Thinking about getting into a Discovery Sport

[BrianElloy]

Guys

im considering a Disco Sport for the Mrs.

any comments on this car? Keen to hear your collective thoughts ..

I'm taking over her D4v8 (finally)

[BMKal]

A good choice. [wink11]

We've had one as a loaner while the D4 was in for a service - very impressed. Much better than the Evoque that we were given last time.

[Lukeis]

I can't speak for the disco sport but I loved my Freelander 2 so I can only imagine they have improved it further... a perfect second car since you already have a d4

[BrianElloy]

guys thanks for the commentary but i'm looking for some concrete feedback, e.g.:

- how do you reckon it compares with other smallish 7-seaters on the market (e.g. SantaFe, Sorento) in terms of value for money, coz it ain't cheap, and the warranty is pretty ordinary IMO
- any reliability or quality issues so far?
- is the HSE worth spending the extra coin on?
- any feedback on the new Ingenium diesel engine?


thanks guys

ps. we'll be taking one out for all of next weekend so the Mrs will have a good opportunity to drive it

[BobD]

I got an SE so I could get 17 inch tyres then added the couple of items I wanted that were standard on HSE. Didn't want much but if you look at my post re my DS order you will see that I added lots of the tech stuff.

No idea how it compares to the others you mentioned. It is no D4, though. NVH is nowhere as good and road noise and ride are not in the same century.

Ingenium has huge lag off the mark but once the revs rise, plenty of go. I have the 132kW. Also lots of vibration at low revs, which the transmission keeps the engine in.

You will have to have a drive and see if you like it.

[willem]

Guys

im considering a Disco Sport for the Mrs.

any comments on this car? Keen to hear your collective thoughts ..

I'm taking over her D4v8 (finally)

G'day Brian,

We have 2016 Disco Sport HSE, with the 2.2 litre non Ingenium diesel which we purchased as an almost new car in January this year. We sold our D3 V8 for the DS.

We reckon it's a great car. Have used it quite a bit already - we do about 2500 kms a month - and it has done everything we expected.

It's not as good a ride as the D3, and it is a bit noisier, but it handles very nicely. It is quite capable as a tow car handling our 1.3 tonne caravan nicely, even up and down steep hills and quite twisty roads (Great Ocean Road). Fuel economy is 6.5 - 8.5 l/100 km, depending on what sort of driving we're doing. Only when towing did it go above that, to 10.5 l/100 km. Which is a real improvement on the D3.

Power at higher speeds is less than the V8, but that is to be expected. The sheer go that keeps on going with the V8 is something I do miss. I don't miss the cost of fuel, though!

I'm a big bloke and I have plenty of space. The back seat passengers reckon they have at least as much leg room as the D3. The car is much more advanced than the D3 - 10 years development goes a long way! We appreciate most of them, though not the automatic stop/ start.

So, we like it. As Bob says, not in the same category as the D3/ D4, but a great car. Certainly suits our needs as a family at this stage of life.

Willem

[BobD]

I should add to my post that we love it too. Sometimes the grumbly engine at low revs is slightly annoying but overall it is an incredibly practical, roomy and good car to drive. If I didn't have a D4 and now Willem's V8 D3 as well, I would think it's ride and quietness was very good! That V8 is an incredible engine!!

Willem, my car has firmer suspension than yours, with the active dynamics option. The engine is also not as smooth, which is the opposite of what LR is saying about the new Ingenium vs the old 2.2! However, both models are great cars. I am very happy with ours. We are up to 12,000km since November. The only real issue with the new engine is the use of AdBlue, which is a pain to fill the way that LR has implemented it.

[BrianElloy]

thanks guys

well my wife and I will be test-driving the HO engine (180KW) version of the 2.0 diesel this weekend so i'll see how she goes. I'm hoping for next to no lag tho - wishful thinking maybe - we'll see. I am also looking at the new SantaFe and KIA Sorento, both of which are highly rated and have brilliant warranties. Did you guys cross-shop these cars when you settled on the DiscoSport?

cheers

[rar110]

Both the alternatives have very good reviews. And the Kia warranty is amazing. I've seen some reviews comparing the alternatives to the DS. The DS seems to win on ride quality/style/design/features, but not on price. The alternatives are well regarded for a lot less money.

[BobD]

Never heard of an HO version or a 180kW version of the diesel. The petrol is the most powerful at 177kW and 132kW is the most powerful diesel, both on the current web site and when I bought mine late last year. I think you mean the 132kW, which I have, which is 180PS.

