At Full Chat

Rarely, if ever, has a British-based vehicle maker had so much to celebrate, but at the same time, so much to lose sleep over. Land Rover's mud-plugging, mountain-climbing, snow, sand and ice-eating Discovery 3 is undoubtedly the best 4x4 of 2004. It hugely embarrasses lesser opposition such as the Mercedes M-Class and BMW X3, and even makes the excellent Volvo XC90 seem a bit redundant.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Mike Rutherford

14th September 2004

All things considered (including a tempting initial purchase price from ΂£26,995 and traditionally strong residual values), the Disco 3 might just prove to be the greatest vehicle the Midlands manufacturer has made. But it's as if some people - politicians included - seem determined to sabotage the launch of the new Disco, the stability of the Solihull operation and workforce and, consequently, the very survival of the firm.

The workers in Britain are doing a good job, but they and the unions which represent them have to take their share of the responsibility for the uncertainties. So does Land Rover's owner, Ford, which wants to see greater efficiencies after investing billions of pounds in the firm. But it's the 4x4-loathing politicians who are doing the real damage. The Mayor of Paris had a pop at such vehicles on the eve of the Disco 3's launch, but he would, wouldn't he? After all, French firms and workers don't build 4x4s. But Land Rover of Britain does. Which makes me wonder why London Mayor Ken Livingstone is effectively declaring war on the company, the workforce and its world-class products.

First he described 4x4 drivers as "complete idiots". Then, when I invited him during a TV show to withdraw the insult (which I assumed he'd made in the heat of the moment), he reiterated his sentiments. It seems he really does think that me in my old, but well maintained Landie, Sir Richard Branson in his Range Rover and The Queen in her two top-of-the-range versions (one for her, the other for the minders) fall into the "idiot" category.

Furthermore, in the very week when Land Rover was allowing the world's press to test drive the greatest new British-built 4x4, there was yet more talk of Livingstone's already punishing congestion charge being doubled for drivers of all-wheel-drive cars. Prospective purchasers of the Discovery 3 who have to commute into the English capital on a daily basis may therefore have to pay around ΂£2,400, instead of the usual ΂£1,200 per annum, in congestion taxes. And such an unjust financial penalty will make the purchase of any Land Rover, even a baby one, untenable to many.
Congratulations Ken, you've just lost the company and its hard-working employees some much needed customers.

Still, you'd imagine that Livingstone's Labour masters in central Government must be putting plenty of work Land Rover's way, what with all the military action they've been embarking on around the world? But I understand the firm has not had a substantial military order from the Defence Department since 1997 - the year Labour came to power. I just can't understand why there is such loathing in the corridors of power for the 4WD cars in which British workers specialise and lead the rest of the world.