LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 MANUAL
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 SERIES

The Discovery is tall – a bit over 6 feet, 4 inches – and the seats are placed high enough so that you feel as if you’ve earned the commanding view of the road the feat of climbing in rewards you with. I’ll bet more than one Discovery has gotten an inadvertent drenching. I enjoyed playing with the second moonroof, but, forgetful soul that I am, wish that it could be closed after dismounting via the remote keyless entry fob. The second row is a bit tight, fore and aft, even for two median adults, but can be had with the unusual amenity of a separate moonroof and clerestory windows, and is raised, theater-style, a bit above the front perches for better forward visibility. People of normal adult size and agility would much prefer it to be regarded as a four-place machine. With two swingaway jump seats behind the second row, the Range Rover can technically be referred to as a seven-place transporter. Most notably, the distance from rear axle to rear bumper was stretched by six inches to boost cargo (or third-class passenger) space to 40 cubic feet, or 63 c.f. Though it looks much as it always did – boxy and ungainly, but definitely one of a kind – 85 percent of its makeup is new.

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 SERIES

The Series II designation refers to the nearly-total overhaul this model got for the 1999 season. If you want to make your own roads, this is a highly civilized way of doing it. So be advised, if what you really want is a tall surrogate car for those adventures to the local grocery, this might not be the right choice. There’s a threshold above which the sensations telegraphed to the cabin begin to be disproportionately low compared with what the suspension is going through. Not surprisingly, as speeds rise and roads worsen, the machine feels more and more competent. That’s what it’s supposed to do, but it’s not supposed to give blow-by-blow reports. That massive body-on-frame construction feels as if it’s pounding minor discontinuities of surface into submission. Considering that Rover products earned their spurs in places that never did, probably never will have service stations, it’s not surprising that on-road comfort takes a back seat to off-road invincibility.Īt moderate speeds, over fair-to-middling roads, the Discovery has the ride quality of a modern pickup truck unladen, which is nowhere near so damning a simile as it once was – but it’s not like being carried in a sedan chair, either. Before the Series II was publicly introduced last year, it had just completed a tour around the globe that involved dubious surfaces in places where the name Caterpillar is unknown. Like its big brother, the Range Rover, the Discovery is no off-road pretender. And that frame looks as rugged as the support beams for the new stadium, a building on Cincinnati’s riverfront. A generous 10 inches separates frame and ground. The mere fact that you CAN should tell you something. Starting issues may be caused by leaky injectors, while failed injector seals can allow fuel into the sump, detected by smelling the dipstick.If you really want to understand the character of the Land Rover Discovery Series II, you should crawl around underneath it. Engine misfire is likely to be caused by oil seeping into the injector harness and working across to the ECU connector – easily unplugged to see if oil is visible.

Whistling from the engine bay may be a warped exhaust manifold, especially if there is extra heat from tuning. A high-speed harsh roar from the front is usually worn front wheel bearings which are replaced as a complete, and expensive, hub assembly.

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 MANUAL

The R380 manual gearbox should be trouble-free but, as always, check all gears and selectors. Check it all over, but especially poke behind the rear springs and along the rear extensions. Unlike Discovery 1, the chassis is rust-prone. D2’s handling was transformed by the optional Active Cornering Enhancement (ACE) which controlled cornering roll, allowing spirited driving through twisting lanes. There’s a choice of 5- or 7-seater versions, with the latter having self-levelling air suspension on the rear axle. Engine choice includes the Td5 five-cylinder diesel with electronic engine management, or the 4.0-litre V8 with auto drivetrain as found in the P38a Range Rover. The choicesĭiscovery 2 is a wholly different vehicle to Discovery 1. It was the best-handling Land Rover in it's day and there are plenty too choose from. The Discovery 2 retained the stepped-roof looks and basic shape of it's predecessor, but got an imporved chassis, bodyshell and suspension, along with new engines and axles.

Land rover discovery 2