I am planning on buying a 2003 or 2004 Discovery when i return home from Iraq. I was wondering what are the differences between all the editions such as S, SE, SE7, HSE7. i have noticed the SE7 and HSE7 have two extra seats for 7 pax. i assume the HSE7 has all the bells and whistles. What do they include. i really don't need the extra seats but they wouldn't hurt. i know they get more expensive so what i am i getting for the extra money. Also, so any of the 03 04 models come w/ 4x4 instead of AWD or are the all AWD. i will also be pulling a 19 foot boat, Will this SUV handle that and can i upgrade the suspension to help it out??

 

ALL Land rovers arepermanent 4 wheel drive (except very early ones)

anything with a 7 on the end just means it has 7 seats (2 in da boot) vehicles with 5 seats have a larger cargo area to use. As they go up S > SE etc the more toys are added. It really depends on your budget really. In my opinion , buy the highest spec you can for the budget you have.

As far as the towing goes, the Disco will tow most things you throw at it, but I would recommend if you do plan to tow, get one with Rear Air suspension as its self levelling and will keep the vehicle attitude correct whilst towing (also you can raise the rear to go play in da mud to)

 

Stay away from the 03's due to their engine failures.
If you don't need the extra seats, stay away from them also, they take up too mich room for when you want to load the truck up.

 

X2 on the extra seats. I have a 01 SE7. I SWEAR when my Mother-in-Law and her sister got in the way back, they blew one of the bags in my suspension system. I'm not saying anything more.

Also, it's like driving around in a school bus because they rattle over every single bump. I ended up taking them out...they are in my garage. If you won't need them, don't get them.

 

i have a 96 SE7 and use the rear seats all the time; all my friends have tiny cars so all 7 seats are often in use. it's kind of cool how they face each other... homage to cooler Land Rovers IMO. although i think the 03-04 use forward-facing rear seats, not nearly as interesting.

 

Do NOT buy a 2003. Get a 2002 or a 2004.
Asking if it will pull a 19' boat is like asking will the Titanic sink, it will pull anything you can hook to it, but it is rated for 5,500lbs.
So can it pull your boat? How much does your boat and trailer weigh?
If you get the 7 passenger you will lose about half of your cargo room. The third row seats in a DII are alot more intrusive than a DI, and they face forward for safety reasons.

The "S" will not have sunroofs or leather, the rest will.
the "S" has the lesser stereo, the rest have the Harmon Kardon unit.
The "S" is the base model, there are a ton of options that the others may or may not have, like heated windshield, ACE, SLS, rear A/C, 18" rims.
The "SE" is your best option, lots of them out there and will have the most factory goodies and more popular options that people ordered when they bought their truck.
If you plan on off roading at all try and stay away from the 18" rims.

Now a question for you, do you know any of the quirks and special needs that these trucks require?

 

Not familair at all of the quirks and special needs. I have been a GM guy my entire life and just want a quality SUV. So what i am i missing. I have seen some info about 03 models having an oil pump issue, what else?

What does the HSE feature??

 

Here are the quirks, the air ride suspesension will go bad.
The front driveshaft must be rebuilt before it explodes and destroys your transmission.
You MUST use premium gas.
You will have the "3 amigos"
Your power window regulator will go bad.
You will have power door lock actuators go bad.

The HSE is the fully loaded decked out version.

 

Hmm why stay away from the 03? I have an 03 SE and I love it. Is there something lurking under the hood that I'm not aware of?

 

Some of the 2003 Disco's have a manufactured flaw on the engine block which causes a failure of the oil pump.

Knowing what I do know I would have bought a 2004. But then again I have + 114K miles on mine with no issues.

The 03 does not have a locking dif.