Discovery 4 HSE buying advice req...

[Mr Roper]

I'm on the market for a used Discovery 4 HSE 3.0TDV6. My budget should see me into an early 2010 with around 40k miles.

What should I be looking out for in regard to must have extras? (Pretty loaded in standard HSE guise but for resale purposes?) Mechanical checks/upkeep?

Given my location and commitments it's hard to make multiple viewings so any buying advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

[HonestIago]

We have a 2011 D4 HSE and the standard spec is all you'll ever need, I wouldn't bother seeking out any additional extras tbh (other than maybe the rubber mats throughout). The standard 19" wheels look great I don't understand people spec-ing 20s (quite a few HSEs seem to have them).

[camel_landy]

Rubber mats are good... The main extras available for the HSE will be:

• Tow assist (very useful if towing).
• Rear entertainment.
• Rear eDiff (useful for mud plugging).

As long as it has a full main dealer history, you should be OK.

M

[Mr Roper]

Do you have a link to yours?


This one certainly has all the toys....in the best colour combo too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Discovery-4-H...

[Mr Roper]

camel_landy said:

Rubber mats are good... The main extras available for the HSE will be:

• Tow assist (very useful if towing).
• Rear entertainment.
• Rear eDiff (useful for mud plugging).

As long as it has a full main dealer history, you should be OK.

M

Will be required for towing...nothing heavy, jet ski stuff. Do you know the cost to fit a tow bar?

[camel_landy]

The towbar is a swan-neck type fitting. The receiver is already built into the chassis but the electrics & tow hitch are optional.

I don't know how much it would cost to fit the electrics but the tow hitch can be picked up on e-bay for £150 (£400 new).

The Tow Assist stuff is another system altogether. It is a camera based system, designed to help you manoeuvre trailers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgwe2gAkO0E

M

[seawise]

we just got shot of our '10 D4 HSE (swapped for a new ff RR 4.4) - prefered the ride on the 19in standard wheel, and obviously the taller sidewall helps with the dreadful pot-holed state of UK roads. specced us new with rear seat entertainment (worth having if you've got young children for long journeys), adaptive lights (high beam assist, cornering function), tow assist (brilliant if u tow a lot), fridge in central cubby (useful), digital tv (pointless) and a few other bits if i remember rightly. recently did a load of miles in a new D4 with the 8 speed box and it makes a big difference to economy, refinement and performance. if your budget can stretch to a later 8 speed box car (perhaps in XS spec) i would prefer it over a high spec early HSE frankly. Great cars though, in some ways i prefer the Disco to our new posh Range Rover. Much better family chariot.

[HonestIago]

seawise said:

recently did a load of miles in a new D4 with the 8 speed box and it makes a big difference to economy, refinement and performance. if your budget can stretch to a later 8 speed box car (perhaps in XS spec) i would prefer it over a high spec early HSE frankly. Great cars though, in some ways i prefer the Disco to our new posh Range Rover. Much better family chariot.

I am surprised it makes such a difference, (one we have and I've driven a lot is a 6-speed). I'd have thought 8 ratios are pretty unnecessary given how torquey the engine is.

[camel_landy]

HonestIago said:

I am surprised it makes such a difference, (one we have and I've driven a lot is a 6-speed). I'd have thought 8 ratios are pretty unnecessary given how torquey the engine is.

Far from it... The 8spd means you're always in the right gear. 8th is also geared higher, so the engine revs are lower when cruising (perfect for the torquey engine).

M

[HonestIago]

camel_landy said:

Far from it... The 8spd means you're always in the right gear. 8th is also geared higher, so the engine revs are lower when cruising (perfect for the torquey engine).

M

How is the twiddly-dial gear selector thing on later cars? Nice to use?

[seawise]

HonestIago said:

How is the twiddly-dial gear selector thing on later cars? Nice to use?

you get used to it soon enough - not a biggie

[vjj]

Get an SE - far newer car for your money - lack of electric seats is only downfall

But you do get Nav, BT, heated seats, etc etc

[whoami]

HonestIago said:

camel_landy said:

Far from it... The 8spd means you're always in the right gear. 8th is also geared higher, so the engine revs are lower when cruising (perfect for the torquey engine).

M

How is the twiddly-dial gear selector thing on later cars? Nice to use?

Poor.

[whoami]

vjj said:

Get an SE - far newer car for your money - lack of electric seats is only downfall

But you do get Nav, BT, heated seats, etc etc

Do you mean an XS?

[qureshia]

HonestIago said:

How is the twiddly-dial gear selector thing on later cars? Nice to use?

Great to use, also comes with the later 253 bhp engine (rather than 241 bhp)

My wife has had both a HSE (58 plate disco 3) and the current XS ( 61 plate disco 4)
On the XS, I miss the xenon lights, (only in winter) and occasionally I miss the front arm rests

Her XS comes with a few toys, including rear camera heated seats etc, when we bought it (used) the gap to an equivalent HSE (mileage and age) was about £10k - this seemed a lot.

Ps the Sat nav can be a bit slow

[vjj]

whoami said:

vjj said:

Get an SE - far newer car for your money - lack of electric seats is only downfall

But you do get Nav, BT, heated seats, etc etc

Do you mean an XS?

YES XS - was SE on the D3

[orbtar]

The car you have highlighted only has a few extras, most of the items they have listed are standard and there is not much warranty left on the car. Better to buy as new as you can, ideally 8 speed with the better SDV6 engine, best extras to have on an HSE are xenon adaptive lights and heated steering wheel. I have had several of these cars from new, the cheapest one cost about £42k after discounts.

[Peely]

Mr Roper said:

Do you have a link to yours?


This one certainly has all the toys....in the best colour combo too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Discovery-4-H...

Are you not p/xing ?

[Mr Roper]

Sure am...Although I've decided to advertise privately too. My p/x is 2011 mini, low miles, mint, loaded with extras which I don't feel the offers I'm getting are quite there yet.
Waiting on a couple to come back to me so we'll see.

Not looking at the Amari HSE anymore...couldn't get a deal together. Nice company though, very helpful.

[David911RSR]

Mr Roper said:

Do you have a link to yours?


This one certainly has all the toys....in the best colour combo too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Discovery-4-H...

Same Colour as our HSE.

We added 20" wheels, Full sized Alloy spare wheel, heated steering wheel, adaptive lights, privacy glass and removable tow bar and electrics. The dealer fitted mud flaps, side bars and rear seat covers. The car came with premium carpet mats as standard and we swap them for fitted rubber mats in the winter. We also have a rubber boot liner.

The wheels are down to personal taste. We run 19" wheels with cold weather tyres during the winter and don't notice much difference in ride quality when we switch back to the 20" s. My wife likes the heated steering wheel, I don't bother with it. Adaptive lights are useful (the were standard on our D3), Full size spare is well worth having.