I’m often asked in the company of friends or family, “So, what’s the best car on sale at the moment?” To a petrolhead, that question is almost as difficult to answer as the perennial favourite, “If money was no object, which car would you buy?”
There is no clear cut answer to either of those questions, at least not for the person who asked them, because we all have different needs, wants and desires. Besides, there are few decisions more subjective than which car you term “the best in the world” or “the best of the moment”. There’s just too many ands, ifs and buts.
Take the annual South African Car Of The Year awards. Yes, the cars are put through a rigorous testing schedule and compared to their market competitors by respected motoring journalists in order to find a vehicle that represents the best of the best for the given year. The problem is, deciding on a winner is often not possible. But to award more than one car – such as this year, with the BMW 530d and VW Polo 1,6 TDI sharing the prize – confuses me to no end. Ultimately, I was left asking myself, “So, if I want a BMW 530d but can’t afford one, should I buy a Polo 1,6 TDI?” Facetious, I know, but pertinent nonetheless; surely those people who have neither the passion nor the desire for cars will ask the same question.
However, I do know there are few things more offensive than telling someone you don’t know, or even someone you do, that the car they’ve just bought or desire is rubbish and why. It’s a sure-fire way to ruin friendships and relationships – trust me, I know. Usually, I end up tip-toeing around the question by telling the person what they want to hear because that person has made up his or her mind. All that’s sought is confirmation that they’ve bought the right car.
Take, for example, a friend’s dad who was recently in the market for a new car. His first-generation Honda CR-V had served him well and so, when deciding on a replacement, he asked me for advice. As I haven’t driven it and had to trust the opinions of respected journalists, primarily from CAR, I instantly recommended the new Honda CR-V, thinking that he’d be happy to stay with the brand. He ummed and aahed, and listed various reasons why he didn’t think it was right, claiming it to be too big and too expensive. I recommended other rivals in the same compact SUV segment, from Nissan’s Qashqai to Kia’s fantastic new Sportage, and left him to his decision.
Sticking with the SUV and Car Of The Year theme: my car of 2010 is the Land Rover Discovery 4. I recently had the opportunity to drive the Disco 4 in 5,0-litre V8 HSE guise. As an all-round vehicle, there’s nothing that can match this full-blown SUV’s spread of ability. But, like all cars these days, it is not without its faults. The biggest blot on an otherwise clean sheet is the engine. It’s sublime, don’t get me wrong, with silky power delivery and just enough V8 burble to let you know it’s there. But it isn’t exactly fuel-efficient. Wait, I’m being kind; the V8 in the Disco has a disgusting drinking habit.
Over the week I had the Disco, I vowed to drive it respectably in order establish some sort of everyday fuel-consumption figure but, as a petrolhead, I couldn’t. As a result, the onboard computer showed nothing less than an average of 17,0 litres/100 km the entire time I had it. Eventually, I switched off the fuel-consumption graphic and gave up.
In all honesty, I don’t see the point of having a V8 petrol engine in a Disco. If you absolutely must have a petrol-powered Discovery, then I get it. But surely the Range Rover Sport SC would suit you better? (Let’s be honest, you don’t buy a V8-powered Disco 4 and then worry about fuel consumption, so the stretch to a Range Rover Sport must make more sense?).
Similarly, after filling up a Disco V8 for the third time in a week, you will tire of the ridiculous fuel consumption. So, what felt good the first few weeks after taking ownership will morph into a feeling of self-doubt. You don’t have the Range Rover image and you’re out of pocket. Double whammy!
I drove the Disco TDV6 diesel and was blown away – it has a sublime diesel engine courtesy of a collab between Land Rover and Jaguar and is identical to the V8 spec-wise, except for a torque advantage. The interior, for example, is so good it’s nudging into Range Rover Sport territory, which begs the question, “Do you need a Sport?” In HSE trim, the Discovery 4 is loaded to the brim with nice-to-haves, from a sublime 14-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system to the ridiculously easy-to-use Terrain Response System, which turns even the most hamfisted off-road newby into a 4×4 aficionado. The fantastic air suspension irons out all imperfections, both on and off the road.
Put simply, the Land Rover Discovery 4 is the definitive everyday car and, if I could afford it, I’d buy one tomorrow. From the superbly practical interior to cutting-edge technology and performance, I don’t think anything can touch it.
By the way, my friend’s dad? I spoke to him a few weeks ago and was ecstatic. He bought a Nissan X-Trail… I hate the Nissan X-Trial – I didn’t tell him that – but hey, different strokes for different folks.