Can JLR resuscitate the full size Discovery?2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
21st Aug 2023 10:26 am
Brian Considine
Member Since: 05 Dec 2022
Location: Nr Margate
Posts: 281
My personal opinion is that the Land Rover brands as such have moved away from "instant" recodnition between Range Rover, RRS, Discovery, Freelander, Evoue & Defender to the point that you often need to look again to decide what it is - they are all (with the exception of the Defender) far too "look alikes".
They are (or were) very different vehicles & appealed to very different owners. Then again, we are as a species moving towards far too much "sameness" in nearly every walk of life.
21st Aug 2023 11:34 am
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
Interesting. My view, shared by others I believe, is that the new Defender has stolen many of the would-be upgrading D3/4 owners. I consider myself the natural audience for what should be a new Discovery purchase - bloke in my 40s, growing family with kids 4 and 6, decent income, loves cars, enjoys camping, bikes etc, tinkering on the driveway, and so on.
I went to look at the D5 a while back but couldn't see a reason to switch. It was just too 'nice'. My D3 is well cared for but it does get used hard - I don't think twice about the kids jumping over the seats in muddy boots, having the bikes thrown in the boot, eating lunch in there in the rain and chucking half a tonne of crap in the back on tip runs. I can't see myself picking up half a pallet of concrete blocks in the back of a D5, not perhaps until they're sufficiently old perhaps, but then I'm not convinced 10-15 year old D5s will be the same easy vehicles to operate and cheap to maintain as the same age D3/D4 etc.
The Defender is appealing, but in my view it is not as appealing as the D3 in terms of practically, flat and wide load area, up/over boot lid etc. If they reproduced the D3 in the same form, literally, with new modern drive train and efficient engine, I'd buy one tomorrow.
Even the simple button-press dash in the D3 is superior to the new stuff. The touch screen in the BMW eg is impressive tech, but I'd rather an on/off button for all the functions any day.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23369
^“The Defender is appealing, but in my view it is not as appealing as the D3 in terms of practically, flat and wide load area, up/over boot lid etc. If they reproduced the D3 in the same form, literally, with new modern drive train and efficient engine, I'd buy one tomorrow.”
+12006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
21st Aug 2023 12:18 pm
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2686
+2Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
21st Aug 2023 12:51 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4146
Perhaps we should suggest that if they need a focus group and real world experience then look no further than this wonderful forum ?I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
21st Aug 2023 1:11 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72788
What peeps say here might not be on-message.
21st Aug 2023 1:27 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13912
^ + 3
I love the simplicity of my daughters D3 and its practicality. I think the new Land Cruiser will be a good option for those that miss the D3/4.New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
21st Aug 2023 1:29 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
Here here to that. Yes, if the powers at JLR spent a few moments reading some of the posts on this forum, they'd quickly realise there is pent up demand from a ready audience.
Maybe in time someone on here will take on the challenge of sticking a modern engine into a D3/4 chassis. How about one of those lovely BMW engines that Ineos are using? That would be a perfect balanced mix, for me.
That'll get me wondering, I have a 2014 model 435d Xdrive that does very little mileage as I prefer the electric BMW i4 as my daily. Maybe that 435d engine would make a good block to stick in the D3 when the time comes? That engine is bulletproof and easily tunes up to about 380bhp and 720nm without causing a sweat.
Oh dear, its already stuck in my mind. Has anyone stuck a BMW lump in these?2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23369
Moo wrote:
^ + 3
I love the simplicity of my daughters D3 and its practicality. I think the new Land Cruiser will be a good option for those that miss the D3/4.
I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new ‘small’ Land Cruiser. It doesn’t have a split tailgate but only the FFRR and Smart Car does nowadays.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
21st Aug 2023 1:48 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
Disco_Mikey wrote:
Yes, the M57 has been fitted into a few D3's now
Thanks, just done a search on the forum for those and can see a few comments. Just in case I needed more encouragement, I've found this which does echo my view on how sublime the 435d engine is. At launch it was more powerful that their outgoing M3 V8 petrol.
https://www.tyrcars.co.uk/blog/why-the-bmw...in-history2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 25 Apr 2022
Location: London
Posts: 246
Hmm I thought the 4.0 N/A V8 made 420bhp?
21st Aug 2023 2:29 pm
disco chris
Member Since: 25 Apr 2022
Location: London
Posts: 246
Take your point though, would be a lovely motor to put in a D3. Though for the cost of it, I might be more inclined to buy an imported 5.0 V8 D4 and keep it forever and ever
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