Another disgruntled customer writes in:

This is such a well written email articulating just how Ford and Land Rover have destroyed a brand with their marketing smoke and mirrors:

Hi,  I have just purchased a new Discovery 3 five door 06 model and after only twelve days of ownership I am experiencing problems.

The vehicle replaces my previous Discovery 2 which suffered no end of problems, but that is history.

I chose the Disco 3 five door, because, being a Helicopter operator, I needed a reliable 4 x 4 that I could carry fire fighting kit in and tow a 2.5 tonne fuel bowser. All of which I have done in a variety of 4 x 4's over many years. The third row of seats were never used in my   Disco 2 over the two and a half years that I owned it from new and after discussion with the dealer, decided that the five seat version would suit me fine.

What I didn't realise was that the five seat Disco 3 has less equipment in than most vans on the market today. It doesn't have an outside temperature display, the clock, set in the centre of the instrument panel is unreadable whilst driving and there is not even a loadspace cover in the rear, leaving tools, luggage etc, totally on view. The handbook supplied, shows every conceivable extra fitted to all models of Disco 3 and it is impossible when reading it to work out exactly what is supplied with the five door version, until of course you realise that in fact virtually no equipment is fitted!

The dealer, Hillendale of Nelson Lanc's knew about my operation of my vehicles, yet I was amazed to find that it is impossible to fit    x-country tyres to the five door! Apparently none of the tyre manufacturers supply cross country or even dual purpose tyres for the seventeen inch wheels fitted. This is supposed to be the best 4 x 4 x far!! My partner's Skoda Vrs car has chunkier tyres than my discovery.

The towing electrics are hidden behind a panel in the bumper. Fine for picking up the kids at school, but no use whatsoever when towing frequently. Connecting the electrics requires the operator to kneel behind the vehicle with a two pence piece and remove a very flimsy panel from the bumper, this is invariably coated with grit or mud and looks as though it will not last very long, the tiny plastic lugs that secure it would be better on an Airfix kit. Replacing said panel is even more fiddly and requires overalls to be worn. Cruise control cannot be retro fitted, which was not pointed out until after I took delivery. This was a godsend whilst trailer towing on the motorway with previous vehicles. Loading the vehicle is a problem via the rear tailgate and window because of the ridiculous shape of the assembly. The tailgate with its flimsy wires would not support much weight even temporarily, but it cannot be easily removed for loading. How many Disco 3 drivers know for example that if you run out of fuel in a Discovery 3 it is impossible to start without special tooling and has to be trailered to a dealership to be started!!! .....please be serious Land Rover!!! This is ludicrous.

It is apparent that the Disco 3 was only designed for light leisure purposes or the school run, but unfortunately it is not marketed as such. The problems only become apparent after the first couple of weeks or at least a thousand miles of ownership. Which poses a problem when trying to return the vehicle as unfit for purpose.

It is a great pity that Discovery 3, Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover are now aimed at this same market, leaving only the hopelessly outdated Defender for use by operators such as myself. This is a massive gap in the market which should have been addressed by Land Rover or their masters, Ford.

I persevered with the beloved Defender for many years but gave up when faced with a drive from Lancashire to Kings Lynn and return, followed the next day by Lancashire to Holyhead in N Wales and return, followed by a three day enforced rest period suffering from many Defender induced ailments.

I am a great fan of the Land Rover marque and have owned many vehicles including two Range Rovers three Discoveries one Defender 90 TD5 and a double cab Defender 110. over the past few years.

I seriously think that Land Rover have been taken over by their Marketing Department and are producing only vehicles for the top end of the leisure market, with the exception of Defender which is now only for Farm use or the like. This scenario would be fine were it not for the fact that their marketing literature proclaims all of their models to be "The best 4 x 4 by far" when in fact they are hoping that no one actually uses them seriously for this purpose unless supported by Land - Rover corporately on televised trips across Africa or through the Amazon, no doubt at collossal cost and with attendant mechanics and lots of spares.

My problems so far ( In twelve days ) are, 1. Drivers seat slowly drops whilst driving, to its lowest position after being initially raised.

2. Door open warning permanently on and vehicle beeps horn whilst locking even though all doors and tailgates etc., are tightly shut.

3. Wipers have a very annoying rubbery squeak at the vertical position on every sweep. These are actual problems with the vehicle rather than a design fault.

My dealer Hillendale states, correctly that they will attempt to rectify the faults, hopefully they can! However, they were still rectifying faults on my Discovery 2 after the two and a half years of ownership from new. At no point was it ever fault free.

I have a horrible feeling of "Deja vu" in the pit of my stomach. It's all happening again! 

Fool me for believing that Land Rover under their new masters could produce a vehicle that will do "What it states on the Box"

Still a staunch Anglophile,

RG