Discovery 3

[nwdisco]

Was in my local LR dealer recently (trying again to get the heater fixed!!) and had a look at Disco 3.

No one can argue that the Disco is showing it's age in various areas, namely the noise and performance (certainly of the auto-diesel) and I'd been quite impressed with the blurb and the publicity shots of the Disco3 but I was very disappointed how bland it looked in the showroom.

The front end is too rounded and the whole body is not as distinctive looking as the original Disco (especially the back :o ). The interior is very middle ground - too much grey plastic (someone mentioned that it looked like a Ford - it looks similar to my wifes Fusion :( ). The diddy seats (though much larger) seem much more of a mither and I didn't like the idea of getting in through the side doors

I don't wish to be a Luddite and I appreciate that LR needed to move forward but I think they could have been a little bolder and more individual. The new Range Rover was an instant classic, but the new Disco looks like a generic 4 x 4 rather than an icon.

[graham]

I can't make up my mind if I like it :(

Talking to a guy yesterday he had one on test for a day, petrol he thought it was under powered and was getting around 18 to the gallon.

If I was having one it would be a deisel.

[USUKPAT]

I've always been a fan of Discos. I wanted a Disco 1 when they first came out, but finally bought my first Disco (Disco II) in 2000. Although I wanted a defender in 2000 I couldn't get a new one because at the time I lived in the US, and you can't get them new, I settled on the DII. Wonderful truck. Took it to various rallies, used it for backpacking, camping, traveling all over the place in good and bad conditions.

Why have I said all this? Because I don't think the Discovery 3 lives up to 1 and 2. I was worried when Ford acquired Land Rover- and now I can see why.. I think they have generalized it to the likes of a Lexus, Ford, or any of the other 4X4 wannabees. Of course, it does great off road, but with all the technology, can you really afford to run it into the ground like before? What happens when the self adjusting headlamp hits an obstacle on the trail (ouch). What if a sensor goes bad, etc? Also- I thought the size of the Disco 1 and 2 were good as they weren't too big for the trail, and they had a decent rear cargo for packing gear. Not so with the Disco 3. Ford has merged it too much in my opinion and its Land Rover individuality is missing. This will probably be good for sales as it appeals to more general people, but I will miss the days when the average buyer would actually use the truck for utility on and off road. I seriously doubt I will see many DIII's on the trails. At least in the US I think most of the buyers will purchase it for its image and dinner conversation interest.. Hope that doesn't happen in the UK.

I am sure the new disco has utilty for some, but I think a lot of the original fans will question it- including myself. I think I'll take a 200 or 300 TDi Disco and stick with something I don't need a pc interface to operate in order to change the oil..