The Land Rover Discovery is a living legend. Project Jay, as it was first called back in the day, the car if is the mostly awarded 4x4 in history. It is the only vehicle that has received 97 international awards for just one production 4x4. After reading this article there will be no question why this cool 4 wheel drive is so popular around the globe. It suits anyone, and everyone.
The different Discovery models range from the latest Discover 4 or LR4 right back to the 1994 models, so there is plenty to talk about. This article will focus on the Discovery 3 and 4, which is most likely to be the vehicle that you are looking into buying.
To start with the Land rover Discovery 3 model was built between 2005 to 2009, with a 5 door SUV style. Engine options were the two liter Ford AJD-V6, PSA DT17, TDV6, the four liter Ford Cologne V6 and the "big one", the 4.4 liter Jaguar AJ-V8- a car that really took off road adventure to the extreme.
The transmission of the car was 6 speeds, with both manual and automatic options. The wheelbase is 113.6 inches with a curb weight of 2,461 kilograms.
The Land Rover Discovery 3 was introduced as a new design, sharing very little with its predecessor the Series II. Although it kept the key design features of the Discovery, the stepped roofline and steeply raked windscreen.
In the United States the Discovery was marketed as LR3 because of negative quality associations with the Discovery brand just like the Discovery Series II which was rebranded as the LR2.
One of the most exciting features of the Discovery LR3 was the all new Integrated Body Frame, or IBF. This was a great development as the previous series were based on a traditional, strong ladder frame chassis. The old frame was great for an off road experience but were heavy and hard to drive on the road. The alternative to the strong ladder frame system is the Monocoque system which is more rigid providing a better road, high speed driving experience.
The IBF claims to combine these systems by providing a Monocoque system for the engine bay and passenger compartment while the gearbox and suspension lies on a ladder chassis. How well this worked depends on who you speak to, but one thing sure, it definitely is a heavy car. The extra weight of the Land Rover Discovery probably was the reason it was the first Land Rover to be produced with a rear locking differential.
The other big feature in the land rover discovery 3 was the full independent suspension or FIS. This was an air suspension system which allowed the ride height of the vehicle to be modified by simply pumping or deflating the system. This provided a more versatile vehicle that could be raised when off road and lowered for a more comfortable, and safe, handling. However, many car owners felt that this feature caused the vehicle to bottom out when taking the car off road. An attempt to solve this issue was made by installing a cross linked air suspension system that mimics a beam axle.
These features were included to adapt the new model to a changing 4x4 market. Off road performance was no longer a priority as more and more users were using 4x4s nearly exclusively on the road and demanded a smooth and comfortable ride. This is precisely where the LR3 stands out, providing refined on road manners while still being a "REAL 4X4" with hardcore off road performance.
So guys that just about sums up this great run around. Great for on road, off road, anywhere you want to get. An all around runabout car. A never ending list of awards, which I'm sure will continue well into the future. If you have the cash, you should bag the car!
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Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services by John Eva
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