pigeon controller Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 My Son has just asked me a question re the Discovery 3 and 4 off road capability as when we were out on Sunday we came up behind a few of these models and they look low at the back for off road work. My Disco 2 has air suspension and when I raise it many times off road the air bags suffer from the mud being folded back inside the rubber and subsequently leak . I've covered 140K and changed the bags three times . The question being will the disco 3 and 4 be harder on bags or are they OK off road and do not ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TR1 Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 Have experienced D3 off-road for several shoot seasons. Air suspension seemed capable of handling tough going although compressors a regular failure due to ingres of mud. Raising ride height useful at times but not for general use. Towbar good at ploughing. Approach and departure angles good although mud flaps go missing easily. Off-road performance using the terrain response system handy but still very dependant on tyre selection. Tailgate system a pain for dogs and quite high, should of been top or side hung 1 pieces. Overall comfortable ride, Automatic best. Unfortunately due to continued reliability issues could not justify keep the D3 after warranty expired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn9914 Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 (edited) I had 2 d3 and range rover sport same chassis and had issues with the air suspension on 1st d3 a 55 plate model second d3 not as bad just one issue in a couple of years 08 plate I am now on a disco 4 had it new since 2010 so 4 years old in march and never had an issue with the air suspension I use it a lot go shooting in her now and again and always drop to exit height when getting out and back in the d4 seems to have come on leaps and bounds compared to my d3 models that is why I have kept it and I have no plans to change as it does everything I want it too, good off road capability and smooth as you like on the motorway covered 50k miles now since 2010 and only a couple of issues which was a turbo boost solenoid and a o/s/r drive shaft all done under warrenty. I took the extra warranty out for the 4th year just in case cost me £950 but cheaper than changing her and loosing a fortune, would I buy another most definitely obviously its all tyre dependant this short video shows it gets there but better tyres would have made it much easier http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amfBsoF1BBM Edited December 24, 2013 by shawn9914 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 I had an 09 D3 manual for a very short time and was quite handy off road with normal road tyres. As soon as you hit mud and slopes your stuffed though. If I had kept it I'd of stuck some decent tyres on it. Air suspension was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuddster Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 had D2 for work-more time spent off road in the dealers than proper off road. had D3 for work-better than above but was still finding its faults before redeeming itself. had D4 for work-much much better in all aspects-fantastic car all round but I couldnt afford the out of warranty repairs-130k service is a full body off chassis job and costs thousands. I'd love a D4 but when a huge bill comes in-the Mrs will complain when I insist she has to sell a kidney. LR are fantastic till they go wrong.and they will.. regards fudds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 -130k service is a full body off chassis job and costs thousands. fudds What? Sod that! I'll stick with me 200Tdi methinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuddster Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 LR for work.....but drive a 120 landcruiser personally. just couldnt face the crippling bills-friend of mine bought a new 60k Range Rover which suffered some horrendous faults in the warranty period-his response was 'you buy a RR knowing its going to go wrong'-my response was 'are you out of your freakin head'. like I say driven D2/ D3/ D4/ RRTD6/ RRTD8/ RR overfinch/.all fantastic but God help you if they go wrong. fudds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lampro Posted December 26, 2013 Report Share Posted December 26, 2013 love my v8 D2 loads of power great off road with bf grabbers AT's on it pulls all day long, build the car for the job most of the D3 D4 Range rover sport are road cars with caperbilty of getting you across the feild for a bit of pheasant shooting on a wet day, woudnt say it would get you up Everest but I would rather work on a d2 then the others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted December 28, 2013 Report Share Posted December 28, 2013 Friend of mine had a disco 4 air suspension failed whilst out on a shoot at 6 months old, they seem ok off road but got to remember they weigh over 2 and a half tonnes! A relative of mine bought an 08 disco 3 just over a year ago for 18k, with repairs now owes him over 25. I would stay away unless in warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted December 31, 2013 Report Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) My Son has just asked me a question re the Discovery 3 and 4 off road capability as when we were out on Sunday we came up behind a few of these models and they look low at the back for off road work. My Disco 2 has air suspension and when I raise it many times off road the air bags suffer from the mud being folded back inside the rubber and subsequently leak . I've covered 140K and changed the bags three times . The question being will the disco 3 and 4 be harder on bags or are they OK off road and do not ground. driven landrovers all my life, owned 2 x D1s including one of the first autos, good wagons, currently have a D2 auto and a Defender of a similar age. D2 is an excellent bit of kit off road when correctly shod, (I use Grabber ATs), but change those rear bags for a coil spring conversion kit. Not quite as comfortable when towing but far more reliable. D3 and D4 are reasonably capable given a decent set of tyres but are absolute money pits and to be avoided. Need to change my D2 soon, 275,000 miles is enough and reliability has been getting worse since 180k. !!. Probably move to thesimilar age Defender or a Landcruiser, or maybe a Shogun commercial if it can pull the weight. Need to pull 3.5t trailers 4 -5 days a week. A Edited December 31, 2013 by Alycidon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byjovecarruthers Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 I drive D4s at work that have had some additional upgrades that considerably add to the weight. They are driven 24/7 and thrashed. I have found them in the whole to be reliable and robust. I really think LR have ironed out a lot of the reliability issues that made them infamous. The D4s phenomenal off road but drive and handle much more like a normal car than similar sized 4x4s; they're fast and accelerate well. They replaced a fleet of Range Rovers and D3s and now I honestly don't know why anyone would choose a RR over a D4. I love the D4 but unfortunately just can't afford to buy and run one myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) No doubt they do handle well on the road, but definitely disagree that the reliability issues have been ironed out. They are still at the bottom of the reliability survey, and from what owners and people in the motor trade say they still have build quality issues. I for one would definitely not want one when they come out of warranty. Edited January 1, 2014 by BrowningDJC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 We have an 07 plate 120 series Landcruiser and touch wood, having had it from new, it's now on 123k with no problems. I put 50k on it in 18 months and again it was fine. D3s and 4s are probably more refined on the road but I'd rather have the reliability. There is not one rattle or squeak on it. I also have an N reg 300tdi Defender as my fun buggy/gun bus and when I drive it, it always makes me smile... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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