I'm looking at buying a 2004 discovery se with 50,000 miles. I have read some reviews that say it is hard on brakes and head gaskets. Also, apparently heavy on fuel. I currently drive a Hummer H3. Any suggestions on what I should look for to tell if it will need work? The body looks great. I don't think it has ever seen mud.

 

What kind of MPG do you get with the H3?
They are not hard on brakes, the problem is cheap brake pads. These are nota sheep in wolf clothing like your H3 is. Your H3 is a TrailBlazer with a H3 body.
The Land Rover is aoff road truck first and for most with creature comforts added on for the hell of it. LR's are purpose built, their purpose, to drive off road.
Now, you can expect 16-18 expressway and 12-14 around town. You MUST use premiumum gas. These trucks are full time four wheel drive.
The head gaskets go because people dont change the coolant every 45,000 miles like they are supposed to.
Things to look for are the air ride suspension, it will fail. Every car with air ride suspension has it fail at one time or another.
Not much else to say, these trucks are very reliable and will last for 50 years in the jungle.
If you drive off road then stay away from the 18" rims.
Solid axles from and rear. V8, 4.6L.
I really dont know what else to tell you.

 

They are hard on brakes if you are agressive with the brakes. It is a heavy vehical not a light car. I usally look coast up to red lights rather then braking hard, it also saves gas if you time it right. They are gas guzzlers my 2000 4.0 averages about 14mpg. It might get a little better when I change my rear 02 sensors. You will need to run premium fuel. The Rovers are very safe vehicals. That make paying little more for gas worth it. Look for coolant leaks.

Willie

 

It will out perform a H3 hand down.
They need to run high octane. Yes once every engine, you will replace the head gaskets.
If you use good brakes you can pull good mileage, I have 67,000 on my DBA's with Kevlar pads.