1998 Land Rover Discovery LE from North America - Comments

Pinion seal leaking.

Cruise control inoperative.

There is no other modern car I have enjoyed as much as this Discovery! I am a used car manager at a Ford dealer and recondition many Land Rovers. I knew what I was getting into and would do it again! I WILL NEVER DRIVE ANOTHER AMERICAN OR JAPANESE VEHICLE AGAIN! By comparison, they are generic, constructed of cheap materials and can't hold a candle to my Discovery!

As expensive as my Rover may become from time to time - I still think that it is comfortable, safe and has great charactor. Love the sound of that aluminum V8.

This vehicle is not for the person who equates "reliability" directly with "quality". If you want a bullit-proof peice of plastic, buy Japenese. If you want construction that will still feel substantial after a couple of hundred thousand miles, buy the Rover!

I too went from a Ford Explorer to a 1998 Land Rover Discovery SE. There is no comparison at all (except in price!). The Explorer was not the quality product one would hope to get from Ford. My Disco on the other hand is maybe the best vehicle I've ever owned. I still feel that I got very lucky when I saw this one on a BMW lot in Roseville, CA. It is the 50th Anniversary model that received the 4.0 L, V-8 engine that has the new BMW engine management system. I understand that only the last half this model year received the "BMW Touch". It had 30,000 on it and is equipped with every option offered (dual elec. sunroofs, dual A/C units, Home-link, power everything, leather, that very cool self-putting-away step in the rear, etc). It feels solid, rides soooo much nicer that the Explorer ever dreamed of, and has much more power.

The only down side is the cost to operate (there are worse) but this one IS worth every penny.

I hooked up with my local Rover dealer for one of their local excursions into the Sierra Mountains. I was happy to hear our Land Rover guides (they both raced in the Camel GT series, one in S. America, the other in Borneo) remind us on this hot dusty day to crack a window and turn down the premium stereo when they were spotting us. My kind of "wheelin", soft seats, killer tunes, A serious off road suspension and max A/C with no worries of overheating! We had a great day going across terrain that would gobble most all luxury SUVs. Afterwards, I drove back to Sacramento, got it washed, picked up a lady friend and when out for dinner in luxury. This reinforced my believe that the Rovers are one of the very best SUVs made. Unlike the Explorer and most other SUVs, Land Rover started with a world-class off road vehicle, THEN made it into a luxury vehicle (similar to how the Hummers are evolving).

I do highly recommend looking for the BMW managed engine in this model year (last half of the year), and finding one with all of the cool/functional options will make you very happy, if you like a vehicle that can get you across the Sahara, or out to a black-tie dinner. Tuesday, March 18, 2003.

Landrovers are curiously addictive. I have a 1998, V8 Disco which I drive in Saudi Arabia. The can eat up miles of bumpy desert conditions then get onto the road and cruise serenely at 120-140km/h. V8 engines sound the business. New family means I need rear doors and so will have to change it soon. The Nissans and Toyotas I've tested do not have that certain something...I'm always going to feel I'm trading down after owning "The Real Thing".