I took this test drive with an open frame of mind, I know that the FFRR is MUCH more luxurious but I needed to see if I thought I could live with one of these as a longer term fuel saving exercise.

My thoughts about my next car are that it needs to be a capable 4WD, comfortable on long journeys (as I do high miles) and fairly frugal. I had thought about having a motorway hack and an old P38 RR 4.6 HSE, but I am not sure its cost effective in the long run.

I was given a D3 HSE, in Stornoway Grey with black leather and no privacy glass. It looked boring. Being an 08 plate it had Hybrid TV and the newer rouched leather look that the HSE Sport owners will know of. I actually prefered the previous leather as it was the same as the Sport Supercharged (so why was it seen as premium on the Sport ) It also had the standard silver/rhodium finish inside rather than the nice looking Piano Black that I have seen some with. Again, dull and boring looking.

My first impressions of the TDV6 is that it's incredibly smooth to drive, and brilliantly quiet compared to the TD6 in my FFRR Vogue. It did seem pretty gutless though and I found it hard to get it off the mark without flooring the throttle hard. Overtaking was not much fun either but I suspect that someone like JE Engineering can work wonders with this as they did with my car.

Handling was very good, not as good as the Supercharged Sport I had with the Dynamic Response pack but certainly better than the FFRR. Certainly less roll in the corners and my wife said it was nicer being a passenger in the Disco.

The interior was ok although I though that the quality of the leather was not great, it felt like cheap leather, cheaper than the previous version which had the non-rouched look and a firmer feel to it. In particular around the arm rests the leather was baggy and made it feel not like a £46K car.

Areas where I feel LR could have made more effort are things such as the rubber mats, very thin and cheap looking compared to the thick sturdy versions from the Sport and FFRR. The cubby box interior in the model I was given was just a cavernous box, nothing special about it and the lid was not sprung or damped, just a hinged top that felt thin, cheap (again) and unpleasant to use. It slammed shut with a harsh plastic bang. I compared this to an earlier D3 in the showroom upon my return that had the smooth topped cubby that I had in my RRS SC, much nicer, along with the little tray that sits underneath too.

The switchgear in terms of indicator stalks etc, although technically look the same as the Sport, felt cheaper somehow, very plasticky and creaky to operate. Every flat surface had a rubber mat and the cup holders are rubbish. (Same as the ones I had in the Sport) With the insert no decent size bottle will fit, without them they fall around. The ones in the door pockets were the same, too big for an Evian or Volvic bottle (What did they model them with?)

Another drawback I found was that the seat did not go far back enough for me, it was only just comfortable enough for me at about 6'1 with it as low and back as possible. I could have done with another inch or two of adjustment. I also found the lack of headrest movement uncomfortable too. The Sport has brilliant headrests right behind your head, no room for whiplash, the D3 is not so good.

The rear seats are flat of course and although I would not spend any time in the back I tried them, they were OK, I wouldn't want to be in them for any length of time though. The 3rd row beneath the floor were ingenious, but a bit tricky to get to from the back door.

I averaged 26mpg while I had it which I was a little disappointed with, I reckon you'd have to pootle about at 70mph or below to get 30mpg as people seem to think I could. (Perhaps it was low because I had to rev it more to get it going fast enough?)

Overall I think the D3 is a great car, lovely engine & gearbox and you get a decent spec. If you had not previously had a really nice car you would think the D3 is lovely I am sure. It would be a great car for a family, practical, lots of spaces to stuff junk and removable rubber mats all over the place. Easy to clean wipe down plastic too.

It's a shame that LR feel they have to cheapen even the top spec model to differentiate it from the Sport and FFRR but I guess that's why they are cheaper overall and aiming at a different market. Once again though, I saw an XS Commercial in the showroom and the interior was actually nicer than the HSE I was given.

Would I buy one? Yes, but I would never feel it was 'special' or different. It would be a compromise as far as I am concerned. I would also have to add some accessories to make it look a bit more special too, factory privacy glass would be essential, side steps, rubbing strips, tow bar, a pair of IPF driving lamps at the front and maybe some different wheels.

