Take any suv on a 45-50 degree wall and see if it tips over......I drove HMMVV fully loaded and it survived. Only the rovers do it best..... Love the Disco - hate the drama.....

 

Solid axle short wheelbase truck that seats 5 people and holds all there gear inside.

My favourite features: visibility, comfortable seat, room to sit up in the back to change clothing or footwear/put on ski boots in bad weather, high headroom feels spacious, online technical support, full time 4wd, heated windscreen, rain gutters for roof racks.

Relatively easy conversion to diesel to allow 900km+ range.

 

@DiscoveryTD5 Hi from Mission check the Vancouver rover guys out https://roverlanders.bc.ca/roverforum/index.php We do a fair number of trips year with a large variety of rovers, this is the best site for tech help though

 

I've always said the Series I Discovery's are quite possibly the best snow vehicle there was for their time and even today. Their 100in wheelbase, height, solid front and rear axles and CDL make them a heck of a snowcat.

 

I too have owned more than my fair share of Italian cars (still own two, a 1977 Fiat 124 spider and a 2012 Abarth) and I agree that the Disco is a much more reliable and easy to work on vehicle than everything I have owned. This list includes a Hyundai I bought new in 1999 that was fond of destroying it's passenger front wheel bearing every 20,000 to 30,000 miles. Has it been all fun and games? not a chance, it did need a new tophatted engine at 82,000 miles but aside from the sloppy work that mechanic did that I had to fix, has been as reliable as gravity.

As for looks, there is nothing on the road like it. I too prefer is narrow and tall body, especially from the rear, it just looks purposeful. I know my ride quality has been lowered with Bilstein shocks and heavy duty stock height springs from bearmach, but it still rides better than the Abarth and is not a machine that is embarrassing to take on a date (well, it is right now as I have half the interior out). It truly is a vehicle you can take off into the woods or the beach during the week and on friday and then go to the carwash before heading out for an elegant evening in Manhattan. From the beach and the mountains to the mean streets of NYC.. it can do it all with class and style!

 

I daily an '04 Forester with the cold weather package (heated everything plus a rear LSD) and it absolutely gives the Disco a run for it's money in poor weather. I hate to say it but I find that my subie's heated seats, mirrors, and defrosters all come up to temp faster plus the layout of the AWD system makes it handle better in "everyday" bad weather. Ultimately when the weather is bad I'm happy to be able to give the Subaru to my wife and drive the Disco so she doesn't have to take her little Chevy Spark!

 

I have a 07 forester and had a 01
nothing beats the Subaru AWD

 

Something to add. For years Disco owners were made to feel second class. It's not as nice or as expensive as the Range Rover, but lacks the utility and desirability of the Defender. What we have instead is a melding of the two. Some of the RR's luxury and style, with most of the Defender's Ability and utility. Discos are the "middle child" if-you-will of the Landy Family. Personally, that is alright.

 

i agree most disco 2 owners really wanted the defender but it’s out of reach for most people &$
i admit it looks better but from my research and talking to a few people it’s not very confortable
the disco is smooth and easy to drive

 

Defender 90's are pretty bouncy unless you have it dialed in just right. The seating position isn't bad if you're say 5ft 10inches or less. The rear bench seat in a D90 is like sitting on a love seat lol. I've been in the back on several off road trips and I didn't mind it at all. The inward facing seats on the hardtop D90's was not nearly as comfy in the back. For an expedition type vehicle where you travel on all kinds of roads/terrain it is VERY hard to beat a D1/D2. The D90 would beat you up after a long day unless it was a 97 model IMHO with the 4spd auto, and AC.

My first LR was a 97 D1 with 52K on it and it was 4 years old when I got it. I sadly only had it 6months then a very severe accident took her from me. It gave it's life for me no doubt. Then I jumped into a 97 RR Vitesse, and yes the RR was like riding on a cushion of air and you could drive 12hr straight and feel like you just drove down to your local 7-11 lol. However I think the P38 body style looks way to X5 BMW ish vs the lovely D1/D2 design. I agree the D1/D2 is the middle child and it's like having your cake and eating it too. I also had a 94 RRC during that time, but I sold it to a friend that drove me crazy about it until I sold it to him for cheap (regret doing that as she was 100% rust free and mint inside and out).

