The Discovery has been a car we've loved for many a year. We've had every single version of it over 20 years and we don't mind admitting it's a bit of a special one to us. We live in the country, so you need a good 4x4 car. And the Discovery is a very good 4x4 car.
We also have a big family, so the big load space and room is ideal for us. It can take 7 in comfort to wherever you desire and then climb up a mountain just for fun.
The 2.7 litre TD V6 engine isn't that powerful but it's more than enough for us. It's got about 180bhp and enough torque, and it also means we don't have to pay for high tax or insurance bills.
It may be the worse version of a Range Rover, but it doesn't feel like it! I've driven a RR and as good as it is, I wouldn't pay 60k for one!!
Farming is a rough and tough business, and when you are lugging about with muck and grime in the country, you need to have an equally capable and equally rough and tough motor. I give you, the Land Rover Discovery.
It's been around since the introduction of the Romans, and despite it's age, it's still one hell of a 4x4 machine. For anyone who works or lives in the country, the Discovery is just perfect. It isn't that well made, isn't really comfortable, isn't fast, isn't luxurious and isn't good looking, but what it is, is reliable and good at carrying things. These are the two most important aspects of any 4x4 and the Discovery 3.0 SDV6 nukes both elements.
In the few years i've had mine, it's never let me down once - even in sticky situations. It pulls, tows, hauls and moves pretty much anything you offer it. A real workhorse!
Cliff
I hassled my husband into letting my buy one of these. I'm the breadwinner of the household but he was very concerned about various different things. Most of all are environmental concerns. And with these concerns come financial concerns - it is ludicrously expensive to run.
I admit to living in the suburbs and so owning a Land Rover Discovery is pretty inexcusable. I just like it. My favourite thing is how it looks. Something between a tractor and a hatchback. It also feels like some sort of farmyard equipment, it drags its way up to speed as though it's towing a plough or something. Personally I like this aspect of it.
Get over the running costs and its a very rewarding car to own. It's massive and versatile and incredibly safe. But getting something like 20 miles-per-hour weighs pretty heavy on my conscience, not to mention my wallet.
I got this for taking my little babies places, some of whom aren't so little anymore. It's good for that, feels like it'll happily take all five of them for some years to come, although perhaps not in the far back seats when they get beyond about 10. And also it should still be happily driving along by then as well. However I sometimes have trouble as I'm not that tall and when I've got the seat forward towards the steering wheel the setup of the steering column and everything can cause my knees to get a bit bumped and bruised. That's a bit frustrating and it also makes me think maybe my legs would be damaged in a crash, but then I'm a lot less worried about crashes anyway with the Discovery.
I knew it would be a challenge getting used to such a big vehicle after having only had a dinky little Fiesta before, but the Discovery really has a lot over the smaller cars, literally!, just by being so much taller and therefore you can see so much more easily all around, and along in front of traffic ahead of you too. The gear changes are a bit stiffer but you get used to that easily enough. It feels really big and solid and safe as well, which always puts me at ease. I sometimes wish I'd found one with those parking helper things that go beep, but it's still ok as it is. I often get the kids in the back to help me out. Some of the buttons around the wheel are in a bit of a silly place, some a bit hidden. Of course you get used to it if it's your car but it's not that welcoming to begin with.
The amount of petrol it uses is ok for how big it is. I think it's about 30mpg according to the measure inside. It's had a few quite pricey repairs that needed doing, including the rear seats needing replacing due to dodgy mechanics. I've been a bit disappointed by the paintwork getting a bit too easily chipped. You think of the Discovery and Land Rovers more generally as being quite big and beefy and standing up to anything but the paint has come away after some fairly minor knocks. Mind you, it really really delivers off road. Land Rovers really know how to make a car that isn't bothered by any conditions, and to have something that's so comfy in so many different conditions (and angles!) is just wonderful when you're doing things like camping and taking the kids for mountain walks and things.