pogweasel Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 OK Gang, for reasons I do not fully understand, I suddenly find myself fancying a Discovery Pro's: 1) Loads of space for kids/dogs/work kit 2) Umm, perhaps more befitting to my job than a wannabe dealer BMW in terms of both image and being suited to 'site work' 3) GR8 4 TAT RECOVERY Cons 1) Probably rubbish 2) Probably rusty 3) Probably thirsty Any experts here can talk me out of it? I may go and have a look at this one at some point V soon: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1996-LAND-ROVER-D ... 0330381785 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Talk you out of it? No way! I'd love one myself. Worked on those 95MY facelift ones on work experience back in 1993. Key things to check are rot. Boot floor, sills, floors, wheelarches etc. Rear door is super heavy, so hinges can die. Tdi needs cambelt changes at least every 40k miles ideally, but it's a cracking engine otherwise.Diffs leak oil, gearboxes and transfer boxes can get noisy and fail. Should all be pretty apparent if you can get a test drive.Should beat 25mpg, maybe 30 if you're gentle. I don't think parts are too bad either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianDamaged Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 No dissent from me, either....though I wouldn't want to pay much more than the £800 it's sat at now, unless it drove really well, as it's 'cosmetically challenged'. Having said that, a mate of mine paid £2k last year for an R-plater with an autobox in (and it's as slow as you'd expect), which he continues to be delighted by.Accomplished on-road, EPIC fun off it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycox Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I like them, in fact I've been thinking of getting one to replace my Transit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruJoe Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Disco Inferno! *Good idea Burn it. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STUNO Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 YES from me . The disco is shite IMO but it will give you the professional kudos you have long strived to achieve but could not because your transport was just soooo wrong. An if you don't like it SELL it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredTransit Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I like them, in fact I've been thinking of getting one to replace my Transit...Not possible. A disco could never replace a transit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwdChina Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 OH YESSSS. I owned a J plate Tdi (saudi import) for a couple of years, nowt special to look at, but a good chasis and all running gear in good order. That thing pulled a tilt bed Brian James all over the UK in my quest for shagged tat, to repair not too shagged tat, and then deliver said tat to hither & yon. Faultless, easy plodding along back lanes or motorways returning around 25ish mpg no matter how much shit your pulling. However, and it goes without saying, careful examination before purchase is a MUST. Take for test drive and DO use the high/low ratios. Selector lever should go into both positions fairly easy, if it does not it's sometimes due to lack of oil in transfer box, very common, can be costly. Depending on mileage they all clunk on gear change because of big, heavy, basic drive train, but listen for excessive or extra clunk thats out of sync with the main train. An easy method to spot this is up to 30ish (mph) in top and gently take the power off, then gently back on.....off....on etc. Has to be done very gently because of the nature of the beast, although normal driving should show up anything really grim....all ok so far.....good.Access to a ramp or large pit is also good, but if not no worries, there's plenty of room underneath for organising a major sporting event, or pop festival etc. Take a small torch and look for the obvious....signs of nasties and rot. But also because it's the preferd weapon for farmers, quarry workers, people by the seaside with boats, jetski an all that carry on, then take extra care. Pull/push on anything that should move, ie. propshafts......round and round is good.....up and down is not. Likewise anything that shouldn't move....well....shouldn't move. The rest is just normal car buying stuff.....although i'm sure somebody has a complete encyclopedia of hidden horrors for the unwary. Also discos are rated at a higher towing capacity than most other 4x4s. Can't remember why, permanent 4wd i think, not sure though.Good luck, Kev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket88 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 rust EVERYWHERE, electrical naughtieness off all descriptions [especially in the window and c/locking dept] horrible to drive when they're past there best [worn shockers especially noticeable] As stated above, gearboxes [both auto and manual] are not the strongest. Wallowy, bouncy, hateful piles of poo [not that I'm biased or anything] However, v.g. off road, if that's important, if not, buy Jap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Boot floor, boot floor, boot floor. A mate paid £1600 to have his welded up - I suggested he had his head examined, it was an N-plate and so not worth much more.Have a look at the rear wheelarch when you open the back door - pretty shabby design/build. How about a Subaru Forester? You can get early ones for less than a bag of sand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyG Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Not very nice IMHO, unless you want to go offroading.Very bad build quality, almost everything about them is unreliable or shoddily built compared to a Japanese 4X4. But then they are a lot cheaper than a Jap 4X4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-M Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Ah-haaaa, something I'm not clueless about :-DCheck rear wheelarches, that's the first place they rot majorly. Then the rear cross member, inner wings (although these are a piece of piss to fix) boot floor, floor and chassis generally.Check front swivels (GBFO chrome things, y'can't miss 'em) aren't