There can’t be many old (but still quite modern) Land Rovers that are loved quite like the Discovery 4. It remained as desirable at the end of its life as it was at launch, smartly combining the usability of a Land Rover with Range Rover style. It still looks contemporary in a way that the Disco 3 doesn’t, while also avoiding some of the chintzier aspects that can be found in later LRs. The 4 was recognised as one of the great Discoverys even when new - it’s arguably only become more appreciated as the fifth generation car hasn’t received the same adulation.
Over here, all Disco 4s were powered by a diesel V6, which made eminent sense given the torque on offer and just-about-palatable fuel consumption given the famously chunky kerbweight. It was a sensible, appropriate powertrain, and there were precious few complaints a decade or so ago. But this is PistonHeads, and we’re not always here for the sensible, appropriate choice. So here’s a Disco 4 with a V8 in it.
That’s right, the same 5.0-litre naturally aspirated unit that made it into various Jaguar XFs, XJs and XKs below their supercharged flagships, plus the Range Rover, was also offered for certain markets in the Discovery. Same spec, too, so a hearty 375lb ft alongside a thunderous 380hp. Which, um, isn’t as much as the 442lb ft of the later 3.0-litre SDV6, but then a diesel V6 won’t get to 62mph in less than eight seconds. Or sound like an F-Type.
Furthermore, as a Japanese import, this Discovery doesn’t incur the same extortionate road fund licence as a car of comparable CO2 would as a UK model. The seller of this Land Rover reckons that it’s £345, meaning there’s a bit left for the fuel kitty. Which will need to be generous, given the official 20mpg. But people spend plenty putting super unleaded into Range Rovers; just consider this the seven-seat, rarer, slightly less opulent alternative.
That won’t take too much convincing, either, as this 5.0-litre is top-of-the-line HSE spec, so there’s leather everywhere, heated seats in the first two rows, a reversing camera, huge sunroof, Harman/Kardon stereo and more. It’s a properly plush Disco, and still looks in fine fettle after 70,000 miles. Which is a spec we did get in the UK, of course, though it’s hard to deny the allure of a great big V8. Some may want to change the wheels of this one, if you’re being especially picky.
The Disco 4’s reputation is reflected in the prices that continue to be asked; a last-of-the-line Landmark can still command more than £30k as an approved used purchase. Obviously this example is hard to make a definitive comparison with given no UK equivalent, but its £20k asking price also buys newer SDV6s with a few more miles or something like this, a 2012 sub-60k HSE. The Japanese Disco is in among all the others basically, neither scandalously cheap nor preposterously expensive given the rest of them. It’ll cost a heck of a lot to run, of course, but the engine and the car are at least extremely well known - this isn’t one of those rare-groove imports that nobody knows anything about. Having celebrated the Discovery’s 35th birthday with one of the earliest V8s available, we couldn’t resist drawing attention to one of the latest as well. What a way to mark the big year this will be for someone.
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