I had no interest in any other car so didn't try the Korean brands. According to one test I read, one of them beat the latest Range Rover Sport, which is impossible! It was mainly because it had a walk up and open tailgate whilst the RRS and the DS both have gesture operated tailgates. In every other way the RRS was better, except price, obviously. It would be much a closer comparison between the Koreans the and Disco Sport, however. They would certainly win on value and warranty though. However, it depends greatly on what your priorities are.

[BrianElloy]

thanks guys

well my wife and I will be test-driving the HO engine (180KW) version of the 2.0 diesel this weekend so i'll see how she goes. I'm hoping for next to no lag tho - wishful thinking maybe - we'll see. I am also looking at the new SantaFe and KIA Sorento, both of which are highly rated and have brilliant warranties. Did you guys cross-shop these cars when you settled on the DiscoSport?

cheers

my bad - its not 180Kw but 180HP (yes I know the difference ! :)

here's an article that explains .. 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE TD4 180 review | PerformanceDrive (http://performancedrive.com.au/2017-land-rover-discovery-sport-hse-td4-180-review-0116/)

[Tombie]

We currently have a Discovery Sport whilst the wifes D90 is in having a bit of a makeover...

Lovely vehicle for its class, spirited to drive (SD4) and well equipped.

Had just 3,240km when handed over to us for the next 2 weeks.


Drives smoothly, economical when driven nicely, the infotainment is responsive and easy to use, full electric seat controls... Even my bulky frame fits comfortably...

And goes like a scolded cat when asked to do so, hooked to a sweet 9 speed auto.

Currently doing duties running Mrs Tombie around for work etc... (Excellent service considering its 4 hours and 380km from the dealer)

[BobD]

The SD4 is the old engine, Tombie. The new one is the TD4 132. Same power, near enough, but 2.0l instead of 2.2l.

In the test posted by the OP they mentioned the engine groaning due to the low revs, which I referred to as grumbling. At 100kph the engine is doing only 1250rpm and even groans then. That is the main thing that spoils the otherwise excellent engine but it seems to be the price you pay for going for absolute minimum fuel consumption. I tried it in sports mode the other day but it still keeps the revs at 1250 when possible. Its not really happy until a bit above those revs.

We get 7.5l/100 on both trips and driving around the suburbs.

[disco spargs]

Hi Brian

We picked up a SE td4 or small engine! Didn't need all the extras
Just ticketed over 6000km amazing car yes it has some turbo lag and a little road noise. But as an all round package for my wife it's hard to beat for price.
And off road bloody awesome!!https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/05/1017.jpg

[BrianElloy]

Guys - not trying to offend any Disco Sport owners as I am a Land Rover guy, but here's my objective feedback after a half-day test driving (we have it for the whole weekend thanks to the good folk at Barbagallo Land Rover)

Please note I am shopping for a car for my wife. She currently drives the D4 but I'm taking it over.

What I Like
- good looking, has presence
- pulls hard once it gets going
- 2nd row sliding fore/aft is really good. makes 2nd row comfort class-leading, and solves the tight 3rd row problem fairly well
- brand. I love my D4.

What I Don't Like
- serious lag - not sure whether this is turbo lag or gearbox. never seems to be in the right gear when taking off from idle/slow
- need to pay bookoo dollars for stuff like climate & memory seats, 3rd row, metallic paint, proper radio, front sensors, active safety-tech, sunroof etc etc
- console is hard and annoying where your left knee rests
- diesel engine note / rattle (yes, I tested the new Ingenium 132kW engine)
- gearbox sometimes hunts. too many bloody gears. 6 is enough!
- zero space behind 3rd row. I couldn't fit my backpack in it without it tipping over and out of the car, seriously.
- felt a minor but disturbing shimmy from front end sometimes. couldn't replicate but felt it several times.
- space-saver spare with 3rd row option
- you need to spend an extra $15K+ to get comparable options and spec when compared with top-spec sorento, santafe or CX9
- ordinary warranty (in this day and age)

let the flames begin ..

[BobD]

Why would anyone flame you? You summed it up very well and exactly what I thought you would say, particularly if you are seriously considering the Koreans. As I said, serious lag for an engine with reduced lag and lots of noise for an improved and smoother and quieter engine! I have tried everything to reduce the lag but in the end you just put your foot down and as soon as the revs rise high enough (slowly) it goes like a scaled cat. It think it is a lack of torque below 1200rpm and a gearbox that is made to reduce torque converter slip to reduce fuel consumption. It is like a manual turbo diesel which has nothing until you hit the torque band.

