Sorry thebiglad but have to admit I cheated
Looked through your previous posts which I have to say were interesting reading.
You seem to have a wealth of knowledge in this area so let me ask you is it worth going out and spending £6k? I know you will point out it is dependent on what you are looking for but I want a pre 2001 model so as to not hit the new tax system. I am looking for something like a 2000 2.5 TDI Auto - am I looking to spend to much?
Hi Simon - you little tinker!! - for a start there is no such thing as a M.Y. 2000 2.5 Tdi Auto
.
The Tdi 300 ended production in late '98 and was repalced by the TD5.
In your budget of £6000 you could buy a mint Tdi 300 auto (I know where there's a nice low-mileage one
) OR, you could considor a TD5.
Now, let me be clear, I have never driven a TD5 but most people who have say they are much more car like and if that's what you want, then maybe some thought ought to go in that direction.
I went for a Tdi300 because:
1. My wife has a Tdi 200 and it's SUPERB - I don't mean cosmeticly but, It weighs about 2 tons, gives us 35+mpg day in day out, tows a horse trailer with ease and is a delight to travel in - so long as you accept that it's NOT a car, but a heavy 4x4!!
They are great cars to work on, like a large Mechano set really, and I enjoy very much, fettling 'er !!
2. I wanted to find a replacement for the above, so that when she (Daisy2) comes to the end of the road, we can gravitate onto a much newer one.
So, all the benefits of the older Disco, but newer, better looked after in the early years and less rust.
And so Daisy3 came along. I haven't done much to her yet, just some std mods that you will read about on here - but I am enjoying her tremendously.
I would say that ANY Disco in your budget needs to be approached as a hobby/project. If you imagine that you can just get in and go, having 100% reliability you will end up frustrated. These cars need pampering, they usually don't let you down but they need looking after and are a great way of making new mates and are a good hobby.
They can also open your eyes to wider horizons - read some of the longhaul trip stories, they're brill.
Sorry I'm waffling, If you go into Disco ownership with your eyes wide open, you'll have a great time. Assuming that you do DO that, buy a Tdi 300, play with it, modify it, make it your own.
By the way, spare parts for Discos are, generally speaking REALLY
cheap.
If I can help you further into Disco heaven, just ask,
Cheers
Dave