Advise for the new boy!

Hi all,
I currently run a Freelander Kalahari, which though a good enough vehicle, it just isn't big enough or strong enough for us.
We pull a fair sized c/van which when caught with the wind, really throws the car around. We also struggle fitting everything in the car, especially with the wifes guide dig, so we are very strongly considering a move up to a Disco.
I'm looking at the diesel for fuel economy and life of engine, as we will only have £5k to spend on the replacement.

What I'm interested in is which version is overall the better for performance, economy and durability, between the older 300TDi & the TD5.

I'm all ears.

Cheers Bolt-On

It's really a case of what you want. Both models have good and ad points. I had a 51 plate ES td5, a lovely car with all the toys etc, could pull anything. The only real problems i had with it was the air suspension. I now have a 96 tdi 300, still pulls anything, but no toys!
5 grand would get you a good td5 or you could get the latest 300tdi for a lot less. There firms who sell imported ones from japan apparently. I would be temted to go with a td5, mainly because you can find a real minter if you look, a 300 tdi will be harder to find in top condition, but if you do come across one, it would also be a good buy.

read this thread in here
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/newby-question-how-buy-rust-free-disco-81725.html

Try looking at the V8s with LPG (at roughly 50p a litre round here our one gets the equivilant of around 30-35mpg), for 5 grand you could get a fairly neat low mileage one and with the amount of torque the V8 chucks out it'll pull pretty much anything you ask of it.
If it won't pull it you have to ask yourself 'should I really be trying to pull this with a landy??'
Also the V8s will run quite happily into to 200,000 mile mark if you (like any engine) look after it.

plus they sound good and drive beautifully..

bolt-on said:

Hi all,
I currently run a Freelander Kalahari, which though a good enough vehicle, it just isn't big enough or strong enough for us.
We pull a fair sized c/van which when caught with the wind, really throws the car around. We also struggle fitting everything in the car, especially with the wifes guide dig, so we are very strongly considering a move up to a Disco.
I'm looking at the diesel for fuel economy and life of engine, as we will only have £5k to spend on the replacement.

What I'm interested in is which version is overall the better for performance, economy and durability, between the older 300TDi & the TD5.

I'm all ears.

Cheers Bolt-On

Click to expand...

Hi Bolt-on, my advice would be buy a late model TDi 300, higher spec the better, or, a 2002 TD5 again high spec.

My reasoning is this:

'98 TDi's are the last of the line were pretty much well sorted out at the factory. They still have rust issues but usually they're not too bad.

These are relatively unsophisticated cars, so easy and cheap to fix and will tow the 'van without breaking into a sweat. Parts are cheap and readily available. Expect 28-33mpg.

Autobox ones are slightly more powerful but drive well and use slightly more fuel.



2002 TD5's should be ok as they had been in production for some time so the factory had corrected some of their blindingly stupid early mistakes.

Buy high spec and enjoy the luxury feel they bring. Auto's drive really nicely. Definitely give that Range Rover feeling.

Parts prices are higher overall and can be expensive to fix if you let garages get hold of them. Expect 25-30mpg.


The choice, as they say, is yours. Try to drive some and make up your own mind. Both will do the job, but the TD5 is more refined and can be more car-like that TDi 300.

Having had both I can honestly say that they are both great vehicles.

How much should you pay? Search carefully and patiently and you should be able to find a good TDi 300 with about 120,000mls and service history for between £1000 to £1500, leaving plenty for tidying up (they will all need something !!).

TD5 ES autos will be more money. Expect to pay between £3500 to £5000. I got lucky and bought one a month ago with all the trimmings plus a scratch down the side, 95,000mls and fsh for £2000 !!! And she runs beautifully.