Time for a bigger rover......?

[JohnM]

G'day All,

I'm interested to here any comments (good bad or otherwise)from anyone that has a 7 seat Disco2, regarding interior space, seating, comfort etc.

We are currently a family of 4 (two boys 7 & 5) and recently found it we will have an additional little one next year. (Wasn't planned but in all honesty can't wait) Anyway after 10 years or faithful service we're begining to think that our 97 Disco1 will need to leave the nest as we have outgrown each other, especially when fitting car seats/capsules across the back seat.

Options are limited to a maximum of 25k so that rules out a Disco3 hence the question regarding the D2. My other option (dare I say it) is getting my brother-in-laws 100 series (Live axle, diesel + turbo) L/C for a good price. We plan to have the 4wd setup for a daily driving but mainly for offroad touring, towing the camper. Any thoughts

[Slunnie]

I love the D2, but as much as I hate to say it, the LC will have the space that you're going to need for touring with a family of 5.

[McDisco]

I love the D2, but as much as I hate to say it, the LC will have the space that you're going to need for touring with a family of 5.

Yeah I might have to agree with Simon. I love my D2 too and it will be fine for me and the fiance and maybe the 1st and 2nd sprogs, but you will need the space. Buy a Defender! You can pick up 110 Td5 defenders for that price!

Angus

[LandyAndy]

The kids will soon start complaing about the park bench back seat and noise in a Defender after a Disco.
D2 is bigger than the D1,but not by a huge amount.6 inches in the rear and a few in the back seat.
Landcruiser is much bigger for a family,lack of power and its love for fuel is the price you will pay.AT LEAST YOU WILL GET FRIENDLY DEALER SERVICE IN MOST COUNTRY TOWNS ALL OVER AUSSIE:twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted:
If you can get the 100 series at a good price it probably is the best option,UNFORTUNATELY
Andrew

[JohnM]

Thanks for the responses so far. Whilst I haven't had a chance to try out a D2 first hand, it seems my assumptions (from looking at pics etc) seems to be true. Ahh I guess maybe I should start thinking about selling our trusty Disco1.

[McDisco]

Maybe you should think of a trailer? It can carry the extra gear, while the kids can fit in the Disco. This is what I will probably do...

Angus

[stevo68]

Hey mate,

I had a 7 seat D3 and now a 7 seat D2......personally I would rather have some limitations than even...if ever consider a Toyota, some of my fellow AULROians need there mouths washed out :p. Now we have 7 in our family, though mainly on weekends 6 all up. The D3 was a better set up and more load space, but for now the D2 does the job pretty well. Depends on what one is requiring. At this stage the rear area is clear for you ie only to be 5 in the family...at this stage ;). In that case 7 Seater would be fine. We are looking to get a roof rack if we go somewhere with all 7....if a camping trip again depends could be taking a trailer or a camper van. Personally we find the 7 seat D2 fine....drive a toyota....blasphemours :twisted:.

Regards

Stevo

[clean32]

mate
have a look at a defender as well, even if you keep the D1 and use the defender as a family trip wagon. sure thay are not as quiet. but the space.
you get a few inches in the back with a D2 but with a Defender thay are a bit wider as well. Back seat is fine ( well our county one is)

We have just changed from a D1 to an isuzu, mainly for the space. It was a good move, it rides much more comfortable on the road ( BFG 33" AT) power steering is good, clutch is the same as our TDI300 D1. today we came back from up north. a lot of the time sitting on 120klm with a head wind, roof rack and a woping big solor panels over the cab. the othere thing when driving a 110, everyone wants to chat/ help even toyota drivers?

[sniegy]

Thanks for the responses so far. Whilst I haven't had a chance to try out a D2 first hand, it seems my assumptions (from looking at pics etc) seems to be true. Ahh I guess maybe I should start thinking about selling our trusty Disco1.
Hi John,
If u decide to sell the D1 please let me know the specifics & price u are after (PM if u wish or publicly)
I too am chasing a D1 & my old 97 was the best one i had...
Cheers

[andymach23]

Hi

A real plus point of the D2 is having 3 proper seat belts in the back, for safety reasons. When I was looking at Disco's I didn't like the way the D1 had only a lap belt in the middle back seat. Alot of other 4x4's I looked at had this lap belt also.

The 6th and 7th seats also have proper belts and are forward facing too.

