealer in the country side used to keeping farmers happy rather than sucking up to old yuppies.
Mine has the heater but not remote controlled I think they all have and it can be made timed and remote.D4
19th Aug 2014 9:41 pm
jeepmadmike
Member Since: 18 Jan 2014
Location: Devon
Posts: 270
I looked at the same options
T5 is silly money and not that nice drive
Anorak pick up.... Over priced pick up!
I've had my D4 commercial for 6months and done 15k all good so far nothing has broken or has there been any issues with it - it's always loaded and I'm harsh on cars usually too.....
It's a nice vehicle to live with, doesn't drive like a quick car around corners, but it goes dam well for a big barge and when you get into a car without air suspension it feels like it hasn't got suspension!
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.
Can't comment on seats, parcel shelf would fit I think
I bought mine outright, financed ones seem to take longer to arrive?
Tyres could be better in the mud.
Head lights on MY14 are better than the earlier D4 so I don't think xenons are necessary
Like the reversing camera lotsMY14 post man pat van
70series land cruiser
1947 willys jeep
Hobby 670 motor home
And lots of other stuff in my shed, on my driveway or abandoned in the village
Several VW T5's
Mitsubishi outlander
And a Suzuki X90... Only drive that at night
This might not be too appropriate on the Disco forum, but have you thought about a top spec Nissan Navara? I went through the same process as yourself, and my Business partner and I both ended up with top spec Navara's, which are so well specced in comparison to a Discovery Commercial. The navara qualifies as a Commercial vehicle taxwise, but is a full 5 seater, plus a generous load bay (we had hardback tops fitted over the load bay.
The top spec model can be had with a 3 litre V6 diesel and 6 speed auto, has full leather, climate control. reversing camera, sat nav. etc.
I would suggest it's well worth a look. My partner's first one did 220,000 miles before he wrote it off in an accident, and my 2006 version (had it from new) is up to 120,000 and still going strong.
I now have a D4 HSE as my "private" vehicle, as a Company version would be crippling from a tax point of view.
20th Aug 2014 10:11 am
Canburne
Member Since: 15 Jan 2013
Location: Devon
Posts: 2036
Just my tuppence but I would not have a pick up because of the speed restrictions. Ok on motorways but otherwise a pain......
"the inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings....the inherent vice of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries" Winston Churchill
2016 D4 Landmark Club Waitomo ...or is it Club Tempest????
2015 D4 HSE Aintree Green
The rules on speed limits ARE a bit confusing, but for something like a Disco Commercial or a Nissan Navara, the limits are the same as a conventional car.
20th Aug 2014 6:06 pm
mhill
Member Since: 19 Aug 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 5
Thanks for the responses so far, went in to the dealer in Colchester yesterday and having a good laugh at the PCP they put on the table (GFV of £11K) and advising them of a cash purchase they offered 0% discount on list price! Still want for them to come back to me a confirm availability for a test drive!
The parcel shelf looks like it should be a direct fit so just need to find a price on one of those.
Im not a fan of Jap cars just never seen one with a nice interior! I have also looked into v6 Navarahs several times and Nissan just can't get hold of the to get me in for a test drive!
21st Aug 2014 6:42 pm
gensetsteve
Member Since: 01 Jan 2014
Location: hampshire
Posts: 340
Treetrimmer wrote:
The rules on speed limits ARE a bit confusing, but for something like a Disco Commercial or a Nissan Navara, the limits are the same as a conventional car.
I thought both were 50 mph on dual carriage way as the navarra is a commercial and the disco although car derived van its too heavy for the class.D4
21st Aug 2014 7:08 pm
mhill
Member Since: 19 Aug 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 5
Had a long debate on the 50 mph limit with PC Tim Scothern of Road Wars fame at Mercedes Benz Van experience this year, the long and short of it is its a grey area and things like Kombi Vans and 5 seat pick ups are treated like cars for speed limits.
21st Aug 2014 7:18 pm
woody32 Site Sponsor
Member Since: 11 Mar 2009
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3551
If the maximum laden weight exceeds 2 tonnes on the plate of the vehicle then it's 50mph there's no grey area Wanted D4s non runners pm for competitive price.
IID Pro MV License - D3/4 RRS - Enabling, Updates,Transmission flushing.
Mobile or workshop,PM for details.
21st Aug 2014 7:32 pm
crews control
Member Since: 18 Mar 2007
Location: Dorset
Posts: 5011
My colleague, who's just been done for 70 on a de-restricted dual carriageway in a VW Kombi, will be very interested to hear that. He certainly wasn't treated like a car!
(and he used to work on road wars )
21st Aug 2014 7:39 pm
mhill
Member Since: 19 Aug 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 5
It all came about when we where driving rather stupidly in a Vito Dual Liner and as far as I was aware and had been lead to believe the limit was 50, no if's no buts.
After the conversation and several Mercedes staff / instructors I was lead to believe otherwise, I can't remember otherwise as i was hanging out my from the exceptional hospitality the night before in the free bar provided by our local Mercedes dealer.
21st Aug 2014 7:46 pm
Canburne
Member Since: 15 Jan 2013
Location: Devon
Posts: 2036
I can't see any ambiguity here at all..
"the inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings....the inherent vice of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries" Winston Churchill
2016 D4 Landmark Club Waitomo ...or is it Club Tempest????
2015 D4 HSE Aintree Green
21st Aug 2014 9:43 pm
cornishboy
Member Since: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Bristol
Posts: 649
I can see there is no grey area but excuse my ignorance then a D4 commercial (or D3) is over 2 tonne laden weight!
So they have to stick to <50mph on single carriageway and <60 on dual carriageway.....
Hmmmm
22nd Aug 2014 10:55 am
woody32 Site Sponsor
Member Since: 11 Mar 2009
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3551
As stupid as it sounds yes Wanted D4s non runners pm for competitive price.
IID Pro MV License - D3/4 RRS - Enabling, Updates,Transmission flushing.
Mobile or workshop,PM for details.
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)
from the exceptional hospitality the night before in the free bar provided by our local Mercedes dealer.
