Unique looks, British/European flare, great offroad, great stereo (12 harmon kardon speakers)

lack of map lights, poor cupholders, leaving your dogs in the truck sets off the alarm when you lock it because of the motion detectors, which, as I understand it, have been removed since the 99 version.

It always cracks me up to see people who buy an SUV and give it a negative rating for issues they should have known about before they purchased the vehicle if they had done any sort of research. Things such as gas mileage, wind noise, rear seat entry, bumper construction, etc. All of these are given to a consumer of a LR Discovery II when the do a little research and test drive the vehicle. Oh well, maybe I'm just an overly-conscious consumer who likes to know, as much as possible, what I'm getting myself into.

Nevertheless, I have 18.5k miles on my LR and have not had to worry about a thing. I have had no serious issues although I am thankful for that the scheduled periodic repairs I have have had done were under warranty. The latest involved the replacement of the radiator at 15k miles, a determination made by LR and not because of any problems I noticed.

Mine is a base model equipped with the cold weather pkg and the leather pkg. I do not have ACE nor SLS. I do wish it had a more powerful engine, but then again, I knew this going in. I have also managed to get 17-18 mpg on freeway trips and in the low teens when city driving. I have taken it off-road a few times and love its prowess! I also wish it had a rear-window that "rolled" down for those trips to the hardware store...this is overcome by using the roofrack, however. Speaking of the roofrack, I wish it was rated higher than 100 pounds. Add two mtn bikes and you've already taken up half of the roof's allotted weight. The cupholders are pretty pathetic and hold only a twelve ounce can of pop or latte. Anything larger won't fit or bumps up against the climate controls. The body lean isn't that bad and is easy to become accumstomed to.

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chevy blazer, isuzu rodeo, toyota forerunner.

- Tight, solid feel
- Big size, yet feels manageable
- Lots of one-of-a-kind gadgets
- The Land Rover mystique

- Premium uel consumption
- Steering wheel too low
- Cup holders are awful

I bought a 1998 Disco I from Carmax and instantly fell in love...and then I opened the hood and saw those dreaded five letters: LUCAS. Christ, I thought, haven't they gone out of business yet? Still, I loved the car and prepared myself for lots of problems.

I went to the local dealer (HBL) to buy the trailer wiring kit ($165!!), and they asked me which series I owned. I had no idea there was a serious difference between the two, but I got a much needed education. I talked to a nice salesman and opened the hood of a 2001..and there were five letters that made my heart glad: BOSCH. Lucas had been booted. I ended up taking back the 98 and buying a 2000, which is pretty much the same as a 2001.

The differences between the two are subtle, but huge. The Bosch vs. Lucas thing is major, but so are the interior changes. Driving position is much improved, though I still think the steerting wheel needs a bigger opening and needs to raise more. The gauges, warnings lights and buttons are much better organized. Thankfully, they increased the size of the front windshield and seeing traffic lights is less of a challenge. The dual climate control is much fancier. From what I read the Hill Descent Control is an amazing addition. There is also MUCH less body roll, and I don't have ACE. I do miss the map lights and wider door openings on the Disco I and I wonder about the lack of a diff lock, but overall, I think the Disco II is a superior vehicle.

I have yet to drive off road, but on the road the Disco II is a very well mannered vehicle. It feels much smaller than it actually is.

After one week, I'm completely in love with this car. Hopefully, I'll feel the same after several years. Feel free to write me if you have any specific questions.

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1998 Discovery I...I bought one and then took it back to get a 2000 Discovery II

Unique style, Big Rims/Tires, Range Rover reputation for offroad ruggedness.

10 MPG HWY / 8 MPG CITY, Blind spots, Transmission, Off road handling, cheap plastic everywhere, Doesn't hold its value, warranty repairs list never empty. Style factor turns smiles upside down with the constant dealer effort and don't plan to get your repairs done any time soon at most
Land Rover dealers.

