Replacing my petrol LR Disco Sport - ideas please!

[ratechaser]

Hi, first post here.

Our Disco Sport (SI4 HSE) is coming up to 3 years and we are looking at replacing it. It's a petrol model (wasn't keen on another diesel), and it actually ticks the boxes we like - roomy, good occasional 7 seater, fairly classy style/interior, not horrendously expensive (haggled it down to about £38k new). Theoretically still worth £31k if you believe webuyanycar. Yes I know.....

You won't be surprised to learn that we would be happy to have another just the same, problem is that LR don't make a straight petrol model, would have to be a PHEV, and you cant even have 7 seats with it.

So, need alternatives, along these lines:

- 7 seats, back 2 can be occasional use
- petrol or non plug-in hybrid
- high seating position
- punchy performance - anything >8 sec for 0-60 is going to feel sluggish to me
- decent trim
- ideally sub £45-50k new - can include incentives, haggling room etc, I'm happy to negotiate hard!

Kia Sorrento sounds like it's worth a look, interior looks like it's had an upgrade. That said it's a fair bit bigger than the Disco Sport and at least as expensive.

We looked at a Peugeot 5008 a few years back and it just felt 'cheap' inside.

Guessing the other upper end options like XC90, X5, Q7 would really be pushing the budget.

What else should I be looking at? I'm not desperate to get rid of the Disco immediately so if there are any upcoming models that I should look at, please let me know...

Thanks
RC

[anonymous-user]

How about a Mercedes GLB in AMG 35 flavour?

Exterior looks are a bit love-em or hate-em, but the interior looks smart and the drivetrain sounds more interesting that most in the 7 seat family sector.

P.S. if getting rid of the LR I'd ring around your local dealers if they want to buy it before you hit WBAC - they may be keen to get some stock and offer a decent/better price.

[ratechaser]

yellowbentines said:

How about a Mercedes GLB in AMG 35 flavour?

Exterior looks are a bit love-em or hate-em, but the interior looks smart and the drivetrain sounds more interesting that most in the 7 seat family sector.

P.S. if getting rid of the LR I'd ring around your local dealers if they want to buy it before you hit WBAC - they may be keen to get some stock and offer a decent/better price.

I'd missed the Merc entirely. And possibly with good reason, because it's godawful ugly. Mind you that's just my view... and I also think the full size Disco is ugly.

Don't let that marginalise my appreciation for your suggestion though - there probably is something else out there I'd actually like. At the end of the day I blame LR for tinkering too much - by taking the 7 seat option away from the PHEV, it's got to limit its appeal quite a bit...

Thanks also for the resale tip - maybe at this rate I'll just keep it until it hits £40k in value!

[A500leroy]

Curved ball. If it does everything well keep the Disco?
It will easily last you another 10 years if its only 3, just get a private plate on it.

[Dave.]

If you’re “happy to have another just the same”, why don’t you keep the one you have?

[ratechaser]

Yes I get the 'keep it' argument, and it's possible that we might. And it would actually be an easier decision if it weren't for LRs lack of reliability. And I say that from experience - our first ever one broke down the day we got it. Another one barely limped back to the garage where it was being part exchanged. And this one has just had to have some solonoids changed, which was making the engine light go on and off. That wouldn't have been cheap if we'd had to actually pay for it.

So yeah, the next question from you is going to be 'why have one in the first place', but the reality is that it's a car that's very nice to drive and frankly looks quite classy without being bling or showy. Plus all the other ticked boxes I mentioned above. If I had more confidence in its reliability (and consequently cost to maintain in future) then it would be a no-brainer to hang onto for years...

[Canon_Fodder]

OP presuming you've had it serviced within the JLR network you may be able to keep extending the OEM warranty and so get some piece of mind that way?

https://www.landrover.co.uk/ownership/warranty/lan...

[ratechaser]

Canon_Fodder said:

OP presuming you've had it serviced within the JLR network you may be able to keep extending the OEM warranty and so get some piece of mind that way?

https://www.landrover.co.uk/ownership/warranty/lan...

Thanks, and agreed, it's an option. An £874/year option

Makes you realise the value of the 7 year warranty if we did go for a Kia Sorrento! Good job I'm not too snobby about marques!