After the P38 I wanted a D90 and at the time the cheapest I could find was in the 35-40K range with well over 100K on them. That's when I tried out the 05 Jeep Rubicon as it was pretty much introduced (TJ body style) in 97 aka the last year of the D90 so Jeep had absolutely ZERO real competition. While the F/R lockers were great the Jeep was cheaply made, designed, and built. After I dumped 5K into mine I got it where I wanted it, but then you couldn't cruise down the road without a death grip on the wheel and barely 10MPG. I used to drive completely doorless and topless from Beaumont, TX to Bandera, TX and while it had plenty of aftermarket support I was extremely disappointed with Jeep overall. I had multiple warranty issues, and they treated me like I abused it or voided my warranty for just driving down a gravel road. No loaners, and just a **** poor attitude towards their customers. I got barely 54K on the first 05 Rubicon TJ and enough was enough. My dad then sadly passed away so I inherited his Electric Lime Green LJ (very beautiful color) and I once again set about modifying it to be great off road. I got it to around 55K as well and with my daughter being a newborn it was time for the Jeep to go as the rear seat was NOT practical for a small child.

I then bought an 07 Hummer H3 Adventure with F/R E-lockers and it was an awesome 4x4. People made fun of it all the time and Jeep friends I had known for years stopped talking to me totally which I thought was hillarious! I was so happy with it I bought an 08 Alpha H3 with the 5.3L V8 and it was absolutely amazing. I wish it had F/R E-Lockers, but that was a 2010 thing. I then honestly got bored. I never had to tinker with them, and they were great, but I just didn't feel they had the soul of a LR and I always thought about my 97 D1 and 94 RRC.

So while I had the Hummers I had a chance to buy a LR for cheap. It was a 98 LSE in British Racing Green. It was 900.00 and just needed HG's. I bought it, and was just going to do the HG's and go from there. Then a 98 50th Anniversary in Woodcote Green came up for sale and I just had to have it!! I took some stuff of the 900.00 truck to fix some interior bits the 98 50th Anniversary had damaged from the guys 4 kids. I then sold the 900.00 truck for 1100.00 after I fixed it up better than it was and it quickly sold. I then enjoyed the 98 50th for 4 trouble free years. In that time I got my 02 Kalahari, and my 99 D2. I had the bug again, and I even sold the H3's! I put the wife into an 06 LR3 which was good to us for several years until it starting being a true PITA for her. I meanwhile just kept my old gals and was happy. Then for some crazy reason I got the bug for an 04 S model D2 so I sold the 98 50th to a woman which used to own an XD (they never even test drove it) paid me my asking price and drove off. They knew what I had and they wanted it badly lol. The 04 is nice, but I regret selling the 98 50th to be honest.

I then found my rusty but trusty XD, and now I also have a mint 95 D1. My wife bailed on the LR3 and I don't blame her. It was having way to many stupid faults/issues. She has her sporty little Kia Forte GT which is a superb little car. I am almost tempted to remove the Forte badge as it is nothing like it's cheaper model siblings. The GT is fantastic for her 44MPG on long trips and all the tech she wanted with a sports sedan setup. Me meanwhile am perfectly happy with my old British fleet. I've learned my lesson and I will not be selling any of my D1's or the 99 or 02 D2's.

I am actually thinking of selling the 04 S D2 as I never really drive it (off road mainly). I have a fresh 4.6L with a cam I have been wanting to drop into it, but kids/life/2020 has put that to a halt. I think I'm going to list it for 7-8K as is with the additional flawless 4.6L and just use that $$$$$ to get a rust free SD body for the XD so I can turn her into a non rusty XD and a father/daughter project. Totally strip the SD body have it painted, and then transfer it over to the XD frame (which surprisingly isn't that rusty vs the body). I feel like I should ask more as the only real flaw to it is the roof has just started to fade and the oil light on the currently installed engine flickers. It has a great RTE lift, new shocks, ARB, and it's body/interior is like new minus a few scratches/dings, and I even got the headliner redone. If I magically find the time to swap the engine out she will be a 10K D2 no doubt.