Otherwise, for the time being I'll stick to my 3 year old Vogue as I still think it looks beautiful and it still turns heads. No one took a second look at the D3.....

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NewsFlash:

My Dealer rang me today to book my car in for the FREE replacement of my front Driveshafts. Land Rover are lending me a brand new Full Fat Range Rover Vogue TDV8 for the day too.

Now this will be interesting! L319 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB

Last edited by RRUK on Tue Jul 29 2008 2:57pm. Edited 5 times in total

This confirms what I've always thought about the D3. Very good at doing it's job, but not what you would call appealing  

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Having owned one for over 3 years and driven a standard HSE for 60K miles in that time I think your review is spot on. A very versatile car, but why can't they let us have more luxury? Just because I have a young family doesn't mean they will trash a car, but I like the versatility of 7 seats and I like the anonymity of the D3. When I pull up on a client's drive they see LR not RR which can help (I know its stupid but some clients would be put off if I turned up in a FFRR) But I really want a TDV8, I really want a better choice of leather, I really want gadgets like heated steering wheels fully intergrated touchscreen and I really want a stylish interior like a FFRR  Porsche Cayenne S Diesel 66 Plate

Careful Pelyma, your veneer of sensibility is wearing thin

You'll be saying you like BMWs next  

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Very interesting review.

I have only had limited experience driving a Disco at HOTL and i have to say it makes a very smooth, relaxing drive.

The interior of both the Disco and the RRS is an area of concern for me which has been dicussed on the forum many times.

I know what you mean about not turning heads but I suspect that is down to the fact that it has been out so long now with only minor cosmetic tweaks here and there. When they were first launched they did create quite a bit of interest.

Interesting article mate  Runner up - 2009 Best Avatar Award
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06 RRS TDV6 HSE, Java/Ebony, PTI, Running Boards, Privacy, S/C Grille/Vents, Stormers, Tasmods - GONE - (

The sun hasn't got to me that much S

ST when they first came out I was stopped by a lot of curious people (wanting tho look at the car ) Only one was anti - a jeep GC owner who told me he thought it was crap! I did reply that I was pleased about this as he obviously had no taste  Porsche Cayenne S Diesel 66 Plate

As you'd expect from me I took plenty of pictures, here are some examples of how dull I think the car looks, especially when put next to mine (not clean and shiny but still 'shines' )

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Is it just me or do the door apertures look REALLY small on the 5th picture taken inside the Disco?

Odd! Runner up - 2009 Best Avatar Award
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Runner Up - 2008’s Funniest Incident

06 RRS TDV6 HSE, Java/Ebony, PTI, Running Boards, Privacy, S/C Grille/Vents, Stormers, Tasmods - GONE - (

I think its just the way the picture came out, the back doors are huge and swing out better than I remember the Sport doors did. Great for tight car park spaces! Not.

Stornoway is not an improvement on Bonatti, I think it looks great on the FFRR, but not on the D3.

Something else I just rememberred about driving the D3, if you had the sunroof open it was impossible to hear your passengers talking to you or the radio, the wind noise was immense, I tried it twice, gave up and just left it closed. Must be the slidey-up over the roof design is creating a big air drag or something. Either way, it was rubbish. L319 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB

Does the sunroof not have one of those little diffusers that pops up to divert air away from the opening? Poor design otherwise...  

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If it did, it didn't work. I can drive the Range Rover with the sunroof fully open and still hear the stereo and talk to any passengers without too much wind noise. It really is a poor design but I suppose has to be that way because of the kick up roof.

Just remembered something else too, despite having the seat as low as possible and as far back as possible, just like in the Sport, I didn't feel the seatbelt was high enough on my right shoulder when adjusted to its maximum. It felt like it was sliding down my arm. Not Good.

