Great Off road, very comfortable, V8 unlike many other SUV's, locking differential

Gas mileage, but who cares it's worth the extra money

The only vehicle better off road than this that I have driven is the D-90. That was only because the D-90 has less overhang at both ends and better stock tires. Otherwise they are identical. Love this truck, did some pretty intense whelling in it, and I was amazed. it went through situations effortlessly that my wrangler would get stuck in, and did I mention this was a luxury truck? Overall this a great truck if you want a serious off-roader but can't afford a D-90. Don't get me wrong, the D-90 is the greatest truck ever built, and I miss mine (already looking for one as a 2nd vehicle), but this truck is every bit as good off road. I would say the only advantage the D-90 has would be if you were into rock climbing. The disco is also 100x more pleasurable to drive on the road though. You don't get as many looks from people as the D-90 but you still feel pretty good driving one of these. My advice is to buy one of these. I plan on keeping this a long time, atleast long enough to pay it off and also buy a D-90. Land Rover is definitely the best 4x4xfar!!

Similar Products Used:

1998 Jeep Wrangler, 1995 Land Rover Defender 90 SW

Loads of engine torque, ground clearance, and interior room;
Full time 4WD, driver/passenger climate control;
Decent on-road manners.

Very poor gas mileage(with premium gas requirements!);
Expensive parts;
Questionable quality and reliability;

We picked a used '94 model in the fall of 1997, knowing as we went into the deal that Discovery vehicles are high ticket items. I now understand why you see sooo many used Land Rovers at the dealers lots. Many are leased, or purchased, and returned when the warrantees end. This is a sweet truck, when it is not in the repair shop. If you have the deep pockets required to maintain this truck, it's remarkable vehicle; impeccable climate control, great wheel articulation, comfortable seating, ability to load items standing straight up in the cargo area. But the Discovery developed multiple leaks in the valve cover gaskets, and differential seals soon after we picked it up. And yes, it had about 30k mi on it, so you EXPECT some maintenance to be needed. At 40k mi, we were told that the stepper motor needed to be replaced. My wife doesn't climb mountain passes, when the heck would she wear that out? She uses this vehicle mostly on the highway; brings it in for every scheduled service, parks indoors, and pampers this truck every chance she gets. We have also replaced
-the starter,
-the front wheel bearings (dealer wanted $1500.00 for that job - we
went somewhere else!),
-Front tie rods,
This list could go on. But my Big Question is this: how could this truck, one of the toughest vehicles on the planet, need sooo much maintenance???? For the record, we owned a Jeep Cherokee before this, and spent probably one third of the time off-road in it. I beat the hell out of that truck; and had driven in streams 2 1/2 feet deep, over small boulders, on narrow trails, up the stairs of City College, for cryin' out loud. In five and a half years and 165,000 miles, if it spent 12 days in the shop, that was a lot! Besides normal wear items, and oil changes, We replaced a radiator, two brake cables, a rear differential and an oil pan. And Filled up w/regular gas!!! I sold it six years ago,(w/no rust and looking good) and it is still on the road! All at one third the cost of driving this Discovery for 60,000 miles ON-ROAD. Hardly seems worth it. That's why we are considering selling this right back to a Rover mechanic,
and 'discovering' a truck with some balls! I truly believe a 4-Runner or Pathfinder can deliver better performance, on, or off-road. So we will explore that option. Semi-remarkable quality, just not a remarkable value, all things considered.

Similar Products Used:

Jeep Cherokee

Simply put, others have good or even great off road performance but there is absolutley NO comparison to the Land Rover. To top it off, the Disco is just as comfortable and more exotic than any other.

I only wish you could opt for a 3rd seat rather than the jump seats. Factory sunroofs only open about 8". I recomend after market roofs.

What can I say? My Family and I have always been SUV fanatic's even before they were given the moniker of SUV. Back than, they were simply called full cab trucks or suburban type vehicles. Between me and my immediate family, we have owned 2 Broncos, 1 Blazer, 1 Suburban, 1 Tahoe, 2 Toyota Land Cruisers, 1 Toyota 4 Runner, 1 Jeep Cherokee, 1 Grand cherokee and 1 Wrangler and 1 International Harvester Scout II. Not only are we all SUV fanatics, some of us are the biggest mudders (off roaders) you will ever meet. We are not talking about little fire trails to a camp site either! I am addicted to rock crawling and river plunges. I have had my Rover in 3 feet of water!! More on that later.

I myself owned both Broncos and the Scout and now I have a 1999 Land Rover Discovery Series II. My Wife and I started a family and we needed to find a vehicle to suit both worlds. I was not willing at all to give up the least bit on off road capabilities but at the same time, we needed luxary, safety and practicality. I cannot tell you how long my Wife and I shopped the market before actually making a purchase - for a guess, the better part of 3 years. We considered everything from $26k on up to $60k.

To put it straight, all of the big car/SUV companies out there try as hard as they can to make you think that their vehicle is fully capable in ANY situation, on or off road.. I am not going to try to convince you, I only challenge you to see if you cannot convince yourself.

