Member Since: 14 Oct 2006
Location: Scotland
Posts: 59
Top Tailgate
I am the only person that wishes LR had lefy the tailgate as it was on the Disco 2?
I find it a pain to get items in and out of the back due to the bottom tailgate, and the top tailgate always needs a good "bang" to shut properly
I think the side opening door on the previous models was far better.........as long as you had room behind you to open it
Cheers
Allan
21st Oct 2006 6:12 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
Ummm, yeah.
I really love the split tailgate. Its great for the kids (for sitting them on etc). Always found lack of room behind the old car meant you couldn't open it properly. Mind you, nearly walked into the top section once - that would have changed my mind!Disco 5 HSE Lux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peyiqaJrmMU
I am extremely happy with the D3 tailgate. One of the many great things of the D3 is sitting on your lower tailgate, being protected from rain by the upper part. I never had a Disco 2, but the door will probably be opening to the to the wrong (i.e. curb) side for us driving and parking on the right (wrong for you) side of the road. I know my Suzuki Jimny does 2006 Zermatt Silver TDV6 'SE' Auto, Mantec sump guard, Frontrunner roofrack, Lightforce 140s, split charge system and... a Jetboil.
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21st Oct 2006 6:26 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
I have mixed feelings about the tailgate - as Stu will testify , my height means that for me too the lower tailgate can interfere with getting stuff in and out - but equally there's no chance of me banging my head on the top bit! Much better then the opening door is a big full size tailgate like I had on my C8 - you could hold a party under it in the rain! Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
21st Oct 2006 7:23 pm
Angel1403
Member Since: 14 Oct 2006
Location: Scotland
Posts: 59
Ok
Ok I guess I am the odd one out
I just dont like banging the top tailgate shut.
It is handy to sit on..........It reminds me of my days with the Range Rover 4.2 LSE..........Now that was a beast
My top-half tailgate doesn't require much force to shut it. Maybe the lock on yours needs some adjustment?
My driver-side door needs a lot of force to close, and when shut it is closed a littele bit deeper than the rear door, so I need to have that lock adjusted myself. Something similar could be wrong with your tailgate lock... 2006 Zermatt Silver TDV6 'SE' Auto, Mantec sump guard, Frontrunner roofrack, Lightforce 140s, split charge system and... a Jetboil.
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21st Oct 2006 7:48 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
I'd got the impression from another thread on this site that the need for a hefty shove on closing was due to the hermetic properties of the car seals - you're compressing the interior atmosphere slightly when closing. Having said that, there's probably some variations in the action of the catch, so perhaps a squirt of WD40 or other lube in the relevant spot might help.
On the subject of the split, it was one of the features on the car to me - the children like sitting on it when changing footware and I find it easier to shove bulky gear in and out without fear of the wind catching and closing a side-hinged door (as it tends to on my SII, even with the spare wheel adding to the inertia). I can see that the vertically-challenged might like a pull cord on the top hatch, but it makes an excellent roof when sitting on the bottom section, watching school matches.Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2006
Location: Scotland
Posts: 59
Open Door
Yea, I was thinking about opening a door before I shut the top hatch
Cheers
Allan
21st Oct 2006 8:05 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
DrLex wrote:
the need for a hefty shove on closing was due to the hermetic properties of the car seal.
I'd agree with that. That's why SWMBO can't shut her door..... Have to say that I've never noticed it with the tail gate though.Disco 5 HSE Lux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peyiqaJrmMU
21st Oct 2006 8:06 pm
MJ
Member Since: 25 Jan 2006
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 54
I agree with you Angel - the side opening door on the Disco 2 was much better! Easier to load larg items with the split tailgate? - Bulls**t!! If you open the top only you stand a good chance of damaging paintwork etc as you lift your gear in. Open the bottom and instantly you can't reach anywhere near far enough inside. Landrover even come up with that daft sliding floor thingy - so even then are acknowledging the shortcomings! My tailgate opens and shuts OK - no problem - but there is just much more to it than that. The lower tailgate is a nice place to sit and eat your lunch during a day out, but thats about it.
The other things I really miss are the big storage panniers on either side of the loadspace of the Disco 2 (mine was a commercial) - they were just fantastic! Those tiny bins on the Disco 3 are a bad joke by comparison!Arctic Frost TDV6 5-seat
Terrain response
Climate control
Xenons
(Yes, it's an odd spec - but I like it!)
21st Oct 2006 8:06 pm
Laura
Member Since: 20 Sep 2006
Location: BROMLEY
Posts: 92
Re: Top Tailgate
Angel1403 wrote:
I am the only person that wishes LR had lefy the tailgate as it was on the Disco 2?
I find it a pain to get items in and out of the back due to the bottom tailgate, and the top tailgate always needs a good "bang" to shut properly
I think the side opening door on the previous models was far better.........as long as you had room behind you to open it
Cheers
Allan
I do love the new tailgate and the fact that the 7 seats are all proper seats and forward facing. No comparison really. But the the old tailgate was easier for me. I use the 7 seats every morning but I also transport computer equipment later in the day. This means a lot of putting the seats up and down during the day and I did not have to do this with the old Discovery. I do miss this about the old car but I wouldn't swap back.
21st Oct 2006 8:06 pm
Angel1403
Member Since: 14 Oct 2006
Location: Scotland
Posts: 59
The back
What gets me its the fact that I cant reach the back of the boot!!!
I mean who designs a boot that you cant reach the back of
They should have made the top tailgate all in one. Though, it may have been pretty heavy?
Oh well in reality there are som many great things about the D3 I can live with it
Cheers
Allan
21st Oct 2006 8:18 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
Agree with that last sentiment - I get to it from a rear side door by flipping one of the 2nd row seats.Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
21st Oct 2006 8:25 pm
MJ
Member Since: 25 Jan 2006
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 54
I agree as well to be honest - I mean, the D3 is the smoothest truck I've ever ridden in; It tows a heavy trailer like nothing else, and the Terrain Response is just fabulous technology (that works!!), but I really wish they'd done something different with the back end! Ho Hum!!!!Arctic Frost TDV6 5-seat
Terrain response
Climate control
Xenons
(Yes, it's an odd spec - but I like it!)
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I never had a Disco 2, but the door will probably be opening to the to the wrong (i.e. curb) side for us driving and parking on the right (wrong for you) side of the road. I know my Suzuki Jimny does 
2006 Zermatt Silver TDV6 'SE' Auto, Mantec sump guard, Frontrunner roofrack, Lightforce 140s, split charge system and... a Jetboil.
Much better then the opening door is a big full size tailgate like I had on my C8 - you could hold a party under it in the rain! 
