Decisions: Defender or Disco 2?

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Earl

Earl

Active Member
Posts
172
Location
Kent
Ok, so now that the trauma of having my lovely 110 stolen has worked its way out of my system, and having replaced it with the most boring car i have ever owned (Audi estate) i have the land rover bug nagging at me.

So here is the question: Do i get a defender or a disco 2?

With defender prices as they are it would easily cost me twice as much - lets say £7500 for an older defender. A much better condition disco 2, with some comforts like less water inside, and leather seats etc i could easily get for £3500. maybe less depending on condition.

It doesnt need to be a daily driver, and would be used for adventures like green laneing/camping, as well as useful for some lugging of logs and trips to the tip.

But i want a defender. But i also need to renovate the house.

Pros and cons? Thoughts?
 
it would probably be a 300TDi or TD5. Really wanted 110 again - for the right price i would go for a 90
 
You've hit the comfort nail on the head with a Disco 2. It also has the advantage, from what I've read and heard the security system on the Disco 2 might be a tad better than on the 'fender. The Td5 engine is a fairly good lump in either, provided that it's been looked after, and there's a better chance of a Disco having been used as a "Chelsea tractor" rather than a farm tractor.
I'd go for a Disco 2, you'll have just as much fun, they're both as "reliable" as each other.
 
Disco is objectively a much better vehicle. TD5 automatic would be ideal for me. The rear fold-up seats aren't quite as usable as the benches in a 110 though. Both will be more or less equally capable but the Disco is much more refined. The trouble with Defenders is that right now everyone wants one which has pushed prices up.
 
How would you feel if you're driving your discovery which is a perfectly fine vehicle and in many ways better than the defender and you pulled up to one at the lights? There's only a couple of vehicles I'd want to swap my defender for and as warm and practical as a disco is it isn't one of them.
 
D2 is TD5 or V8 only - but they are a good bus. If your budget is, say 5 or 6 K, then you'd probably get a good one, possibly even a re-import ( with no rot!), and still have enough for nanocom and such. Job Jobbed. 300Tdi puts you into D1, and there are still some nice ones out there, including some available for import with low miles. We both have D1's and are sticking with them, but D2 is more comfortable and much more space, but has the electronic stuff to annoy at "random" .....

Disco's are more secure than fenders, and also, at the moment don't seem to attract the same attention of the sticky fingered types.
 
Mmmm, my suspicion that the head should rule the heart is right! I do like the look of the Disco 2, and for the amount it would get used - probably 1000 miles a year it seems silly to tie all that money up in it. I was leaning towards a manual, but i did like the auto D3. I gather that the auto gear boxes are a nightmare if they need repairing.
 
TD5 discos will use the ZF 4HP transmission, which is a fairly robust 4-speed. They are obviously more complex than a manual but any problems should show up on a test drive. Work the box through all the gears including giving it a bootfull to test the kick-down and shifting under load. The numbered positions on the shifter should limit the maximum gear. You should also feel the torque converter lock up at cruising speed in 4th, which will feel like a 5th gear.
 
FlyingPete said:
TD5 discos will use the ZF 4HP transmission, which is a fairly robust 4-speed. They are obviously more complex than a manual but any problems should show up on a test drive. Work the box through all the gears including giving it a bootfull to test the kick-down and shifting under load. The numbered positions on the shifter should limit the maximum gear. You should also feel the torque converter lock up at cruising speed in 4th, which will feel like a 5th gear.
Click to expand...
I had a test drive in an auto TD5 a few months ago and hated it. My daily is an Octavia DSG and the Disco auto is terrible by comparison, it never stopped revving at around 3k rpm the whole time whereas the DSG box drives like a manual but without the clutch. It was so bad I went and bought another Freelander. :eek:
But maybe that's just me. :p
 
One of those vehicles is an authentic landy with all the heritage and the other is a derivative. I know which one I'd go for.
 
Earl said:
I gather that the auto gear boxes are a nightmare if they need repairing.
Click to expand...

Whilst the D2 has some electrical crap on the auto, which can give some issues. the gearbox itself should be good for 150K if it is looked after. The electrical crap is why I suggested you budget for a nanocom too. Box can he had refurbed for less than a grand ( plus fitting ) from the likes of Ashcroft transmissions.

