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Comments
Kimo
thanks
Q1: What is the reliability factor with this vehicle? I have read a lot of stuff here about ACE and the brakes – both a repetitive problems in the comments above. What is the deal? I need a 5-year+ owner to start talking or someone that beats their DII to spill it. I don’t want to here about “I love it its great at 700 miles”, “I just picked mine up and won’t drive anything else”. I need long hall drives to come forward.
Answers to above:
What is the price of the 2003? – I have two requests that are out now and have not gotten them back yet but will pass them on when I do. I heard from one dealer that the new engine will have better mileage then the Range (due to less weight in the DII) and the price will be about $1000 more.
In addition to the above mentioned, I have been heavily researching the Discovery II and found a lot to share with other Disco II owners and future 03 owners. Land Rover will be making a big debut with the Rover and the Disco for 2003 this summer. The new Range Rover series III is due out in about 2 weeks. The dealers are currently being trained and testing the new model, which was a joint effort between BMW and Land Rover. The new RRIII is really nice, almost too nice to off road. The colors the options are all reconfigured and redesigned with the best of results. This technology is being passed onto the 2003 Discovery II with new options, brakes, suspension, engine, headlights, etc. If anyone has seen pictures of the new Rover, will love the 2003 Disco. They look the same from the front. LR changed the headlights and the taillights for 2003. The engine is what I am really waiting for. Once I get the prices back I will order one for the July launch.
Also if you have been poking around this web site you will find that Land Rover is number 5 for stereo's in cars over $30K...
5. 2002 Land Rover Range Rover (Alpine/Harman-Kardon)
An SUV in the top five? Pass the tea and crumpets and crank up the volume — this is one great-sounding audio system. With 460 watts of unadulterated Alpine juice powering 12 Harman-Kardon speakers throughout the cabin, you'll think you're at the Royal Albert Hall when this thing kicks in. The system includes an in-dash six-disc CD changer, a 10-inch subwoofer in back and — something we rarely see — a separate volume control for the sub. Pass the Grey Poupon and the opera glasses, bloke. Now if they could just fix the funky cosmetics and ergonomics. Oh, wait. They did that (with BMW's help) for 2003.
Feed back?
Thank you very much for your comments.
I'm at 70k miles now, and those are hard miles. I might call those "dog miles", each one counts for 7 on-road light-footed miles? I drive Anuqa offroad extensively, I regularly bend the air dam, break my rear lamp lenses in the bumper and grind parts on the underside. I've been places where the passengers were shouting to LET ME OUT!!! and effortlessly got back again.
This winter she really shined; I spent a week tugging people out of ditches when we got 3 feet of snow in 24 hours. Everyone else that I know was stuck, in Explorers, Jeeps, you name it. I was having the time of my life pushing snow with the headlights, blowing it up over the windshield, and only got buried a couple times (and had to climb out the back hatch to dig myself out... the doors wouldn't open).
Reliability-wise, she had a tough start. One major mechanical, several minor mechanicals, several minor electricals, and the last problem was sorted 3 days after the warranty died. And I must say it was a painful agonizing death... I used that warranty till it bled.
And now? Not ONE problem in over 3 years of hard, hard use. I haven't broken anything that wasn't MY fault (stupidity). And I can compare her reliability to any of the 13 Hondas I've owned over the years... and that's with the hard use. I want to say "abuse" but it's not... it's simply hard use. I maintain her impeccably, and she rewards time and again.
I have nothing but highest recommendation for this truck.
Regards, -Bob
I would especially like to thank “Nanug” for writing in and telling everyone what the Discovery was designed for and that they were actually designed prior to 1999. I thought I was nuts, when someone stated that they were just launched in 99.
I think my next question should be what colors inside and our does everyone recommend.
Thanks everybody.
Build quality is VASTLY improved over the DIs. Back then they were mostly hand made and if the lads at Solihull were recuperating from a big weekend your Monday truck might pop out missing an engine. Seriously, Rover has spent some big money tightening up their program. Even then, the problems were initial build... once sorted, they stay sorted and you'll have a truck to enjoy for literally decades.
