Recommend a Disco to a newbie

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A900ss

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Hi,

I have never had a 4x4 and have decided to get one within the next 3 months.

I am open to all makes and models but I think I am being drawn more and more to a Disco.

My budget is up to £3000 but am happy to spend less. Whatever I buy will mostly be a toy (I have a company car and my wife also has her own car) so it will be used for camping trips, dog transportation, general tip duty, green laning (hopefully) and pay and play.

The big question is what version of Disco do I go for and what are the look outs for a dog of a car?

I'd love a V8 however I don't have an oil well at the bottom of my garden so reality means I'll be looking for a diesel. So that means 300 TDi or TD5? Pointers most welcome as what is the best although I guess that will depend on what you own......

I have read rust is a big issue on Disco's. Is the D2 as bad as the D1 for rust? Where should I check for the rust?

What else should I be looking at?

I have no preference for auto or manual (unless otherwise advised) but would like a 5 seater (cheaper) and the lowest spec possible (less to go wrong).

I used to be ok with the spannes but don't do a lot now so please bear that in mind.

Thanks in advance for any repsonses to help a newbie choose a Disco.
 
Spend £1500 on the best one you can find.
Give it a complete service throughout, changing all oils n filters.
Get the bodywork sorted , inner wings, sills, bulkhead, rear floor etc...


And then enjoy it for years to come.
 
As Mad Hat Man says... dont go and blow your budget on a Disco as you will most certainly need a few quid spare for bits and bobs.You would get a mint 300tdi and have plenty left to get it how you want it.In my opinion the manuals are better as they are not as complicated and nearly everything that can go wrong with them can usually be fixed quite cheaply whereas the autos have EDC injection pumps and also are a bit sluggish although they are nicer to drive.
Whichever you decide to go with just make sure you check it for rot and if its not too bad then you wont go far wrong as the engines are quite bullet proof and are capable of big mileages if looked after......oh and welcome
 
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Wow. Common theme here is go for a D1.

I certainly respect your views as you know the cars and I don't but I really prefer the look of the D2.

Is a D2/TD5 a big no no at this budget? I was hoping the D2's would be less susceptible to the tin worm issue.

Thanks again.

PS I have never welded so am a bit nervous about that. I have changed engines, gear boxes, head gaskets and clutches on my early cars (chevettes, Rover SD1's, Capris - I guess I'm showing my age) but never welded.
 
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300tdi is the last engine LR made that doesn't need a computer to figure out what's gone wrong. Also D2 chassis rot. very badly..

Stick with a late 300TDi if you want to be able to repair it yourself.
 
Try and look for a one owner job with low milage and history you may be lucky, but you wouldn't get it for £1000.
Or any vehicle with history, that sometimes indicates the owner was an enthuiasts, you will get an idea of any work been done and the quality of parts fitted.
Cheapness to repair can mean sub standard parts have been fitted which you as the new owner would have to replace down the line when they break.
 
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A900ss said:
Hi,

I have never had a 4x4 and have decided to get one within the next 3 months.

I am open to all makes and models but I think I am being drawn more and more to a Disco.

My budget is up to £3000 but am happy to spend less. Whatever I buy will mostly be a toy (I have a company car and my wife also has her own car) so it will be used for camping trips, dog transportation, general tip duty, green laning (hopefully) and pay and play.

The big question is what version of Disco do I go for and what are the look outs for a dog of a car?

I'd love a V8 however I don't have an oil well at the bottom of my garden so reality means I'll be looking for a diesel. So that means 300 TDi or TD5? Pointers most welcome as what is the best although I guess that will depend on what you own......

I have read rust is a big issue on Disco's. Is the D2 as bad as the D1 for rust? Where should I check for the rust?

What else should I be looking at?

I have no preference for auto or manual (unless otherwise advised) but would like a 5 seater (cheaper) and the lowest spec possible (less to go wrong).

I used to be ok with the spannes but don't do a lot now so please bear that in mind.

Thanks in advance for any repsonses to help a newbie choose a Disco.
Click to expand...
disco 2 would be best ,the disco chassis can rot, but the bodies dont unlike disco 1 were youll be lucky to find one with a boot floor,
 
if its only a toy and wont be doing big miles dont rule out the V8, alot have got LPG on now so not as bad as you think, As for Disco 1 or 2 well ive had both and both V8 ES models, to be honest i regret selling my 1 for the 2, in my opinion the 2 lost a bit of the soul of Landrover that the 1 had so id say go Disco 1, both have rust issues in different places, both can be a pain in the arse and wallet when not maintained properly, find the best you can and enjoy
 
Useful thread this, hope to one day get back to owning a Disco, last one cost me a mint and then I had to sell it and got bugger all for it, should have mothballed it until I could get all the work done.
However some good advice given earlier in the thread so I'll bear it in mind.
 
David Pye said:
The other plus of a diesel (well, less TD5 to be fair) is that the engine/running side of things is more waterproof than a V8, if you expect to be wading..
Click to expand...

You will find a V8 ok when going through water if u don't exceeding Land Rovers recommended depth, and have the driving skill to do so, that's very important.
Therefore exceed that depth and be 'clue less' you can expect problems with any standard 4x4 vehicle.
 
you say you can do headgaskets, here you are a D2
SPARES OR REPAIR 2001 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY V8I ES AUTO BLACK | eBay

you would have to look very hard to find a D1,(like jm says) without rust, or pay a fine price when you do!! good mechanics! chassis ok but the body ie boot floor, if fred flintstone had one the same, bet his feet would be sore trying to propell a disco!!:decision:
 
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discodrivercumbria said:
you say you can do headgaskets, here you are a D2
SPARES OR REPAIR 2001 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY V8I ES AUTO BLACK | eBay

you would have to look very hard to find a D1,(like jm says) without rust, or pay a fine price when you do!! good mechanics! chassis ok but the body ie boot floor, if fred flintstone had one the same, bet his feet would be sore trying to propell a disco!!:decision:
Click to expand...

I said I 'could' do head gaskets in my younger days. That was on old stuff without complicated electrics and fuel injection. Don't know how much more difficult it is with all the modern gubbins.

From what I've read, I'd probably attempt a HG on a 300 Tdi but not on a Td5 due to more complex engine.

In fairness nowadays, I wouldn't buy a car with a known head gasket issue but would repair one if it went after I'd bought it.

I would be quite lucky in the fact that whatever I purchase will not be a daily driver and if things do go wrong it can sit in the drive in bits whilst I take my time to fix it.

I can see the sense in a more straightforward 300tdi but I just prefer the look of the D2!

I guess secretly I would also want the refinement that a D2 offers over the D1 (so I've read) as I driven nothing but modern company cars for the past 15 years. This is the reason I've discounted a Jimny despite good off road right ups. Everywhere I have read states it is woeful on the road.
 
the only complication with td5 head gasket change compared to 300 tdi is that you have the timing chain to deal with but is well within a competent diyer after reading instructions
 
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