I bought a loaded black version of the "Disco II." This ain't no Disco! The car couldn't make it off the lot new, without numerous issues. The loaner had the same issues too numerous to mention, including, cheap plastic bumper moldings that can never get straight, look at any Disco and
you will see the bumper moldings are crooked, electronics problems, sensor issues, a transmission not suited for highway use (stay out of the fast lane altogether), weird losses of power which the dealer doesn't understand. It happened to me on my first test drive and we tried another one. You can't see stop lights due to the front window's low under hang. We went off road in some loose dirt as the engine wailed and wailed we thought it was going to blow up sooner or later. The car was never the same after one off road adventure. It went to the shop more often than I drove it during the first three months. Loaners didn't make a difference. We wouldn't drive a Disco loaner and they finally gave us a mercedes 500. Very poor quality control from a company that should stick to what it does best - off road. Bought the car for $32000, happily sold it less than one year later to some poor shmuck for $22000.

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FORD Explorer
Mitsbubishi Montero

Off road driving, front visibility, feels roomy in front, dual zone AC, good stereo. Service Department. Customer Service. No hassel Buying experience.

GAS guzzler, getting in and out of back seats, cup holders, road noise, expensive tires (unusual rim size, few choices), lot of minor repairs, rough ride, road noise on interstate, golf bag will only fit diagonally in back, heavy back door to open/shut when not on level ground, poor visibility out back from spare tire- especially when rear arm rest is up. Sport mode button needs to always be on.

I loved this car vehicle for the first 6 months, then the headache stuff started happening. I would only recommend owning a Rover if you only plan on driving under warranty. I only have 14K miles on this car and there has already been $4000 worth of warranty work done. I am on my third set of windshield wipers at $60 per pair. The dealer charges $50 to rotate the tires. Speaking of tires, the rim size is not very popular because only two people in town had them (one was Rover) $900 Job. The all wheel drive transmission causes tires to wear faster than a normal sport utility that you can select 4wd. All time 4WD is another reason why mileage is bad.

What I like about the vehicle is that you do not see one on every corner,
you own a vehicle that is in the prestige class of a Benz, BMW. I will probably not buy another one and take a closer look at the Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, or Acura.

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Explorer, Jeep.

Tough, extremely versatile vehicle with outstanding off-road ability (at least in sand where I use it the most). Lots of torque, good ride and handling for a 4wd in spite of sway/lean through twisty bits. Spacious, comfortable and looks better than any off-roader that doesn't have a Range Rover badge.

Electric window control placement.
Rear view mirror too small.
Could do with some more cargo room behind rear seat.
Loves a drink.
Transmission can drop out of low range if not pushed home a second time.

I acquired my 1995 Disco second hand about 2 years ago with 40000 km (about 25000 miles) on the clock. Prior to this, I had heard stories of reliability problems with this model, particularly associated with the electrics and the transmission. Nevertheless, I'd always wanted a Land Rover and this one looked great and the price was right, so I threw caution to the wind and bought it. Since then and 40000 miles later, I've had no reason to offer anything but praise for this vehicle.

Keeping in mind that it is a heavy duty 4wd, this truck rides and handles well around town. There is some lean if you push hard through corners, which was initially disconcerting (most of my previous 4X4s were incapable of being pushed as hard as the Discovery). However, this should not be mistaken for poor handling as the truck grips the road extremely well and generally goes where it's pointed. It may be due to the fact that I'm often forced to drive my wife's Cherokee (because she prefers the Land Rover) which is poor in this area, but the steering also provides good response and feedback under all road conditions. Performance is also more than adequate for this type of vehicle.

Off road, the Land Rover is outstanding and so far, hasn't let me down. I've never belonged to the hardcore four wheel drive set but I do quite a lot of beach driving. The Discovery has had to endure sustained periods of ploughing through soft sand, crossing rivers and scrambling over rocks and dunes. When selecting low range, it's important to remember that after engaging, you have to drive a few feet before pushing it home again. Otherwise, it can drop out of low range, causing some embarrassment. The word from other owners is that all Discoveries are like this.

Inside, the Discovery is well equipped and quite luxurious. Seats are superb, controls/dials are (reasonably) easy to read and use (although placement of window switches could be better) and you get excellent vision of the road and surroundings through the vast expanses of glass. There is an abundance of pockets and storage areas all over the place and a few quasi-useful cup holders that Americans seem so obsessed with.

