What do we think about RR Sport vs Disco 4?

What do we think about RR Sport vs Disco 4?

Author
Discussion

miniman

Original Poster:

26,270 posts

269 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
I need a bigger vehicle. Would very much like a D4. But what about a RR Sport?

Circa £15k. Diseasel, obvs.

JJ55

684 posts

122 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
D4 my choice all day long.

KPB1973

929 posts

106 months

Monday 22nd July 2019
quotequote all
Is load carrying capacity your primary motive? If so, then i've just been through the same quandary - and also looked at X5s, Q7s, FFRR etc - and ended up with a Disco 4.

The Disco's boot space is frankly ridiculous. The RR Sport (despite the published capacity) didn't feel much of a step up from that in our old CR-V in terms of usable space.





300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

197 months

Monday 22nd July 2019
quotequote all
miniman said:
I need a bigger vehicle. Would very much like a D4. But what about a RR Sport?

Circa £15k. Diseasel, obvs.
Not really sure why diesel should be obvious confused

Although diesel is the only choice in a D4 for the UK/EU market. The latter 3.0 diesel is quite a bit more powerful than the earlier 2.7, although there is the crank snapping issues you may want to research. no other engine choices available.

The D4 and RRS are essentially the same vehicles, the D4 has a slightly longer wheelbase, bigger body that is more boxy shaped and the extra rear seats in the boot area.

While the RRS is limited to seating only 5 with a smaller boot. RRS may look a little more plush inside, but not a huge difference IMO. The RRS should have a form of ACE (Active Corner Enhancement), which is an active anti roll bar. A D4 can feel somewhat whalloy by comparison. This isn't to say the D4 handles poorly, it doesn't, but will lean more than an RRS.

RRS also has the option of the petrol V8's which are generally nicer, smoother and faster than the V6 diesels. The TDV8 was also an option in the RRS. As a middle ground offering closer to the petrols performance and better mpg than the petrol, but slightly worse mpg than the V6 diesel.

bakerstreet

4,822 posts

172 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
I would go D4 IMO. Boot is pretty epic and so big that dropping the car to access mode is almost a necessity to reach the back of the boot.

RRS interior is a nice place to be and I think you sit slightly lower and the center tunnel intrudes more into the car when compared to a D4. Bit more cossetting I suppose.

Generally speaking the D4 is a more practical vehicle IMO.I would go with the 8 Speed if you can afford it. Better box than the 6sp and slightly more economical too.

D4, also gives you some flexibility on fitting an aftermarket stereo which would be quite welcome as Bluetooth streaming wasn't available until 2011/12.


Joe5y

1,530 posts

190 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
D4 all the way. RRS isn't a patch on it.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

197 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
Joe5y said:
D4 all the way. RRS isn't a patch on it.
rolleyes

Crumpet

4,059 posts

187 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Joe5y said:
D4 all the way. RRS isn't a patch on it.
rolleyes
Why roll your eyes? I’ve had both and agree entirely, as do most who’ve posted here as well.

Unless you mean they’re both the same car underneath and it’s purely down to personal preference regarding interior space and styling (and ever so slightly better handling - or less crap, depending on your point of view). In which case the RRS isn’t a patch on the Disco for either of those. The perforated ‘Oyster’ leather on the RRS is quite nice though.....

Edit: and to answer the OPs question.....D4, every time. Unless you really, really want a V8 petrol - which is fair enough, actually!

A.J.M

8,012 posts

193 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
From sitting and driving both.

D4 would be my choice.

Yes the Sport is built on the same basic chassis and running gear, with 5” cut out the middle.
But, they are very different cars.

At 5.8 tall, i’m no giant but I found the Sport, a bit crampt inside with a lower roof than my own D3. The boot is much smaller and the back seat didn’t feel as big either.

The Sport drove nicer though, less roll in the corners than the Disco’s but they both will have the same 3.0 engine and either 6 or 8 speed boxes.

The Disco feels bigger inside, it’s more practical with a massive boot and with the boxy shape, you can really cram in kit to it.

Drive both though and see what you prefer.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

197 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
Crumpet said:
Why roll your eyes?
Because they are more similar than they are different. Same drive trains, same suspension, same platform and some of the same engines.

I'm not saying you can't prefer one, but claiming one isn't a patch on the other is a little extreme and not really reality. The D4 is slightly bigger, more boxy and more practical. The RRS doesn't pretty much the same but is a bit more taught, slightly less piratical (but still big inside and roomy) with a wider choice of engines.

