Disco 3 test drive, what to look for?
Discussion
Planning a test drive of a 2008 Disco 3 XS with 40 odd thousand miles week as part of my quest to decide between a Disco and XC90.
Just wondering if there's anything specific to look out for? The car has full dealer history, nearly new tyres, full leather, rear entertainment and is apparently in good condition.
What should I be looking out for?
Cheers
Andy
Just wondering if there's anything specific to look out for? The car has full dealer history, nearly new tyres, full leather, rear entertainment and is apparently in good condition.
What should I be looking out for?
Cheers
Andy
Thanks Camel Landy, I was waiting for you to come along....
Yes the car has a full dealer history.
Its interesting to hear you say that they are generally very reliable, when they have such a bad press and tales of doom and depair on various forums. But I guess its the whole, nobody comes on a forum to post how trouble free their car is. It was the same on the TVR forums...mine was trouble free for 4 years but if you read the forums you'd wonder what you'd got yourself into.
I am drawn to the Disco for its proper 4x4 capabilities, for snow and towing a large caravan. The Volvo has no low box, or selectable terrain 4x4, it uses a Haldex system - which 99% of the time will be sufficient I reckon. I think the Volvo will be cheaper to run, but Disco more capable.
Anyway, thanks for your input I'll see how it drives.
Cheers
Andy
Yes the car has a full dealer history.
Its interesting to hear you say that they are generally very reliable, when they have such a bad press and tales of doom and depair on various forums. But I guess its the whole, nobody comes on a forum to post how trouble free their car is. It was the same on the TVR forums...mine was trouble free for 4 years but if you read the forums you'd wonder what you'd got yourself into.
I am drawn to the Disco for its proper 4x4 capabilities, for snow and towing a large caravan. The Volvo has no low box, or selectable terrain 4x4, it uses a Haldex system - which 99% of the time will be sufficient I reckon. I think the Volvo will be cheaper to run, but Disco more capable.
Anyway, thanks for your input I'll see how it drives.
Cheers
Andy
I bought one recently a similar age to the one you are seeing. Make sure everything works, test the suspension make sure it goes up and down with no issues. On the test drive make sure everything is smooth as it should be no knocking or vibrations. We took ours to the local independent land rover specialists who were brilliant they charged me £30 and went over it for a few hours and connected it to the computer.
Andychim400 said:
Thanks Camel Landy, I was waiting for you to come along....
Yes the car has a full dealer history.
Its interesting to hear you say that they are generally very reliable, when they have such a bad press and tales of doom and depair on various forums. But I guess its the whole, nobody comes on a forum to post how trouble free their car is. It was the same on the TVR forums...mine was trouble free for 4 years but if you read the forums you'd wonder what you'd got yourself into.
I am drawn to the Disco for its proper 4x4 capabilities, for snow and towing a large caravan. The Volvo has no low box, or selectable terrain 4x4, it uses a Haldex system - which 99% of the time will be sufficient I reckon. I think the Volvo will be cheaper to run, but Disco more capable.
Anyway, thanks for your input I'll see how it drives.
Cheers
Andy
No problem... Yes the car has a full dealer history.
Its interesting to hear you say that they are generally very reliable, when they have such a bad press and tales of doom and depair on various forums. But I guess its the whole, nobody comes on a forum to post how trouble free their car is. It was the same on the TVR forums...mine was trouble free for 4 years but if you read the forums you'd wonder what you'd got yourself into.
I am drawn to the Disco for its proper 4x4 capabilities, for snow and towing a large caravan. The Volvo has no low box, or selectable terrain 4x4, it uses a Haldex system - which 99% of the time will be sufficient I reckon. I think the Volvo will be cheaper to run, but Disco more capable.
Anyway, thanks for your input I'll see how it drives.
Cheers
Andy
The T5 platform is great but can be heavy on bushes (hence the service history & checking for knocking). That said, it is usually the roll bar bushes and they're a DIY job.
BTW - Is it an auto? (TDV6 Auto is the best combination)
M
camel_landy said:
No problem...
The T5 platform is great but can be heavy on bushes (hence the service history & checking for knocking). That said, it is usually the roll bar bushes and they're a DIY job.
BTW - Is it an auto? (TDV6 Auto is the best combination)
M
Yes its an auto. I have driven a manual and it was awful. The T5 platform is great but can be heavy on bushes (hence the service history & checking for knocking). That said, it is usually the roll bar bushes and they're a DIY job.
BTW - Is it an auto? (TDV6 Auto is the best combination)
M
Electronic park brake...hold on and off..put on and set off without releasing manually. Check the what gear you are in display works...ours stopped displaying due to a sensor fault which was on the gearbox, whole thing and clutch apparently had to come out...warranty job luckily but would have been over a grand if not. Fuel cap was also dodgy and would not grip and click..this is only a £15 fix though. Head lamp alignment...changing bulbs is a sod and auto alignment means this can't be adjusted if out. Check dirt, rust, corrosion around rear wheel arch where rubber/plastic on the back doors collects a lot of dirt then touches body work....shouldn't be a problem on an 08 but might in the future if this has not been regularly cleaned out. Check all back seats work, don't jam etc. Check tyre wear, known for wearing on inner and outer of tyre due to toe in/ toe out....new tyres could come in at £800! Note, don't let this list scare you, they are just niggles and things that I have thought may become an issue or have troubled me. I love the Disco and my wife and I agree it is the best vehicle we have ever had...we will run it into the ground!
