Notes from the Road - Land Rover Discovery
Discussion
For me like some others the offset plate is just lame and a poor bit of design, is it just to me looks like a cut and shut of the rest of the discovery range and added some classic bits of discovery in.
Ignoring comments from Mr JLR, getting upset just makes it worse (whether intentionally or not your views are biased), everyone is entitled to hold a view what suits one person won't suit another.
JLR have clearly done their research you would hope and decided to "lift" the "luxury"* of the Discovery to another level. But, if judged by the farce of F Pace owners with problems (who in some cases have now rejected their 3rd replacement car) then things need to improve (JLR seem incapable of sorting the basics like shut lines still). Reading around on the D5 has shown some owners already complaining of trim randomly falling off...
Where I think JLR have began to improve is CS, well ahead of the Germans, but they seem slow to react sometimes. I know it has saved one F Pace owner who rejected their car, has now got given an XJ direct from JLR whilst waiting for his Velar to arrive later this year.
Regarding finance it is still swayed a little towards the Germans.
Ignoring comments from Mr JLR, getting upset just makes it worse (whether intentionally or not your views are biased), everyone is entitled to hold a view what suits one person won't suit another.
JLR have clearly done their research you would hope and decided to "lift" the "luxury"* of the Discovery to another level. But, if judged by the farce of F Pace owners with problems (who in some cases have now rejected their 3rd replacement car) then things need to improve (JLR seem incapable of sorting the basics like shut lines still). Reading around on the D5 has shown some owners already complaining of trim randomly falling off...
Where I think JLR have began to improve is CS, well ahead of the Germans, but they seem slow to react sometimes. I know it has saved one F Pace owner who rejected their car, has now got given an XJ direct from JLR whilst waiting for his Velar to arrive later this year.
Regarding finance it is still swayed a little towards the Germans.
- Luxury is a funny thing these days as most would term "luxury" by the amount of tech now on a car I think.
I had a D2 that had planned pretty much every common fault they get, despite which I loved it. I got rid at the end of last year as I couldn't face another large bill and decided I'm not ready for another LR. (Now have a Subaru which ironically is gently leaking oil on the same spot the Disco did. 
)
Anyway, I saw something yesterday that was so ugly it genuinely made me start. It was a D5.
(To be fair I was sat down in front of one.)
)Anyway, I saw something yesterday that was so ugly it genuinely made me start. It was a D5.
(To be fair I was sat down in front of one.)apotts said:
Pintofbest said:
I'm guessing you have done your own research on the whole customer base and not just from PH and people with a 'One life live it' or '4x4 response' sticker on their car?
Product design moves with customer needs and demands, especially those who buy them new and not those waiting for it to 'drop like a stone' in value which evidence suggests LR products more certainly do not.
Not at all. I bought a MY12 D4 new, and as a family we loved it. Luxurious and comfortable, yet boxy and practical. Huge, yet easy to manage. Reasonably priced. Not ostentatious. Product design moves with customer needs and demands, especially those who buy them new and not those waiting for it to 'drop like a stone' in value which evidence suggests LR products more certainly do not.
I went to one of your customer focus days a few years ago, where you had invited a group of D4 owners. We all said the same thing to you about the D5 and you clearly ignored us all.
When it came to replacing the D4, the D5 failed miserably for us. In nearly every department. It seemed strangely expensive, ostentatious, bulky, less rugged, less Land Rover and more Range Rover. And it lost that imperious waftability, that could be enjoyed without looking and feeling like a t
t. We thought about a late, used D4, but our experience recently with your service network has been poor. Latest fiasco was a crank position sensor (£1500) where we were without a car for a month, because all your service centres were booked up. Used was out of the question.
So no. New car buyer here. Made my own mind up, thank you.
The irony of that accusation towards the OP in respect of the current products, over egged in terms of bling, and sometimes, some would say too often, garbage in respect of reliability.
Mr JLR, so precious, so funny if it wasn't for that parlous state of attitudes to customers from dealer service. Yes we can book you in to have a look at that, three weeks after Michaelmas is the next date possible, and btw we will just look at it, it will be just to decide what to do, you'll have to book it in to actually get something done. Come back Droitwich LR crew from the current set of clowns.
Pintofbest said:
Possibly, but I did 1k miles in one in a week at Easter taking my family to Cornwall and it was a fantastic car for that. Not off road but that isn't what I'd ever use one for, however I know they can do that as well if needed.. I'd add to your point that everyone else get's over emotional the other way about JLR stuff too - at least it gets people talking!
Good job you was able to hand it back ;-)apotts said:
Pintofbest said:
You stand quite alone from your fellow car reviewers with such a load of over egged garbage.
Hello Mr JLR. What JLR failed to do was understand WHY people bought and liked the D3/D4. Just like a crap Hollywood sequel.
edit: 'in' to 'on'
Edited by Andehh on Thursday 27th July 09:46
It's rubbish. I stand by that claim. It's nowhere near as good as an XC90 for the reasons stated. It is now just an overstyled, over heavy MPV like the rest of them.
