USED Land Rover Discovery 4x4 (04 - )

My car

Purchased an ‘approved used’ 2.7 V6 Automatic (3 ½ years old) from the Main Dealer complete with six month warranty (I guess this should have set the alarm bells ringing). Well impressed, lovely car to drive with stunning looks. Took it to the dealer for the mot; suspension problem £1’500.00. I later checked the DVLA website for the past mot; issued by the same dealer and noted the suspension problem as an advisory; I’d been sold a lemon. The electronic parking brake failed soon after £750 at independent garage. The suspension continued to be a problem, bearing failed, tyres endlessly replaced (worn on one edge). Lots of niggling electrical issues then catastrophy; turned key engine sounded strange, (no warning lights) engine off; car recovered to main dealer. Oil casing needs replacement £720 followed by sorry sir engine broken £10’000.00 (reconditioned unit), not impressed! Independent garage £7’600.00 can do the work once I’ve finished replacing the engine on the Landrover Sport. This is a common problem! Asked Landrover for a contribution, three days later Sorry Sir NO. Marvellous £23’000.00 worth of vehicle reduced to scrap in two years! Wish I’d never walked into their showroom.

My car

We have an 11 plate Disco (so have had it 2 years now) and it is, hands downs, the best car we've ever had. It is luxurious, powerful, practical and has never missed a beat on snow, mud, sand, you name it...! Our local dealers have been very helpful every step of the way (although the car has only ever been in for its scheduled service), but that said, there is no denying it costs a lot to run (£365 for each snow tyre! Which we never bought and never needed). We have friends who have (more expensive) X5s, Merc MLs etc. but they are just not the car the Disco is. The extra seats can be put up and down in 20 seconds and there is still enough room behind them for a couple of small cases or a large-ish weekly shop (we have two growing boys!). If you have the money I really wouldn't think twice, whatever you have heard about older Discos does not apply to this car - it's fantastic!

My car

I've had the SDV6 XS for just over a week and cranked out a 100 miles per day since I've had it. I had a 2009 Disco 4 XS before that. Sadly I sold that and spent a year driving a "regular" car and missed my Disco the whole time.

The old Disco 4 was no slouch, but the new power plant is so much better. Getting out at busy junctions or nipping past a slow moving vehicle on a twisting country lane is no problem at all.

As before, motorway cruising is sublimely comfortable and utterly effortless. I drove from Lincoln to Holyhead and then from Dublin to Cork in my old XS and was sad when I had to get out. The new XS feels every bit as comfortable and just as wonderful to drive. I'm 6' tall and not a small man in other ways too, but the seats are superbly comfortable. Add to that the huge windows and high up driving position making visibility second to none. It also makes a huge difference when driving at night too. No more being dazzled.

I had a couple of minor niggles on the older car but nothing major and they were sorted out quickly and without fuss by the dealer. Touch wood nothing on he new one.However the old car took a lot of punishment, through Irish bogs, moors and mountains. I know everyone moans at running costs and I know they are not cheap but quite frankly you are getting 3 cars for the price of 1. Executive cruiser. Unstoppable 4x4. Superb family wagon and work horse. Landy got it absolutely right. Why drive a car when you can drive a Land Rover?

My car

Update on my previous review. Now had the car 12 months, travelled 25,000 miles and happy to report no issues. None. Full stop. Everyone without exception that has been in the car has commented on the comfort, performance,low noise levels and ride quality. These are the same people that have been chauffeured around in my previous succession of A6's, a4's and the Q7 so top marks to land rover for that. It would be 5 stars all round but there are just one or two areas of trim that could be better - just not quite as solid as Audi. You have to prod around a bit to find them but they are there... Fuel economy is still a solid 28mpg on A/B road commutes and up to 30 on steady motorway cruise. Main dealer service at Edenbridge has been faultless. Overall couldn't be happier with the car and would (and do) happily recommend it as the ultimate all- purpose vehicle.