4x4's that lower the suspension to let you in...

mr tommo

mr tommo

mr tommo

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Crap thread title but to the point :p

Before my dad goes to order his Discovery 4 this weekend we just wanted to be totally sure he'd checked everything out.

He's disabled so while the higher position of a 4x4 is easier for him to get in than his Merc E-class, the Discovery has the ability to lower the suspension to make getting in and out easier.

Just wondering which other 4x4 can also do this so I can get him to have a look today?
 
Its the air suspension that's enabling the change in ride height [The poverty spec 2.7 TDV6 GS has coils so won't be able to do it], so any other luxo-SUV with air suspension may well be able to do it. The only other one that immediately springs to mind is the Range Rover but Q7 and Mercedes GL both have air suspension according to a quick google, so they may be worth a look too
 
griffo_001 said:
Its the air suspension that's enabling the change in ride height [The poverty spec 2.7 TDV6 GS has coils so won't be able to do it], so any other luxo-SUV with air suspension may well be able to do it. The only other one that immediately springs to mind is the Range Rover but Q7 and Mercedes GL both have air suspension according to a quick google, so they may be worth a look too
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Yeah it is the air suspension on the 3.0 TDV6, flick a switch and it drops making it easier to get in. I did do some googling but its hard to find whether it gives you the option of easy access.

[TW]Fox;15689469 said:
I thought in your last thread you'd ordered this?
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.There is a Silver Discovery 4 3.0TDV6 XS scheduled for delivery for 1st March for dealer stock. We have until next week to amend this order (change spec, colour, leather etc). We left the salesman hanging dependant on the deal he was offering to change, came back with a second offer this morning and dads just rang 2 more dealers this afternoon for a better price. If he can't then will be ordering this weekend and selling the Merc privately.
 
Get a Toyota instead.

Anyway, I am sure the air suspension will give you plenty of hassle in the future.
 
Lexus RX350, RX400h and RX450h, all have this feature.

Edit: In addition to the easy access button, you can adjust the ride hight to low, normal or high with a separate button. I can't remember the exact speed, but when motorway cruising the ride height lowers to enhance the drag coefficient.
 
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daveydave said:
Lexus RX350, RX400h and RX450h, all have this feature.

Edit: In addition to the easy access button, you can adjust the ride hight to low, normal or high with a separate button. I can't remember the exact speed, but when motorway cruising the ride height lowers to enhance the drag coefficient.
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Oooh thanks. Just what I was looking for, totally forgot about Lexus :)

Yeah we saw that during the test drive. The downside to this is that you must remember to set it to low before getting out of the car so that its low for when you get back into it. Will look into getting this programmed somewhere else if we get it because my dads friend had this feature on the keyfob. Would be a total pain if he forgot as he doesnt have a problem getting out.
 
Dad had a Toyota Amazon for a few months years ago and you could raise/lower it to make it easier to get in, handy for mum with her bad back. Dunno if their new ones do this...or if they even do the Amazon any more though :p
 
mr tommo said:
Oooh thanks. Just what I was looking for, totally forgot about Lexus :)

Yeah we saw that during the test drive. The downside to this is that you must remember to set it to low before getting out of the car so that its low for when you get back into it. Will look into getting this programmed somewhere else if we get it because my dads friend had this feature on the keyfob. Would be a total pain if he forgot as he doesnt have a problem getting out.
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iirc the car goes back to the normal setting when the ignition is switched off. The easy access button is easily reached with the drivers side door open, so I'm sure with the car at normal ride hit, the Dad shouldn't have too much trouble pressing the button to lower the car.
 
even more fun on the disco is the super extended feature which sticks it on stilts beyond the normal high mode.

No idea if this would suit him, but I think the Audi A6 Allroad has ride height adjustment feature too. Its 4x4, but not a like a disco obviously.
 
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Air suspension systems are ,in my experience,very reliable.

Rare on cars though, so I'd guess when they do screw up it stands out giving the impression of an unreliable thing to have which,imo, is not the case. :)
 
The tail end of my 540i rides on air springs. It's done 150k miles and has needed no maintenance on that system.
My mate's A8 also has air suspension all round and has done 100k miles with no maintenance on the system.

I have no idea where the comments about them being unreliable have come from. I guess it's just someone with no experienceof the systems making assumptions based on no knowledge.
 
I think some of the comments relate directly to the discovery air suspension which hasnt proved to be that reliable. The bags etc are fine, but the air compressor pump does fail, largely due to water/mud etc ingress. Plenty of failures reported, along with EPB failures. Disco's aren't that reliable. I did a shedload of research as I was after one about 12 months ago, but it put me off.
 
daveydave said:
iirc the car goes back to the normal setting when the ignition is switched off. The easy access button is easily reached with the drivers side door open, so I'm sure with the car at normal ride hit, the Dad shouldn't have too much trouble pressing the button to lower the car.
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Thanks for that I will get him to check it out. The salesman specifically told us that that when you hit the lower button on approach it will remain like that until you drive back off the next time the car is started.

mikeh501 said:
I think some of the comments relate directly to the discovery air suspension which hasnt proved to be that reliable. The bags etc are fine, but the air compressor pump does fail, largely due to water/mud etc ingress. Plenty of failures reported, along with EPB failures. Disco's aren't that reliable. I did a shedload of research as I was after one about 12 months ago, but it put me off.
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I'd be wary if it wasn't under warranty but when it does go wrong it won't be much of a problem as the courtesy car will have to be suited to my dads needs. Hello Range Rover courtesy car :p
 
mikeh501 said:
even more fun on the disco is the super extended feature which sticks it on stilts beyond the normal high mode.

No idea if this would suit him, but I think the Audi A6 Allroad has ride height adjustment feature too. Its 4x4, but not a like a disco obviously.
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I'll tell him to have a look. He does likes the high driving position of people carriers and 4x4's though.
 
mr tommo said:
Thanks for that I will get him to check it out. The salesman specifically told us that that when you hit the lower button on approach it will remain like that until you drive back off the next time the car is started.
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Which Lexus centre? I can check on my mums RX350 but I'm sure it returns.
 
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