Disco 4 Replacement

[Blakeyjersey]

I currently have a 2011 Discovery 4 which i've owned for 2 years. It's really starting to show it's age and is going to need some hefty maintenance bills in the next few months. I'm struggling to decide what to move to.
Budget is approx £25k.
My driving profile is approx. 5k miles per year and solely consists of short journeys (live in Jersey). I know this doesn't suit Diesels but the Disco and my previous were both Diesels and i didn't get any DPF issues.

I love Land Rover products but the reliability horror stories are putting me off. I didn't mind the risk with my current Disco as it only cost £8k.

Options i'm looking at are.

Range Rover Vogue Autobiography - 2013 - 5lt V8 Petrol - 56k miles - £25k
Fuel bill will be punchy but what's reliability like on these?

Range Rover Sport Autobiography - 2014 - 3lt SDV6 - 48k miles - £25k
I love these but the horror stories are putting me off.

Land Rover Discovery 4 - 2016 - 3lt SDV6 - 68k miles - £22k
Luxury spec and would be my top choice but same concerns about reliability as the Sport.

Only other car i've seen which tempts is an BMW X5 40d M-sport (F15), it's a 2015, 42k miles, great spec and priced at £22k How do these compare to the Land Rovers?

Any advice or experience of any of the above would be appreciated.

[ZX10R NIN]

Your mileage doesn't suit a diesel but if you want one I'd suggest the 4.2d Cayenne:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404138...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407222...

Or Cayenne GTS, it'll cost more on fuel but you're only doing 5k per year:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311143...

[Blakeyjersey]

There is a Cayenne Turbo for sale over here at the moment, 2011 for £20k but something about it just isn't working for me, weirdly though i think that GTS is lovely, could even live with the interior colour.

Unfortunately importing a car just isn't an option as the Emissions duty would be £7k!!

[Crumpet]

You’re looking at replacing an old Land Rover with another old Land Rover there! Out of the frying pan and into the fire! For what it’s worth, my 2014 Freelander 2 with 80k miles is starting to suffer with some age related corrosion now, and you’re looking at similar age cars. Mainly thinking suspension arms, brake calipers etc.

I’ve had Discos and JLR cars for the last 12 years and still think that when they’re working they’re the best out there but ten year old cars are always going to be a gamble whatever the brand.

How about an F-Pace? Just avoid the four cylinder diesel like the plague, but for your budget you’d get a decent V6S petrol or you may even scrape into a facelifted straight six D300 in a basic spec. They’re really good cars, although I had the SVR which is a bit different!

[JerseyBloke]

Yeh i appreciate it sounds a bit daft, wanting to get rid of my old Land Rover as it's going to throw up some bills soon, only to want to replace it with another old Land Rover which will likely do the same. As you say though, when they work they're fantastic bits of kit.

Funny you mention the Freelander 2. We got rid of my wife's 2 years ago for a Volvo XC40 and have regretted it ever since, not because the XC40 isn't good, it's a fantastic car but we just haven't 'bonded' with it like the Freelander.

I guess that's part of my thinking, i love the Disco and am concerned about changing and being in the same situation as the Freelander with the replacement not living up to the previous, which is why i'm looking at Land Rover again.

Saying that i do really like the look of the X5.

[Crumpet]

Yes there’s something about Land Rovers that you bond with, despite knowing they could stab you in the back at any point! That’s one reason I went back to a FL2 because they’re reportedly a bit more reliable.

I missed my 2015 D4 when I changed to a brand new D5 but running either of those out of warranty now fills me with fear! Both an are great cars, though.

My brother has a 2019 X5; it’s ok, but it cost him about £3k the other day when the turbo shat itself. All these big, luxury cars throw bills. Go on the XC90 Facebook group and there are more people saying ‘never again’ than you’ll see on a LR group - and the XC90 I had for a few months was utterly soulless.

If I was you I’d up the budget to £30k and find a used approved 2020 RRS with the straight six diesel - they’re just dropping into that price range now with some negotiation. I’m very tempted myself.

[66HFM]

We had a Disco 3 and went to a Disco 4, chalk and cheese and the 4 was such a better car.
We only sold it as it was then 12 years old with 140k on it... nothing major went wrong it, just general maintenance items, although quite often it cost £1k just to lift the bonnet....

We replaced it with an Evoque as we no longer needed the space, although we now have a dog and I do miss it. Its the longest period I have ever kept a car (4 years) and I'm still tempted to go back. I'd personally go for one of the late Disco 4s in as good a spec as possible - Landmark etc, or at least one with the Landmark alloys, and enjoy it!