As for brush bars and skid plates, I haven't mounted them on mine and I use her HARD. So far I've gouged the chassis many times but the hard bits are tucked up pretty well between the frame rails and they're safe if you drive to keep them away from rocks. You do want to be kind to your diffs. They're both lined up under your seat (on the DII) so it's easy to pass rocks; on the DI they're lined up on the offside. If you drop a wheel off an obstacle and crunch your diff onto a boulder without a skid plate you'll be walking.
I hope this helps, -Bob
The one perfect pure and holy color for any vehicle is, of course, silver. Having aluminum skins under the paint, if you get too friendly with a tree branch and gouge your finish, nobody will really be able to tell.
My interior color is darkish grey, and it's wearing like iron. The older seats had the REALLY top grade leather and with 6 years of use mine still look new with minor wrinkling where they flex. I use Lexol to keep them soft.
I bought the heavy, deep floor mats from Costco and they do well at trapping mud and snow.
Best regards, I'm out of here for the weekend. We got fresh snow overnight and I'm taking a bunch of kids out camping in it.
-Bob
Back then, the Discos, along with the Vauxhall Frontera, were the besting looking things on the road.
My wife and I are planing to buy a Discovery II 2003, which shall be comming out at the end of the year, however, I am not familiar with the Rover models as I wish, so I need your help?
1. When is the current Discovery II expected to change models?
2. How does it compare to the X 5 of BMW (maybe comparing it to a X5 4.4 or 4.6 is not adequate but maybe to the X5 3.0
3. overall satisfaction, since it seems that it lacks HP and the SD model is not available in leather.
Response to question:
1) The current Discovery is not expected to change until 2005.
2)You are comparing "Apples" and "Oranges" with the X5 and the Disco II. The X5 is a car and the Discovery II is a truck. The engines are totally different as well. Disco has lot of low end tourque and X5 has lots of horse power.
3) No response....
Hope that helps
Anyone have an idea how hard the trailer wiring harness is to install ? Looks like just mounting the connector, route the wires and plug in. Hard part seems to be getting my hands into those little holes in the back panels to plug the harness in. Basically is this a do it yourself job ?
Thanks
I saw four 2003 Land Rovers today driving in San Francisco today 3/6/02. All 2003 models: Disco, Range, Defender 110 Wagon and the Freelander. All were painted ORANGE and had safari/luggage racks on all of them. They all had tons of gear on the roof. What are they doing in San Fran?
They looked GREAT!
KK
FWIW those were "Kalahari Specials" from my meagre knowledge, and were probably off for a demo of some sort.
I should have taken some pictures. I pulled over and looked at the vehicles because I wanted to get a good look at the 2003 Disco and Range. The thing that caught my eye was they were all painted ORANGE. The were all parked in front of our City Hall of San Francisco.
Wonder who they were or what was going on????
Kevin
Thanks
luong
Been a fan Rover for years(owned a '63 Series IIA Pickup), but I've been ready to drop the Cherokee for something bigger,nicer, and hopefully more dependable.
I know the Discos have their quirks - gasket-seals, dealer, etc, but I'm used to working on my own vehicle and my wife(although she doesn't completely understand working on a truck for fun - she drives a Honda) I was wondering what I should look for in a 97-98 Disco I - potential problems, etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Phil
Feedback please...
Thanks!
The rear door has a replacement latching block available that helps a lot. If you still have the original there's a big allen head screw on the post... loosen it and adjust the post "closer in" to the door seal, so when it latches it will hold the door tighter shut.
Good luck! -Bob
1. I liked the 2003 headlights, but thought they would be mostly hidden behind the the brush guard I added.
2. In test driving the 2002 I was aware of the complaints about needing more power but found the peformance satisfactory.
3. I took advantage of the current 4.9 financing.
5. i assumed the 2003 would carry a higher sticker.
