[Fogarty]

Here read this...

Eventually, the Discovery Sport will get JLR’s new family of small engines, called Ingenium. You’ll be able to choose between gasoline and diesel. It might behoove you to wait for the new motors because they’ll no doubt be more powerful, more efficient, and lighter. Until that time, the Discovery Sport looks to be the vehicle Land Rover needed to have on sale last year. Small, premium SUVs represent a major profit center for manufacturers and this space is filling up quickly. The competition is thick — Audi Q5, BMW X3, Lincoln MKC, Mercedes-Benz GLK (soon to be renamed GLC), Porsche Macan, Lexus NX/RX, and even the old Cadillac SRX are selling like sweet tea on a hot Georgia day. The Discovery Sport separates itself from that pack by offering true off-road chops. Even if you never venture past where the sidewalk ends, knowing you could is oftentimes enough. Put another way, would you dream of taking the others on a trip across the wild, untamed, and indescribably beautiful fjords of Iceland? Land Rover, for one, hopes not.

Right, so even if you're not going to go the potential to go if you wanted to is whats supposed to set the LR head and shoulders over the rest... but what if you use logic and decide you wold rather maximise your on road ability because your off road ability is not necessary... Why would you choose the Disco over say Macan, which offers a Quattro derived AWD system that will do you just well on dirt, gravel or the inevitable snow storm?

 

[Jack]

The LR having off-road capabilities and at the same time being a premium product is what products from the brand are all about so it's an essential thing to include, its one of the things that make a land rover a land rover. So although a lot of owners will never be pushing it to its limit using it's said capabilities, people just want land rovers for the sake of having one, for the image it has, to say "i own a land rover"

 

[Junior]

I think that the whole luxury off-road thing will be a draw to the Discovery Sport. I'm not sure if it is the optimal strategy though. Some people will be drawn to the Discovery Sport for this reason but I think that the majority of the market isn't that interested in off-roading. Land Rover is appealing to a segment of the market, but its not the largest segment.

 

[Fogarty]

Yes but you see if off roading is an inessential characteristic why should offroad capability be an essential selling feature?

But I'm still failing to see how the image of 'i own a land rover' is any more appealing then 'i own a porsche' especially if the core brand benefit is irrelevant to you...

 

[LRD]

It's preference really, that's what it comes down to.

 

[Junior]

Others will choose the Disco Sport simply because its a LR. That is a totally different type of appeal though. I'm just saying that the focus on off-roading won't be a big draw for most people.

 

[Fogarty]

Others will choose the Disco Sport simply because its a LR. That is a totally different type of appeal though. I'm just saying that the focus on off-roading won't be a big draw for most people.

I understand what you're saying, my point being is that if you're interested in the brand but not interested in the core benefit of the brand, what are you interested in?

Or are you saying that Land Rovers core benefit is not off road prowess but an image that you married a stock broker?

 

[Junior]

I understand what you're saying, my point being is that if you're interested in the brand but not interested in the core benefit of the brand, what are you interested in?

Or are you saying that Land Rovers core benefit is not off road prowess but an image that you married a stock broker?

I'm thinking the latter.

Even a brand like Jeep. The main draw for the brand is off roading but its not like every person who drives a Jeep off roads. Its more about what the car/brand says about you. It says "I'm an adventurer. I off road. I'm free" Even if you actually aren't any of those things, that is what the Jeep says about you.

 

[LRD]

That's what i have noticed as well, people like brands for what they represent, for what they are and all that jazz

 

[Junior]

I think that Land Rover skews even more towards the image side though. Many Jeep customers actually do off-road, but I don't really associate LR with real off-roaders. I live in down town Toronto and I see plenty of Range Rovers right in the downtown core.

 

[LRD]

I think that Land Rover skews even more towards the image side though. Many Jeep customers actually do off-road, but I don't really associate LR with real off-roaders. I live in down town Toronto and I see plenty of Range Rovers right in the downtown core.

Do you have proof to your statement of "Many Jeep customers", I fail to believe that. People buy into that Jeep image as much as they do with Land Rover.

 

[Junior]

I am speaking anecdotally. I get the impression that there are more Jeep off-roader than LR off-roaders. Just my opinion though.

 

[LRD]

I am speaking anecdotally. I get the impression that there are more Jeep off-roader than LR off-roaders. Just my opinion though.

Your opinions should at least hold some weight.

 

[Junior]

Your opinions should at least hold some weight.

Well I think my opinions do hold weight. I suppose it is your opinion whether my opinions hold weight or not.

 

[ccomley]

I do go off the tarmac.

For serious laning et al I have my Defender.

But there are jobs the outgoing Discovery 2 and now the DS have to do which mean the rubber doesn't necessarily sit on tarmac. 4x4 Response when it's snowy, etc., and I'm also a rally marshal and have to go on the forest tracks (etc) though not at road speed... this CAN be done without 4x4 but I far prefer not to...

Interestingly i had the "4x4i" display up whislt I was driving around the Bracklety show ground today and it was interesting to note when the system decided it was time to lock the centre, etc. and that was just on very wet grass playing fields (including some hills).

 

[crewcabrob]

I really don't see this any different than people that buy as Porsche: they have a very capable car that is quick, fast, luxurious and dynamically nimble. But most people will never use its benefits to the fullest potential. Having a luxurious off-roader is in my honest opinion the perfect combination for me. I adventure race, mountain bike, trail run, kayak, snow shoe and go off-road. But I need something that will carry me in comfort and offer all the creature comforts I require.

Rob

 

[disco808]

While everyone here agrees we all find LR truck attractive in appearance and performance, but off-roading capability, I think it depends on where you live and your life style. I chose the disco sport simply because it is a LR and I was in the market for an stylish SUV that would be suitable for myself and my family of 3. not planning on taking it off roading at all, but I do appreciate all of the capabilities it provides in case I ever wanted to. it's kind of like the apple iwatch. I don't plan on paying $600 for it, but I would love to own it if I received it as a gift.

 

[ttouchwood]

Between mountain-biking, camping and landscape photography the 'offroad' capability matters for me, with the DS replacing a Jeep Wrangler. I've found it somewhat more capable than it looks, and like most vehicles more constrained by the wheel/tyre combination than by chassis and drivetrain. It is of course not an appropriate platform for an expedition vehicle or recreational offroading.