Never had any problem with shimmy though, in the 13,000km we have had the car. Our DS is also for my wife to drive, similar to what you want to do. I keep the D4. You may have felt the lane keeping technology. It vibrates the steering, like running over a ripple strip, if you cross a white line without indicating for example.

The cost of the extra technology is huge as you say. I easily added $20,000 to the base price of the SE and a lot of it is standard in a Korean car or a Skoda Octavia.

Despite all that, I am happy with the car (a 5 seater, I would never get the 7 seater) and would buy the same thing again if they allowed bulk filling of the Add Blue. The only thing I wouldn't do is get the auto parking technology, which I got for my wife but she can't work out how to use it.

Edit, re your comments on the transmission. If you own it you will find it is not like what you have described. It doesn't hunt but it does try to stay in a high gear for as long as possible and then it changes down a few gears to get going, sometimes with a bit of a jerk. I think it is in the correct gear when you take off from rest or a slow corner and the lag is as I have described above. However, everyone will have their own opinion.

[cjc_td5]

Is the DS engine and transmission the same as a Jag? I had a 2.0d XE Jag as a loan car today when my D4 was being serviced, and apart from the diesel clatter being way more obtrusive than my D4, the gearbox was great and there was bugger all lag. Once it got moving it would fairly stonk along when poked. [bigsmile]

[BobD]

Same engine but 8 speed gearbox according to the Jaguar web page.

[Mamil]

The lag when slowing down for a roundabout or junction then trying to accelerate off again is a "characteristic" of the ZF 9-speed transmission used in the DS, Evoque, and other makes of cars. It's to do with the particular combination of friction and dog clutches used in that gearbox and there's a good technical explanation here if you're interested ZF's 9-Speed 9HP Transmission Puts Dog Clutches On The Leash (http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/02/zfs-9-speed-9hp-transmission-puts-dog-clutches-on-the-leash/)

It is possible to improve things by tweaking the transmission management software, and LR have released a software update for the Ingenium (but not the 2.2) called "Q608 - Transmission software calibration", and although some owners have reported a dramatic improvement it doesn't completely solve the problem.

[BobD]

In my car the biggest "lag" is from standstill, not when slowing for a corner. In my opinion this is due to the lack of torque very low down (characteristic of all small turbo diesels) and not enough slip in the torque converter to allow the revs to get into the high torque band quickly enough. It is probably also compounded by the car starting in second gear under normal conditions. I have read that this is what happens but haven't really tried to confirm it. I might do some testing to see if I can count all of the many gear changes!

[BrianElloy]

for the hell of it I tried having a go from standstill in snow/sand mode. what a difference. should be (almost) this responsive normally IMO

[BobD]

Good idea. I have dynamic mode in mine but didn't notice any change in response at take off. I'll have to try sand mode.

[cjc_td5]

Is the lag less if you put it in Sport mode so it holds a gear, and doesn't spend that first half second deciding which gear to select?

[BobD]

Is the lag less if you put it in Sport mode so it holds a gear, and doesn't spend that first half second deciding which gear to select?

No different. In fact, it hardly changes anything and still grumbles along at 1250rpm at 100.

[Tombie]

Funny... this one here is 3k old, 2.0l

Goes like **** off a shovel... no lag.

The ZF is adaptive as are all modern transmissions... different drivers will suffer this effect if swapping vehicle frequently.

Even the D4 gets silly after a long highway run.. makes it a bit doughy in town for a few trips.

[BrianElloy]

handed it back today to the nice sales guy at Barbagallo. He reckons we should try out a petrol model, given our concerns with lag and the low-level gearbox rumble.

what do you guys reckon?

AFAIK that still won't address my concerns about comfort, warranty, high $ for niceties etc ...

[BobD]

Those things are personal choice. If you don't like the negatives why not just buy the opposition and be done with it? Since you are still looking at it I assume there is something you like about it! I can live with the grumble and the lag and the rest of the car is just what I want. I didn't want a Korean car or a Mazda, without even driving them, so I am lucky, I didn't even have to drive them! They may be way better (although I doubt it) but I don't care. I didn't even drive a Sport with the Ingenium engine since mine was one of the first in the country and was my personal order. Its much easier when you like the concept and know what you don't want on an emotional level, regardless of the facts.