Not an easy decision, but whether you end up with a 2002 or 2003, either one will be a great SUV and a blast to drive.
Just something to consider. Next glass for me will be non-tinted at the top.
I believe this was addressed in the Series-II Disco, the roofline doesn't come down quite as far... but it's still something to think about.
Regards, Bob
Thanks!
One bit of advice that seems to still work with the newer Rovers... sometimes you gotta "take her over the hump" so to speak.
Initial build quality is light years better than it used to be, but it seems there are still trucks where problems arise that must be dealt with. However, once fixed (not simply "bandaged") they'll stay fixed.
I haven't heard of as many problems as this with the newer Discos. It was common with the Series-I Discos. It may be that you can bite the bullet, fix the remaining annoyances (and have that transmission looked at pronto) and you'll have no more trouble.
I was at the same point you are. I HATED this truck after a couple years' aggravation. But I stuck it out, and now she's wonderful. Absolutely zero trouble in 3 years, and I use her HARD.
Good luck, -Bob
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=11531
aghadden: Sorry to hear of your troubles. Sounds like the DII has been fine and that the last service caused the problems. The dealership seems to owe you big time. Based on my dealer experience (although not extensive) they should take care of you. If not I bet LRNA would make sure they do.
I missed my DII very much and so I bought a 2000. It now has 26,500 miles and has been perfect in all respects. I just love it. It's better than my last three new Mercedes' or BMW's. Get the dealer to fix yours right, and stay in love with it as you should be. Good luck. Keep us posted!
Question, why did the case gaskets need changing on the 30K tranny service? Did you mean the pan gasket with a filter change? This is a no brainer on ever car I have ever serviced.
Thanks for your sentiments on my predicament. I do agree that part of my problems has been the dealerships, but I have now had serious problems with three dealerships I've dealt with. LR Denver South has a very courteous staff, Shane Joines in particular has been helpful and listened to my problems and has each time eventually gotten them repaired (he even repaired the bad break job done by another dealer at no cost to me), so I do give a lot of credit for that. However, my 30 K service was really botched which I believe is going to lead to even bigger problems soon, and my disco was dented while in their care.
LR Flatirons service is a HUGE JOKE. Todd Dahlbach is the most useless service manager I've ever met. Early on in my ownership (about 5k miles), I took the car in because the ABS was not functioning correctly. I told him that engagement would skip, and the car was not stopping correctly. This know-it-all told me I didn't know what I was talking about, and that this sophisticated system worked much "better" than the ABS systems I was used to. I just accepted it as a design change that I didn't like, but would have to live with. The recall on the break system that was done in February fixed the problem. My next encounter with this Todd was in February when I found a new leak spot on my garage floor (I've now had leaks from the valve covers, oil pan, tranny pan, radiator coupling and rear main). This leak was the rear main. Todd "doofus" Dahlbach would not authorize the repair because it was "seeping" not "leaking".
My other dealership experience was with LR American Fork in Utah. I had had such terrible luck in Colorado, I decided to have my breaks done in Utah while at the Olympics. Well, they began squeaking immediately. I called, they said they just needed to "seat". 2,500 miles later they were still squeaking.
All of the problems (mitering the breaks, replacing rear main, etc.) have been repaired at this point by LR Denver South, and I do give them credit for that, but I live in huge fear of what this vehicle is going to cost to operate, maintain (and rent loaners) after the warranty runs out.
The above was written on Thursday. Edmunds retracted it due to my colorful description of Todd Dahlbach. On Thursday night, the “Service Engine Soon” light came back on, the idle went rough, and it is back at the dealer. All O2 sensors have been replaced. The ECM has been replaced. No one seems to be able to competently service these things, or I’ve got a grand lemon on my hands.
Does anyone know an attorney in Colorado who has successfully represented a consumer in a suit to get his or her money (less use) back on a two-year-old lemon?
Thanks in advance,
Lemon Owner