Edited by ratechaser on Wednesday 2nd March 19:20

[Canon_Fodder]

£874 doesn't sound too bad to me for the warranty...

Not really sensible to makes comments on looks as they're so subjective, but yikes that Sorrento is a bit of a lump to my eyes.

[ratechaser]

Canon_Fodder said:

£874 doesn't sound too bad to me for the warranty...

Not really sensible to makes comments on looks as they're so subjective, but yikes that Sorrento is a bit of a lump to my eyes.

Fair enough. Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that. My original mark 3 escort was a lumpy box too!

[Dave.]

Canon_Fodder said:

£874 doesn't sound too bad to me for the warranty...

Sounds like the bargain of the century for an LR product… :hehe!

Depending on what’s covered/limits/excess of course.

[Rushjob]

Canon_Fodder said:

OP presuming you've had it serviced within the JLR network you may be able to keep extending the OEM warranty and so get some piece of mind that way?

https://www.landrover.co.uk/ownership/warranty/lan...

That's not a Land Rover warranty, it's an aftermarket policy provided by Car Care Warranty in a nice Land Rover wrapper

[Summit_Detailing]

Santa Fe
Tarraco
Kodiaq
or Sorrento as you've already mentioned.

[georgeyboy12345]

I take it you only want a new car?

[Andy665]

Having had a Kodiaq for 2 years from new I would suggest you consider one - absolutely faultless car and will be sorry to see it go at the end of the lease - as an all rounder probably the best car I have ever had

[ratechaser]

Thanks all, I think I hit a 5 post a day limit as a new member so wasn't able to reply earlier.

I might eat my words on the Merc - having looked at it from a few angles, I was a bit quick to call it ugly - at the very least it's worth a look in the flesh, although the AMG35 option is a good £50k, so top end of the range. I like the 0-60 figures though!!

And yes, new is what we'd be after, otherwise that further erodes any argument for changing what we have.

Will take a look at the other suggestions (thank you) - and although I said I'm not a marque snob, I suspect Mrs RC will have some long standing views on Skoda that won't easily be overcome, she is from an era where they were as well respected as Ladas (e.g. what do you call a Skoda convertible? A skip...). I know where to pick my battles and this ain't one of them.

[anonymous-user]

ratechaser said:

I might eat my words on the Merc - having looked at it from a few angles, I was a bit quick to call it ugly - at the very least it's worth a look in the flesh, although the AMG35 option is a good £50k, so top end of the range. I like the 0-60 figures though!!

Oh I agree despite suggesting it, it isn't the best looking SUV on the road. However I do think the AMG 35 version is the best looking of the GLB range, and I suppose there is the argument of overlooking the 'challenging' looks when the drivetrain offers so much more than some of the 1.6 petrol engines offered in the likes of the Hyundai or Kia competitors.

[A500leroy]

Smax?

[ratechaser]

yellowbentines said:

ratechaser said:

I might eat my words on the Merc - having looked at it from a few angles, I was a bit quick to call it ugly - at the very least it's worth a look in the flesh, although the AMG35 option is a good £50k, so top end of the range. I like the 0-60 figures though!!

Oh I agree despite suggesting it, it isn't the best looking SUV on the road. However I do think the AMG 35 version is the best looking of the GLB range, and I suppose there is the argument of overlooking the 'challenging' looks when the drivetrain offers so much more than some of the 1.6 petrol engines offered in the likes of the Hyundai or Kia competitors.

Yeah, I'm thinking along those lines, in the same way I've overlooked LRs 'challenging' reliability for the last 20 years! There clearly are no perfect options out there so it's just a case of where I'd compromise. And selling the idea of a Merc to Mrs RC will be just that little bit easier. That said, I bet I'd be waiting many months for a new one as things stand right now.

As to the other S-Max suggestion - been there, done that, and good in a lot of respects but it's a monster of a car, admittedly quite well disguised. And the driving position is a bit low. And the dealer later tried to sell me a new £3k DPF that it didn't need. And it was another car that barely made it to the showroom to be part exchanged. I have some form in that regard!

[Deerfoot]

I’d be looking at a nearly new Lexus RX450hL, your budget will get you a seven seat car and so long as you get it serviced at Lexus it’ll be under warranty until it’s ten years old.

Lexus dealers are excellent too.

Job jobbed.