Overall I feel the HSE should be better than that, they should at least replace the rodium dash stuff with another material to add some glamour to it, they should ditch those silly fixed headrests with grab handles and make them adjustable and they need to sort out the seat pitch. Oddly enough when I took the car back there was another guy there wanting to take one out, he was BIG compared to me and he said he could only get in a Range Rover (FF), I told him he's going to struggle with the D3. L319 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB

Yes it does - not sure you can criticise a car for its colour when it is available in a range of colours - its not a Ford Model T you know :thud:There are several finishes available in the HSE.

The headrests have been accepted as one of the safest on the road for safety, but it is a common comment from taller people - I'm 5'4" so I can only see over the dash if I stand on the seat anyway  Porsche Cayenne S Diesel 66 Plate

I just want to make it clear that I DO NOT think the Discovery 3 is a bad car, its a great car and I have still not ruled one out.

I understand fully where LR are pitching the D3, it was designed from the very beginning to be a lower market brother to the Range Rover and has seen 3 models of the Range Rover come and go now. It does what it does brilliantly. However as always things have progressed and the HSE is the flagship model, and for £46,000 you expect certain things. If I were to go and spec up a BMW 5 Series or Audi to £46K, (In fact it would be a nice 550i SE saloon with almost every extra on it or an Audi Q7 3.0TDi Quattro S line for £5K less!) it would be an astonishingly lovely and solid machine. It would feel worth every hard earned penny and would unlikely leave you feeling 2nd best. I just feel you don't get that same feeling from the D3. The quality of the materials feels a bit 'hollow' and vacuous.

The so called upgraded leather the dealers are telling me about is not an improvement at all. It feels like the leather you'd get in a £14K Vauxhall or Citroen. LR did a similar thing to the RR P38 when they changed the cloth trim material. I know this 'cos my dad would not buy the Vogue SE at the time with leather. The last of the classics had the nicest, thickest loveliest cloth material, and then on the P38 it was like sitting in a bloody Nissan! It was like a wipe clean kitchen floor! I'm not sure if they did it deliberately at the time to make more people buy the next model up but why do it at all?

If I am out of order, please tell me, I am trying my best not to be snobbish about it just because I have a (3 year old 2nd hand) Range Rover Vogue or because I had a brand new Range Rover Sport Supercharged (ouch, my wallet still reels from that one). Although the Sport and D3 are stablemates, the Sport feels very solid compared inside I think.

Anyone? L319 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB

Your opinion is just that, you have commented on the colour of the paint work - choose a different colour, you have commented on the tacky silvery finish (quite agree) - choose a different finish, photos of the interior would look different with an alpacca interior.

In my opinion having had 2 for getting on 70K miles since launch, the D3 does need a better interior and the V8 engine, but it is still winning awards in its class, there isn't another car on the market as versatile. It is bigger on the inside than the Q7, yet smaller on the outside; in its standard form not a lot touches it offroad, it drives pretty well too. It is pretty much the same car that was launched 4 years ago next November and therein lies the rub. It needs more toys (better pti and things such as ipod intergration) it needs a more powerful engine and more options luxury wise. Maybe you can cure a lot of these by having it releathered, tuned and toys added as seen on the D3 site - but you shouldn't have to.

For me though it is still the best car for my life, with 6 dogs, 2 kids, caravan and hobbies that include fishing shooting and coursing, LR do not make a car that does all this and gives me the option to bring grand parents along too to help with the kids!! Porsche Cayenne S Diesel 66 Plate

I take all that on the chin. Yes, there ARE better colours, in Buckingham or Java with privacy glass they look great. other than the silver and piano black are there other interior colour options? Yes, changing these makes it look better.

I saw one in my dealership in Buckingham, privacy with the alpaca leather and yes it looked nicer, absolutely. The way they have done that 3rd row of seats is brilliant, no question, and I can totally see how it fits lifestyles with dogs and kids and towing etc.

A few new toys are definitely required, is there a new model in the pipe at all that I don't know about?

If I were picking a new one I would go for the following:

Buckingham Blue
Privacy glass
Piano Black interior styling
Side steps or Chrome Tubes
Driving lamps/A-bar
Tow bar -removable
Body styling pack
F&R Light gaurds
Snorkel -cos it looks COOL