My take from this is:

• Money is not the driving factor
  
• Having transport is mandatory (I know the feeling)
• Ideally a more capable vehicle is preferred

Logical thing is to simply keep the D2 - which is a quality looked after machine, and have work done that needs doing - while also having a second car you can call upon as necessary, chances are a garage you've already sunk 5 digits at will be willing to drop you back to the house a few times a year, and in reality if you had it welded up right now to a good standard & well under-sealed every few years, it'd probably out-last anything fresh from a production line corrosion wise with its galvanized heart.

As an example to why buying a brand new or 1-2 year old car is no guarantee of an easy ride, my mum bought a 1 year old corsa with 6k miles on it in 2016 - with the same logic of "new is reliable", which in its short 18 months~ with her has already munched a coilpack, puked coolant from a ruptured hose and also suffered a failed water pump, equating to 3 separate breakdowns & accompanying hassle with it off the road in a very short space of time. Also no doubt it will have an exceedingly short life having already overheated on two separate occasions significantly.

So.. Keep the trusty D2, buy a "sufficient" spare car, keep both on the road and jobs a goodun. You could even buy a spare engine + running gear for it and pop them in the shed for if need arises, prepare for the worst and all that!

julianf said:

keep the devil you know.

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lynall said:

I know they are as dull as ditchwater, but what about any of the kia/ hyundai 4x4 products with their really long warranties?

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Probably because, as you say, they are as dull as ditch water. Having been bitten by the LR over so many years, it has become something like an addiction!! Age does not seem to have dulled my pleasure of driving, especially my D2 so that is probably made me lean towards a LR that I can afford, not only to buy but also to run! If I look towards a LR Approved one, no older than 2 years, then there should be a couple of years free from unexpected bills! I agree that the modern vehicle is very much a 'dealer only' servicing job and is therefore more expensive than my own mechanic, but I think this is something I am going to have to cope with.

Goc3k said:

My take from this is:

• Money is not the driving factor
  
• Having transport is mandatory (I know the feeling)
• Ideally a more capable vehicle is preferred

As an example to why buying a brand new or 1-2 year old car is no guarantee of an easy ride, my mum bought a 1 year old corsa with 6k miles on it in 2016 - with the same logic of "new is reliable", which in its short 18 months~ with her has already munched a coilpack, puked coolant from a ruptured hose and also suffered a failed water pump, equating to 3 separate breakdowns & accompanying hassle with it off the road in a very short space of time. Also no doubt it will have an exceedingly short life having already overheated on two separate occasions significantly.

So.. Keep the trusty D2, buy a "sufficient" spare car, keep both on the road and jobs a goodun. You could even buy a spare engine + running gear for it and pop them in the shed for if need arises, prepare for the worst and all that!

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Oh dear! Do you think a one or two year old LR Approved vehicle will suffer the same fate? Your dear mother must be really upset with all that happening.
It's all fine having a 'spare' car but that will always be in the wrong place when I need it! I already have another vehicle if in desperation (a motorhome) that I can use but getting the 10 miles to and from my garage is the real difficulty. The difficulty is that my mechanic has set up on his own within the last few months and although he does at present have the one courtesy car he is not in a position to ferry me backwards and forwards as he is ' a one-man-band' and needs to be earning, not taxi driving. A further complication is that because he is good at his job he is not short of customers. Many, like me, have followed him to his new set-up and this often means he has a waiting list!

derwendolly said:

Do you think a one or two year old LR Approved vehicle will suffer the same fate?

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I'm not sure anyone one can answer that question other than mister hindsight, but as it takes 23-27 grand to find out that's a goodly gamble. Hah, thanks for the concern but I bought her old car for myself as a spare and run it with the landy, so it was generously loaned back to her on all occasions .

derwendolly said:

the 10 miles to and from my garage is the real difficulty

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You'd need to keep the spare car roadworthy, taxed and MOT'd (just so as to hop in at a moments notice), meaning it can be left parked on the road if you have minimal space at home - presumably living in the sticks means there is plenty of council funded non-clogged up tarmac to leave it on?

Aye a good mechanic is always busy, but a good one will also bend a little further backward to help out the loyal customer (if asked!) - failing that, even if you can't poach a lift from a family member or friend - you could buy an enormously vast swath of taxi rides for the cost of a 2017 plate disco!

