sargan

sargan

New Member
First post so hope its in right place.

I have a need for a 4x4 as I tow a boat ... and it was perfectly acceptable to use an oriental soft-roader to achieve this.
However went up in size on the boat ... and coupled with a twin axle trailer we now have ~2.2Tonne tow rig.
.... and although current 4x4 has stated tow capacity of 2.5T .... it struggles on hill starts, which results on each slipway recovery with the DMF clutch slipping and horrible smell of burnt linings.
Been afraid to take on beach for a launch.


My thoughts are getting an 'older' Land Rover, and keeping it solely for the drive to launch sites & back.

Annual mileage will be low .... and if I got something reasonable as an investment, spent some time & effort on it .... should do me for as long as I need to Tow.

So would welcome some input as to what LR to get.
I don't need a Discovery Vogue se with a 5.0L V8, and neither do I want a series LR.

I'm assuming diesel is the way to go , for low end torque and running costs.

No doubt there are considered good models to aim for and the better engines. (5 bearing Diesel blocks etc)
Also what transmission ... R380, LT77, automatic ?

I know I could get all nostalgic and buy a used MOD machine, but having seen the way these were abused, and the extra weight ... don't know if that is a good option.

Advice please :)
 
How far is your trip to the beach? Country roads or motor way to get there?
What is your current 4x4?
 
OK .. current 4x4 is a Sorento 2.2 Diesel 2013
Great at towing, even at motorway speeds - comfortable, good car - just can't handle hill starts, or reversing up a shallow gradient.

My typical launch site is a 20 mile round trip on A roads ... couple of times a year it goes to 50 mile round trip, incl motorway.
... no real country roads other than infrequent trips to other launch sites.
Would be nice to be able to go to some local beaches - just not had confidence of putting soft roader on the sand.

Tow twin axle braked trailer.
 
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Having pulled a sorento off the beach last year I wouldn't take one on either. Driver believed what the salesman told him he nearly lost it as the tide was coming in. And if your pulling over 2 ton.

If your gonna launch into the sea, you want something cheap as it wont last long. Salt water eats though cars.
 
The abused MOD Land Rovers were the first to be sold off when the cuts came,

As their changing fleets around the better ones are now coming in for disposal,

Not saying they wont need work, but they'll be in much better condition then what you used to see them getting rid of,

Civi wise, a TD5 disco auto will probably be best for you,

If you like luxury then a Defender wont be what you want to drive, even though it would do it happily everyday of the week
 
I'll still keep luxury ... will go back to a saloon for commute car.
4x4 will be for boat towing - functional is what I need.

I don't launch on beach often, so not too much of a concern.
What sort of age LR is sensible to look at?

I thought Disco 1 - 3 were very unreliable? Came lowest every year in What Car reviews.

Are there specific models to avoid?
Is there a max mileage or average mileage a yr I should look for ... see 10yr old with anything from 90k to 230k on them.

With what will be low mileage use by me ... is diesel still best option ? ... NAD or TDI?

If it is then the TD5 recommended above is assumed best choice?

Sorry if these are basic Q's ... trying to help find my way and not make wrong choice.
 
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Been doing some digging (good articles on Wikipedia) seems one to definitely avoid is 86 - 89 TDI (19J engine)

89 -94 200TDI seems to be respected as of course is the TD5.
 
Look for a V8 Disco 2. The difference in economy isn't so huge, and they are much much cheaper. Keep the right foot light, and it'll be fine, but it has all the pulling power you need for hill starts.
 
sargan said:
Been doing some digging (good articles on Wikipedia) seems one to definitely avoid is 86 - 89 TDI (19J engine)

89 -94 200TDI seems to be respected as of course is the TD5.
Click to expand...

19j isn't a TDI, but if you aren't good with diesels, best avoided, and low powered by modern standards.

I think sgtray ^^^^^^^^^^ is right, V8 Disco2 are a very cheap and accessible way to try landy motoring, excellent for towing, and if you lke it you can move up to a more expensive or classic model later.
 
srtgray said:
What's more, they are really fun vehicles to drive :) Sound good too.
Click to expand...

I usually prefer the 90 if Im not towing,a noisy aluminium box is my natural habitat :D But the disco is very smooth , comfortable, and well equipped, cup holders everywhere. My missus loves it, and she isn't a great landy fan
 
Turboman said:
I usually prefer the 90 if Im not towing,a noisy aluminium box is my natural habitat :D But the disco is very smooth , comfortable, and well equipped, cup holders everywhere. My missus loves it, and she isn't a great landy fan
Click to expand...

I'm a 110 man myself, but I can't afford one!
 
srtgray said:
I'm a 110 man myself, but I can't afford one!
Click to expand...

Prices getting a bit stupid now, when I bought mine in 2008 90/110 were dirt cheap, prices seem to have gone up and up. Mainly why I bought the Disco, so I didn't have to thrash the nuts of the 90, save it for off road use on the farm and laning.
 
sargan said:
On the resources I keep seeing 19J as a Turbo diesel engine, do you differentiate between turbo diesel and TDI ?

such as Land Rover, Range Rover engine history - by Glencoyne 4x4 (Thetford)
and Land Rover engines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

please don't take the wrong way .. I'm on an education curve.
Click to expand...

Yes, and so would anyone else who knows diesels. 2.5 TD is an indirect injection diesel, basically a 2.5 na with a turbo. TDI stands for Turbocharged DIRECT Injection :rolleyes:
 
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