I have 3 kids and find the D2 to be an ideal family car. There is loads of space for 3 car seats across the back and the kids can still get past to move around ok, when the other kids are seated, when the front seats aren't too far back.

I also find the boot to be an excellent size. With a cargo barrier it can be piled high with gear.

I also like the fact that Discovery has full time 4 wheel drive and doesn't take an economy hit (for diesel) against the competitors that are part time 4 wheel drive.

I also think that Rover parts are pretty good value (in the UK anyway!) compared to Toyota parts.

Cheers

Andy

[Hastykiwi]

I too would have to think very hard for a reason not to get disco, but there is one nagging point. I am in exactly the same situation as you family wise, except we are about 9 months and three weeks further on.

Upon trying to fit a rearward facing car seat in the d2, but bugger me if it would not fit,...until i moved the front passenger seat forward enough. Your wife, if u drive, is going to take a hit in the legroom area with car seat in.

Still would need to be surgically separated from my truck, but at least u go into this with all the info.

Nick.:)

[scarry]

Sorry guys,i am with Slunnie :(, couple of mates have LC's,and one has a GU,the extra room is great.

I dont have any probs with the D2,as there is only 2 of us now the kids have grown up& do there own thing:D

[ozscott]

You can actually go to the UK and get the LR operation in St Guys Hospital. Its now a standard op and they make all comers 5 foot 8 inches exactly.

Now for me I am just over 6 foot one and have been as heavy as 100kg whilst owning a D1 and D2 and always found them comfortable. An extra inch or 2 of legroom would be welcome but the upright seating seems to be the compensating factor and all is good. I have 3 kids and sure I would like a bit of extra room, but not having the box compartments in the rear and having a cage gives you the ability to load up to the roof which does make it, volume wise as big as a GU I reckon.

The rear facing child seat can be a pain - agree fully with that.

I reckon that a cage makes up the load difference but if you wanted to, a good set of roof racks well and truly does the business (I have resisted that temptation to part with more dosh myself, but its attractive). Going camping I take a 7x4 box trailer with 4 foot high sides when the cage is included...fair bit of room there.

Cheers

[4X4V8]

It has been so long since I have tried a 100 series that I can't remember what they're like - but I know the 200 Series is positively enormous compared to the D2. But so is a D3.

I too have a 7-seat D2 and find that it can seem a bit cramped in cabin length - yes, if you use a reversable childseat (that can be used as a capsule first and later as a forward-facing seat) there is not much room for the front seats to be set back (but I have found that problem with a surprising number of cars, including of all things an S-Class Benz!). You may get around that by using a dedicated baby capsule, which I have not tried but they look much smaller. You can rent them for the 6-8 months you'll need it.

Three seats across can be a challenge in the Disco as the wheelarches intrude, so it depends on the design of child seat. If the base is wide at the rear of each of the three seats, you simply won't fit three in. Narrower-base seats are available and I have an older "Discovery' seat that is quite narrow altogether and can be used with the other two wide seats we have. We have two kids but occasionally one of their friends comes along.

If you are going to fit 3 childseats in a 100 series and want to use the third row much, bear in mind that people will have to scramble up and over the drop-down tailgate to get in - unless you remove the child seats, which would become a major irritation. The D2 is rear access and it's much easier to get in, although it's true the side-swing tailgate is a pain on typical cambered road sides cos it won't stay open.

A trap for young players is that the first few years of D2 production they didn't seem to come with outer tether points. Well, they did come with the thread, but you have to buy and fit the bolt and tether point yourself (not hard). The outer points on the seatback are great but the (in situ) centre tether point on the back roof rail (above the back door) clearly impinges on load area if you're loading up high (for which you should have a cargo barrier).

The main advantage of the Disco is its height and I like the flat floor. The flat floor makes it easier for the kids (now 2 and 3) to walk across to their seat, and when we travel the dog can lie comfortably across the floor. The height of the interior at the back (except the door area - that can be a pain as it just seems not tall enough and not long enough). Height is good if you want to climb in and put them in the seats, it's just the access thru narrow door openings is a pain.

Sorry, that was a bit of a rave really, but given that all my D2 ever does these days is ferry kids about I have become a bit of a pseudo-expert.

[V8Landy]

I would rather be cramped in a d2 than drive a Toyota.:D
The D2 won't be that bad surely.;)

[stevo68]

In terms of the issue with the baby capsule....my missus is around 5'9. I have an older baby seat in mine and she has the flash new one. Her's fitted better but was a bit snug in the front seat. Six months later, he is sitting up right, so for a short term of incovenience...all is well again.

