The car

It's a 2020 Land Rover Discovery HSE, though a commercial model. It's painted charcoal grey and is powered by the 3.0-litre diesel engine. Bought in 2021, the car has covered 12,000 kilometres in Richard's ownership so far.

The owner

Richard is a hospitality consultant from Cork. He's involved in horticulture so needs "a tough lugger of stuff that can take a bit of muck!"

He has had several Land Rover commercials, including a 2004 Defender pick-up, a 2006 Discovery, 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 and a 2015 Range Rover Sport 3.0 HSE.

"My favourite engine so far is the TDV8, though my favourite tractor was the Defender, which has since gone up on value - wish I had kept it in a shed!"

The Discovery is kept strictly for business, and Richard has access to his wife's MINI for fun:

"I strictly use this one for commercial trips. I have a gentle driving style with this car, as it is, well... rather large. When I drive my wife's MINI, I'm a different person, perhaps even possessed, but this car brings out my inner calm!"

The ownership experience

Richard is a fan of the Discovery's performance:

"When you put the foot down, it really moves, it's slightly uncanny. Years ago we drove a Nissan 200SX 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol, you know the one, they use it for drifting now. Well, this truck has virtually the same performance, 0-100km/h in about seven seconds, but it weighs nearly 2.5 tonnes and is about five metres long and two metres wide!

"If you have to overtake, you are not on the wrong side of the road for long and you really don't
need the Sport mode.

"I previously drove the Range Rover Sport commercial, which I liked, but this car has way more carrying capacity and a much more useful shape of boot; it's cavernous, with more space underneath, in three compartments."

And has the Discovery worked out for him?

"Fantastic car, with a powerful engine that is more conducive to wafting than racing. I love this car and the way it drives. Superb build quality and Meridian sound system. Also, the original purchaser got the aftermarket 'number plate centraliser.' I hated the off-centre number plate, which really makes the car look like a duck with a limp. My car now has a symmetrical rear, well worth getting fitted, If you don't like being laughed at!

"My only quibble is no fault of the car, but damn it is big. I've driven away from more car parking spaces than I care to admit to. And do not try multi-storey carparks, as every parking sensor will be screaming: height, width and 'DO NOT SCRAPE THE ALLOYS!' A car built for open plains and prairies, not Brown Thomas Car Park, for so many reasons."

Problems experienced: Only a leaking oil filter and sensor, which were both fixed under warranty.

Average fuel consumption: 8.4 litres/100km

Advice to prospective buyers

"If you need a large vehicle that can carry a huge payload and pull a small house, this is for you. If you don't, buy something smaller and avoid those hate-filled looks. Oh and right the designer's wrong and fix that tailgate with an aftermarket kit..."

What next?

"Probably an old Defender 110; upcycling is the way forward!"