[Dave200]

You probably already know this, but all Land Rover products over a certain age will find a way to come between you and your wallet. However, my personal preference to minimise wallet pain is to buy petrol-engined LRs. the 5.0 V8 in the Range Rover you've suggested is probably one of the most sturdy engines JLR made in this era. TIming chain guides are your only real concern there, but that's child's play compared with the types of bills that a diesel JLR product can throw at you.

Given that the diesels are often not the most economical of things, I'd ask a few owners for honest economy figures and do the maths on the difference in fuel bills. I'd wager that unless you're doing mega-miles, it's not going to be a huge difference, not least given the higher diesel price at the pumps. Given your expected use, I'd factor in fixing the usual LR diesel issues related to short journeys in your costings too.

[Blakeyjersey]

Thanks for the replies folks.

I think that, despite not having any dpf related issues with my current Disco 4, i should rule out the Range Rover Sport and newer Discovery 4 i mentioned in the first post due to them being diesel and i wouldn't be able to let go of the thought that the crank is going to snap at any moment!!

Gonna rule out the X5 because it's Diesel, plus as nice as it is i think i'd end up regretting not going down the Land Rover route.

So that kind of leaves me with the Range Rover Autobiography 5lt V8 Petrol.

I've accepted that i'm probably only going to get mid-teens mpg, but given my circa 5k miles per year i can live with that.

I've done a bit of reading up on them and seemingly no glaring issues other than, as mentioned by Dave200, the timing chain guides.

Any advice or words of wisdom related to these would be greatly appreciated.

[dave_s13]

Does the Audi Q7 or SQ7 float your boat?

I'm on the lookout to change soon(ish) and need a 7 seater, there's are near top of my list.

[Blakeyjersey]

Nope, the Audi's don't do anything for me i'm afraid.

[covmutley]

I'm not speaking from any experience but based off what I see and read I would go for the petrol RR if I were you, especially if I was lucky enough to do such few miles.

Just make sure you have a few £k bork fund, and enjoy what will no doubt be a lovely car

Edited by covmutley on Tuesday 30th July 10:23

[alfabeat]

Personally, I would just keep what you have! Spend a bit of money on it getting the known jobs done and enjoy! (I am a 2009 Disco 4 owner for many years, and just put a replacement engine in mine at 150k). Great cars.

[Dave200]

If you like a Discovery 4, and you want the peace of mind of a petrol engine, keep an eye out for the Japanese imports that were fitted with the N/A 5L V8.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395427000894

[biggbn]

Lexus RX a shout? Or Toyota Land Cruiser if you don't 'need' the feeling of luxury

[Blakeyjersey]

covmutley said:

I'm not speaking from any experience but based off what I see and read I would go for the petrol RR if I were you, especially if I was lucky enough to do such few miles.

Just make sure you have a few £k bork fund, and enjoy what will no doubt be a lovely car

Edited by covmutley on Tuesday 30th July 10:23

As things stand that is definitely the most tempting option.

[Blakeyjersey]

alfabeat said:

Personally, I would just keep what you have! Spend a bit of money on it getting the known jobs done and enjoy! (I am a 2009 Disco 4 owner for many years, and just put a replacement engine in mine at 150k). Great cars.

The thought has definitely crossed my mind, but think i'm looking at around £4-5k to get everything sorted out and not sure it's worth throwing that much at a 2011 car with 152k miles on the clock which will sill have the potential to snap it's crank.

[Blakeyjersey]

Dave200 said:

If you like a Discovery 4, and you want the peace of mind of a petrol engine, keep an eye out for the Japanese imports that were fitted with the N/A 5L V8.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395427000894

Wow, didn't know that was a thing ! Unfortunately the costs to import it to Jersey (approx. £8k) rules it out.

[Dave200]

Blakeyjersey said:

Dave200 said:

If you like a Discovery 4, and you want the peace of mind of a petrol engine, keep an eye out for the Japanese imports that were fitted with the N/A 5L V8.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395427000894

Wow, didn't know that was a thing ! Unfortunately the costs to import it to Jersey (approx. £8k) rules it out.

I don't know the ins and outs of 'importing' to Jersey, but if it's already registered in the UK would you still need to pay that fee?

[Blakeyjersey]

Dave200 said:

I don't know the ins and outs of 'importing' to Jersey, but if it's already registered in the UK would you still need to pay that fee?

Unfortunately yes, i'd assume a 5.0lt V8 will be over 201g CO2 emissions, so there would be Vehicle Emissions Duty to pay of just under £8k, then you have to pay 5% of the purchase price in tax, then the freight, inspection and registration costs would come to another £500ish !