2003 Land Rover Discovery

Maintenance nightmare

By PP (TX) on Friday, December 21, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 87,000

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"Read all the negative reviews before buying this but thought it couldnt be that bad - I was wrong! It really is. Horrendous maintenance issues so far. I am good at keeping my cars running smooth with earlier than needed maintenance and likes: but this SUV has been a nightmare when it comes to breaking down. AC makes weird noises; oil leaks; wont cool and MPG sucks big time... Horrible door design for the rear where getting in and out takes a lot of effort. My advice: stay away from this one."

15 people out of 15 found this review helpful

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03 LR2 SE7

By 03 SE7 (TN) on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 111,111

Pros: "a real suv designed for off road use"

Cons: "MPG and octane rating"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"3RD time LR owner if you are planning on buying a Rover an advanced knowledge on the vehicle is needed and also where to find parts, They do need repair (just like any vehicle) but theres ways of doing it without getting hosed. I have had this vehicle for 5 years Drivin it on firebreaks of the NW, trails in TN and snow and ice, Never gotten stuck or disabled. Now for the Fuel economy 12/16 mpg at 90 or higher octane $$$ but worth it. Quirks I've found 1. gas cap seals wear out (causing check engine light to go on)2. if your 6'0 or taller I dont reccomend. 3. jump seats useless Ive used them once for children, small children."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Living w/a Discovery 7 yrs

By 04DiscoveringSE7BlkBlk (FL) on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 89,000

Pros: "capability, space, utility, safe"

Cons: "head gaskets, gas guzzler"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

2004 Land Rover Discovery SE7 Blk/Blk

"Purchased a 1 yr old Discovery back in fall of '05. It is an '04 blk on blk SE7 model and had 22k mi. when purchased. For the first 6 years of ownership, it was flawless other than normal maint. The 7th year, however, it was at the LR Dealership on 2 occasions - which ended up costing approx. $6k. The head gaskets needed replaced since they were leaking coolant into the cylinders and several coolant hoses throughout the system were replaced along with the radiator. Additionally, the ignition coil then went and a full tune-up was required in conjunction. Needless to say, I made the choice to get the work done correctly by certified techs and paid the premium. Why? Because the truck is an absolute beast! Despite the recent maint. events, the Disco is - simply put - unlike any other suv. It's big without being too big, it's roomy without being a stinking mini-van, it's a gas PIG & loves to guzzle (13 mi./gal. city), it's comfortable cabin is nice but it's no Range Rover, and it is safe for carting your family to & fro. It is the single most capable & comfortable vehicle off-road, Lb. for Lb. (all 6,300 Lbs, actually) you'll probably ever encounter. If you want a soccer mom or baseball dad suv, this isn't it - you'd be better off continuing your search. However, if you are passionate about capability & utility, and don't mind a truck that will inevitably require some love, then a Discovery may be precisely what you need. After 89k miles, it will remain with my family for many more years to come."

9 people out of 9 found this review helpful

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Last True Disco II

By bimmer77 (CA) on Saturday, October 20, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 78,000

Pros: "Off Road Capability, traction in snow, Locking Dif"