Anyway good luck. I doubt that you would be too disappointed with any of the cars you are thinking about. Just get the one that suits you the best.

By the way, I drove mine to Ravenswood on the weekend and tried to see what some of the things are that you were mentioning. I think your issue with the steering shimmy is actually the low rev vibration of the engine. It actually sometimes feels like a rumble strip vibrating the steering on mine at those revs of 1200 to 1400 that it sometimes wants to run at to save fuel. Manually changing down a gear or two makes it go away instantly. I've never had anything remotely like that from the actual road surface, even on corrugations.

Sand mode makes it responsive but it holds the low gears too much for the road. Dynamic mode and sports mode on the transmission doesn't do a lot to reduce the lag or keeping the car in high gears. I don't know what car Tombie is driving but mine has lag, much worse than my D4.

If the petrol is anything like my son's D3 V8 petrol, it will remove all lag and have instant power off the line that no turbo diesel can ever replicate. I've never driven a petrol DS though.

[BobD]

The lag when slowing down for a roundabout or junction then trying to accelerate off again is a "characteristic" of the ZF 9-speed transmission used in the DS, Evoque, and other makes of cars. It's to do with the particular combination of friction and dog clutches used in that gearbox and there's a good technical explanation here if you're interested ZF's 9-Speed 9HP Transmission Puts Dog Clutches On The Leash (http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/02/zfs-9-speed-9hp-transmission-puts-dog-clutches-on-the-leash/)


Mamil, interesting that the Jeep only gets to 9th at 80mph. The DS gets to 9th at around 100kph indicated (94 or 95 actual), which is why the engine grumbles at low revs of around 1200 to 1300. Even a slight hill will drop it back to 8th though.

[Tombie]

Bob, does your wife drive it? Does she drive the same as you?

If not the sensation you're experiencing is possibly adaptive.

It also depends on how you've driven your vehicle from day one... how a vehicle beds in has an impact on how it drives. If you've gone gently you may have a different experience..

(Just took the DS for another spin and there's no noticeable lag in this unit)

[BobD]

Nothing to do with the transmission or how you drive. Stop at the lights, put your foot down and wait then it goes like a scalded cat. Put it in sports mode, dynamic mode, sports mode, first gear, whatever. Stop at the lights, put your foot down, wait and off it goes. Been the same from day one, just like the OP has also found. If you don't want instant take off it is fine. Light throttle and it goes OK but when you want that instant take off it wants to take off slowly for that first split second and then it is full bore. The old engine is better, from my 30 minute drive of a demo when I first ordered mine.

As I said it is not sitting there doing nothing. It just accelerates slowly for the first ten metres until it gets in its torque band and then it goes. Pretty normal turbo diesel behaviour in my opinion.

[Tombie]

Ahh you do the put foot down thing...

Years of experience with these types of vehicles - feed the throttle down, no Lag...

[Tombie]

The reason it won't launch when you bury the pedal - it won't hook up... so it tempers the enthusiasm.

[chuck]

I had a petrol DS as a loan car when my D4 was in for service.

Went well but fuel economy was worse than my D4.

Average fuel consumption on the dash was around 12 litres per 100 admittedly it was a loaner and it did get better on my 200km round trip home & back.

In comparison the D4 averages around 8.5 litres per 100 but then I do live just off the Hume so most of my mileage is freeway.

I did not like the seating position but that could have been because it was a cheaper spec & did not have the same adjustments as an SDV6 SE D4 - seemed to tilt you forward when you raised the seat.

[guthrie]

handed it back today to the nice sales guy at Barbagallo. He reckons we should try out a petrol model,

Brian did you try out the petrol?

My D4 has been stolen so looking at all options for replacement..

[BrianElloy]

Brian did you try out the petrol?

My D4 has been stolen so looking at all options for replacement..

g'day Guthrie -sorry to hear that mate!

I didn't bother. not enough car for the $ IMO. stick with a Disco if that is what you're used to. If you were coming from a freelander then I'd say check it out, but coming from a Disco4 (and mine's a V8) they are an absolute world apart. Good deals new (and slightly used) on D4's ATM.

best of luck

[guthrie]

I got an SE so I could get 17 inch tyres

Sorry if you posted this somewhere.... but what 17 inch rim did you get (current brochures show a five spoke "522" or ten spoke "105")?

Also what size tyre do the 17"s come with?