The last car was also rubbish in some ways. But also, in its own way, peerless.
That little flap thing in the boot in the new car. Says it all.
The last car was also rubbish in some ways. But also, in its own way, peerless.
That little flap thing in the boot in the new car. Says it all.
I'm not biased against JLR in any way at all. The XF is my favourite car in that class and I like the organised simplicity and superb road manners of the Disco Sport.
But I just call them as I drive them. The new Discovery is a dud. It offers all of the disadvantages of the old car with none of the touches of genius that set it apart.
Incidently, we are just scum who deliver cars but the JLR dealers are easily the best places to sit around waiting for people. Polite, often kind beyond the call of duty and always very helpful.
Unlike some, I might add. Audi especially.
But I just call them as I drive them. The new Discovery is a dud. It offers all of the disadvantages of the old car with none of the touches of genius that set it apart.
Incidently, we are just scum who deliver cars but the JLR dealers are easily the best places to sit around waiting for people. Polite, often kind beyond the call of duty and always very helpful.
Unlike some, I might add. Audi especially.
Ceeejay said:
Reviewer doesnt like really popular car.
I think ive worked it out. You're going to be the Katie Hopkins of car reviews !.
Hopefully not! The first review I wrote here was actually pretty positive. The Seat Alhambra of all things. I think ive worked it out. You're going to be the Katie Hopkins of car reviews !.
I really disliked the Discovery. It just doesn't feel right. If that makes sense.
W124 said:
But I just call them as I drive them. The new Discovery is a dud. It offers all of the disadvantages of the old car with none of the touches of genius that set it apart.
Gonna have to disagree with you on that.The advanced Tow Assist, for example if bloody good.
There are not many, if any other manufacturers that have all the practical gadgets that the Disco 5 has.
Jazzy Jag said:
W124 said:
But I just call them as I drive them. The new Discovery is a dud. It offers all of the disadvantages of the old car with none of the touches of genius that set it apart.
Gonna have to disagree with you on that.The advanced Tow Assist, for example if bloody good.
There are not many, if any other manufacturers that have all the practical gadgets that the Disco 5 has.
Jazzy Jag said:
Gonna have to disagree with you on that.
The advanced Tow Assist, for example if bloody good.
There are not many, if any other manufacturers that have all the practical gadgets that the Disco 5 has.
Gadgets don't make a car good / bad. Tow assist will be no good when the chassis twists because they've removed the ladder frame Ill have you know.The advanced Tow Assist, for example if bloody good.
There are not many, if any other manufacturers that have all the practical gadgets that the Disco 5 has.
I can see what they tried to do with D5 (further smudge/blur the line between Discovery/Range Rover) but I don't think they pulled it off. They seem to have just taken a drawing of the Disco Sport and swollen it with a pantograph (losing a lot of proportions and neatness in the process) - and so losing the 'box-on-wheels' shape which I kind of like.
- Slight bias here from a D2 driver thinking of chopping up to a D3.
That is true. Gadgets, infotainment, tech - it's just a distraction. It's more of a luxury to have none of it in some ways. I once had a short drive of a Phantom and the feeling of luxury was heavily bolstered by the simplicity of the controls.
Whenever I drive s car with a log of beeping and flashing tech (an XC90 say) I always turn as much if it off as I can. It's just showroom stuff and, whist specialist things like Tow Assist is useful to the small number of people who tow, to the vast majority who buy the cars to drive their kids about, it's useless. Of much more general use would be making the car better, instead of worse than the last model.
Whenever I drive s car with a log of beeping and flashing tech (an XC90 say) I always turn as much if it off as I can. It's just showroom stuff and, whist specialist things like Tow Assist is useful to the small number of people who tow, to the vast majority who buy the cars to drive their kids about, it's useless. Of much more general use would be making the car better, instead of worse than the last model.
W124 said:
shirt said:
You definitely have the talent to write cat reviews for any magazine as your write up offers lots of opinion and little insight.
Lot of tosh there about the old model and that's coming from an owner.
I don't review cats. Could do though if that would be useful. Lot of tosh there about the old model and that's coming from an owner.
Bought a D3 recently as I'm doing building work and thought it'd make a great alternative to a van. Absolutely everyone loves it. It's the most in demand car from friends and family.
My problem is that I don't like the D5 - my OCD wouldn't let me get a car with the contrived number plate offset. The split tailgate is incredibly useful.
But... It's a dirty old diesel and Sadiq Kahn wants to ban it. Is there any D3/4 which is clean enough? I suspect I can't adapt mine - anyway, it can't afford to lose any horses from the 2.7 V6
My problem is that I don't like the D5 - my OCD wouldn't let me get a car with the contrived number plate offset. The split tailgate is incredibly useful.
But... It's a dirty old diesel and Sadiq Kahn wants to ban it. Is there any D3/4 which is clean enough? I suspect I can't adapt mine - anyway, it can't afford to lose any horses from the 2.7 V6
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