Headlight bulbs are easy to change! Bonnet up, Grill off - pop up clips on headlight units and remove!
Bottom ball joints, movement in lower arm bushes, arc-bar bushes and transfer case seal are prone to premature wear/failure. The rear end seems to be bullet proof, though have seen a few with fuel breather pipes worn/perished/cut that leads to a fuel leak with a full tank so check for fuel smell/staining around the near side rear.
Bottom ball joints, movement in lower arm bushes, arc-bar bushes and transfer case seal are prone to premature wear/failure. The rear end seems to be bullet proof, though have seen a few with fuel breather pipes worn/perished/cut that leads to a fuel leak with a full tank so check for fuel smell/staining around the near side rear.
Had my 07 XS for nearly 5 years now. It has been a fab car. No leather in mine though!
I really cant fault it in a major way!
They do go through front brakes, the EPB has played up a couple of times, the interior trim is a bit cheap, they drive well (except initial pick up from stop), the EGR valves can play up (and thats £500 to sort)....
Mine has been very reliable, the disco 3 community is very strong and helpful via their website, I will buy another one (D4) is due course, excellent off road manners, great big beast that keeps the family safe, MPG is rubbish (even after remap I struggle to get 24 mpg - but its hilly where I live).
I retro fitted a sat nav to mine which is a nice touch.
I really cant fault it in a major way!
They do go through front brakes, the EPB has played up a couple of times, the interior trim is a bit cheap, they drive well (except initial pick up from stop), the EGR valves can play up (and thats £500 to sort)....
Mine has been very reliable, the disco 3 community is very strong and helpful via their website, I will buy another one (D4) is due course, excellent off road manners, great big beast that keeps the family safe, MPG is rubbish (even after remap I struggle to get 24 mpg - but its hilly where I live).
I retro fitted a sat nav to mine which is a nice touch.
Thanks for all the advice, purchased! I sent my wife out for the drive first as she thought the Disco is too big and was leaning towards the XC90. She came back with a smile on her face professing it to be gorgeous to drive.
So that was that battle won!
XS full leather, nav, cruise, Harmon Kardon sound, rear ents love it.
The only box it didn't tick was heated seats but we can live without
Can anyone suggest the best way to approach blue tooth phone prep?
Cheers
Andy
So that was that battle won!
XS full leather, nav, cruise, Harmon Kardon sound, rear ents love it.
The only box it didn't tick was heated seats but we can live without
Can anyone suggest the best way to approach blue tooth phone prep?
Cheers
Andy
SpeedMattersNot said:
Headlight bulbs are easy to change! Bonnet up, Grill off - pop up clips on headlight units and remove!
Bottom ball joints, movement in lower arm bushes, arc-bar bushes and transfer case seal are prone to premature wear/failure. The rear end seems to be bullet proof, though have seen a few with fuel breather pipes worn/perished/cut that leads to a fuel leak with a full tank so check for fuel smell/staining around the near side rear.
Re headlight bulbs...air box and lot has to come out on drivers side and also seems to trip the thermal switch meaning no headlamps will work until car has been switched off, fully locked up and left a while. Scared me sBottom ball joints, movement in lower arm bushes, arc-bar bushes and transfer case seal are prone to premature wear/failure. The rear end seems to be bullet proof, though have seen a few with fuel breather pipes worn/perished/cut that leads to a fuel leak with a full tank so check for fuel smell/staining around the near side rear.
tless first time it happened, but it reset itself.1981linley said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
Headlight bulbs are easy to change! Bonnet up, Grill off - pop up clips on headlight units and remove!
Bottom ball joints, movement in lower arm bushes, arc-bar bushes and transfer case seal are prone to premature wear/failure. The rear end seems to be bullet proof, though have seen a few with fuel breather pipes worn/perished/cut that leads to a fuel leak with a full tank so check for fuel smell/staining around the near side rear.
Re headlight bulbs...air box and lot has to come out on drivers side and also seems to trip the thermal switch meaning no headlamps will work until car has been switched off, fully locked up and left a while. Scared me sBottom ball joints, movement in lower arm bushes, arc-bar bushes and transfer case seal are prone to premature wear/failure. The rear end seems to be bullet proof, though have seen a few with fuel breather pipes worn/perished/cut that leads to a fuel leak with a full tank so check for fuel smell/staining around the near side rear.
tless first time it happened, but it reset itself.1981linley said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
Headlight bulbs are easy to change! Bonnet up, Grill off - pop up clips on headlight units and remove!
Bottom ball joints, movement in lower arm bushes, arc-bar bushes and transfer case seal are prone to premature wear/failure. The rear end seems to be bullet proof, though have seen a few with fuel breather pipes worn/perished/cut that leads to a fuel leak with a full tank so check for fuel smell/staining around the near side rear.
Re headlight bulbs...air box and lot has to come out on drivers side and also seems to trip the thermal switch meaning no headlamps will work until car has been switched off, fully locked up and left a while. Scared me sBottom ball joints, movement in lower arm bushes, arc-bar bushes and transfer case seal are prone to premature wear/failure. The rear end seems to be bullet proof, though have seen a few with fuel breather pipes worn/perished/cut that leads to a fuel leak with a full tank so check for fuel smell/staining around the near side rear.
tless first time it happened, but it reset itself.Having been a mechanic at Renault, I know all too well about difficult headlight bulb replacements. Working for Land Rover is a wet dream when it comes to bulbs tbh...
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