Interesting article on Discovery 5
- Thread starter JackW
- Start date
One just has to keep in mind that there are essentially no hard off-road trails in Anza-Borrego desert. I kind of hoped Chris Gordes would make it at least into Coyote Canyon - which used to be more technical until Humvee club chipped off rocks on the sides and paved the road with whatever fell down, but it still takes a little bit of skill.
There are creek crossings with submerged boulders - and it looks like he went up towards it, but not across it.
And, by Lord - 21" wheels on a Discovery? He also mistyped the tire size - definitely not 275/75R21.
Impressive for a family car. Disappointing for those expecting something more utilitarian or traditional.
To be fair, I don't think the original was designed with any more capability in mind. It was a cheap cash-in on lower rent Japanese products meant for a larger market than the Range Rover or Defender.
It was designed for yuppies. We're all driving vehicles Land Rover intended for soccer moms and their unimaginative husbands. A little more luck and a little less intent played a part in the success of that thing off-pavement. If they'd had the ability to build the D5 in 1989, I think they would have.
In their own words, it was a "lifestyle accessory", which I find interesting. I think that's what the new Defender should have been.
Land Rover, for all their foolishness, is on the bleeding edge of style and substance at all times, and never manages to realize it. They're aped constantly by other manufacturers with little credit observed.
So, when they mention that they're worried the Defender will be copied, they're actually making sense, to a degree. What they fail to realize it that it'll be copied either way, and that it's better to ride the hype then let it get out of hand.
I do think the new Discovery is a beautiful vehicle at this time. It just took me a while to appreciate it, which is one indicator of good design; it needs to push the limits just a touch without going too far. The capability is there, just not the convenience. In my opinion, it feels dramatically over-priced, but in the real world it's not too unreasonable when increased technology, regulation, and inflation are accounted for.
I'm about 3/4 through a concept of what I think Land Rover's next vehicle should be right now, to develop a more grounded and approachable brand image, and it does fit into their modern direction while retaining utility. Been at it off and on for a week or so.
Cheers,
Kennith
It was designed for yuppies. We're all driving vehicles Land Rover intended for soccer moms and their unimaginative husbands. A little more luck and a little less intent played a part in the success of that thing off-pavement. If they'd had the ability to build the D5 in 1989, I think they would have.
In their own words, it was a "lifestyle accessory", which I find interesting. I think that's what the new Defender should have been.
Land Rover, for all their foolishness, is on the bleeding edge of style and substance at all times, and never manages to realize it. They're aped constantly by other manufacturers with little credit observed.
So, when they mention that they're worried the Defender will be copied, they're actually making sense, to a degree. What they fail to realize it that it'll be copied either way, and that it's better to ride the hype then let it get out of hand.
I do think the new Discovery is a beautiful vehicle at this time. It just took me a while to appreciate it, which is one indicator of good design; it needs to push the limits just a touch without going too far. The capability is there, just not the convenience. In my opinion, it feels dramatically over-priced, but in the real world it's not too unreasonable when increased technology, regulation, and inflation are accounted for.
I'm about 3/4 through a concept of what I think Land Rover's next vehicle should be right now, to develop a more grounded and approachable brand image, and it does fit into their modern direction while retaining utility. Been at it off and on for a week or so.
Cheers,
Kennith
Funny how new vehicles are perceived.
I remember being horrified seeing a Wagoneer in a sales brochure ("how can something that ugly be still in production"). Ended up owning a fullsize Cherokee and then a Wagoneer (the latter I still own, 17 years after I bought it).
I remember a vague dislike for a Disco 1. This year will mark the 20th anniversary of me owning one, same truck.
I remember thinking LR3 was butt ugly. I am happy with LR4, for the last five and a half years.
So maybe a day will come when I look at a Disco 5 in traffic, and don't think "By God this is an ugly ass of a truck."
Capabilities be damned - every one of this list is more capable out of the box than the previous one.
That said, I never thought a Classic had anything wrong with it.
I remember being horrified seeing a Wagoneer in a sales brochure ("how can something that ugly be still in production"). Ended up owning a fullsize Cherokee and then a Wagoneer (the latter I still own, 17 years after I bought it).
I remember a vague dislike for a Disco 1. This year will mark the 20th anniversary of me owning one, same truck.
I remember thinking LR3 was butt ugly. I am happy with LR4, for the last five and a half years.
So maybe a day will come when I look at a Disco 5 in traffic, and don't think "By God this is an ugly ass of a truck."
Capabilities be damned - every one of this list is more capable out of the box than the previous one.
That said, I never thought a Classic had anything wrong with it.
same here. First one I saw was an ad in the Rob Report. Defender looked awesome, Range Rover looked awesome, but the Discovery which I was unfamiliar with at the time looked terrible. Probably the angle. The rear door being twice as tall as the rest of them looked really stupid in the ad. Must have been circa 95 since there was no mention of p38.
All new cars are ugly. I think that is why cars from the 80s and 90s have gone up in value so much. I like the new Discovery, but I wouldn't buy one for off road. I feel the same way about the LR3/4. LR3 is the worst of both worlds. It is not really luxurious, like a D1, and to fragile/complex to be a real off road vehicle, like the new Discovery.
That style was memorable from day 1 and certainly has passed the test of time. And still a very capable Rover even in stock form.