Now in our D2 the rear seats face forward...from a few things I have read hear some must face a different way:confused:. My 10 yr old normally jumps in there and has no problems. An adult different kettle of fish but the way LR's depreciate, I will have a D3 again in no time :D.

Any vehicle will have its pro and cons...plus also comes down to a passion level to I guess. As I said in my previous post....I would never own a toyota or nissan...just like I would never own a camry or pulsar....just aint gunna happen. Even with 5 children and having the D3, we still would have needed roof racks or a trailer to go somewhere on a trip.

Regards

Stevo

[4X4V8]

Any vehicle will have its pro and cons...plus also comes down to a passion level to I guess. As I said in my previous post....I would never own a toyota or nissanHear hear. I agree totally. Even though the old design of the D2 holds it back a bit (the rear door length, wheelarch intrusion and cabin design) I much prefer it to the alternative Japanese 4WDs and any way you cut it it is much bigger and more practical than most cars. It isn't a bad thing at all, and if I sold mine the first thing I would miss is its practicality. Unless I replaced it with a D3 :angel:

It's hard to compare it with the D3, because firstly the D3 interior is so innovative in seating design regardless, but when you think about how long the basic D1/D2 body was built (yes, I know they're not exactly the same, but D2 was hardly a clean-sheet) LR had a long time to think about the replacement.

[JohnM]

Thanks everyone for your comments, appreciate the feedback.
Is there a difference in the rear seats between the D2 models/years namely the ones from 2003 D2a models. Or is it just a trim level? Trying to determine if the extra dollars for a 2003 onwards model (versus an earlier one) would be of any benefit considering the only reason for changing/upgrading is for seven seats and the extra room.

Whilst we haven't decided exactly what car we will have, I reluctantly have come to the conclusion our 5 seat D1 will have to go. (unless I can justify two 4wds....) Now to try and work out a fair selling price for our D1....

[McDisco]

Thanks everyone for your comments, appreciate the feedback.
Is there a difference in the rear seats between the D2 models/years namely the ones from 2003 D2a models. Or is it just a trim level? Trying to determine if the extra dollars for a 2003 onwards model (versus an earlier one) would be of any benefit considering the only reason for changing/upgrading is for seven seats and the extra room.

Whilst we haven't decided exactly what car we will have, I reluctantly have come to the conclusion our 5 seat D1 will have to go. (unless I can justify two 4wds....) Now to try and work out a fair selling price for our D1....

John

I dont think there is any real differences in the seats. As for the year, I would get the latest model you can and get the D2a update model if you can. They changed quite a few things, namely putting the factory diff lock back in.

Also, lower kms and you might be able to get one with a warranty.

Angus

[awabbit6]

Whilst we haven't decided exactly what car we will have, I reluctantly have come to the conclusion our 5 seat D1 will have to go. ....

It doesn't have to go yet!
We have 3 kids (8, 6, and 3) and we fit in our D1 with out any problems. We have a camper trailer, so all that goes in the back of the car we we go away is the fridge (Waeco CF-80), a few pillows, tools and other small bags. We have a roof rack, but it is only really used for surf skis etc that would have to go on the roof of any other car anyway.
We have just one child seat in the car. It is in the middle. The two older kids sit either side without booster seats. Our 6yo could probably do with a booster seat, but the Disco is our second car so it isn't so much of an issue.

The thing I like about the Disco is the flat floor in the back (as already mentioned) and the fact that I can stand over the child seat if I have to, to strap in the youngest (I am 178cm tall). The kids like the elevated seats in the back of the Disco. Very few cars have the height in the rear seats to allow kids to see out the windows.

I'd keep the Disco for a couple of years and then get a D3. (Well that's my dream anyway ...)


Paul

[John W]

There is a difference between earlier 7 seat D2 and later ones. In later ones there is a fair amount of space taken up in the back with the "entertainment system" amplifier, so if space is the issue then get an earlier one.

I have 3 kids, now teens, and we get by in our 99 D2 7 seat. For an adventure trip I have a cargo barrier, take out the rear 2 seats and have a simple shelf system that goes in so I can pack the back all the way to the top.

I have had more than my fair share of mechanical difficulties over the years but at present prices it would be hard to go past a D2 if it has been well maintained.