However, a D2 might baulk at only doing 1K miles a year - in which case you'd be better off with a 110. but they both need looking after... so ???

Comfort wins everytime for me, and I don't do manuals due a disability. don't do electronics, so D1 auto. I suppose I could have a defender auto, but I'm too tall.
 
Alibro said:
I had a test drive in an auto TD5 a few months ago and hated it. My daily is an Octavia DSG and the Disco auto is terrible by comparison, it never stopped revving at around 3k rpm the whole time whereas the DSG box drives like a manual but without the clutch. It was so bad I went and bought another Freelander. :eek:
But maybe that's just me. :p
Click to expand...


But I think the ZF box will outlast any DSG

Get just over 50 and they lock up.

Personally I am planning a HD torque converter some time
 
The Discovery 2 is a good vehicle, get a facelift one with CDL. Mine has most toys and is a good vehicle, can competently drive on any road you like, motorways, twisty A roads, country lanes, green lanes.

The TD5 is a lovely engine, full of character, plenty of grunt, smooth at revs, truck sounding at low revs*

* basically unlike many car Diesels it is not ashamed of being one.
 
Our son's D2 ES auto is knocking on 200k miles with the original box, regular oil and filter changes helps a lot.

All of our three D2's are V8's, mainly as we tow a lot and the extra horses do make a big difference when you're up at 2 tonnes plus on the hook.

I prefer a manual box and my two are both manuals.

I'm on LPG but it hasn't been used on LPG since I stripped it down last summer, then got into lots of medical stuff, so running on petrol at present. It isn't too bad, but the diesel is better if MPG is important for you.

As a 1998 build, my chassis has some rot but not as bad as many later ones I have seen.

Electronics have been pretty good, ACE came off two years ago, no aircon, GS versions both.

Peter
 
MJI said:
But I think the ZF box will outlast any DSG

Get just over 50 and they lock up.

Personally I am planning a HD torque converter some time
Click to expand...
Your probably right but mine is a company car so I don't care.
As for the torque converter locking up I never got over 50 as the test was on small country roads. This was the first normal auto I've driven in 20 years or more so I may have been a tad unfair but it was my perception at the time.
Would love to try one with the HD torque converter for comparison.
 
Earl said:
Ok, so now that the trauma of having my lovely 110 stolen has worked its way out of my system, and having replaced it with the most boring car i have ever owned (Audi estate) i have the land rover bug nagging at me.

So here is the question: Do i get a defender or a disco 2?

With defender prices as they are it would easily cost me twice as much - lets say £7500 for an older defender. A much better condition disco 2, with some comforts like less water inside, and leather seats etc i could easily get for £3500. maybe less depending on condition.

It doesnt need to be a daily driver, and would be used for adventures like green laneing/camping, as well as useful for some lugging of logs and trips to the tip.

But i want a defender. But i also need to renovate the house.

Pros and cons? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
If you want a middle ground how about a Range Rover Classic or Disco1? Both feel somewhat like a Defender to drive. But come with extra creature comforts, more refinement and generally better road manners.

If you aren't doing big mileages you might want to consider a V8 too. Under 4000 miles a year and the fuel cost difference is somewhat negligable compared to the other motoring costs.
 
Alibro said:
Your probably right but mine is a company car so I don't care.
As for the torque converter locking up I never got over 50 as the test was on small country roads. This was the first normal auto I've driven in 20 years or more so I may have been a tad unfair but it was my perception at the time.
Would love to try one with the HD torque converter for comparison.
Click to expand...
As long as it was working as expected they drive just like any other normal automatic does. The Td5 might be a little more noisy than a V8. But it should have gone fine. An auto Toyota, Nissan or whatever would have been no better or different.
 
300bhp/ton said:
People do like to talk utter crap.
Click to expand...
Yeah they do don't they.
300bhp/ton said:
If you want a middle ground how about a Range Rover Classic or Disco1? Both feel somewhat like a Defender to drive. But come with extra creature comforts, more refinement and generally better road manners.

If you aren't doing big mileages you might want to consider a V8 too. Under 4000 miles a year and the fuel cost difference is somewhat negligable compared to the other motoring costs.
Click to expand...
People do like to talk crap?
 
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