Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi XS Manual

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Introduced in 1989, the Discovery was effectively a cut-price version of the hugely successful Range Rover and shared much of the chassis and drivetrain of its more upmarket sibling.

Available as either a three or five-door with seating for five or seven, the interior was styled by the Conran Design Group and won a British Dsign Award in 1989. Several engines were available ranging from a 2-litre petrol four-cylinder to a 4-litre V8 with a 2.5-litre diesel option inbetween. Transmission was either 4-speed automatic or five-speed manual.

Hugely capable both on and off road, it had permanent four-wheel drive with a locking centre differential at the transfer box. In late 1998 the Disco (as it was affectionately known) was subtly reworked as the Series II with numerous detail changes including a longer rear body which increased load space but at the expense of added rear overhang which compromised off-road ability. As time went on the vehicle got ever more complex with features like air suspension, traction control and other sophisticated electronics but while the luxury content went up, the reliability also went down.

This particular Disco is one of the last of the highly rated Series I models, more rugged and simple than the versions which followed. First registered in May 1998, it was supplied new by Duckworth Land Rover of Market Rasen and has had just two fastidious owners from new. It has covered less than 36,500 miles to date with an excellent service history.

Looking superb in Rioja Red with a grey/blue half-leather interior, it is a three-door seven-seater model with twin sunroofs and the XS options package. It has a 5-speed manual box mated to a 2.5-litre 300TDi diesel engine giving 111bhp and 195lb/ft of torque with a 95mph top speed and 27mpg economy.

Said to drive superbly with an MOT until May 2016, it is also said to be in “virtually unmarked condition throughout” and has recently been waxoil protected. Given the way that values of S1 Land Rovers and Range Rovers have gone in recent years, this lovely low mileage S1 Disco could be one to put away now.