Overall, I'd have no hesitation in recommending the Land Rover Discovery to someone who needs a really versatile vehicle that will perform well and look good around town, yet also have huge ability to take them seriously off road. Potential buyers who have no intention of taking it off road, should look elsewhere because you'll never come to fully appreciate it's capabilities. For those in the former category, if you can get hold of a well looked after example with a complete Land Rover service history, buy it.

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1973 G60 Nissan Patrol (tough, reliable but rusty and uncomfortable pig of a truck. Not really a valid comparison), 1986 Toyota Land Cruiser (big and reliable but uncomfortable and slow), 1995 Jeep Cherokee Sport (quick, noisy and cramped with disgusting cheap and nasty interior. Not bad off road though).

Solid build, good ride, smooth and comfortable highway cruiser, great visibility, lots of storage and (I know this is hard to believe)outstanding dealership support at Land Rover of Barrington.

Cup holders won't accept my 20oz drinks and the rear doors are narrow.

I had narrowed my choice to between the Mercedes ML430 and the Discovery II. I dumped the ML430 because of its mini-van looks, a cheap, squeaky interior, poor reliability history, and (to top it off) lousy treatment at Mark Motors in Arlington Heights.
The buying experience at Land Rover in Barrington was the most pleasant imaginable. My Discovery has been reliable and shows very good fit and finish.
I drive the Discovery to work every day in heavy traffic. So far, I'm getting 16.5mpg and really enjoy the on-road manners. It cruises comfortably at 65-70mph and the long travel suspension soaks up the sea of potholes that pass for road in the Chicago area. I can't believe how good the brakes are and the high seating position lets you see farther ahead. I have noticed some complaints concerning a lack of power. To me, it seems fine. I might note that my previous cars were a 97 vette and a 97 Mark VIII---both well above average in the acceleration department. Incidentally, this thing is Heavy. By nature of its size and weight, its a safe vehicle. However, if you hit something, you're going to pulverize it, so running into the back of that SL600 might be something you want to avoid.
My fiance and I took the Discovery II off-roading (she drove) and couldn't believe how well it performed. There is no way my Cherokee could have gone through some of the areas that the Discovery managed. You simply won't believe it until you've taken it off-road yourself (maybe not even then.)
There are a few things that I would change. 1. Bigger cup holders---why can't European car makers get the blasted cup holders right? 2. The rear doors are narrow. 3. I would move the window switches to the doors.
4. I really can't think of anything else...its a solid, comfortable truck. If you are considering something else, make sure you drive the Land Rover. It won't cost you anything, the dealers are low pressure, and you are about to lay down a very large amount of cash. So, drive one, I think you'll be happy you did.

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heavily modified 87' Cherokee (for off-road), 78' Land Cruiser Wagon, 95' F150 4X4

This is a great vehicle. Excellent road manners. Great visability. Safety. Ride comfort is very good. For me the best feature is the ability to lower the back seat and fit half-a-room in the back. We recently moved and I don't know what I would have done if it were not for my Discovery. Excellent dealer.

I average 13 to 14 MPG

I have to admit a was a little nervious about buying a Discovery after hearing some of the stories, but I can honestly say that it's been a pleasure to own. Fit and finish are second to none. Most people think that this truck sells for much more than it actually does and with the 48 month bumper to bumper warranty, the cost of ownership is very reasonable. If you want a very capable SUV that will stand out from the crowd and don't want the image of driving a Lexus or Mercedes SUV, this is the vehicle for you!

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I owner a Blazer and considered a Jeep and Lexus SUV prior to the Discovery purchase.

Interior space (I'm 6ft 4" tall!), comfort, looks, road pressence, storage space, smoothness of engine.

Slightly restricted front view.
Fuel Consumption.
The earlier Diso's had a manufacturers recall due to the plastic dashboard warping, a day at the garage will have this problem rectified, free of charge! My local garage even delivered the car back to my house for me!

