Diesel Versus V8 quandry!

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Might be a smart idea actually....for a car 2 years newer I'm seeing prices of 3 grand more. Sure they look really nice but thats a lot of extra money. The facelift 2002-2004 really seem to be in demand which I am supprised about as things are supposed to be tight and I thought I'd be getting a bargin on a v8.
 
Just set yourself a budget (keep some to put any niggles right) and buy the best you can, put mileage and condition over year. I bought a 51 plate over a face lift model because the 51 plate was an ES with 48k and the facelift was 100k and lower spec, mine was a td5, had it been a V8 i would still have it. Don't forget if you get the ES (and you should), they have the twin sunroofs, make sure these work and don't leak, i never had problems with them. At the risk of repeating, make sure it has a full history and all the oil services have been done. I had a range rover classic with the V8 in it, i did the oil change every 5k and it never gave trouble. Get one and enjoy!!
 
Yeh cheers Pete...I recon that is priced up like that cos it's a minter. My budget is 7500 and he's got that up for 8.5 grand. The millage is ok, it has full history, the interior looks like it has been looked after. I think it's one owner since new as well.

For 7.5 grand I'd buy it I recon. Only 7 years old as well.

Does that sound about the right kind of money? They seem to vary wildly in price.
 
This is a rough guide for you. Think you need to get the price down a bit on that one.

Land Rover Discovery (98-04)
1. 4.0 V8i ES 5d Auto (7 Seat) Change
2. 2003/53 Change
3. Average mileage: 60,000 miles Change
4. Adjust for mileage and options Change
No options selected

Original Price £34,590
Franchised Dealer £7,415
Independent Dealer £6,820
Private Good £5,930
Private Poor £4,675
Part Exchange £4,925
 
It does look nice Nik, you could be cheeky and go in at 7.5k. He can only say no! But V8s are still quite hard to sell. The balls in your court.
 
It does look nice; I love the look of the face lifted model. But it also looks expensive, and considering you can add the same head lights to a car a year younger and at least 2k cheaper for about £300 and get a very similar look, I would find it hard to spend an extra 2-3k. But it does look nice I love the cream leather, I have gray but the cream does look the bee’s knees.
I know it has extras that you don’t usually get as standard but I personally don’t think it warrants the extra money. For instance parking sensors, I fit this myself in about an hour with a kit I paid £15 for from eBay. And the land rover built in sat nav might look good but from experience built in sat navs cost a fortune to update.
Have you looked on eBay? I wouldn’t suggest you buy without seeing it first but that’s where I found mine, it meant me driving 220 mile to buy it but there are bargains to be had.
 
To add my tuuppence worth I'd say don't rush into it and keep looking for the right car at a good price, taking into account all the other advice given, servicing etc.
I bought a 2000 (registered 23/12/2000) V8 GS Auto several months back with 64k on the clock for under 4k from a small 4x4 dealer. Leaky sunroof to date and 2 new tyres is all I've done. Asked him to service it which he did, new plugs and wipers too.
I really had my heart set on a facelift model but they were more expensive than I could justify. Might change the lights in time but I'm growing to like it as it is. Like you I'm looking at doing 4000miles pa max in it, did my sums and decided not even worth investing in LPG as it'll take me too long to recoup the costs
 
This is gonna sound mad, but have you checked the main dealers!! They do still have these models from time to time, and i bet you would get one for a better price. Also check the big car supermarkets, they take these in as p/x for small cars, but they don't like big engine cars, you can do some serious bargaining. If you are smitten with this one (who wouldn't be), try him for a deal. Tell him you really wanted a diesel but if the price is right you'll consider a V8. I really wanted my dream car, a Jaguar XJR, i saw one that was perfect, went to veiw it and it was the best i'd seen. I made the dealer believe i was just looking for any big car, i bid him 600 less than the price and got it. Scary but worth it!
 
checked everywhere...I wonder if this is a bad time to buy a 4x4 with the weather and all. My brother restored camper vans and says its much easier to sell them in spring when the weather gets nice.

I'm pretty desperdo if you cant tell. I'll be carless when i get home again which is driving me insane.
 
I went thought the same Range Rover, Discovery petrol diesel thing as you have and ended up with a discovery because they are more practical and petrol well you have just got to have that V8 under the bonnet haven't you:D

Brought mine in August paid £4,200 for an 02 Discovery Adventurer Auto V8 with LPG 100,000 from a small dealer, had some small niggles with it but don't regret it for a minute even my wife who hates LRs loves driving it.

Probably been said but don't buy on impusle have a look at a few and if you want LPG buy one converted it works out much cheaper.

Good Luck
 
Bill has the same sort of thing as we do, but ours was bought with a dicky engine at £1900. One short motor later and a lot of work, and we have a manual V8 Disco 2.

Was going to be a low-mileage runabout, but we have knocked up 11000 miles since July, with no major issues other than a wrong camshaft gear.

Changed both propshafts today, rear one had a new U/J fitted, front was nearly new, and we hold a spare gearbox/transfer box and two axles as spares, but not a lot has been needed so far.

The V8 IS thirsty, LPG IS cheaper, but the TD5 will be more economical to run around in.

Paying extra for the V8 is well worth it though :D:D

Peter
 
2 v8 disco,s now looking for my 3rd.nik i,ve spotted a beauty £6300 40,000,1 owner,history,es full spec,harmon marmon,20"alloys,cream leather,no smoker,but sorry mate the bad news is i,m not telling you where it is:Dits a cruel world nik but you have to look after number 1.hope you find what your looking for thanks craig
 
2 v8 disco,s now looking for my 3rd.nik i,ve spotted a beauty £6300 40,000,1 owner,history,es full spec,harmon marmon,20"alloys,cream leather,no smoker,but sorry mate the bad news is i,m not telling you where it is:Dits a cruel world nik but you have to look after number 1.hope you find what your looking for thanks craig

LOL nice mate :)

All the cars I like are at the oposite end of the country from me :doh:
 
2 v8 disco,s now looking for my 3rd.nik i,ve spotted a beauty £6300 40,000,1 owner,history,es full spec,harmon marmon,20"alloys,cream leather,no smoker,but sorry mate the bad news is i,m not telling you where it is:Dits a cruel world nik but you have to look after number 1.hope you find what your looking for thanks craig

LOL nice mate :)

All the cars I like are at the oposite end of the country from me :doh:
 
Back
Top