Roland Perry ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

I picked the one which is most common, the 89-98 model.

OK, so let's use the contemporary Mondeo and E-class for comparison.
Mondeo 14'11" x 5'8"

My Parkers says "2000-" model, 15'5" x 5'11"

I'm giving the previous model dimensions here.

E-class 15'9" x 5'10"

ditto "2002-" model 15'9" x 6'5"

Likewise - previous model.

Have both of these been superseded since last August (the date of my
Parkers).

The E-class and Mondeo, no. The Disco, yes.

If you're comparing discontinued models, then compare them evenly.
If you're comparing current models, then compare them evenly.

However, this is largely a minor point, as we are agreed that road
surface area is irrelevant, as a few inches here-or-there makes no real
difference in use.

I'm glad you agree it's a silly claim.

It certainly clouds the whole debate - and, as a result, it's a very
poor point to use.

Not sure what's lacking in the academic honesty.

"Cheating" by frigging your figures to prove your point. Comparing older
smaller 4x4 models with newer larger "car" ones to make your comparison
look better. Disco 3s are proliferating rapidly, and - given the poor
reputation that the old model had for many things - they will very soon
"feel" more numerous, especially in the centre of London.

One proposition was space. Weight is a claim that is less easily
disproved, and leads directly to vastly increased emissions - which I
noticed you snipped. I repeat - the current Disco's CO2 g/km emissions
are only slightly short of those of a Mondeo PLUS an Astra combined.

You've extended the criteria to include weight and emissions (is a
diesel Disco really as bad as you describe, please give the numbers).

Yes. They are. There is no question about this.

Disco TD - 275g/km (249g/km manual, but the vast majority will be auto)

Mondeo TDCi - 151g/km (196g/km auto, but the vast majority will be
manual)
Astra CDTI - 118g/km (not available with autobox)

118+151 = 269 - so in typical configuration, I actually underestimated.
My apologies.

Merc E220CDi auto - 168-188g/km (manual 162-174, but the vast majority
will be auto) depending on tyre size

Still - could be worse. Disco v8 auto (no manual available) - 354g/km.
Oh, and in the interests of fairness - E55 AMG - 310g/km and Mondeo
ST220 - 249g/km.

Just to show that it's not down to different engine technologys - the
same v6 diesel used in the Disco TD when placed into the Jag S-type
(again, auto) manages 208g/km, and an automatic 545i (same engine as the
petrol Disco, X5 4.4 and Range-Rover) is 257g/km vs 317 in the X5 and
389g/km in the Rangie. The diesel X5 and Rangie share the 3.0 TD with
the 5-series, giving 250 (X5 3.0d) 299 (Rangie D6), 208 (530d) - all
paired to autoboxes, as they would be in the majority of vehicles
ordered.

One interesting point worth noting - The disparity in the Mondeo's
diesel/auto vs the diesel/manual figures suggest that that autobox
pairing is a very poor one - many of the larger cars get better CO2
figures with an autobox than as a manual. This is directly opposite
"folk-wisdom" which suggests that manuals are more efficient than autos.

(from www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk - part of the Dept of Transport)