Off-road......> try taking any Toyota, Jeep, Isuzu, GMC, Ford etc. into a 3' deep stream and drive through it for nearly 1/4 mile!! I did it in my Rover on a trip in George Washington National Forest last year. We were trapped in the park one Sunday after a 2 day comping trip and a 120 mile fire road in the other direction. The river was the only out. We had ALL kinds of SUV's and 4x4's in our group of 20 vehicles. Most were lifted and tricked out but I was stock. Funny thing is, I was the only one who did not stall or take on any water at all!!

The Rover has 3 times the wheel articulation of any other stock vehicle other than the Hummer. I could mount a 20" tall rock on the right front wheel and another 20" rock on the left rear wheel and all 4 wheels still touching ground or rock. The Jeep will begin to teeter on just 10" rocks.

Toe Rover has HDC. I cannot tell you how amazing this is!! The first time I tried it, I literally thought I was going to be carried away in a HeloVAC. Again, we were on a mudding trip with about 9 other vehicles and we were stuck in a one way out situation due to torrential down pours that completely collapsed the entrance. We were left with a decent about 600 feet long on about a 35 degree decline. It was SOOO slipery and muddy, you had next to no control by using the breaks or stearing wheel. Most simply pointed their vehicles down the hill and tried their best to stay straight until completing the decent. 1 vehicle tipped, 3 ended up nearly tipped in the steap bank off to the right and just about everyone touched a tree or two going down. 1 Jeep Wrangler with 35" super swamper tires made it down flawlessly. Last came me, I hit the HDC button and remembered what the Rover specialists all said, 'no matter what you may think or feel, after you puch that button and begin decending, DO NOT hit the brakes or gas. The computer processes 250 impulses from each wheel per second. The human mind processes about 1 every 2 seconds.' I pointed my way down, gave a kick to the gas and went for the luge ride of my life with $35K on the line. All I can say is that I remember nothing after that except the cheers and the look of shock on everyones face. No one could believe that I could actually steer to avoid trees!! Not to mention, I did it with street tires!!

On road....> have you ever driven an SUV and NOT had over steer or body roll? I hav driven nearly every SUV out there since the 70's and have not. Not until now. The LR Disco Series II with ACE is an absolute MUST!! I drive the Disco to work every day and take corners just like I do in my Wife's Audi Quattro A4. A few of my friends have ridden with me and they all go to grap the handle or say something when I approach an exit ramp at full speed without slowing down. Then they realize I know what I am doing and that the vehicle can handle it, then they smile and say something like 'that feels GOOD'!

Have you ever seen an SUV with suede, ALL leather seats, real solid 1" thick Walnut trim and where plastic is necessary, it is extremely thick and coated with leather like finishes, not cheap grain texture like GM or Chevy.

ave you ever seen an SUV that you could stand something up rather than lay it down? In the Rover, the cargo area is taller than anything else. You can stand up a grill, rocking chair, little tykes play center, etc. I could not even fit the grill in my full size Bronco without dis-assembling it into 3 pieces.

Similar Products Used:

Bronco, Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, 4 Runner, Land Cruiser, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Scout II.

On road handling
V8 is excellent
Interior and standard features

Off road this car can just be plain dangerous!

Good bits:
On road handling is excellent, ACE is a must. The
V8 is excellent provding, in combination with the
ACE, car like performance on the road.
Interior and features are excellent, quality
and finish is better then previous LR.
In flat SNOW, ICE and MUD this car is one
of the best AWD/4WD vehicles around.

Bad bits:
Off road this car can just be plain dangerous!
Although the Automatic Traction Control
makes this car very capable under power
without a centre locking diff it can be
out and out dangerous in some off road:

1: backing down hills the front wheels WILL lock up:
no steering and a out of control slide
2: cannot use engine braking to descend cos if just
ONE wheel gets free AWAY you gooooo........
3: handbrake does not work properly on steep hills, it
effectivley works on one wheel only

For primarily ON ROAD use (SNOW, towing etc): Buy
For any serious OFF-ROAD: give it a miss

Similar Products Used:

Best ON ROAD of the TRUE (live axle) 4WDs
Most dangerous OFF ROAD I have ever driven

Roomy, great "grocery getter", love the dual sunroofs, true work horse (when running)

Engine failure while driving at high speeds and when crossing railroad tracks (:-))poor gas mileage, somewhat top heavy

Wow, where do I start. I guess I'll start by saying that in order for us to keep our 94 Discovery running, we have to baby it...almost as much as we do our 3 month old son. In the winter months, I've even considered wrapping it in swaddling clothing and lying it in the house to keep it warm and cozy.

The worst experience I'v encountered in our Disco Queen was on the interstate. I was cruising along, listening to cool tunes, when I suddenly realized that I'd lost ALL engine power and those cute little lights on the dash where shining brightly in my terrified face. I was nearly rear ended by one of the numerous trucks (that were blowing horns loudly and in a very irritated manner) as I coasted to safety. Thank God I wasn't in an accident.

There were also several recalls on this vehicle due to problems starting in cold weather (I call it the HYBERNATION SYNDROME). I guess it performs best in the safari.

I hear that when considering the Disco Queen, 97 and above may be a better choice.

