5.0-litre Land Rover Discovery 4 for sale
We didn't get V8 Disco 4s in the UK officially, but one or two have made it from overseas...
There can’t be many old (but still quite modern) Land Rovers that are loved quite like the Discovery 4. It remained as desirable at the end of its life as it was at launch, smartly combining the usability of a Land Rover with Range Rover style. It still looks contemporary in a way that the Disco 3 doesn’t, while also avoiding some of the chintzier aspects that can be found in later LRs. The 4 was recognised as one of the great Discoverys even when new - it’s arguably only become more appreciated as the fifth generation car hasn’t received the same adulation.
Over here, all Disco 4s were powered by a diesel V6, which made eminent sense given the torque on offer and just-about-palatable fuel consumption given the famously chunky kerbweight. It was a sensible, appropriate powertrain, and there were precious few complaints a decade or so ago. But this is PistonHeads, and we’re not always here for the sensible, appropriate choice. So here’s a Disco 4 with a V8 in it.
That’s right, the same 5.0-litre naturally aspirated unit that made it into various Jaguar XFs, XJs and XKs below their supercharged flagships, plus the Range Rover, was also offered for certain markets in the Discovery. Same spec, too, so a hearty 375lb ft alongside a thunderous 380hp. Which, um, isn’t as much as the 442lb ft of the later 3.0-litre SDV6, but then a diesel V6 won’t get to 62mph in less than eight seconds. Or sound like an F-Type.
Furthermore, as a Japanese import, this Discovery doesn’t incur the same extortionate road fund licence as a car of comparable CO2 would as a UK model. The seller of this Land Rover reckons that it’s £345, meaning there’s a bit left for the fuel kitty. Which will need to be generous, given the official 20mpg. But people spend plenty putting super unleaded into Range Rovers; just consider this the seven-seat, rarer, slightly less opulent alternative.
That won’t take too much convincing, either, as this 5.0-litre is top-of-the-line HSE spec, so there’s leather everywhere, heated seats in the first two rows, a reversing camera, huge sunroof, Harman/Kardon stereo and more. It’s a properly plush Disco, and still looks in fine fettle after 70,000 miles. Which is a spec we did get in the UK, of course, though it’s hard to deny the allure of a great big V8. Some may want to change the wheels of this one, if you’re being especially picky.
The Disco 4’s reputation is reflected in the prices that continue to be asked; a last-of-the-line Landmark can still command more than £30k as an approved used purchase. Obviously this example is hard to make a definitive comparison with given no UK equivalent, but its £20k asking price also buys newer SDV6s with a few more miles or something like this, a 2012 sub-60k HSE. The Japanese Disco is in among all the others basically, neither scandalously cheap nor preposterously expensive given the rest of them. It’ll cost a heck of a lot to run, of course, but the engine and the car are at least extremely well known - this isn’t one of those rare-groove imports that nobody knows anything about. Having celebrated the Discovery’s 35th birthday with one of the earliest V8s available, we couldn’t resist drawing attention to one of the latest as well. What a way to mark the big year this will be for someone.
I wouldn't have another SDV6 - too much risk of suddenly having your crankshaft in multiple pieces.
PS. Top of the line was "HSE Luxury", not HSE (I'm not counting XXV).
Certianly a rareity.
In essence you'd need to find a crash RRS or similar and then transplant every and then you;ve got the challenge of getting all the electronics to talk to each other and no allow the immobiliser to let the engine start
Simply put - don't even think about it !!
The 3.0 V6 SC replaced the V8 towards the end of its life in petrol markets.
The performance was comical in something that handles like a boat. Averaged just over 16mpg sat dead on 70mph on the motorway and averaged 15.6mpg over the weekend. Made quick work of the iirc 90ltr fuel tank.
In essence you'd need to find a crash RRS or similar and then transplant every and then you;ve got the challenge of getting all the electronics to talk to each other and no allow the immobiliser to let the engine start
Simply put - don't even think about it !!
I wouldn't have another SDV6 - too much risk of suddenly having your crankshaft in multiple pieces.
PS. Top of the line was "HSE Luxury", not HSE (I'm not counting XXV).
t economy figures and keeping cars with farty little powerbands on the boil.This is so much more appealing than the dog slow, fragile, non ULEZ diesel or the very late and even more fragile Euro6 diesel.
Forget about the ZF8 as the 6 comes with an actual gear selector not some rotary gear selector that may or may not rise when you want to move it. Also as an import it is cheaper to tax than the more frugal Euro 5 diesel
there’s some awesome UK Gov logic in action right there. In essence you'd need to find a crash RRS or similar and then transplant every and then you;ve got the challenge of getting all the electronics to talk to each other and no allow the immobiliser to let the engine start
Simply put - don't even think about it !!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...
Even better, same money, get one with a supercharger.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...
Even better, same money, get one with a supercharger.
You could get the XJ plus an XF or XFR for the weekend or maybe an XK.
Much better way of enjoying the Jag 5.00.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...
Even better, same money, get one with a supercharger.
You could get the XJ plus an XF or XFR for the weekend or maybe an XK.
Much better way of enjoying the Jag 5.00.
Thing is, big cars like that with biog costs, and limited utility value do tend to be cheap but if you dont need that utility, wouldnt bother with a Disco, despite them being quite a handsome old thing.
I think its a hard sell a petrol XJ, that doesnt have a supercharger but I imagine its a fine thing, plenty of power, just suppers for not being the top model and having £735 VED, like the XJR does, I think the diesels are hard to sell unless cheap as well, so can only imagine what thats like to find a buyer for.
One nerdy note (and it seems typical of other Japanese market HSEs) is that the seats are electrically adjustable (but do without adjustable side bolsters), and the leather is of a lower grade than our market HSE.
R.
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