Why cant they build a motor thats as much fun as a landy but does really good mpg...

I recently got my first disco, an early 300tdi, on getting a new 'old' motor i always get to know them by giving a service etc as its a great way to find out things you dont spot when buying. Anyway i was laying underneath admiring all the oil leaks, drips and rust, thinking "what the hell does that dangly bit do?" and "why isn't that connected to anything?" as you do, while hitting things with spanners and poking them with the screwdriver.

When i finished, it needs a road test of course so grabbed the mrs, jumped in and went for a trip round the country lanes near where we live. While driving, thoughts of my Series 3 wagons came back as we had some great times and camping trips in them many moons ago. I had to change to more modern transport due to the fuel bill as i do about 250 miles a week and a S3 would need a mortgage to run that distance each week, we ended up with a Mondeo which will easily do 50+mpg.

Back to the Disco which was bought specifically to tow a heavy trailer so will get very low usage, I was thinking while boucing around the lanes how much fun it was to drive, just like a Series model but with better seats and carpet! Its something to do with the effort needed to drive one - they just dont drive themselves unlike the Ford which is like driving a comfy sofa and very boring, with a Landy you have to make them go! You cant service the Mondeo without a degree in computers but the Disco just needs a good socket set and a big hammer.

So the original question is, with all the modern technology, why cant i have a Landrover that drives like a S3, defender or old Disco but does 50mpg? I know all about the fantastic streamlining and aerodynamics of Landy's but im sure it must be possible?

I would love to drive the Landy as the main vehicle but even at 25-30mpg its still gonna cost to do 250 miles a week.

Why does fun always = £££££

Gotta love a Landrover

becus them motors is crude an unrefind so they last forever and so yous can fix em wi a big ammer. merc do a 4(ish) litre td engine with bags o torque and plenty o grunt does about 40mpg but its run off a micro chip and fixed by a 12 year old wi a degree in computer science. would ya want that in yer landy? didnt think so

Yes I would like the Merc. motor, it goes like the proverbial off a greasy shovel!, sounds wonderful and still returns 40+ mpg. But you're right, if the computer goes on the bum you're nackered. You can't re-bore it, you can't put petrol in it - I tried and it cost me £2,000.00!!!! ouch. The electronic injectors frequently fail, there's no dipstick and they need servicing by a franchised Dealer who will happily accept all credit cards.

I have to be realistic, I didn't own the Merc and a tractor engine is so much easier to look after and it is British!! Maybe they use more fuel but you have to offset this cost against much more costly servicing. - OldDiscoMan

So basically, technology is unreliable? I have heard and said many times with modern cars that once the ECU goes, the bills rack up quickly. I water-locked the Mondeo last winter, what idiot puts the air intake almost at road-level in the front?? It took an insurance claim and three weeks in the shop to get her going again. Full service, new injectors, turbo, egr valve, MAF sensor, timing belt, and its still not as good as it was.

Oh well, cant have everything i guess.

You could poss get great mileage from a disco if you shed at least a tonne of weight off the bugger and run it on cheap veg oil.

Disco series 2 with leather trim is like driving a sofa on wheels. I drive a 4.0 v8 2002 facelift as my everyday vehicle and i cover about 220 miles per week.I wouldn't go back to a "NORMAL" car as people say,at any expensive. Just swallow the low mpg,FILL HER UP WHEN SHE'S EMPTY and enjoy every minute that your backside is in that drivers seat.

Dave