[BobD]

Sorry if you posted this somewhere.... but what 17 inch rim did you get (current brochures show a five spoke "522" or ten spoke "105")?

Also what size tyre do the 17"s come with?

I cant remember and I am on a trip in the D4 for the next two months so I won't be able to tell you till I get home.

[TB]

The plate on mine shows:
225/65R17 106V
235/65R17 104V or 108V

[cuppabillytea]

A good choice. [wink11]

We've had one as a loaner while the D4 was in for a service - very impressed. Much better than the Evoque that we were given last time.

X2. The SantaFe is probably the best value if you don't need all the capabilities of the DS, but I love the DS it's a great drive. It's probably not really in the same class as the other contenders unless all you want is a 7 seater. If so, get a SantaFe.

[Mercguy]

Wow, What an informative read. There's a lot more since I first read - let me explain...

This is the second time I've visited this thread (now, after a testdrive) and it confirms and reaffirms everything I suspected "it would be" first time (first read) around before I drove it.

Post test immediate feeling / reaction is .... not for us.

The car is a shopping trolley for us - so the requirement is quite loose and others no doubt will have slightly different needs, where as the requirement we have for a vehicle is quite flexible, so not restricted to an "SUV" for want of a better descriptor.
bottom line:
the DS has Great looks.
It's Overpriced when you look at what else you can get for the money..
horrible transmission setup and massive lag - (Go drive a 5 series diesel or an e class and see how much better a tiny little 2.0 turbo 4cyl diesel drives in an overweight unibody vehicle).
JLR's junkyard warranty - especially compared to the Koreans..

So the DS HSE the missus was looking at andthe DS we testdrove is no longer on the purchase horizon.

But our loose requirements mean that there is a very nice BMW M Sport 330i with far better warranty and options, going for less money at our local dealer, which just happened to be within walking distance of JLR... That really surprised me - a LOT.
We have enough history with Mercedes-Benz as a brand and it's also a no-brainer for us to buy a C class estate for a shopping trolley if we wanted to. I would be acutely aware of all the MB marketing BS as well - but I really liked the look of the Range Rover Velar. She loves the looks of the disco sport. Two worlds almost collided... We HAD to have a good look at them. The dealer had a Disco Sport... so off we went.

Reality hit about 15 minutes into the testdrive. I was really disappointed, I thought LR had picked up their game a notch - well enough to at least match the styling. Externally there is a whole lot of WOW. especially in the red. but... beauty is only skin deep.
I can't hide my disappointment. I'm also sure others will, like myself, see through the thinly veiled marketing exercise. There is a big gap in (no pun intended) build quality between this and the Disco and the Rangie. Obviously, but the LR "DNA" is also not quite there either, but that is sort of 'to be expected', yet I felt it was substantially lacking.. and by that I mean at a base level, the expectation wasn't met.

While a specific car cannot be all things to all people, there is also a reasonable assumption that when you are competing in a particular market segment, that your vehicle option and pricing structure are also competitive and you have a warranty that can also compete directly. If not, then the price should be a little sharper to counteract it. LR seemed to have ignored this through some kind of badge snobbery belief and the "sharp" pricing is the kind that makes you say OUCH and not wow.

To me it seems LR must be gambling on the belief of the power of an emotional purchase.

As most everything has already been mentioned in this thread already that is a 'net negative' there are some positives.

I thought that the Ride is OK.
Visibility is half-decent. I have driven some truly horrible things lately with a-pillars the size of a house and external mirrors that can only see a B-double when it's 6 inches from your towball.
It seems to be reasonably capable on dirt - I didn't do any extreme tests, but there is a little track nearby which I know well and it's not easy, but not "twin-locked and barwork"..... if you get my drift... for what the vehicle is, it can do some reasonable articulation. It's not going to replace a disco or a defender though - it's still better than I thought it would be. I didn't get stuck and no damage done, I was quite careful, but I think it is the kind of vehicle that will get people into the experience or the younger generation into the idea of a 'dirty weekend' ;)

But sadly, it's not for us.
which means, for me, there's a lot more test driving to come and more tiresome, tedious poking around dealers looking for another shopping trolley...

The BMW 330i M sport btw, was in the exact same price ballpark and is easily a better built, more refined and better optioned vehicle. Obviously not an offroad vehicle, but a shopping trolley doesn't have to go offroad. Shopping trolley can be literally anything with wheels these days.... It just comes down to looks, and price. There's a lot of ground to cover, and I'm sure the DS will suit a lot of buyers - just not buyers like me who want to see some seriously tangible value and build quality, performance and bang for buck.

