Thread: Disco 3 - Good, bad, and the ugly

There's been a myriad of minor niggles that have all been readily fixed by LR.

The major issues of suspension compressor failures have now all been addressed, so if you're buying new, you should have no problem.

There's no car quite like the D3 in engineering. To say that it's 'state of the art' is an understatement. Some websites claim that audis, beemers and mercs are more reliable, but none has the level of systems that the D3 has. even when it's switched off, it's not off! It checks itself every now and then to make sure eveythings ok.

I still very occasionally get the odd software glitch, but nothing that turning off the car and re-starting can't fix.

I would say that, after 50,000km (of which about 20,000km has been gravel and also a bit of sand thrown in) there are no perceivable problems.

The chassis is incredibly strong and the car is very well put together. It doesn't leak!

I'd buy another tomorrow if I could! I don't believe that there's a car on the market that comes close.

Oh, and you'll get a few posting here who don't like the electronics, but they mostly have really long beards, wear overalls and play banjos!

Originally Posted by Jamo

Oh, and you'll get a few posting here who don't like the electronics, but they mostly have really long beards, wear overalls and play banjos!

I resent that remark I don't have a beard and I play a guitar not a banjo

I hope when enduring your Myriad of glitches you weren't in the Simpson desert and landrover helicoptered in to assist that 4 wheeled PC

FWIW - The Disco 3 is an awsome bit of kit! I've now had a chance to put one though its paces & was gobsmacked at what it would do.



Mark

Hi Dermie, there’s a lot of comments on the net about D3s but the best place for all things D3, try the URL link at the bottom of this post.

I have a Mk3 Range Rover and my wife has a D3 and we both think the Range Rover is the better vehicle but it is also nearly twice the price.

Had the D3 been on the market when I bought the RR I would not have considered the RR as the D3 has so many similar features that the price difference would have made going for the RR a lot harder but I still wouldn’t swap the RR for a D3 even though the D3 is far more reliable than the RR. ( go figure? )

The ride alone, in the d3 is a huge jump over most other 4x4s and of the few that get near the D3 for ride comfort, you can’t really take them off road.

The BMW is an equal on road but next to useless off road.

The Merc has a reputation that if you buy one, you get rid of it before the warranty runs out. ( I wonder why? )

As for the electronics in the D3, next to it’s ride comfort, the electronics is a major reason for buying one.

The D3’s advanced off road ability makes even the newest driver to off roading an expert with only a small amount of practice.

If you get one ( when you get one ) you WILL be very happy with it.

Cheers

http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/index.php

try this link, gghaggis on this site entered one in a wa competition

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=28511&highlight=disco+3+competiti on

Originally Posted by Dermie

Hi guys,
Am considering purchasing a new Discovery 3. Have read plenty of reviews - all of which have been very glowing in their praise. However, I'd like to hear from "real" Discovery 3 owners about what they think, especially as they've now been out for long enough for any inherent problems to start appearing. Would love to hear about all aspects and opinions - be they good or bad. Any reliabilty problems? That sort of stuff. Much appreciated everyone.
Dermie

Hi Dermie, I am a defender driver myself, and always a little concerned about all the electronics which are not bush repairable. I have 2 good friends that had older discos, and all of us had our eyes on a new D3. One took the plunge, and has owned one for about a year, and unfortunately he has had a lot of trouble with it. Many minor niggles, but the most serious was a grinding noise that was reported many times. After 3 trips into the garage, they finally replaced the entire transfer case. In total it has had 6 trips back to the garage outside of the scheduled service.

The other discovery owner reluctantly put his money down on high spec Prado, as he did not want to take the risk. He himself had a lot of problems with his older Disco.

I will stick to my defender for now, and probably upgrade to the new 07 model, as it suits my requirements better than a luxury vehicle, although I may consider buying the wife a D3, and me keeping the Fender.

This may not sound like a good news story, but the mate who bought the D3, says he would not part with it, and would buy another.

I came across a couple of TDV6 D3s in the Simpson Desert.

I was crossing East-West in my sewing machine engine powered SIII, judging every sand dune - what gear - what range - how much run up - which bumps to hit and which to miss - etc. The Landy's interior was dusty & cramped.

The D3s were travelling West - East. I peered into their clean dust free, spacious interiors with climate control, cup holders & leather couches.

I asked one of the guys how it went.

"I just dial it up to SAND and go," was his reply.

Hard to beleive these cars came out of the same factory (30 years apart).