I'm have a business (land surveying) and I'm looking at a used '04 Discovery as a company vehicle. I need a daily driver capable of hauling me and all the gear to sites around the state and, when needed, across any site I'm on... usually this is mildly muddy at worst, but I've had a few in the past which entailed access deep onto remote properties with mud, rocks, and lots of fun stuff in between...

Anyone here have concerns about using a Disco as a business vehicle - something I'll rely on to feed the family, as it were? I realize this is a biased forum, but would sincerely appreciate honest opinions. I've never had a Rover (sorry, always a Jeep guy) but my family and friends have. A buddy (Brit, of course) loves 'em and swears it's a perfect fit for the business (he's got 2 and is looking at a third).

Thanks in advance. I'm betting this question, in variations, has been asked before, sorry to repeat.

-Matt

 

The 04 will take you place you would not believe, it would make a great company vehicle and be comfortable for the family.
My only concern would be with the tires, many of them come with 18" wheels, the factory 16" wheels are able to handle a much better selection of tires and have stronger side walls. If the truck has 18's there are many people always slling both the 18's and the 16's.
Mike

 

Thanks, Mike.

I've got a mechanic neighbor who's doing all he can to convince me it'd be a money pit and maintenance nightmare. Coming out of a Jeep Rubicon that's been rock solid for 3 years, my only real concern is the stigma of poor reliability and expensive maintenance that seems to surround Rovers in the US. I can afford to maintain the truck, and do most of my own; however,I can't afford to have it out of service for days at a time for repairs and such.

Other than that, it ought to be a great fit.

 

Mike (or anyone else reading?)
another question. I read online something about not being able to submerge the Discos above the hubs due to electronic issues? It was on a site selling snorkels, and suggested that it's only to improve air flow and quality to the engine, that submerging the hubs will damage electronics.

That seems strange. I've had the Jeep underwater nearly to the hood for a crossing, and almost100k later, it's never missed a day of work.

 

In the Disco I the ABS system is at risk if it's sumberged. Disco II has quite a bit more electronics...

And door seals have to be perfect if you don't want your interior getting swamped

 

That doesn't sound too encouraging (about electronics). The interior is farless of a concern than electronics troubles - I had the plugs out when we crossed that deep water years ago, and our feet were wet for the day.

As often as ads show river fording - don't they? am I imagining them? - I guess I figured Rovers could handle it. Anyone have direct experience with this andable tooffer suggestions, advice, or fixes for it? I couldreplace theRubicon with a brand new one for the price of this 2 year old Rover, and there's not a single off road scenario I wouldn't throw atthe venerable '06 Jeep(well, aside from the creature comforts while wheeling, or bringing the family along).

Not a challenge or intended as an argument (I'm the new guy), but a sincere concern. I'm looking at the Rovers as a means of gaining a bit of interior space, and adding a few creature comforts while maintaining off road capabilities. Adding a more professional/adult appearance to the firm could be nice, too.

 

I'm not sure how true the submerging thing is, but it seems to contradict everything I've read and seen about Discos. I'll let somebody with more off-road experience chime in.
The things you have in your favor are:
The 04 was the best Disco ever built in both reliability and capability.
Provided you're still under the 50K mark, you'd be covered by the factory warranty should anything go wrong. This also means if it happens to go into the shop, you get a free LR3 to use in the meantime.
Mechanically, they're pretty simple so you can do most of the maintenance yourself. However, the 04s (correct me if I'm wrong) came with free maintenance until 50K.

 

I actually think owning a Land Rover for a business would be a big mistake. These vehicles require a lot of attention, the sort you find in enthusiasts not in employees or those who need a moreless maintenance4X4. Land Rovers cost a lot to repair and it would hurt your bottom line. I'd consider a 4runner or a Tahoe before this, perhaps something domestic with cheaper repair costs. We have to be realistic here.I would not suggest it. But if you must, get yourself a hefty warranty, you'll be needing it. Regards.

 

Regarding Discos and water.

A mechanic friend of mine who is a Disco specialist says that a major problem with water crossings is water gets into the computer because the silicone grease has been rubbed off, or someone unplugged the box and refitted it without adding more grease. So, go get some grease and apply it to the box plug liberally