There's also a rumour going around that the DS is a bit of a tilt-tray queen. Not sure how true it is, but I did read a bit of anecdotal blurb on a few other sites after we came home from the drive a little deflated.

I'm losing the energy to keep looking at vehicles. Dealers make this too hard for consumers. That's ALL dealers.

I'm going to the Mercedes Dealer this week. The BMW dealer is working his deal up, but he's dragging the chain a little. I don't know if I'll buy it, but if the price is right as they say, then sure. I'm not brand-biased (despite the fact there are 5 mercs sitting here).

We're not buying another Renault, as there is nothing we actually like that's better than what we already have.

For a brief moment, I did consider an Alfa-Romeo Guilia Veloce..... yes I can hear you laughing too. I said BRIEF moment.
For a 4 door it is pretty in the flesh. bit much for a shopping trolley though. and that tilt-tray....

I hate audi's skodas and vw's. So does the missus.

the LR DS would have brought some balance to the Galaxy...... but I fear that the Dark Side of the force is about to strike back...

Not sure what else might pique the interest of SWMBO - it's getting too hard, as I mentioned before - I think I'll be worn out and won't give a rats before any decision is made.

[Mamil]

Sorry if you posted this somewhere.... but what 17 inch rim did you get (current brochures show a five spoke "522" or ten spoke "105")?



I've just bought some 17" Style '105' wheels off Gumtree to keep as a spare set for off-roading. Cost me $400 and they are mint, had only done 500km before the owner swapped them out.

129268

If you want some it's worth keeping an eye on Gumtree and Ebay as I've seen four sets of these wheels come up in the last few months ranging in price from $400 to $800, compared to $700 each​ from the dealer! They were all from Evoque owners trading up to larger rims, so they tend to be listed as "Evoque wheels" but they'll fit both.

Edit: Just did a Gumtree search and found some listed at $500 https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/osborne-park/wheels-tyres-rims/range-rover-evoque-wheels/1158164071

[TB]

I've just bought some 17" Style '105' wheels off Gumtree to keep as a spare set for off-roading.

Brilliant idea. Changing four wheels over is a bit of a chore, but if you’re otherwise running 19 or 20 then pretty much necessary for going off road.

What tyres are you going to run?

[Mamil]

Brilliant idea. Changing four wheels over is a bit of a chore, but if you’re otherwise running 19 or 20 then pretty much necessary for going off road.

What tyres are you going to run?


I tried the new wheels on Saturday and was actually surprised how quick it was to swap them over. Using a trolley jack makes it so much easier as you can change two wheels at a time, and you don't have to wind that stupid little scissor jack up and down! I also took the front valence off at the same time to expose the front recovery point, and removed the small plastic air deflectors in front of the front wheels as I was afraid they'd rip off if I ended up to the axles in the sand! I'd expect to get the whole operation down to about twenty minutes with some practice - not quite up to the standard of the F1 teams in the pits, but not bad for an amateur [bigsmile]

Haven't decided which tyres to fit to the 17" rims yet, and have been following your progress with interest. I'm thinking along the lines of a 245/65 R17 as that'll give me 4% increase in width and 13% increase in sidewall height, with only a 1.5% increase in overall diameter compared to my current wheels. The BFG A/T K02, General Grabber AT3, and Bridgestone Dueler A/T all come in this size, but are pricey. But the benefit of having a separate set of wheels just for bashing around at the weekend is you don't have to drive around on the tyres the rest of time, so can go for one of the cheaper brands and not worry about wear/noise/drag/speed rating etc. So, I'd be interested if anyone has any suggestions of cheap and cheerful A/Ts that come in my size?

[willem]

g'day Guthrie -sorry to hear that mate!

I didn't bother. not enough car for the $ IMO. stick with a Disco if that is what you're used to. If you were coming from a freelander then I'd say check it out, but coming from a Disco4 (and mine's a V8) they are an absolute world apart. Good deals new (and slightly used) on D4's ATM.

best of luck

I went from D3 V8 HSE to a Disco Sport HSE TD4. Both cars are great cars. What decided things for me was the cost of running the D3 was getting too high to be sustainable for me.

