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- Graym
- Member Since: 27 Feb 2018
- Location: Birmingham
- Posts: 22
How and why I ended up with rejecting my Discovery
Writing this post I realise there are many many owners who have had no issues with their Discovery 5’s and I’m so envious, unfortunately I haven’t been one of them.
A bit of background……….I have three relatives and four close friends who all work across the greater Birmingham area for JLR, which made my rejection even more disappointing and I feel as though I have let them down and abandoned them in their hour of need with this Brexit malarkey looming and buying British etc etc but writing this may be my way cleansing my soul so to speak.
In January 18 my daughter was looking for a used Evoque and I tagged along for the ride when visiting Land Rover dealerships (didn’t realise at the time it wasn’t just my company she wanted
£££££) and I must say what I can only describe as this “Land Rover dealer arrogance” reared its head on a few occasions with salesmen (not sales women) which I had to step in on a few occasions to remind them my daughter was a customer looking to buy a car and stop talking down to her and played a part in my experience, however after many dealer visits and time she found one. All went well and no issues with the car from handover to present date (fingers crossed) but the Discovery 5 seed had been planted and I took every opportunity to sit and play about in the showroom models and loved them.
So after many hours of searching I found one online and the dealership was not that far away which was a positive (and of course far exceeded my initial budget….but it was love after all and I could always sell my soul to the Devil) To cut a long story short I bought an ex JLR Senior Managers car a “Discovery 5 Farallon Black HSE Luxury with Black Pack” what a beauty and it even has TV/media screens in the back……unbelievable and so cool.
The journey which led to rejection (abbreviated version over a 7 month period)
After one week of ownership I had 16 issues and problems ranging from software to rear wiper blades faulty
I took countless videos and many photographs to assist the dealership senior techs and JLR field tech’s in resolving problems with software and build quality issues (strange I took them to help LR but in fact assisted me in the rejection process)
Sent three emails to JLR CEO Dr Ralf Speth stating how concerned I was on how much damage was being caused to the Discovery 5 name and the JLR brand (not complaining just trying to help) acknowledgement of emails but no response
Before rejection in a five month period my car was in at the dealership five weeks in total having repairs
Offered to take the day off work and travel to Gaydon so the R&D department team could see the issues and problems (no response to email)
Only one person cared at the Land Rover Customer Relationship Center and he shared my frustration for four months but still no resolution and completely ignored by the dealership which I find very worrying a franchised dealer can ignore a manufacturer
Over a six month period I sent 27 emails to the dealership and cc’d LR CRC and LR finance, once again to assist as I still was persevering with my car. Only four responses from dealership and NONE from LR finance
Booked and paid for by myself, a factory tour at Solihull so I could try and get re-engaged with the Discovery 5/brand
Here’s where we are now
All money I paid given back to me (minus 45p a mile, no big deal as it was a weekend car)
I refuse to be treated by a vehicle manufacturer and dealership the way I have been so won’t be buying JLR again as long as I have a hole in my
Last weekend I picked up an Audi Black Q7 Vorsprung, virtual cockpit, S-line, GB sports pack and black pack, the spec reads for ¾ of an A4 page, it’s very nice and has every conceivable extra and it all works every time all the time. The buying experience was so smooth and already I’ve had two calls from Audi asking if everything is ok and if there is anything else they can do for me.
If I have learnt anything from this experience when a fault or issue arises take a video or photo and if possible with the car registration or VIN in shot, send emails as a record for yourself and cc as many departments as you feel necessary.
And one final thought/question…………….why do I miss my Discovery so much? Do I need to book some sort of counselling?
I'm back 😬- MY2019 HSE Luxury 3L SDV6 with Dynamic Pack 2 in Yulong white 🤞
Audi Q7 Vorsprung 3L Supercharged black edition- every conceivable extra - why do I miss my Discovery? MY2017 HSE Luxury 3L TD6 black edition, even has a tele 😍 - sadly rejected -
- BlackDog
- Member Since: 10 Feb 2017
- Location: Cheshire
- Posts: 87
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Not sure if you are still active on this forum but I can relate to the frustration in the Brand. I too have had issues and once rejected a nine month old L405 SDV8 Autobiography for having a hole in the leather the front seat. Believe it or not they refused to repair it by replacement but offered a smart repair that laughably they would not guarantee. I've had other issues too but usually minor in the scheme of things and these have been met by some good and indifferent service.
So after four Range Rover Vougues, all L405's (five if you count the rejected one) I bought an Audi SQ7. As usual for me it was a few months old and on the day they were to deliver the car to me the Audi Dealership apologised for sending the driver with just one key. Unbeknown to me they'd given the second key to their local criminal gang and later that night, before I'd even driven the car, it was stolen and stripped. I won't bore you too much with the detail but I can honestly say that Audi UK and the Dealership were dreadful. A far worse experience than any I've had with LR. A week later I had my fifth (sixth) Full fat.
So what I'm really saying is that I wish you well but the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence and ultimately they are all much of a muchness but the cars aren't and every time I try to break the chain with Land Rover I always come back because their cars are so good if a little temperamental.
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- Chalkys HSE
- Member Since: 04 Jun 2017
- Location: Yorkshire
- Posts: 339
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- Graym
- Member Since: 27 Feb 2018
- Location: Birmingham
- Posts: 22
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- BlackDog
- Member Since: 10 Feb 2017
- Location: Cheshire
- Posts: 87
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I'm pleased that you keep in touch with the forum and that time has allowed some healing to occur.
As you've seen I change my car far too often. I think I get a little bored or see something that I'd like and as life is short I usually buy it (but only EVER if I think it's reasonably priced). However, what I'd have to concede is that no other manufacturer makes me feel as special as I do when I sit in a Full Fat or a Disco.
My son has recently started working at VW, so six months ago I bought a nearly new VW Touareg R-Line Plus. I'd had the V8 a few years ago and I was impressed so my plan was to keep that for six or nine months and buy a new Touareg. The old model Touareg isn't finished like an Audi is and certainly not in the same league as a full fat but it was less than half the price of a used Range Rover and I needed a break from LR and really hoped that I could enjoy the Touareg.
The old shape one was very nice actually and totally reliable but my severe disappointment came when the new Touareg came out. It did not feel like a seventy grand car, maybe 45K but not the price they were asking.
I've had many very nice cars but when I was thinking back last week deciding what I was going to buy it came down to a choice between an Audi SQ7 and the Disco. It didn't take me long to decide. Now I'm sure I'd have had a smile on my face every time I opened up the 430bhp Audi but if I'd pulled up at the lights and a nice disco was there I'd have been looking up and wishing I was there.
Personally, I think the key is Dealers. If you have a good one you can work together and resolve problems but when that isn't the case it seems more like you are on very opposite sides. That's why I'm thinking of leaving Chester LR and trying another to see if we can have good service consistently. GoodLuck with the Q7.
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- simonh
- Member Since: 02 Apr 2017
- Location: Shropshire
- Posts: 1002
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