Opinions on 05 Discovery 3

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Baden

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So I’ve been searching for my first Land Rover and I’m looking at buying a Discovery. I found an 05 Discovery 3 HSE w/ 93k miles. Anyone have any thoughts? I love the brand but have always hesitated from buying one due to hearing about conflicting views on the brands reliability. Just trying to figure out which disco model year has been better and what to look out for when buying a used Disco.

thanks!
Baden
 

joey

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LR3's are good vehicles, I normally wouldn't buy the first year of the redesign, but that is me. I think the LR4's are a better vehicle, but then again isn't newer almost always better.
 

Baden

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Joey,
Out of the LR4s, do you think any model year in particular is better?
 

m_lars

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LR3's are good vehicles, I normally wouldn't buy the first year of the redesign, but that is me. I think the LR4's are a better vehicle, but then again isn't newer almost always better.
Is it the consensus that the 4 is better? From casual scanning of the “this week’s popular topics” emails, it seems they have more serious engine issues than the 3. I’ve never really dug into it because I’m not in the market for one, but I’m always thinking about what I should get next. They are certainly more refined in looks and interior, but that’s not very important to me. Most here would probably cringe if they saw all the mountain pinstripes I’ve got on my 3! Anyway, I do ask because I’m genuinely curious.

So I’ve been searching for my first Land Rover and I’m looking at buying a Discovery. I found an 05 Discovery 3 HSE w/ 93k miles. Anyone have any thoughts? I love the brand but have always hesitated from buying one due to hearing about conflicting views on the brands reliability. Just trying to figure out which disco model year has been better and what to look out for when buying a used Disco.

thanks!
Baden
I’ve got an ‘06 3 with 235k on it right now and it’s been phenomenal for me. I personally think the Land Rover reputation for being unreliable is overblown. I know there are some stinkers out there, but the 3’s and 4’s seem pretty solid. As Joey said, I also avoid the first model year. At 16 years out from that year it’s probably not necessary as any issues related to that have almost certainly been addressed. I would find out if/when the air struts and front lower control arms have been replaced. If the struts are still original there’s a good chance they have or will soon develop pinhole leaks due to age, even though it’s daily low mileage. The rest of it is “normal car stuff” (condition, service records, has it been neglected, etc.)
 

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