The DS is quite different, though it is quite spacious. My kids - from 15-21 - reckon there's at least as much legroom as the D3. The car is quite powerful, though in a different way to the D3. The V8 had power that just kept on going...I loved it! But the DS has good power at the speeds I normally drive. Overtakes easily. Tows my caravan easily. And running costs are significantly lower. And it's a great car to drive.

[Mamil]

I'm thinking along the lines of a 245/65 R17 as that'll give me 4% increase in width and 13% increase in sidewall height, with only a 1.5% increase in overall diameter compared to my current wheels. The BFG A/T K02, General Grabber AT3, and Bridgestone Dueler A/T all come in this size, but are pricey. But the benefit of having a separate set of wheels just for bashing around at the weekend is you don't have to drive around on the tyres the rest of time, so can go for one of the cheaper brands and not worry about wear/noise/drag/speed rating etc. So, I'd be interested if anyone has any suggestions of cheap and cheerful A/Ts that come in my size?

Have since found these online Goodride SL369 SUV OFF-ROAD 245/65R17 107S Tyres - Buy Online Price $166 (https://www.tyresales.com.au/buy/tyre/goodride/sl369_suv_off-road/245-65r17/119720?q=4) Good price, and seem to have good reviews. Anyone got any comments good or bad.....?

[BobD]

Sorry if you posted this somewhere.... but what 17 inch rim did you get (current brochures show a five spoke "522" or ten spoke "105")?

Also what size tyre do the 17"s come with?

They are 5 spoke "522" with 235/65R17 tyres.

[Tombie]

I went from D3 V8 HSE to a Disco Sport HSE TD4. Both cars are great cars. What decided things for me was the cost of running the D3 was getting too high to be sustainable for me.

The DS is quite different, though it is quite spacious. My kids - from 15-21 - reckon there's at least as much legroom as the D3. The car is quite powerful, though in a different way to the D3. The V8 had power that just kept on going...I loved it! But the DS has good power at the speeds I normally drive. Overtakes easily. Tows my caravan easily. And running costs are significantly lower. And it's a great car to drive.

When you say the cost of running the D3 was unsustainable. What context do you mean?

I’m curious, because laying down the coin on a shiny DS is a significant outlay as opposed to fixing a free hold vehicle.

Certainly very different vehicles and I agree both very nice in their own way.

[BobD]

When you say the cost of running the D3 was unsustainable. What context do you mean?

I’m curious, because laying down the coin on a shiny DS is a significant outlay as opposed to fixing a free hold vehicle.

Certainly very different vehicles and I agree both very nice in their own way.

Willem might be along later but he bought both his D3 and DS as repairable write offs for a very low cost. We bought the D3 from him and paid the same low price that he paid several years ago, including getting it repaired, so the capital cost was effectively zero for the D3. Hence, he is only worried about running costs.

[willem]

When you say the cost of running the D3 was unsustainable. What context do you mean?

I’m curious, because laying down the coin on a shiny DS is a significant outlay as opposed to fixing a free hold vehicle.

Certainly very different vehicles and I agree both very nice in their own way.

We do a lot of kilometres every year, and the D3 had 210 000 on it. Eventually things wear out, and with a big and complex car like the D3 the costs are big and complex. It was still a great car, and for someone not doing as many kms as us - about 30 000 kms per year - it will still be a great car. We really liked the car and when Bob drove it away it was quite a wrench.

It has proved to be the right decision. Both our fuel costs and our maintenance costs in the DS are down considerably, enough to cover the cost of purchasing the newer car. We drove from Geelong to Warrnambool and back today, all up about 450 kms - a grandson's birthday! - and the fuel costs were less than half that of the D3. Over the thirty thousand kms we do every year that adds up!

So we were very happy with the D3, and it was the right car for the family for the three years that we had it, and now we are very happy with the Disco Sport.

[Tombie]

Thanks Willem...

[TB]

I’ve had a DS for nearly two years and a D4 for just over a week. They’re very different machines, and I’m delighted with both of them.

It’s possible my older D4 with its 6-speed transmission and 165K on the clock isn’t the best example of the type. Still, what I get from that car is strength and capacity, perfect for camping and off-road. The DS is more enjoyable on the road – it’s so much lighter, and you can really feel it.

That said, the D4 was perfectly comfortable for half a thousand road kms this weekend and I’ve had a heap of fun with the DS (slightly modified) on sand and on mountain tracks.

