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Post by michael on Sept 23, 2019 14:51:14 GMT
Not a loan car, I finally got around to doing the Land Rover Experience North Yorkshire and in the absence of the new Defender I thought I ought to try the one I was most likely to buy.
Since I last did this with Piers and Mark they've moved location and it's all the better for it. It started with a sit in my car to work out what it had that they could demonstrate and if I had any questions about the controls. Something that has bothered me a while is if you use the paddles how do you get the car back into full auto, I've flicked it from drive to sport to drive that worked but its clumsy. Turns out you hold the + paddle for a few seconds and it does the trick.
The newer Discovery was, as expected incredible on the circuit. However, I'd imagine that if you had a tight twisty track circuit an old Defender would be the Caterham 7 while the newer Discovery is more like Veyron. The point I'm making is it's so capable it's more impressive than fun. At one point it had a wheel clean off the ground and in the car you simply didn't know as the computers are going about their business to sort things out. I'm happy about that, though as I think I know a bit more about my car if I got it in trouble and I think the Discovery 5 would be a lot more fun with mud tyres on and a scenario where you could actually get stuck.
Another useful learning outcome was that sand mode is as close to launch control as it gets. I tried this in my car out of a junction and it does make a difference in controlling wheel spin if you're booting it.
All in it was a good afternoon, great brand building on their part and a change to try the next one. Also saw the new Discovery Sport up close and it looks great, a lot more grown up somehow.
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Post by Martin on Sept 23, 2019 15:33:32 GMT
I did a half day in a Discovery with Piers a few years ago (12?) and really enjoyed it.
The holding the + paddle to get back to drive works in all the autos I’ve had and I use it regularly.
I’ve seen a couple of new Discovery Sports on the road and it’s a big improvement, if only it’s big brother looked more like it.
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Post by racingteatray on Sept 23, 2019 16:47:19 GMT
Doesn't it just revert to auto anyway in fairly short order unless you actually have the joystick (sorry gearlever)knocked over into manual mode? That's how mine works.
Or does your Disco have one of those rotary gear selectors?
When are they facelifting the Disco 5? |
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Post by michael on Sept 23, 2019 18:45:34 GMT
Mine has a rotary selector and I did the equivalent of turning it to sport then back until I discovered this trick. It does time out back to auto eventually but it’s a handy trick to know.
Imagine the 5 will be facelifted next year but given the sales are lousy they might bring it forward.
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Post by PG on Sept 23, 2019 20:37:39 GMT
Mine has a rotary selector and I did the equivalent of turning it to sport then back until I discovered this trick. It does time out back to auto eventually but it’s a handy trick to know. Imagine the 5 will be facelifted next year but given the sales are lousy they might bring it forward. The Jag and Mini are the same - hold + for reverting to D. Sounds like you had a great session in the rough stuff. The abilities of seemingly luxury Land Rover models off road is always awe-inspiring. |
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Post by LandieMark on Sept 24, 2019 7:09:40 GMT
I've done it twice at the new location. Once in an old Defender and once in a RRS because the Disco 5 I had booked was unavailable.
They do make very light work of the terrain and the electronics are like voodoo. It is. Little bit of a sterile environment and it would be interesting to take one on the odd green lane as a real life comparison.
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Post by chipbutty on Sept 24, 2019 19:53:57 GMT
I always request to go in an L405 (proper Range Rover), because the lugzury / muddy ying yang is off the charts.
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Post by michael on Sept 26, 2019 19:25:49 GMT
I am always tempted by a Range Rover but the reality is that I’m not going to buy one and I might get a new Discovery. If i had access to the course as often as you do I might try some else although I’d actually really like to try it in a Discovery Sport or Evoque just because they must feel like they’re working harder and the experience must be so different.
One aspect of the Discovery I drove that I forgot to mention was the head up display. I’ve driven a few cars with this on the road and it’s usually speed and navigation related and brilliant. In the Discovery it also displays off road system information for things like which way the wheels point and was handy. I’m aware they’re doing work with the Clear Sight concept here and looking forward to what they come up with.
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