What car should I get to tow a 22-foot caravan around Australia?

I wouldn’t be concerned about the cylinder configuration of a particular engine. What’s more important is how much power and torque that engine makes, and how towing-friendly that power delivery is. By which we mean how smooth and flexible is the delivery. What you don’t want is a peaky engine that needs to be revved before it delivers the good as that puts a strain on everything and make the vehicle tricky and unpleasant to drive. The good news is that all the vehicles you’ve nominated have good, solid powerplants that are well suited to towing a caravan. Modern turbo-diesels – especially with an automatic transmission – are ideal for this task. What you should go for, however, is the vehicle with the highest towing rating. In this case, that’s any of the Grand Cherokee, MU-X or older Discovery, all of which have variants that can handle a towed load of 3.5 tonnes. The Everest is almost as good with 3.1 tonne, but only almost. The problem is that the van you’ve nominated can easily weigh between 2.2 and 2.8 tonnes which, with a 3.1-tonne limit, leaves you very little headroom for water tanks and camping gear. You’d be amazed at how much a fully loaded caravan weighs, so don’t rely on the brochure, load the van and take it to a weighbridge to make sure the vehicle you have can legally tow it.

Land Rover Discovery 5 - Why do they just call it Discovery?

Land Rover still refers to the third-generation, L462-series model as the Discovery 5, but the number was dropped in some markets to distance it from the L319-series LR3 and LR4, which were the North American names for the Ford-era Discovery 3 (2003) and Discovery 4 (2009) respectively. Though not officially confirmed, it is believed that the name change in both instances was due to the poor reliability reputation that the earlier models gained. The same fate befell the Freelander badge, when its successor became known as the much-more-chic Evoque. Thank you for getting in touch.

Land Rover Discovery 1 - Is the first Discovery becoming a classic?

Indeed it will so get in quick. With its mix of classic Range Rover and a Rover Group parts-bin bits, Morris Marina door handles, Austin Montego van tail-lights and Buick’s ancient alloy V8 all part of the mix, this thing is pre-BMW/post-BMC era British engineering genius. Also, the original Disco is cool, with its lovely two-door wagon body, stepped roof with skylights and airy, inviting cabin offering minimalist, attractive design. And please don't forget the Land Rover's formidable 4x4 capabilities. All-in-all, a '90s classic worth collecting. Land Rover doesn't make 'em like this any more.

Should I sell my 2005 Land Rover Discovery?

Land Rovers of this era seem to have a few more reliability problems than other off-road vehicles from other makers. That said, they’re more complicated to start with, so that explains some of that phenomenon. As you’ve correctly identified, Karen, a vehicle’s ability to keep on keeping on is down to far more factors than simply the age of the engine. These are big, heavy, complex machines and they suffer wear in many areas including the driveline, suspension, brakes and general body condition. Parts for things like air suspension can be expensive, but it’s worth keeping in mind that no off-road four-wheel-drive is cheap to maintain. It comes down to how much you like the car and whether you can justify the on-costs. If you do decide to keep the old girl, finding a specialist Land Rover workshop can often save you money as these businesses specialise in the brand and know all the common problems and the servicing tricks to keep your spend down.

Land Rover Discovery 2017: Need replacing due to major problems

Document the problems with the car and any work that has been done on it since you’ve owned it and take them to JLR with a request that they advise you on what work they plan to do to fix the problems. If that doesn’t get a satisfactory response then go to your state consumer affairs office, or perhaps lodge a complaint with VCAT.

Land Rover Discovery 2016: Buying tips

There are more Toyotas seen in the bush because they have a reputation for reliability. As a result there are many more dealerships around the bush, and mechanics are more familiar with fixing them when necessary, but should the Disco break down for some reason parts are only a phone call away in one of our capital cities or major towns. Checking the vehicle before going away on a trip is always a good idea, but that won’t necessarily mean it won’t break down.

Land Rover Discovery 2018: Leaking sunroof

Based on what you’ve told us it would seem to be a fair call, but I’m guessing that Land Rover won’t be keen to come to the party and will attempt to repair your car. But being so new, and knowing the damage that water can do to a car I would also be keen to have it replaced.

Is the Land Rover Discovery known for problems?

There are no ‘lemon’ laws in Australia, but there are laws to protect consumers in the case of faulty products. Contact the ACCC for info on those laws. You don’t say, so I will assume the problems with the air con and the infotainment system have been rectified, and the oil leak is under investigation. On that basis I don’t believe you have cause to think you have a ‘lemon’. Fix the oil leak and carry on.

Best used 7-seat SUV under $30k

Your budget limits you to older models, such as 2008/2009, which will have done 120,000 to 180,000 km. I am loath to recommend buying one of these cars with such a mileage on them; you would be heading the period of pain when you are quite likely to face increasing and expensive repairs. If you were to choose to buy one I would go for the Discovery. I would also urge you to have the car you choose checked over by a specialist mechanic who knows the brand intimately. Instead of the European models you are considering I would suggest you also look at something like the Toyota Kluger, which would likely to be more reliable and less expensive going forward, and your budget would stretch to a later model.

Best vehicle for towing a horse float?

You need to know the all-up weight of the trailer with the three horses all your gear aboard. The horses alone weight 1500 kg, and the float is going to be 1500 to 2000 kg, so you need a vehicle capable of towing 3500 kg. There are a number on the market rated to tow that load, vehicles like the Holden Colorado, Mazda BT-50, Ford Ranger, Land Rover Discovery etc. You also need to be mindful of the Gross Combination Mass of the vehicle when you're going to tow at or near its maximum rating to ensure you don't exceed it.

Land Rover Discovery 2002 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Land Rover Discovery 2002 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Powerchipping a Land Rover Discovery

Answered by CarsGuide 11 Nov 2010

The TD5 five-cylinder diesel fitted from 1999 has a timing chain and there's no servicing involved. Generally, using a chip works well without causing any problems with reliability.

Engine

Used Land Rover Discovery review: 1999-2005

27 Aug 2010 · by Graham Smith

Graham Smith reviews the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 Discovery II as a used buy.

Unhappy Discovery

Answered by CarsGuide 15 Jan 2010

A LAND Rover spokesman told us this situation does occasionally happen, however it's very rare and doesn't only affect Land Rovers, but all vehicles with keyless entry. Mobile-phone towers, airports and shopping centres can cause interference. In 2000 Land Rover changed the frequency of its keyless entry systems, reducing the risk of any interference. They advise that you should speak to your Land Rover dealer to see if it's possible to change the frequency of your system.

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Land Rover Discovery 2002 Problems

Powerchipping a Land Rover Discovery

Used Land Rover Discovery review: 1999-2005

Unhappy Discovery

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