LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 4X4 REVIEW

My car

I got this car in 2008 (57) from new, for off road use and to tow two horse. Big Mistake! Worst car I have ever owned. I only had it for 10mths and decide to get rid of it. It had various faults with the electrics, too many to mention but the most annoying thing was the suspension 'collapsing' four times. Twice when I was towing horses. The first time it was fixed, no real issue, the second time I was told it was because I drove the car through a shallow river and water had got in????? I thought it was an off road vehicle.. silly me. The third time I asked if they could just replace the fourth one as well and they refused saying they couldn't replace it until it broke, which it did. All in the car averaged a visit to the landrover dealership once a month for the duration of ownership. Not helped by the unhelpful service department at my local dealership, as it was a company car, not purchased directly from them, they were totally uninterested in getting my car back on the road with any urgency. They actually lost it for a week at one point when it left in the wrong place by the recovery truck and called me to ask if I'd taken ot home!!. I'm very happy with my Nissan Navara and will NEVER EVER drive or recommend a landrover to anyone ever!

My car

This Landrover LR3 was bought new March 08 in Qatar. Fully specc'ed. HSE 4.0lt (It's the Ford Explorer engine I'm told). Swallows two big dogs & one mini mutt, plus a wife & large child. Now on Bahraini plates. The car has never caused me a problem, although with 40,000km on the clock I'm hearing a worrying whine from the right front wheel which (in my non techie opinion) sounds like a wheel bearing. Booked into LR Bahrain to sort it out. The warranty runs out at 60,000 km & quite frankly this worries me. The dealers in the ME are seriously expensive, which is a bit of a hoot as they do not pay their mechanics European rates (about 15% of labour rates in UK). Ist dealer in Qatar insisted that new brake pads were required on the 12,000km service (that's 7,400 miles!). I fell for it! At 24,000km I expressed my heartfelt opinion of their recommendation. At 36,000km, at my 'new' LR dealer in Bahrain, pads were not recommended! Mind you, in Qatar they recommend u change yr discs every 5,000km (& the Qataris do it....lots of money). The car has been superb to-date, doing 3 return trips through Saudi Arabia from Bahrain to Qatar, a return distance of 600 miles. On one stretch though, the rising sand dulled the metallic black paintwork & slightly pitted the lights. The locals won't buy them though. They are a) not a Landcruiser & b) not a Range Rover! Oh, forgot the tyres at over 200 quid a pop!

My car

I have ownd the car for 2 years and done 26000 totally trouble free & luxurious kilometres. Driven gently it is even quite economical on fuel. It is the best car I have EVER owned and I absolutely love it. But I would NEVER get another. Why not ? I live on the continent & the first annual service which consists of an oil change & tune up via the garage's computer(all the rest of the stuff on the invoice is silly window dressing) cost in France an eye watering €uros450. Yes folks, over 400 £Sterling for an oil change. For this year's service I tried in Spain. Work performed as year 1 + change of air/oil/pollen & fuel filters - €uro 490.

God help me or anyone else who owns one of these the day anything actually goes wrong with it.

You have been warned

My car

My '07 Disco GS is quite simply the best car I have owned. Used in a variety of on road situations from the annual family holiday to France to the daily commute it has never missed a beat. It swallows all that my family of 4 throw at it and, if driven with care, has returned a staggering 37mpg average on a trip from Surrey to Manchester. Average consumption for mixed driving is 32mpg. My local dealer, Harwoods of Edenbridge, have been excellent and servicing costs have been £350 and £450 for the first two services. I have completed a little over 27,000 miles and Kwik Fit supplied and fitted 4 Pirelli Scorpions for £160 a corner. Given the relatively low running costs in terms of service and spares I can put up with the fuel costs. I have it until April 2011 and at the moment I wouldnt hesitate to upgrade to a Disco 4. As a comfortable family car with masses of space I havent driven anything that compares. At 6'2'' I can sit comfotably in the 3rd row of seats and the driving position is excellent. I would recommend the car to anyone.