I'm thinking about buying a Land Rover Discovery (early 2000's) Are they really that unreliable?

Answer 1

You can find two very different opinions on the Discovery. Seems like they love 'um or they hate 'um.

Consumer Reports gives the Discovery one of the lowest reliability ratings of all of the cars it evaluates.

Here's a summary of their evaluation:

Overview: The Discovery was well suited for off-road excursions, but came up short in everyday driving. The ride suffers from considerable side-to-side jostling, and fuel economy was dismal in our tests. Redesigned for 1999, the Discovery gained some cargo room, but confusing controls and difficult access remained. However, it boasted such advanced electronics systems as an Active Cornering Enhancement (ACE) system and a Hill Descent Control system. A more powerful 4.6-liter V8 arrived for 2003. The 2005 LR3 markedly improves on its predecessor, but overall falls short of the class leaders. It has a slow and thirsty V8, an unsettled ride, and controls that are confusing and poorly located. Reliability has consistently been poor.

But then take a look at the discussions on this site. These folks like their Discoverys:

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ee94f97/0

Based on information from people I know who have Discoverys, Consumer Reports is closer to their experience.

It looks like a hard call.

Answer 2

here is the thing about the land rover. Currently its a british Ford. when people talk about reliability they talk about prior to Ford owning them which they have for years. Ford bought the company in 2000. By 2003 the land rover content was almost 100% ford and or mazda. what it is today is a reskined Ford suv much like it mercury cousin. The real question is what do you like in the Discovery a ford does not offer?

Answer 3

verify customer comments. additionally, a reliable place to locate documents on a automobile is the Autobytel dialogue board. If human beings have had matters with vehicles, they're going to be happy to share it. All in all, i might ward off the Land Rover. British vehicles seem to have poor reliability, and you're speaking a pair of automobile it somewhat is already 10 years previous.

Answer 4

Your best bet on reliability is to find sites that rate reliability of used vehicles.

Consumer Reports. (Paper edition can be found for free typically at your local library)

MSN has auto reliability ratings:
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/reliability.aspx?year=2000&make=Land%20Rover&model=Discovery

Answer 5

The only person that makes anything on this deal would be the repair facility that will be working on this vehicle.

Answer 6

No, but they are complicated and therefore need a lot of maintenance. But they last forever. You will pay more per mile, but it gives you something in return that is priceless: character

Answer 7

Dude, the joke is you are supposed to buy two.........because one is always will be in the shop for repairs.