Cons: "Gas mileage, numerous quirks"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"I bought the car from a friend of a friend who was just sick of it. Picked it up because I wanted something that would perform well in snow. That it does very well. If anyone has driven over the Donner pass during a winter storm they can relate. In snow: The AWD does OK but slipping does happen especially in heavy deep snow and ice however locking the differential will really improve your handling and confidence. If you have driven that stretch of 80 on a snow day you will have to negotiate numerous spin outs I have done so and if the road is in particularly bad shape the locking diff really comes in handy. One thing that I have had to get used to is the braking especially in snow the ABS just seems a little sub par. So that is something to be noted. Off Road: This car has done me well off road. From the back roads in Tahoe to the Dessert in Nevada to Launching my Kayak on a sandy beach the thing performs and performs well. I have only had it stuck once in the back roads of Mammoth Mountain and that was because I tried to drive over a 3 foot tall snow bank and only made it halfway over so that all 4 wheels were off the ground. In retrospect that was probably more driver error than anything else I probably should have hit it harder but the clearance isn't as high as the Jeep. I think that getting a 2-3 inch lift on the truck will fix that problem. I have driven through deep streams without a hitch as well with one time a little water seeping through the bottom of the door. Again a little more clearance and this would not have been an issue. Maintenance and Cost of Ownership: This thing is a beast. I call it the beast and it drinks gas like a Beast. I average 6-8 MPG here in the city in San Francisco. Average about 12-14 on the highway with cruise control set at 75. So it is definitely not cheap to drive especially on long hauls. I would also either fill up the tank before long off roading trips or carry an extra 5 gallons of fuel with you as your gas mileage will decrease if you have to push it hard off road. I have owned the beast for 3 years. And put 20k miles on it. So far I have done the brakes, ABS sensors, replaced the tires, replaced the battery, and of course changed the oil. I've easily put $3000 into it since I owned. I don't think that is particularly bad for a car that is almost 10 years old. Cons: The bumper is plastic. It is annoying. I cracked it on a snow bank in 2010 and if I wanted to get that part of the bumper fixed it would cost me $300. It's only cosmetic which leads me to my next point and the reason I won't get it fixed. The paint job from the factory is no bueno. It attracts scratches like nobodies business. Trees branches and air all seem to scratch this thing. I plan on driving it into the ground and really don't care how it looks but it is slightly annoying. This won't be a problem for most people but if you drive it through some narrow trails where you are constantly brushing up against trees and branches and bushes your paint will get scratches. Weird thing happened where the middle rear seat belt seized and made it really difficult to put the back seat down. I could have gotten it fixed for $150 but I just decided to cut the thing. It's rare that I have 4 other people in the car anyway because the back seat is small. The handle on the back door will stick especially after you get it all dusty. It's an annoyance but I carry a can of WD-40 with me at all times now. The windshield wipers suck. Especially in snow. They have way too many crevices in the arm that snow and ice get stuck in rendering the windshield wipers useless after 30-45 minutes. I have also noticed that the windows will get stuck as well. Another annoyance is that the windshield will crack easily but I'm not sure what can be done about that. Summary: I think that if you have means and really want something that you can almost take anywhere it is a decent choice. The locking diff really makes a huge difference compared to other AWD vehicles. With gas hovering around $5 per gallon here in San Francisco it is costing me $100-110 to fill it up. Maintenance will also cost more than other cars as well. I did a ton of research before I bought the car and the reason I bought it was because I got a smoking deal on it. I have researched how much I can get for it now with gas high and scratched and all and it is not worth it for me to sell it. The price on these cars fluctuate based largely on gas prices. With more efficient cars increasing in value and gas guzzlers decreasing."

8 people out of 8 found this review helpful

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Land Rover lover would buy another

By Rover Nut (CT) on Sunday, July 01, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 61,000

Pros: "Fun to drive, great headroom for tall drivers!"

Cons: "Repair costs."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"My wife says I'm in love with Land Rover. We drive two - a 2008 LR2 and a 2004 Discovery SE. Both of which we both love. Reliability in the snow and off-road was my main reason for buying these vehicles. I purchased our '08 LR2 brand new and in less than 3 months, took it on an LR off-road excursion. I was so amazed by how capable the LR2 was, yet knowing it was a new vehicle that I didn't want dinged up, I decided to purchase a used '04 Disco SE in 2009. The vehicle has been flawless. Yes, the repairs are expensive but the capability of this vehicle puts my mind at ease and though I'm not a weekend warrior with a wrench, I'm fully capable of doing oil changes, brakes and rotors, and a few other repairs, in order to keep my costs down. With a K"

10 people out of 10 found this review helpful

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dream car

By cclove (CA) on Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 86,000

Pros: "cargo space, luxury, unique style, comfort"

Cons: "mileage per gallon - but worth it!"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"i love this car. it hasn't given me any problems in two years and the mileage is high. i've taken it on road trips, and drive it in bumper to bumper traffic in the city all the time. it is a real luxury car, and a truck at the same time. the seats fold over so you have tons of room for cargo and can get really tall things in there. i once pushed the passenger seat forward all the way and fit a twin bed inside! mileage around the city is 11 mpg. that hurts."

15 people out of 15 found this review helpful

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