Similar Products Used:

None

Extraordinary Ride, Awesome Off-Road, Lots of creature comforts and amenities, and very fun to drive.

Fuel economy, difficult to see traffic lights.

I have had this vehicle for six months and love it. With the extra jump seats in back, this vehicle holds 7 people safely and comfortably. It is a pleasure to drive, and does fantastically well on road or off; dry, wet or snowy. The headlights and fog lights and high vantage make day AND night driving less stressful and much more enjoyable (for the contact-lens compromised like me). The amenities and technologies of this truck are numerous and I like them all. The heated windshield and seats are GREAT in Winter. I also bought the Adventure Rack for the roof, and use it often; it is great for camping gear and great for trips to the hardware store for lumber etc. The dealership has given me the best experience that I have yet to have at any car dealer. I plan to keep my Disco until it dies (hopefully many years hence) and would recommend it to anyone who wants a REAL SUV.

Similar Products Used:

None

love the smooth shifting,great torque. very nice leather interior. decent but overpriced harmon-kardon sound system. love that weather band. smooth on road. ACE is AWESOME!!!!!

seats don't move back far enough, hard to get in and out of back seat. have not been able to try it off-road....yet.

paid around 43,000 and change. had buyers remorse initially but got over it quickly. i have around 15,000 miles with no real problems. just minor things like speakers not working right. i feel very good about my wife driving the vehicle with the kid when it comes :)

Similar Products Used:

None

Great view of the road.
Very Comfortable.
Great standard Equipment.
Build quality.
Full time 4 wheel drive

Horrible Gas consumption
You feel ever bump

Wow I love this vehichle. Most people shy away from the Land Rover because of the price. Well for all "standard" options you would be lucky to find a Cherokee or Pathfinder with the same options for the same price: Standard V8, True Full Time 4 wheel drive, 5000lbs towing capacity, FOG Lights, Cruise Control, Driver/Passenger Climate control, Air Conditioning. Some people complain about the V8 lacking any punch. After 50mph the Rover tends to be a little light on the acceleration but below that the Land Rover has some serious Ummph. The view of the Road is unparralled. The SUV drives like a truck, I kept looking for the gear selector up by the steering wheel. Practically no blind spots anywhere. Gas mileage is terrible, but who buys a SUV for fuel enconomy. Oh, and it likes to suck on the good premium fuel too. The thing likes expensive parts, but the parts don't break often. The engine is very quiet for a vehichle this big. Front seats are very comfortable, my friends say that the backseats can be a little tight for the legs. As for the ride, well that could either go two wyas. One, if the road is perfectly flat the rides is the smoothest thing you have ever felt. However if the road has the slightest bump you and your sleeping passenger will jolt. But that's what I love about it. Refined yet so rugged. I love to know what my vehichle is doing. If you really want an SUV buy one, otherwise buy a mini-van.

Similar Products Used:

None

Looks great and tons of room inside

the engine is not too powerful and it eats a lot of gas

Great SUV. It does well in the concert jungle and also handles itself well off road. If you are looking for something to get to the supermarket and also visit the mountains this is the suv, unless you don't like going in style.

happy driving!

Similar Products Used:

Jeep Grand Cherokee is much faster and better on the gas milage, but not nearly as luxurious inside.

long travel, high-articulation coil suspension with solid axles front and rear, fully boxed frame, aluminum body panels, durable interior appointments, no-nonsence and utilitarian styling and design

below average fuel economy, below average power to weight ratio

The Discovery is a very durable and reliable vehicle that is equally at home on or off road. We purchased this vehicle new with the intention of keeping it ten years and 100,000+ miles. Three years into ownership and it has held up great.

This is our fourth and easily best SUV since 1987. What initially attracted us to the vehicle was the solid truck-like construction but with a much better build quality than the American full sized SUV's. After a miserable experience with a unibody Jeep, we wanted something more durable and reliable but still in a smaller size. The Disco fit the bill.

The Discovery's frame and suspension are basically the same as found on the Defender, a utility vehicle used by militaries around the world. Since similar chassis Land Rovers typically last 20 to 30 years in military service, we thought the Discovery would be an excellent vehicle for long term ownership. So far it has held up well.

We used to live in the Rockies and used all of our SUV's off road. We took the Disco back to Colorado last year for a summer vacation, and traversed many of the same trails we did in our previous vehicles. Overall, the Disco was noticeably superior when climbing Engineers Pass and similar trails.

As for onroad handling, the vehicle does roll alot. However, once the initial roll has settled, the vehicle is very predictable in turns. The steering is also more communitive than most trucks. On the highway, its an easy cruiser. While the engine/transmission doesn't provide much thrust, the drivetrain has much lower levels of Noise/Vibration/Harshness than the Jeep GC.

As for reliability, LR has a poor reputation for reliability. However, we havn't experienced any significant issues with our Land Rover and the dealer service has been superb. Considering that we paid less new for our SD with leather than the Mitsu Montero or JGC Limited, I think the Land Rover is quite a bargain.

Similar Products Used:

1987 Mitsubishi Montero, 1989 Ford Bronco, 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee