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[image from www.automobile-catalog.com]
REVIEW
In the days when utility vehicles were just that, durable
and crude workhorses with no "sport" pretensions, there were Land
Rovers. They could follow any trail, no matter how rough, or make their own
trail when there wasn't one. Comfort was a semi-waterproof top. That was
sufficient when getting there was a necessity, not fun.
When sport-utility vehicles gained popularity, there were
Range Rovers. The early Range Rovers trekking through the wilds of Beverly
Hills in the 1970s helped make four-wheel beasts of burden fashionable.
In 1994, a lower-priced Land Rover Discovery was added to
the Range Rover line. Unchanged in basic form since then, the Discovery holds
a solid niche in the $30,000 class. The Discovery is no poseur. It is as
rugged as it looks, providing off-road capability that few vehicles can
match.
[text edited from www.newcartestdrive.com review by Ray
Thursby]
1997 Discovery 300 TDi XS
[image from 4x4salesofsurrey.co.uk]
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Seen in Episodes 01,04,05,13,15
As a construction contractor,
Sun-Mi’s father needs a vehicle capable of handling rough terrain. With a
family connection to Britain (his sister operates a restaurant in London) and
the upper-middle class income to afford it, the Land Rover Series I Discovery
XS is his choice over other competing vehicles.
Apparently Mr. Jin is satisfied
with the Discovery, as he drives it through the time span of the drama
(1995-2000), even though newer and better SUVs became available in the latter
years.
Ep.01 – Mr. Jin brings Young-Mi
to Seoul after her father dies.
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REVIEW
Land Rover SUVs are the first choice of England's royals
when the need arises for a vehicle gutsy enough to tackle rocks and mud. It's
no wonder; in addition to their go-anywhere bravado, Land Rovers offer a
uniquely British brand of elegance that feels supremely upper-crust. The
Discovery was created as a bridge between Land Rover’s utilitarian Defender
and prestigious Range Rover models.
The Land Rover Discovery was a two-generation vehicle. The
Series I lasted from 1994-'99, when the Series II, with many design changes,
replaced it. Unlike today's family-friendly crossovers, the Discovery was an
old-school luxury SUV, at its best when pitted against treacherous ravines
and vertiginous mountain paths. On-road performance clearly wasn't the primary
focus, though with later models, Land Rover made more effort to strike a
balance between trail-busting capacity and street comfort.
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Ep.05 – Mr. Jin drives Sun-Mi to
the University Broadcasting Festival emcee competition.
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But for driving around the suburbs rather than through the
woods, the Discovery's high center of gravity and short wheelbase is a
drawback, and the ability to ford a stream up to 19.7 inches deep isn't
exactly a benefit when driving to the office or the mall.
In certain aspects of versatility, interior ergonomics and
safety, the Discovery lagged behind its peers. Cargo space was limited, and
side airbags and stability control weren't available. As to reliability. Land
Rovers of years gone by had a notoriously intimate relationship with repair
shops, and the Discovery was no exception. More recent models, though, showed
some improvement in this area.
The Discovery is all about prestige, and it doesn't come
cheaply or conveniently. Legendary off-road capabilities and a high level of
luxury helped make the Discovery an attractive choice, but most consumers
will want a different truck in which to haul the Little Leaguers around.
[text edited from www.edmunds.com]
1998 Discovery LE
[image from auto-auctions.ebizautos.com]
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Ep.13 – Mr Jin returns home just
in time to meet Hyung-Chul.
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