1996 Land Rover Discovery SE from North America - Comments

Brakes, front and rear have already been replaced. Tires replaced before 45,000 miles. I realize this is a heavy AWD car, but come on!

Countless trips to the dealership to get the "check engine" light turned out. Seems to "misfire" quite a bit. Was told that ALL Land Rovers with this engine type need valve jobs, perhaps that's why it misfires...UH...perhaps then Land Rover needs to recall these ridiculous things!

Not enough room to type all the "trivial" squeaks, rattles, burned out bulbs, oil leaks incredibly poor fuel economy etc.

Here's the kicker... last week a cylinder sleeve dropped, cracking the block resulting in complete engine failure. Repairs will cost in excess of $8,500 for a new engine!

These vehicles, in summary are indeed JUNK!

Horrible resale, horrible reliability, I'm not trying to flame the product, but if it waddles like a duck, and it quacks like a duck... well you know the old saying.

I agree, this thing is horrible! We purchased this car used with a warranty from the dealer. In the first 12 months the thing was in the shop 3!!

The catalytic converter was replaced, multiple gaskets, intake and exhaust manifolds, gas tank, charcoal canister, automatic lock mechanism, and ignition cylinder. That's just the big stuff!

Even with all of that, there is a persistent smell of gas that no one has been able to fix. In addition many of the repairs need to be done again as the gaskets leak.

The most frustrating part is that Land Rover USA won't step up and help fix this thing.

I suppose we could sell it. No, we can't, no one is interested. We've run an ad three times and have received no calls, even at WAY under blue book!!

I will keep it short. I am looking for a second reliable car I can use as a daily driver. I'm then retiring my M3 e30 to collectible status and driving it much less. I can't complain about that car. It has been great. I keep it inexpensive by turning my own wrenchs which I enjoy. I wanted a disco as the daily driver, but have come to the conclusion that you have to turn your own wrench (do your own repairs on this car as well.) a lot on disco's and reliability is more of a luck thing with them. So I wouldn't buy one of these unless you "expect" a project car.

As for me, its no sale I will pass on getting a disco and stick to my BMW's. Good Luck.

Land rovers as with any 4X4 need to be hammered off road, this does keep them a bit more in tune than when used daily as a family minicab. This is not there designed use and as such will cost you money. My battered old 96 er has been thrown between road use and towing 4 tonne tractors through 9 inches of wet, clinging mud and back again. Use it hard, top up the levels and away you go!!!

I brought my 1995 L.R. Disco last year as a x-mas gift for myself we already owned a 1995 Chevy Tahoe 4X4 wagon, but I wanted a "REAL" off road vehicle and had heard through pages like this that this was the one to try. Of course I learned the hard way that these are not your normal SUV's when it came to repairs; I had spent close to 4,000 bucks before Feb of 04! But I got a good price on the disco and I was willing to spend it on radiator, manifolds, fuel pump, and of course brakes. Not only did this prove to be a wise investment, but I have worked it's "ass" off ever since! My most recent investment in my disco was to up grade the shocks to Blistiens which only made my off and on road ride so much better plus I put on new tires that were up to specs.

The ride in my beloved disco is so much smoother then the Chevy that it feels like I'm driving a fine Euro sedan cruising at Autobahn speeds. Oh yeah did I mention I pull a 18 foot 2000lb camping travel trailer with this tank? It does so with out a problem pulling from 0 to 60 @ it's normal tank speed, but always pulling steady and smooth right up to the upper 70mph with my trailer hitched. I feel safe and secure knowing all four wheels are at work.

We have pulled our camping trailer throughout Michigan's upper peninsula the whole summer and fall and never had a problem other than the high cost of gas, but the disco's reliability has proven priceless as I take my children with me on the many camping trips we take and they have the room plus there on sunroof not to mention the trade mark alpine windows which create a open air feeling that my Tahoe although much bigger is not able to reproduce. I've heard some folks moan and groan over the cost to maintenance this vehicle and all I can suggest is to find a reliable mechanic and learn what you can to DIY on this one, but if your looking for the "real deal" in SUV's the Discovery is at the top of hill.

I have owned a 1996 Disco 1 for approximately 8 years and have run into your everyday common problems and then not so common. Overall, I would have to say it has been faithful and reliable. I have put over 100,000 miles on it and had to replace the following; brakes once, tires once, and the left catalytic converter (with an after- market = $65.00). Now if you are willing to do your own basic operator maintenance, aside from catalytic converters, these vehicles make for much enjoyment. For those of you who require assistance changing your oil, these vehicles are probably not for you. By the way, there are several good Land Rover forums for the "do-it yourself" mechanic on the Internet, which offer invaluable advice and insight into the inner workings of the land rovers.

I bought a manual se discovery in '96. I have to say that it required more repairs early on and immediately after the warranty ran out--I would guess about 10,000. However, it's ten years old now, I can drive my Landrover in over a foot of snow in fields, and up steep hills over snow and ice in my pastures. I haul antiques, goats, chickens, great danes and six kids in that vehicle--never have been stranded anywhere and nothing drives like it when the roads get icy. When there is an alert that all vehicles other than emergency vehicles stay off the road--I know it is time for me to take that baby out. Warranty -- the longer the better--would never buy a new one now--no manuals since '97--that is not four wheelin' to me. You can't even buy a Euro five speed landrover and have it converted for the states--way stupid.