Discovery3 - how good - how reliable

Read on another forum about the D3's. Apparently they are not selling at all well (191 in Oz was figure quoted) and there's a link to a page of horror stories. The guy writing has had two total electronic failures, the second at just over 400 miles. An airbag went off at 100 kph and set the airbags off. If it's not the case, don't shoot me, I'm just reportig what I've read and I have no first hand knowledge of them.

I think it's way too early to make a call yet. Any brand new model is certain to be dodgey and I imaging the next D"3.1" version will have a lot of the real world bugs ironed out. You don't need to be a statistician to work out that the odds of something going wrong in a high tech D3 are imeasurably higher than in a bare bones GU for example. Hopefully Landrover have changed their habits and will make something dependable this time round as I have fond memories of Dad's old 2A. Track record is definately not good though.

No first-hand experience but I spoke to an owner towing a tandem caravan in Darwin a few weeks ago. He's previously had a couple of DII Td5's and loves his new DIII. Reckons it tows very well and has plenty of power.

He wasn't too impressed when he took it to the Darwin LR dealer for it's 20,000km service though. They booked him in, then when he turned up a couple of days later they discovered they didn't have oil filters or the correct oil for it!! A call to LRA resulted in a promise to fly the required items up the next day. He returned to the dealer yet again to find the WRONG parts had been sent - Not happy, Jan!!

This is hard for a committed LR owner to say but I think LR have lost the plot with the DIII. I think it's ugly and has lost the distinctive style of the DI and DII. The vehicle is also incredible heavy - kerb weight well over 2500kg! And while the TDV6 is apparently very capable, it's a bl**dy V6 (an accountants engine design). Therefore, IMHO, inherently unbalanced, and very likely near impossible to work on due to non-existent access. Why didn't they keep the impressive Td6 3.0L straight six from the Range Rover? [Speaking of Rangies, have you considered a diesel Rangie? I've read somewhere that the RR Sport is about the same price (or even cheaper) than an up-spec DIII.]

But the biggest problem with LR these days is the near non-existence of a dealer network outside major coastal cities. AFAIK there are no dealers in Qld west of Toowoomba or Cairns (Mt Isa no longer has one). There are dealers in Alice Springs and Darwin in the NT but (as mentioned above) the Darwin one doesn't inspire confidence and they told me they were giving up the LR franchise in a couple of months time. Who is going to by a vehicle for outback touring (or even worse, as a work vehicle in the case of Defenders) with such pi55-poor support.

Looks like our '97 Disco I 300Tdi with 200,000kms will have to do the job a while longer. At least it can be fixed just about anywhere with a brick and a screwdriver (not that it's needed much fixing apart from 'fair wear & tear' - has never let us down on the road or in the bush).

Ian

I have had my D3 TDV6 for 4 months now and done over 10,000kms. over 7,000 towing a Tvan. I am happy to report absolutely NO PROBLEMS and I am a person who would previously not even consider buying the first of a new model, especially a Disco!
I took it on a test drive and was sold, most impressive vehicle I have ever driven, and great value for money. I have owned Landcruisers, Nissans, BMW; the D3 beats them all.
My Complaints: Not being able to keep the suspension up to maximum height over 40kph, and the spare wheel position.
Offroad: everything else pales into insignificance. (I have been driving offroad for more than 40 years)
Fuel economy: 12l/100 around town, 10 hwy, 13 towing.
A study of LR forums show some vehicles have had a few teething probs, but nothing major. A couple of lemons in the USA but probably more the American attitude to Life.
Don't knock them until you have driven one.
Not too many have been sold here as everyone wants the TD and LR cant supply, they have plenty of V8's though! Regards SKP

The problem of the new discos not selling as well is ,as i have been told by a landy distributor that buyers are being spooked by the prospect that dealerships, mainly in country areas are being rationalised. It appears that rover aust and the group that there associated with are trying to get all dealers to go with the same stable that is rover daimler & jaguar. The country dealers are not prepared to sell these top line vehicles. One metro dealer in Victoria sold 300 discos last year and he has had his dealership taken off him. There are currently 150 discos ,so i am told in 2 dealers in melb and they are having trouble moving them because of this rationalisation. I don't think the metro dealers are interested in country sales. I have had landies since 1972, the last 3, defenders and are due to change over in December. My Country dealer(Bendigo) has lost his dealership and the next closest one Shepparton will lose theirs in Oct next year. After phone calls to the General manager and the state sales manager i was told that i had 2 options that was to drive 170 ks there and 170 back for services of we could part company with landrover. I then rang a Melb dealer one month ago for a price on a new defender, no trade, and as such has not got back to me with a price. It is little wonder that they are not selling and if rover aust. do not do something positive they will not sell many vehicles, no matter how good or bad they are. I only hope i can by another defender before it is too late.

As the owner of aT\D cruiserI agree the Dsco 3 makes it look and feel ancient. Will the disco be reliable lets hope so but it hasn't got much to beat in the relability stakes against the 100 cruiser. I saw a lot of broken 100s on the Cape this year and mine broke its diff climbing gently out of Palm creek. The disco also has the best seating arrangement I have seen. I travel a lot in remote areas and owning a Disco in that respect would be scary for parts and service not many 18' tires outback. What i hope the disco does is make Toyota and Nissan lift thier game to another level. to build a tuff reliable comfortable efficient out back tourer. Cheers Rob

My son in Sydney has owned one for 4 months and has had zero problems so far.The test reports sure are impressive but I think I'll be a Troopy owner forever.

Ugly.

As a former Disco man, I would like to give the new one a bit of a drive. Pity they've lost that distictive Disco/LR layout and seem to have gone all Japanese with the boring interior. Reports sound encouraging. Buggered if I'm changing horses again now I have a boring and reliable LC100. Having said that, my Disco was just as reliable. Just didnt have enough room and was more expensive for parts. Otherwise excellent vehicle and beaut to drive. But I can get a lot more toys in the LC100.

Hi Sky Pilot, I know of one guy that has a Disco3 and another guy that has the new Range Rover Sports..... both awesome offroad, I believe there where a couple of teething problems with the Disco3 when it was first released, but it is pretty rock solid now.... jump onto the AULRO website, you'll get the truth there from people that own a disco3.

Matt.
"matbor" - www.aulro.com

Saw a silver Range Rover Sport parked near my house today - absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Reminded my far more of my 1986 RR than the last few models. Also closer to its size. If only I had the money! Would make a good tow vehicle with the V6TD engine and 6 speed auto.