I bought this car several months ago after selling a small "hothatch" car. I'll never go back to owning a saloon type car again!
The amount of interior space is amazing, there are pockets and flaps and holders everywhere. I am a golfer and have recently transported two friends of mine, three bags of clubs, trolleys etc with no real problems at all.
The driving position is very comfortable with great all-round visibillity, although the windscreen is a little "low", sometimes causing problems when driving down hill.
The 3.9 V8 delivers a huge amount of power, I used it recently to pull a very large horsebox, which was packed full of furniture. The car drove as if there was nothing attached. I also had to use it to pull my fathers car out of mud when he got stuck near my girlfiends house, the towing eye rig on the back of the car made for an easy way to attach ropes etc and with the transfer box set in low range, it made pulling the car out an almost effortless experience.
On the motorway the car cruises so smoothly and quietly it's easy to be doing 90 without even realising it!
All in all I love this car, the fuel consumption is not great, and the servicing can be expensive, but, that is the case with many "luxury" vehicles.
If you want style, comfort, good looks and the ability to go and get your car filthy dirty and caked in mud......... Buy a Disco....

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None

Weight, height & clearance, safety, offroad capability, aluminum body panels, top SUV characteristics

Cornering stability/sway (see below), fuel consumption, repairs, highway cabin noise, low front windshield brow, dashboard detail (sun damage problem)

This is a solid car that I have enjoyed owning. Until recent repairs, I have felt that this car, a base SD model without the frills, was a good value compared to other vehicles-- a stout luxury vehicle that could handle all driving conditions for less than others.

Repairs:
However, I have repaired leaking seals, cruise control, squealing brakes, clutch, and major amount of the transmission. With regard to the brakes, it took the dealership a long time to resolve the problem, but it was just a matter of replacing the pads (even though the pads where less than a year old). W/r/t transmission and clutch, this vehicle is obviously a 5 speed. The manual system is not great, its clunky, but I would still rather drive a manual. The automatic is a good system apparently, and surprisingly delivers more power quicker. These manual transmission problems occured at 60,000 miles-- not a good record for repairs that cost close to $3,000!

Sway:
W/r/t the weakness of vehicle sway and cornering, I improved this by adding Bilstein shocks, which made a large improvement. I would recommend this in spite of $500 price tag.

Series 2:
Sway and many other design flaws and weaknesses noted above have been fixed in the Series 2. If the mechanical improvements are all they are supposed to be, if you are in the market, get a Series 2-- even if the Series 2 has lost some of the stoic edge. If you are looking for a used one, you might wait and get a used Series 2.

Extended service warranty:
An important note about warranties: an extended service warranty is critical for this car I believe, especially the Series 1. You will definitely have repairs with a Series 1, and you will get more enjoyment out of it, especially if you go offroad and really use it, if you are less worried about repair costs. Add the warranty cost to your cost of ownership. And dont let your factory warranty run out before you get the Land Rover extended warranty-- few other companies offer coverage for Land Rovers.

Dealership:
Remember that you may be married to the dealership for repairs of your Discovery. When the dealership's service department is having problems, as is my local dealer (bad management? too many cars to fix? not enough trained technicians?), you get extra problems too. Generally, however, I think Land Rover dealerships are well trained to provide pleasant service.

Overall:
My overall rating is torn between really liking the Discovery Series 1 and its intended toughness, and between the fact that the promise is not totally fulfilled when it (at least the manual transmission) breaks down in the course of normal onroad use.

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None

Character, commanding view, feeling of solidity and safety, versatility (it can also seat 7), off-road capabilities, generally good reliability

Should come equipped with a winch, being the beast it is, otherwise it is so heavy that if it gets stuck, it will not budge. Costly repairs, if you come across them.

Had it for several years now, it never grows outdated with its unique look and style, excellent both in town and country, great for family trips, especially long ones. It has the smoothest engine I have ever experienced, and quiet too. Power is adequate. Holds the road well, but excels in icy or snowy conditions. Repairs do happen from time to time, but they have not been "showstopper" ones. Will buy another Discovery in the future.

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Jeep Cherokee 1994 - does not compare at all