Land Rover Discovery: Catch It While You Can

Can't stretch to £65K for a top-spec Discovery 5? Why not pay a tenth of that for the original?

"Fear not though, Land Rover die-hards - there's still a 4x4 buried in there somewhere!" So spake my esteemed colleague Mr Bird as he concluded his review of the latest Land Rover Discovery. Quite a special thing, and not just by Matt's account - so far, the new Disco's won itself plaudits from all corners of the motoring press.

"I told you the bridge was just fine."

But it's also proving popular with buyers, too - and that's before any of them have had the chance to drive the thing. 5,000 have put down orders already, half of which for the top-spec version, which means there's a good chance the first Disco 5 you see on the road will be fairly chintzed-up, and an even greater departure from its roots.

Of course, when the Discovery was first introduced in 1989, you didn't have to look too hard to find the 4x4 buried beneath. Plush it was not; indeed, while the Disco was rather more comfortable than the venerable Defender, that really didn't take much, and its cloth seats and rubbery plastics made it considerably more utilitarian than the palatial Range Rover - or, for that matter, the Discovery of today.

Nevertheless, the first Disco felt considerably more modern than anything Land Rover had yet produced, in every way. Inside, the Sir Terence Conran-designed fascia was attractive and user-friendly; the huge glasshouse and rooflights made the interior airy and light; and to drive, the Discovery was comfortable and car-like.

This spec is what you're after if possible!

Despite this, its credentials in the rough stuff were beyond doubt. Not for nothing did it take over from the Defender as the team vehicle on the Camel Trophy challenge the following year, a position it held until it was usurped by the Freelander in 1998. Among people who used them daily, the Discovery quickly gained a reputation for providing almost as much go-anywhere ability as its golden oldie stablemate. This, in other words, was a car that lived up to the mantle of 'the best 4x4xFar'.

If you're looking at these pictures thinking "Actually, I quite fancy one of those", we wouldn't blame you. Early, pre-facelift cars have aged incredibly well, and with so few remaining, they're starting to look rare enough to be considered bona fide classics. And while there are still too many of the post-1994 facelift examples still around for the same to be said about them, they're worth considering too, if nothing else for the myriad improvements they brought.

Don't expect a speed machine, mind; even the V8 takes a leisurely 10.8 seconds to hit 60mph, chugging a gallon of fuel every 16.5 miles while doing so (or more if you're toeing it). Ouch. Less apocalyptic fuel consumption can be had with the TDi model, though you'll have to live with 60mph taking well over 17 seconds to turn up.

Just a small hump by Camel Trophy standards

Live with the performance, though, and the original Disco is shaping up to be quite a desirable future classic. Its shape is instantly recognisable, the design cues it laid out still feature on the latest model. And because it was designed to be so, it's still very usable, too.

Which to buy? Well, if you're investing, the early pre-facelift cars are the most desirable. High-mileage examples can still be had for under £2,000, while even the best shouldn't set you back more than £6,000. Find an early three-door, or an example with one of the delightfully blocky decal packages fitted, for true period charm.

However, if you plan to use your Disco, whether on-road or off, the extra toys, more modern interior and lower price of the post-facelift models make them the ones to have. This leather-lined V8 with just 56,000 miles on the clock - a rarity in a Disco of this age - can be yours for a shade over three grand, while a sub-100k example can be had for well below the £2,000 mark.

"Don't say I didn't mention that damn bridge."

While post-facelift cars will probably hang around at these prices for a while longer, the pre-facelift examples almost certainly won't. Cars of such substance and significance, and whose styling is very much of its time, almost always end up shooting up in value, and there's precedent in the form of early Range Rovers.

The one caveat is that rust is still claiming Discos, and keeping it at bay is a reasonably continual task. So even if you find one that's in good nick now, you'll probably have to spend a bit on it at some point to keep it that way. But do so and it'll soon be a rare old thing; the chances are it'll repay you as the numbers dwindle and the values rise. And that's one thing you won't be able to say about the new Discovery for many a year.

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flyingscot68

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