I have a 1996 Discovery, bought used this year. I wanted an SUV, and I wanted a stick shift, which did not leave a whole lot of choices. 1997 was the last year for Discovery stick shift, but almost none were imported into U.S., and I could not find one. Range Rover doesn't make a stick shift. Disco and Ford Explorer were my main choices.
I think maintenance is supposed to be expensive, but I bought from a dealer, so I got an extended warranty, and anyway, I have not had to do anything to it, yet. Rover used to have a bad reputation, for some things, the electrical work, in particular. BMW bought Rover, I think in 1995, and German engineering has worked its magic. Bottom line, new Rovers are much more reliable.
One thing you might enjoy, go to a Rover dealer, and get them to give you a test drive over the big pile of rocks they all have in their parking lots. They are designed to showcase the Rover's ability to climb steep hills, and they are very good at that. My Disco can climb hills with a 39 degree approach and a 29 degree departure. Range Rovers do better. Nothing else does, except maybe Hummers, I don't have stats for that.
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