1995 - 2004 Land Rover Discovery Pre-Owned

Even old Discoverys can still look new on the outside due to rust-free lightweight aluminum body panels, expensive to

Lightweight aluminum body panels might be expensive to repair but are rust-free, meaning even older models still look good. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

repair but nevertheless a nice upscale addition in a segment of the industry where regular old steel is more common. The less desirable metal is used in the roof panel, chosen for its strength.

Some of the reasons the Disco does so well off-road were because of its rigid, body-on-frame construction, extremely long suspension travel and towering ground clearance, all necessary for battling the wild unknown. It also features full-time 4-wheel drive, a locking center differential and rigid axles, not

Near the end of its lifespan the Discovery was fitted with a number of electronic goodies that furthered its off-road prowess. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

necessarily the best for handling curving pavement but revered among 4x4 purists as the ultimate for rock climbing and the like.

Toward the end of its lifespan the Discovery became nearly as sophisticated as its elder brother Range Rover, adopting a modified variation of the luxo-ute's axles with wider tracks for a more stable ride and a new Watts linkage rear suspension. Like the Range Rover, the Discovery also added reverse-ventilated front disc brakes. An optional Self-Leveling Suspension (SLS) was also thrown into the mix, delivering automatic load-leveling and a higher, off-road mode. More electronic goodies included Active Cornering Enhancement (ACE), stabilizing the big SUV by limiting body lean in curves.