What car, Discovery 4 or X5?

[jonnynine11]

I need a seven seater for getting the family around, currently have a 997, BMW 1 series and VW transporter kombi for work. The Porsche and BMW are going to go and be replaced with an X5 or disco4. Just wondering what your opinions are on these, it will be a 2011 model and a keeper, the discoveries seem to have lots of faults not so many on the X5. Give me your views please.

[Fleckers]

Looks only I would go disco

[David87]

For me it'd be the LR.

[Nice But Dim]

D4 all day every day

[whoami]

I've just traded my D4.

Great car.

[sinizter]

X5 for looks and performance.

Discovery to have three full seats in the back rather than 2+1.5.

[kentmotorcompany]

They both have completely different images, and I'm sure you are aware of this and know your own tastes and preferences.

As a family car, especially if you intend to use the 7 seats I'd buy the Disco.

As a drivers car that you spend most of your time in alone, the BMW.

[martin mrt]

The Discovery is a far better prospect if you want to use it as it was originally intended, ie off road, towing etc.

However if this is not a priority I would choose the X5, based purely on them being better to drive, and more reliable

[onesickpuppy]

We have an X5 7 seater and it's great but it depends how old/tall your kids are. 3rd row seating is very tight for leg room. Much less agricultural than the Disco though .

[sjc]

We have a Dsico3 as the family do it all (a role it simply does brilliantly)and the only thing it will be changed for is a Disco 4.Has completely won me over.

[jonnynine11]

onesickpuppy said:

We have an X5 7 seater and it's great but it depends how old/tall your kids are. 3rd row seating is very tight for leg room. Much less agricultural than the Disco though .

What age (or size) would you say the seats would become outgrown?

[BFG TERRANO]

Disco will be trouble, look at the ph reliability survey. X5 will have German reliability but imo look chav. What about Q7 or Touareg?

[onesickpuppy]

jonnynine11 said:

What age (or size) would you say the seats would become outgrown?

If you slide the middle row right forward I suppose someone up to maybe 5'6" would be ok, but they really are to be considered as 'occasional' seats for anyone but younger (under 10yo) kids.

[Davel]

The second row in a Disco 4 has three full sized seats whereas in the X5, the middle seat is a smaller size.

The Disco has much more room, which can be very useful.

You really need a decent test drive of both to see which suits your needs best.

[yellowbentines]

BFG TERRANO said:

look chav. What about Q7...

Oh the irony!

2 Q7s in my street, both in white or course, both driven by urban mums who do nothing but scream at their bizarrely named children all day - the very definition of chav is a Q7 IMO.

However, the launch & popularity of the Q7 has taken some of the buyers of the previous incarnation of the X5 away, meaning the latest model of X5 seems an altogether classier proposition now, I think they look great, and I think the shape will age better than the D4 will.

[BFG TERRANO]

yellowbentines said:

BFG TERRANO said:

look chav. What about Q7...

Oh the irony!

2 Q7s in my street, both in white or course, both driven by urban mums who do nothing but scream at their bizarrely named children all day - the very definition of chav is a Q7 IMO.

However, the launch & popularity of the Q7 has taken some of the buyers of the previous incarnation of the X5 away, meaning the latest model of X5 seems an altogether classier proposition now, I think they look great, and I think the shape will age better than the D4 will.

Round here X5 drivers in general are young ish lads covered in bling, track suits and baseball caps with black windows and LED lights for no apparant reason stuck in odd locations? All ages of X5 seem to be "chaved up" here.

[yellowbentines]

BFG TERRANO said:

Round here X5 drivers in general are young ish lads covered in bling, track suits and baseball caps with black windows and LED lights for no apparant reason stuck in odd locations? All ages of X5 seem to be "chaved up" here.

Strange, I'd maybe have said that about the original X5, but the latest model I don't think I've even seen any with ridiculous aftermarket wheels - most I see are driven by a different type of person who would have bought the original X5, but now maybe opts for an X6 or Q7.

All just based on what I've noticed of course.

The latest X5 is what I'd buy if I wanted a large SUV, I think it looks the classiest, and that's over an ML or GL and I'm a bit of a Merc fanboy!

[MattGTA]

yellowbentines said:

Strange, I'd maybe have said that about the original X5, but the latest model I don't think I've even seen any with ridiculous aftermarket wheels

Comes with ridiculous wheels as standard

[Biscuit Bus]

Slightly biased but I'd go for the D4. For me it has a better image than the X5 (and RRS etc) and despite its size I don't feel too self-conscious driving it around. The 12MY with 255bhp and 8 speed auto is a very refined car and although the BMW is said to handle better, for me, a car like this is for wafting in and the Discovery is exceptional at that.

[BFG TERRANO]

yellowbentines said:

BFG TERRANO said:

Round here X5 drivers in general are young ish lads covered in bling, track suits and baseball caps with black windows and LED lights for no apparant reason stuck in odd locations? All ages of X5 seem to be "chaved up" here.

Strange, I'd maybe have said that about the original X5, but the latest model I don't think I've even seen any with ridiculous aftermarket wheels - most I see are driven by a different type of person who would have bought the original X5, but now maybe opts for an X6 or Q7.

All just based on what I've noticed of course.

The latest X5 is what I'd buy if I wanted a large SUV, I think it looks the classiest, and that's over an ML or GL and I'm a bit of a Merc fanboy!

My money would be Touareg, to be different, for VW reliability and re-sale values. Land Rover have been hit hard with poor feedback and reliability issues, just why my brother has just sold his disco 3. Even at 48000 miles hes shelling out on it monthly. Electrics, suspension and recently water entry everywhere. Its 1 owner, looked after etc etc but its doing its best to finish his finances! A guy 2 doors up also has a disco 3, well usually he does when the TH White loan car isnt on his drive!