Think of it a bit like a BMW saloon and estate of the same model. Different, but still very much the same underneath. smile

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

197 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
A.J.M said:
F
At 5.8 tall, i’m no giant but I found the Sport, a bit crampt inside with a lower roof than my own D3. The boot is much smaller and the back seat didn’t feel as big either.
While you are completely correct. That is only directly against the D3/4. The RRS is still big and roomy compared to a BMW 3 Series, a Focus, Astra etc. It really isn't a cramped car overall. Just as a D4 is a bit small inside when compared to a Transit van wink

jonny996

2,637 posts

224 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
D4 is classy, RRS is flashy. Very much depends on what type of person you are

A.J.M

8,012 posts

193 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
While you are completely correct. That is only directly against the D3/4. The RRS is still big and roomy compared to a BMW 3 Series, a Focus, Astra etc. It really isn't a cramped car overall. Just as a D4 is a bit small inside when compared to a Transit van wink
But it shouldn’t feel cramped inside.
It’s a large suv, not a Polo. It should give the impression of space and it didn’t to me.

Maybe I’m spoiled with the D3 being a cathedral on wheels.

anonymous-user

61 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
quotequote all
D4 it’s a huge box on wheels so easy to park and cavernous inside, especially with the seats down. About the same length as a 5 series though so not difficult to drive or manoeuvre. 255hp 8 speed is the way to go.

My father in law had the same model year RRS and it was tiny inside by comparison.

freshbread

10 posts

64 months

Saturday 27th July 2019
quotequote all
Disco 3 and 4's although extremely capable are not the most reliable , a mate waited for the 4 and the 3 lt engine .Bought the smartest XS commercial you would see anywhere . Full service history , this was a long term keeper . After 5 yrs and 70k carrying only labradors it just stopped .Crankshaft broken . a specialist quoted £ 7k with a billet crank ( as it known to be a weakness .) No . My mate was adament Land rover will pay for this out of goodwill.
Anyway £ 14000 later he has got his car back . 20 hrs at £ 120/hr to remove engine and body . Same again to put it back .............plus VAT
Scared me to death , we have had Disco 1's and 2's without any real issues . Wife now has a Freelander 2 HSE ........superb 33 mpg around town , have seen 48 mpg on a slow Friday run to the Lakes. Apart from a Volvo estate , probably the best car we have had for reliability . Owned 3 years , 3 specialist services and 2 waxoyls £ 3/400 per year .Love it

gareth h

3,753 posts

237 months

Saturday 27th July 2019
quotequote all
freshbread said:
Disco 3 and 4's although extremely capable are not the most reliable , a mate waited for the 4 and the 3 lt engine .Bought the smartest XS commercial you would see anywhere . Full service history , this was a long term keeper . After 5 yrs and 70k carrying only labradors it just stopped .Crankshaft broken . a specialist quoted £ 7k with a billet crank ( as it known to be a weakness .) No . My mate was adament Land rover will pay for this out of goodwill.
Anyway £ 14000 later he has got his car back . 20 hrs at £ 120/hr to remove engine and body . Same again to put it back .............plus VAT
Scared me to death , we have had Disco 1's and 2's without any real issues . Wife now has a Freelander 2 HSE ........superb 33 mpg around town , have seen 48 mpg on a slow Friday run to the Lakes. Apart from a Volvo estate , probably the best car we have had for reliability . Owned 3 years , 3 specialist services and 2 waxoyls £ 3/400 per year .Love it
I’ve had 3 mates who have ended up with £12k plus bills on these as well, what do they build the cranks from? Balsa wood?

anonymous-user

61 months

Saturday 27th July 2019
quotequote all
gareth h said:
I’ve had 3 mates who have ended up with £12k plus bills on these as well, what do they build the cranks from? Balsa wood?
And I've owned my D4 for 5 years and it hasn't put a foot wrong, it's been 100% reliable. I put it in today for a new cam belt and gearbox flush as a reward. D3 was a bit rubbish by comparison but I had one of the first 2005 versions. I did still put 150k miles on it though.

gareth h

3,753 posts

237 months

Sunday 28th July 2019
quotequote all
wormus said:
gareth h said:
I’ve had 3 mates who have ended up with £12k plus bills on these as well, what do they build the cranks from? Balsa wood?
And I've owned my D4 for 5 years and it hasn't put a foot wrong, it's been 100% reliable. I put it in today for a new cam belt and gearbox flush as a reward. D3 was a bit rubbish by comparison but I had one of the first 2005 versions. I did still put 150k miles on it though.
I only know 3 people who have one, that’s quite a high percentage !

AC123

1,166 posts

161 months

Monday 29th July 2019
quotequote all
Original RRS now look very dated in my opinion - Facelift D4 looks increasingly smart every time I see one.

camel_landy

5,082 posts

190 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
I wouldn’t say the RRS is ‘cramped’ but it was designed to be ‘cozy’... When compared to the RR Vogue, the RaRo was like sitting on the flight deck of an airliner where as the RRS was like sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet.

Personally, I found the RRS to be more than adequate for family duties but I will say that for practicality, a D4 is hard to beat. 7x seats if you need them and a load space of 1.98m with the rear seats down. Fantastic car.

D4 HSE Auto or RRS TDV8...
...or even have a look at the RR Vogue TDV8, if you need a touch more space than the RRS.

M