Frankly, I'm amazed this topic was dignified with so many emotional responses!

The least-competent vehicle in the lineup is the Freelander/LR2, and it is actually still significantly more capable than necessary for the target-market for which it was engineered.

Additionally, LR doesn't build a vehicle that isn't 4WD.

Should it be said that Rangers aren't real Fords? That only F-Series trucks should bear the name Ford? What about 6 cylinder Mustangs? They're not real Mustangs, right?

Guess what... the Honda Crossroad wasn't a real Honda, it was actually a Land Rover Discovery!

This whole thread is laughable.

 

discos ARE real land rovers and IMO the best land rover that fits my personal needs, enough said...but seriously whats up with a pic of a freelander on the main page? I've been wondering this for a while now.

 

Not sure ford has the same aura as Land Rover... I don't think anyone looks at a ranger, or escort, or taurus and think, it's not a real ford.. it's all gonna break down in the end anyway..

 

Funny...I was thinking about the benefits of being a Discovery owner as I ascended Mosquito Pass at 13,222' last weekend in the rain with my wife and 2 nieces along for the adventure. Never hit bottom and never spun a tire despite lots of big, slick rocks and steep grades, and this is a stock Discovery. The trail is rated moderate, but we would never have made it with the Rodeo without slamming bottom a few dozen times, or worse. Stopped to talk with a 4Runner driver who was heading back- said he'd scraped bottom on the rocks enough for one day and was giving up. After that we waited while a Wrangler driver in front of us rocked his way out of a hole.

When we got back home, I hosed the Rover off and we got back in with nice clothes and Italian shoes, and went out for a fine dinner and a night on the town. No one had to crawl out of the back seat through the front door at the valet stand and I didn't feel like an over-privileged teenager when I handed the attendant the keys.

The Discovery is the ride of choice for guys (and ladies) who work for a living but have discerning tastes in lifestyles and cars. They want to go where they want, when they want but arrive in style when they get there. Can't think of another vehicle on the planet with such a great combination of brawn and panache. Fake Land Rover? I think not. A crawl underneath verifies its pedigree. Lots of cast iron, steel and a little oil here and there mark the breed.

Dave

 

Well said, well said.

 

Well, been away "offroad" all weekend, and these vids "seem" to fit this discussion......

Heres my Disco 2 "following" where Defenders like to roam...
Its a little spot known as the "bombhole".Anyone who goes offroad will know videos never do the terrain justice, this is a 45* + wet slope on slate about the length of a Defender 110.

Good fun to !! although did a little ploughing front and rear LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSij7md4haI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI5R-sEqgrA

And just for a little bit of the history lesson, the Discovery 1 SAVED Land rover from going bust!!!

 

Oh crap, I guess I need to get rid of my Discovery.
Not here either. Then again, the valet's always get pissed at me because I won't let them drive my vehicles. LOL

 

To this day your disco is my favorite!
I dream of Diesel!

 

It's the only land rover I can afford these days.

 

The one question I haven't seen come up (and I apologize if someone did ask it) is what is the definition of a "real Land Rover"? Until that is answered nothing else has any basis. Are Defenders "real Rovers"? What makes them real Rovers?