Member Since: 05 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 130
New Member considering a Discovery 4
Hello
I am sure this has been asked a million times before, but I am in need of some reassurance following a disastrous period of my life when I owned a Discover 3.
Given the options out there for a family car, I am drawn once again to Land Rover and the Discovery 4.
From what I have read the 4 is a different animal, and critically, more reliable, despite the efforts of landroverh**l to discredit the vehicle and Land Rover.
I am looking for a Discovery 4 around the £30K mark, ±10%, in Black, and it's a toss-up between a 2011 Landmark and a 2012(61) HSE.
Would I regret not getting the HSE? The Landmark is a handsome beast, in an ugly sort of way.
TIA
5th Jan 2016 12:40 pm
MarkOne
Member Since: 23 Jul 2011
Location: County Antrim
Posts: 3345
If I had 30k it would a 12MY 8 speed HSE
5th Jan 2016 12:55 pm
J77
Member Since: 03 Mar 2008
Location: Fife
Posts: 6270
First mistake is to look on LR hell. It's no secret that the D4 has its faults but my experience is largely positive and I would have no problems in recommending one.
I would go for the HSE, it's newer and being a 12MY I presume it has the 8 speed which is my preference. You can easily add Landmark bits and pieces if that's the look you're after. Plus come resale I think the newer and higher spec car will be more desirable.
Make sure the car has full service history and all recalls/software updates (if any) have been completed. There was one or two for gearbox hesitation on the 8 speed box.
There are a few members who are far more technically minded than me who will give you good pointers and don't forget the search function is your friend.
23.5MY Defender 90 X-Dynamic SE D250 MHEV Pangea Green
5th Jan 2016 12:55 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1929
MarkOne wrote:
If I had 30k it would a 12MY 8 speed HSE
Don't buy anything that hasn't got an 8 speed box. You'd regret it enormously, when you drive it, when you sell it, etc etc.PAGODA
5th Jan 2016 12:58 pm
scimmiamagia
Member Since: 05 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 130
Thank you for your responses.
The Landmarks are quite expensive given they don't have xenons, but seem to have held their value quite well. All seem to be around the £30k mark, and were £47k(?) new. Not bad after 4 years or so, I thought.
Gearbox hesitation is my main concern with the 8 speed.
I haven't driven an 8 speed yet though.
5th Jan 2016 6:24 pm
Mr.Tom
Member Since: 01 Jun 2014
Location: St Neots
Posts: 1641
8 speed all the way. It's such a smooth ride and responsive, well worth it. Personally the landmark does not dot do it for me.Sill protection - LED internal lights - LED reverse lights - boot liner - Dog Guard - Rock sliders
MY12 D4 HSE - been and gome
MY16 D4 Landmark
5th Jan 2016 8:43 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1929
I think in part gear box hesitation is in part due to a misunderstanding of the amount of torque this car can put down and so there must be a more gradual take-up. I have had quite a few D4s and a D3. All the 4s have had the 8 speed box and I have to say that for me there's no difference in the take-up.
Drive an 8 speed and a 6 speed. The difference is huge. You can also retrofit xenons.PAGODA
5th Jan 2016 8:47 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
d4 8 speed...just do it....try one at lre...then you will see how it works
5th Jan 2016 8:51 pm
Davethegeo
Member Since: 01 Oct 2015
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 919
If it's a choice between 8 speed or xenons, then 8 speed wins every time. I've got a 2012MY D4 XS and I love it. The halogens upgraded to Nightshifters or whatever they are called are great but I would not be without the 8 speed even with its foibles.D1 300Tdi - gone
D2 Td5 ES (Alive remapped...mmm) - sadly gone
D4 2012 SDV6 XS - Stolen
D4 2014 SDV6 HSE - Shiny
5th Jan 2016 9:04 pm
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
If it was my money I would go for the 8 speed, I've had both the 6 and 8 speed boxes in D4's and the car is much better suited to the 8 speed Also I've never really had any problem with the hesitation suffered by some Cheers Ian
--------------------
Club N.E.R.D.S
Kielder 4x4 Safari
Discoless
5th Jan 2016 9:57 pm
J77
Member Since: 03 Mar 2008
Location: Fife
Posts: 6270
Looks like it's a clean sweep for the 8 speed.23.5MY Defender 90 X-Dynamic SE D250 MHEV Pangea Green
5th Jan 2016 10:01 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
I have been fortunate enough to have D3 manual an 3 D4's the last two both 8 speed. I loved each and every car, the D3 was manual and a great car with no issues other than two clutches in fairly short succession. D4 was one of the first D4's on the road and had issues with the engine smoking, look for my posts on it. LR looked after me very well and tried loads of things over a period of time to resolve it, eventually putting a new engine in my car,whcih i then rejected and got the first of the D4 8 speeds, again the first D4 was excellent but the 8 speed was streets ahead all round, I have just sold that and got a MY15 D4 with stop start, again my last D4 was excellent with no real issues but teh MY15 is streets ahead again.
I would have no concerns about buying any D4 6 or 8 speed as long as you stick to the goldden rules, service history, trusted dealer and warranty or buy off this forum.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
5th Jan 2016 10:06 pm
xcentric
Member Since: 01 Apr 2015
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 1081
I bought a '12 HSE for about that. 8 speed box is great, car has been everything I wanted. HSE has great seats and superb lights. Seats alone made the HSE worthwhile over the XS, in my view (on paper, head said XS specced up would be best value, but that was before I sat in them. XS seats are fine, but the HSE are comfier).
Lots of toys to play with, and sooooo much you can do to tweak the looks, functionality and options with your own upgrades.....
5th Jan 2016 10:24 pm
scimmiamagia
Member Since: 05 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 130
Hmmmm...
Difference between a Landmark and an HSE is around £5k. Is the 8 speed worth £5k?
11th Jan 2016 9:46 pm
scimmiamagia
Member Since: 05 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 130
ps
Test drove an 8 speed the other day, and yes, it is very nice. I have been driving a 4.2 TDi Q7 for the last week and it's a tractor in comparison.
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