[Mamil]

Have since found these online Goodride SL369 SUV OFF-ROAD 245/65R17 107S Tyres - Buy Online Price $166 (https://www.tyresales.com.au/buy/tyre/goodride/sl369_suv_off-road/245-65r17/119720?q=4) Good price, and seem to have good reviews. Anyone got any comments good or bad.....?

Went for the Goodride A/T tyres and used them for the first time today...

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[guthrie]

Went for the Goodride A/T tyres and used them for the first time today...

So how did they go?

[Mamil]

So how did they go?

Performed surprisingly well on the road - as quiet as the original Goodyear Wrangler and a little more cushioning from bumps due to their larger volume. In fact I've left them on to wear in and the wife has been very happy driving around on them them all week. Didn't give them a real workout offroad, just some sandy tracks, but I felt a lot more confident letting the pressures down because of their higher sidewall and also because the rims weren't my 'best' ones. The fitter did comment that it took quite a few weights to balance them, but he said this was common with 'cheaper' tyres not from the main brands, and he got them to balance in the end.

[TTTTTT]

Performed surprisingly well on the road - as quiet as the original Goodyear Wrangler and a little more cushioning from bumps due to their larger volume. In fact I've left them on to wear in and the wife has been very happy driving around on them them all week. Didn't give them a real workout offroad, just some sandy tracks, but I felt a lot more confident letting the pressures down because of their higher sidewall and also because the rims weren't my 'best' ones. The fitter did comment that it took quite a few weights to balance them, but he said this was common with 'cheaper' tyres not from the main brands, and he got them to balance in the end.

Glad they balanced up well Mamil. I have found the DS to be rather sensitive to things that cause wheel vibration. My last couple of offroad runs were in the wet, and returning to the bitumen, excess sand or mud still clinging onto the rims causes violent vibration (twice I have had to pull off the highway and clear the crap off the inside rim). Guess that is the downside to a vehicle that runs so smoothly in normal conditions.
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[Mamil]

Performed surprisingly well on the road - as quiet as the original Goodyear Wrangler and a little more cushioning from bumps due to their larger volume. In fact I've left them on to wear in and the wife has been very happy driving around on them them all week. Didn't give them a real workout offroad, just some sandy tracks, but I felt a lot more confident letting the pressures down because of their higher sidewall and also because the rims weren't my 'best' ones. The fitter did comment that it took quite a few weights to balance them, but he said this was common with 'cheaper' tyres not from the main brands, and he got them to balance in the end.

So, an update to this. The Goodrides did start to vibrate at freeway speeds so at Tyresales advice I took them to another fitter to be checked over. He had great difficulty re-balancing them, even tried a match balance to no avail, and Tyresales agreed to replace two of the tyres - eventually, after many emails to and fro and me having to quote my consumer rights! However, with my confidence in them now damaged I opted instead to replace all four with BF Goodrich A/T KO2. The KO2s are a tougher tyre altogether, with stronger sidewalls and a 'Light Truck' rating so I feel more confident offroad. However, they are also noisier on the road than both the OEM Wranglers and the Goodrides, and definitely give more of a '4WD' ride than an 'SUV' one, and the wife does not like driving around on them, so I will only be using them for gravel/offroad trips.

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[TTTTTT]

, so I will only be using them for gravel/offroad trips.

Thought you were going to say you punctured one of them already [wink11]

Yea but now you have street cred with the BFG's ... and an extra couple of stars in the cool factor category.

[BobD]

I'm staying in a Hotel at Double Bay at the moment and it seems to be a hot spot of black Disco Sports and Range Rover Sports. None of them look as good as your car with the K02's though! They are just being used for the coffee and school runs.

[Mamil]

Haha! Thanks guys. Yes, they certainly look the biz, and the tyre fitter did comment it's the first time he's fitted BFGs to "a car like that". I'm itching to go for a drive in the dunes to see how they perform, but might have to wait until after Xmas now [bigsad]

[Mamil]

So, another update on this. I've had a few of trips on the BFGs over the summer and very pleased with their off-road performance - they've been very sure footed and tough enough to drive over sharp rocks at 20psi without a worry. On the road however they are definitely noisy, particularly between 50-70 km/h but the noise subsides over that speed, which is lucky because I'm cruising at 100 km/h for about four hours to get to my weekend 4WD playground. Also, I'm pretty sure they are adding a litre or two to my fuel consumption as previously I was getting 12L/100Kms towing the caravan, but now I'm getting 13/14. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose and I do take them off for 'normal' driving and only use them when I know I'm going off-road.

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