If I compare the cost of maintaining/repairing my 1999 TD5 defender (140k on the clock) to the cost of maintaining/repairing my 2003 astra (100k on the clock), my landy works out far cheaper to maintain. I rekon I've forked out less than £1000 on it in nearly 4 years compared with the £1500 I've had to spend on my astra in the same time. The £1000 on my landy also includes a secondhand cylinder head as I bought it with the head cracked and the fitting of a £100 fuel pump that it didn't need ( mis-diagnoses by myself)
it's not that much more complicated, only the addition of the 4X4 system..
the Disco TD5 seems quite simple compaired to the newer disco's 3 & 4..
and i have worked on far more complicated vehicles than my Disco..
any car is complicated until you learn about them and there querks..
you know i never knew this was a Discovery thread
but coming back to the thread question, yeah my TD5 is very reliable, like any piece of machinery just needs love and attention..so giving mine loads until he's perfect