Another thought is, if you did buy the new disco surely the main dealer is even further away than your current mechanic? Chances are they will not have courtesy cars at the drop of a hat either, as a thought.

Or, keep the D2 out the front AND buy a new one! Now there's a good idea

derwendolly said:

Probably because, as you say, they are as dull as ditch water. Having been bitten by the LR over so many years, it has become something like an addiction!! Age does not seem to have dulled my pleasure of driving, especially my D2 so that is probably made me lean towards a LR that I can afford, not only to buy but also to run! If I look towards a LR Approved one, no older than 2 years, then there should be a couple of years free from unexpected bills! I agree that the modern vehicle is very much a 'dealer only' servicing job and is therefore more expensive than my own mechanic, but I think this is something I am going to have to cope with.

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You can still service them at home or your mechanic no worries it is after all still just a car, its when the electrics pack up that you will need an indy or the dealer, the rest is just oils/filters.

Goc3k said:

Another thought is, if you did buy the new disco surely the main dealer is even further away than your current mechanic? Chances are they will not have courtesy cars at the drop of a hat either, as a thought.
Or, keep the D2 out the front AND buy a new one! Now there's a good idea

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Yes, Swansea is many miles away but at least it is in the town so I would be able to occupy myself during a whole day service visit. Also, in my experience, there is always some form of transport available as it does not have the same pressure on it for requests - being in the town does have this advantage.
I don't know if you have much experience of living out in the middle of nowhere but road space is not one of its strong points!! Where I live is much in favour by the greenlaners and off roaders!
Keeping the D2 AND buying another one has crossed my mind, too. It would create a bit of a difficulty within our own curtilage but I'm sure it could be done - I have a motorhome parked here, too! We have huge garden but it gets very soggy in the wintertime and totally undrivable on - it would be a cry for LZ rescue help to get a vehicle winched off!!

Goc3k said:

…… even if you can't poach a lift from a family member or friend - you could buy an enormously vast swath of taxi rides for the cost of a 2017 plate disco!

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Sadly, my only living relative is a sister who is over 100 miles away, older than me, a non-driver and housebound!!!! I do have a neighbour but the wife has recently had serious health problems so I feel I just cannot add to their problems, except as a one off.

derwendolly said:

My financial expectations are not high, it is, after all, an 18 year old car that has done good service for me and I have tried to look after it in return. My own hope would be to sell it to someone who could use it as a runner or would make good use of all its 'bits'. I just find it hard to think of it going to the scrapyard.

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Heh, I can empathise with that .. worst thing I've seen for a while was when my Disco actually got lifted up by the scrappers crane!! It was pretty amazing, when you're watching them usually it's a bit "who cares, they're only cars", but when it's yours it's like "WOW, well that was bloody violent" ...

I'd like a TD5 D2 for towing and as a general runabout, but have no chance of affording one. I loved my old 300 Tdi and my mates D2 V8, which I borrowed regularly, so I'd have another like a shot ... Alas, no funds, they're all gone or going onto the 90!! Hope it sells well for you and you get something you can like again ..

lynall said:

I know they are as dull as ditchwater, but what about any of the kia/ hyundai 4x4 products with their really long warranties?

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I made that mistake once, Hyundai Tucson, was an excellent all round car with all the basics but could never get used to the indicator stalk being on the wrong side, drove me absolutely crackers and I could never get used to it as I have to drive several vehicles with my work which are all on the correct side.

Interceptorxj said:

I made that mistake once, Hyundai Tucson, was an excellent all round car with all the basics but could never get used to the indicator stalk being on the wrong side, drove me absolutely crackers and I could never get used to it as I have to drive several vehicles with my work which are all on the correct side.

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I imported one of the Tucson's for my wife she loved it & it said it has been her favourite car, it was a limited
edition with all the bells & whistles then some muppet smacked the back quarter outside the house & done a runner...
But I nailed him a few miles down the road (in my other motor haha) called police ect ect
Insurance company repaired it after a long battle & then when delivering it filled it with the wrong fuel & drove it
till it died after another month they tried to give it back it would jerk at 50 mph every min or so...……..
Got it picked up again & after 5 months got a cash payment which was more than I paid originally & then gave me
the car back for salvage & I got 5 grand for it happy days