dry, the the transfer box works as it should, everything engages properly - that one should have the Viscous centre diff.Diesel, that bit is alien to me.Oh, if it has ABS then drive it in a full locky circle on gravel listening carefully for clacky rattly noises from the front CV joints, and also keeping an ear open for signs of the centre viscous coupling being knackered - it'll screech like a bastard if the VC is knackered and feel like everything is going nastily tight.I'm a Range Rover man, can't abide Discos, but in truth a Series 1 Disco is a Rangie Classic in Popular Plus chassis spec.I absolutely adore Land Rovers, so much more fun and interesting than any of the Jap alternatives. A Shogun may be more reliable (when it's not cracking heads for fun.... they do it as well) but I always feel like a proper Pikey when I'm in a Shogun / Patrol / Trooper. Like I should be on the way to do a driveway estimate. Not a feeling I've ever had with a Rangie.Whenever I look at a Mitsubishi Wanker I always think "All that glitters ain't gold", besides, they're bloody horrible to drive compared to a Disco and don't tow half as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredTransit Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Just buy a Defender mate, a bit agricultural but they run and run! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-M Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Just buy a Defender mate, a bit agricultural but they run and run!You'd be amazed how many Defender bits are shared with a Disco... Axles, gearbox, engine.. chassis is basically the same except the Disco is a 100" as opposed to 90" or 110".Chassis differences are mainly diff / transfer box ratios and spring rates. Disco is more road biased, but otherwise it's all the same stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted March 5, 2009 Author Share Posted March 5, 2009 Problem is, a Defender is MUCH more expensive to buy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Problem is, a Defender is MUCH more expensive to buy...Damn farmer scene tax. Oo-arh!I'm no help obviously. Chap down the road from my mum's has been offroading in them for years though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j-j Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Disco? OK marks out of ten for shiteness but this is much much shiterAnd cooler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted March 5, 2009 Author Share Posted March 5, 2009 Maybe I'll just wait a bit & buy another 'Series' Land Rover, and content myself with arriving everywhere late, deaf and with moderate spinal injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Defenders seem to hold their value well, but the same money will get you a better condition Series 3 I've not much experience with Discoverys but it's always worth a trawl through forums to see what falls off and how much it is to put back on: http://forum.landrovernet.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=70 Maintenance isn't as easy as on Series vehicles, chap in work has a Disco and is often cursing the whole car was assembled around the rear light cluster / wiper motor etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timewaster Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I'm right there with you on this one Pog.I want one, but they are shit.I'd like one, but it will double my fuel bill.I kinda fancy one, but it will fall apart.I'd like to go off road, but probably wont.I've got the money for one, but a rough one.I've got time to look for one, but no where to put it.And the 53/47% poll is no help whatsoever!The above I/but argument can be applied to most of the shit Ive been e-browsing lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Maybe I'll just wait a bit & buy another 'Series' Land Rover, and content myself with arriving everywhere late, deaf and with moderate spinal injuries. My 1982 S3 has got the Deluxe seats which are fairly comfortable, but perhaps that's only compared to the squaddie seats in the boot. 400 miles in a weekend last month and all was well apart from the ringing sound in my ears for the next few days. Fast motorway cruisers they aren't.Apparently the Discovery 200TDi is a popular conversion into Series Land Rovers, sometimes with the turbo taken off so the gearbox isn't blown to pieces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I drove an S3 the other week. I'd forgotten just how uncomfortable they are! I think all of my internal organs ended up broken. Dunno if parabolics are some sort of wonder cure.I think they'll get cheaper as the anti-4x4 sentiment really starts to kick in, but like Fred, I think the future is Transit-shaped! Get a facelifted Mk2 and it looks like a Discovery at the front anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I was in a Disco V8 petrol which was being used for towing and it did a terrific job to be honest, I was hugely impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwdChina Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Easy then, buy a disco,the cack ones are cack, easy spotted, the good ones are good.... ..v.good infact....and they're not rocket science to work on. Just heavy. Anybody interested in 3ltr hi-lux import thingy, on about its 4th cyl/head gasket......thought not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scruff Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hi PogI hate them but they do the job. We've got a old 200Tdi at work that just keeps on going, and not long scrapped a 300 for terminal grot which was just as trusty. Just watch for the rotters and remember if you don't do it yourself, a clutch or box change is £££ in labour charges. I know what I'd do...search for a Tdi powered Range Rover classic, make sure it's solid-ish and spray the underside and inner wings within a inch of it's life with wax. Best of all worlds and gooduns are slowly appreciating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-M Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 If you want something which will cripple you financially, but make you grin like a wanking chimp when it's right you could always buy my Rangie..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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