In my opinion (an unpopular one, I know), Ford have not destroyed the Discovery with the Disco 3.
The Discovery was always meant to be a 4x4 that could be used as a versatile on-road People Carrier / MPV, but one that had class-leading off-road abilities as well.
The Disco Series I (such as my family own) was always comprimised on-road by the technology of the time. You simply couldn't build a vehicle that could be world-beating off-road ability and yet handle like a car on-road. The two fields require totally different design.
I am someone who like to think of the Defender as a no-frills working tool (like my Series III). I would love to see an all-mechanical diesel like the TDI back under the bonnet. But I know that regulations and buisness sense are against it.
However, the Discovery is largely sold to people who are not willing to comprimise. Modern cars are so sophisticated that to get them into a 4x4 Land Rover have to offer a vehicle that is a car on the road but a 4x4 off it. Modern technology can give this (adjustable suspension, dual throttle maps etc. etc.) and so to my mind filling the Disco 3 with technology is exactly what's needed. In the Defender- NO. Discovery- YES.
The Disco 3 is still unique. It is the only family 4x4 on the market that can be an executive saloon in the morning, a family MPV in the afternoon and a mud-plugging 4x4 at the weekends- straight from the showroom, no modifications.
Name me one other 4x4 that can do that as well as the D3 can.
Now that's unique.
The old Disco Series I was beaten in a few respects by its competitors (Mitsubishi Shogun Mark 2 especially- a far better tow vehicle and much better on-road). The Series II was better but only just. The Disco 3 is head and shoulders above all its competitors and is surely the first Discovery to be something truely unique.
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