Discovery Better?

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

But "the New Model has solved all those reliability issues"

[wes Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wes]

I have a friend with a D3 discovery that has been labelled the Black sheep of the club.The electronics are very nice when working but once they fail they fail misserably..he has had nothing but problems with the vehicle and sometimes wishes he still had his pajero..

[letsgoplaces Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close letsgoplaces]

OMG someone actually wishing they had a Pajero.... now that is saying something :P

[lockedup Member Find all posts View Profile Close lockedup]

Firstly being a mechanic by trade we used to flip coins to see who would have to work on a landrover discovery... Any person with some 4wd experience would be crazy to buy a discovery over a prado. I just could not sleep well at night knowing thats what i drive and what is going to go wrong next. Let alone driving in remote areas. If you can afford it - buy toyota. End of story. And im not one eye toyota, in fact i love my Fords but i just sold my v8 fairmont today and now own a camry wagon and a prado. Toyota have their problems, but overall, they are hard to beat reliability wise. Its like me dreaming about a 3.0l turbo diesel jeep grande cherokee with all the fruit (they look great on paper), but I'm not actually going to buy one and put my family at risk! Easy decision for me.

[Keeper Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keeper]

I note 'your friend' (I bought an adult magazine once myself) is looking at the earlier models but here is my opinion.
I started researching Prado vs Disco 4 early last year (2010)- bought the Prado VX Diesel in February 2011. Disco has some good points, but after reliability, servicing and after market off road options affordability are taken into account Prado was miles ahead.
It really depends on application (I have identifed my BIAS) - if you are a city runner and close to a Landrover service point - go for it; if you want to see this country and the remoteness it is the reliabilty and proven ability of Prado (Toyota) that counts - and access to service points Prado (Toyota) is a good choice.
Discovery is built for Europe, not the Australian environment - the wiring lumes have issues with prolonged heat which causes some electronic / technological issues - you really don't want that when you are at Cape York, Cape Leveque or Esperance.
When you apply this to risk and avoidance = my decision to purchase Prado

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

Drove to Cape York in Discovery II TD in 2000. A brilliant car technically, fantastic economy, pretty good off-road when you got to know how to drive it (needed to get traction control to kick in or else it would not get up any rough and steep bits) and comfortable. However, on a later trip to Frasier Island, the owner broke down. It had done less than 20k and the fly-wheel (I think) failed. Took 6 weeks to get the part!! Stay away from them like the plague.

[dhula1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dhula1]

The army use land rovers and take their own mechanics with them everywhere
Nuf said I recon :-)

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

My 95 series out flexed my mates Disco 2, we ramped up both vehicles on the same object, one of his front wheels lifted off of the ground, when mine flexed up, all 4 wheels were firmly planted on the gound, not bad for a supposed inferior suspension set up. He also had problems with his traction control cutting out, and he was bottoming out everywhere. We had to turn around 1/2 way up the track because his vehicle couldn't get up all the hills.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Hey croozaa he didn't have one of those retarded Discos without a center diff lock did he?

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Hey croozaa he didn't have one of those retarded Discos without a center diff lock did he?

They still had the centre lock, they just never allowed you access to use it, however he had the mods done to it to allow him to engage the centre.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

I also had a problem, where as my centre lock would not engage, so I basically did the tracks unlocked, it didn't lock in till we were 3/4 of the way back to camp, but I got through everything very easy without the centre locked.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Hi Folks

Mate of mine is a Disco fanatic, but he reckons you need to be on best terms with your mechanic and bank manager

Regards, Richo.

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

If you want to spend a lot of your time "off road" (in the workshop), go for a Landrover.

If you want a reliable vehicle that will get you there AND back, go for a Toyota.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

hey guys does anyone know if the electrics on discos are done by lucas " the god of darkness" lots of old pommy cars were afflicted with his disease .

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

You would think that the recent BMW influence could get it right, but alas no, just look at 4WD of the year tests when the Disco fails the first water crossing. If they get the reliability right then look out other manufacturers.

Richo.