Aussie Motoring

Well at the moment they’re all owned by Ford … but Ford would like to sell them … if they can find a buyer.

On paper Volvo is probably the marque that’s got the most appeal to prospective purchasers but the reality is that Volvo isn’t doing quite so well as it appears to be on paper.

And who would want to buy Land Rover and Jaguar? There are the usual bunch of private equity groups trying to grab both companies but there are also two possible contenders that come as a bit of a surprise. Industry experts suggest that two Indian car manufacturer are very interested in buying both Land Rover and Jaguar.

The two companies are Tata motors and the Mahindra group. Both are major players in the booming Indian market and both have tried to break into the Australian market … without much success..

Mahindra is a major manufacturer of low-cost motor vehicles including a 2WD and 4WD utility similar to a Toyota Hilux. The ute was to be exhibited at the Orange National Field Days last year and Tynan Motors had been appointed as the importer and distributor.

The plan was for the first shipment of Mahindra utes to hit the showrooms around the middle of this year but that doesn’t seem to have happened and Mahindra is not listed on the Tynan Motors website.

Tata Motors is also a major player in the Indian automotive scene. They produce a wide range of vehicles for the private and commercial sectors. Tata Motors first tested the Australian market four years ago and could be back in the Australian market later this year but experts are not hopeful of Tata having any more success than they did four years ago.

You can read more about Tata, Mahindra and the Australian market here

But will either company be able to make turn around the fortunes of Land Rover and Jaguar? Overseas experts describe both Ford subsidiaries as ‘basket cases’ so it will be interesting to see what lies ahead.

Many many moons ago when I was a teenager set to conquer the world I was persuaded by a good mate to go halves with him in buying an old Mk1 Land Rover. It was a beast that only two adventurous kids could love.

It used more oil than petrol, a fully laden semi trailer could - and did - out-accelerate it going up a hill and it looked nothing like a Land Rover. By the time it came into our possession it had a combination aluminium and timber body, it was painted bright orange and it was definitely never going to be a chick magnet.

But it went and it took us to places our cars wouldn’t take us and somehow I wish I still had that monster.

But time moves on and even today’s Land Rover looks nothing like the Mk1 Landies of long ago. Today they reek of comfort and prestige but they’ll still get you to places most other vehicles will never reach.

So let’s have a quick look at what the press is saying about today’s modern Land Rover Discovery.

The Discovery comes with a choice of three engines. There is a V6 and V8 Petrol and a V6 diesel that was designed by Jaguar. The standard transmission is a 6 speed automatic that includes a variety of settings that takes into account the ground conditions that you’re travelling over.

The Good Points

Rides and handles well in most conditions

It will go places in two-wheel drive where others need four

Good cabin space

Quiet inside the cab at highway speeds

Good fuel consumption from the diesel.

The Not So Good Points

Good equipment levels but the quality of the equipment was not up to the same standard as competitors

Cheap looking seat fabrics and dashboard

Fuel consumption in the petrol versions

Presented as a premium vehicle in a class where it doesn’t quite match the competition

You can find more in-depth reviews here and here.

And from all that you might see that the Land Rover Discovery is an honest vehicle that doesn’t quite meet the competition and somehow that reminds of that old Mk 1 Landi I once co-owned.