Thinking Disco!

[Landy_Matt]

Hi chaps!

Been a while since I was last about, asking then about insurance and series landrovers :) Bit older now, insurance is a bit easier, and I've got that L/R bug again telling me I want one.

I've always been a Series/Defender addict, all the projects I've been involved in with my dad and uncle were mud plugging Defenders, but due to my age I never drove them on the road, and never had a Landy of my own.

I've got about 2k - 2.5k to spend on a new vehicle, and I'm considering a Landy, finally get back to heading off road. Initially, my attention was drawn to a Defender TDi, but then, I couldn't help but notice that you really don't get an awfull lot of Defender for 2k - 2.5k, BUT, you do seem to get an awful lot of Discovery, and, putting personal prefferences aside, they are more useable everyday and refined. Fuel prices might be dropping (at last!), and the V8s are temptingly cheap, but it'll have to be a TDi, 15mpg is just too much of a kick in the nuts to take, even if they sound amazing.

It seems I could pick up a very respectable 300TDI SE Manual (It has to be manual) for around the £2k mark, with all the pleasures of electric seats and aircon, compare that to a high mileage early TDi 110 that I'd barely get for the same £2k, and the Discovery begins to look more appealing.

My question is this, I'll want to get stuck into the mud, otherwise I'd buy an estate car with better MPG, would having a better value Discovery with lost of nice features take away too much of the fun I'm after, that I know I'll get from a Defender?

And otherwise, just talk to me about whether getting Disco is the right thing to do? I need some good advice guys, shoot!

[gahooduk]

got a similar problem.....I want a300 tdi but the london emmission zone coming in in 2010 means it will cost me £100 perday to run within the M25....so disco it seems to be the answer but..........i'd love a 90.....been through 88 iia , 110csw and mypetrol 88 iii is past it's best and i'm 6ft 3.....so convince me a disco is better than a 90 with high seat rails

[V8_Disco]

Hum

Disco 1s are very good offroad, out of the box, they are esentaly a RRC with a great 100in wheelbase, deepeing on your offroad/onroad use and budget this can be further enhanced with time and money like any LR product

They do hide corrosion much better than the defender, boot floor and sills are high problem areas so you need to look them over in detail lift the boot floor carpet etc expensive to fix

They are a true LR 4x4 and full of grin factors but can be used every day and with a family

on another issue with the kind of budget that you are looking at there is minumum loss if you get a couple of years out of the disco (esp 200tdis) as the engine and other parts are disirable for converions to older defenders

V8, LPG is an option depending on location and use of truck ...

Aidan

[Landy_Matt]

I've read up on the Discovery Series 1's rot issues, but the fact that the market has ample of them for sale right now is a plus, it seems to be a buyer's market as it stands.

There's an LPG station not far from me, I guess I need to weigh up which is more ideal in the long run.

[thebiglad]

We own two Discos as per sig.

The Tdi300 has just done 4,500mls to Morocco and back. During that journey she has been a comfortable motorway cruiser, a rock climber, a desert raider and a piste rambler. Overall mpg 33 !!!!

As you can guess I'm heart & soul Disco man now - she took me to places I've never been before and I respect her for it.

Go on, get a Disco Tdi300, you know you want to really:D:D:cool:

[Landy_Matt]

They strike me as a little low in standard form for offroading. Experiences?

[gahooduk]

They strike me as a little low in standard form for offroading. Experiences?

That's the problem, i need a new 4X4 to play in, my 88 needs a new chassis,new brakes, doors and engine. ...21 advisories at last MOT.but is it going to be the same as a real landrover...though at 6ft 3 a series is uncomfortable...non moving seat, knees up under the steering wheal, bruised bum, mild deafness....and it my *88* the need to physically hold the gear stick hard left in first or second to stop it vibrating itself out of gear....while negotiating a 1:3 hill....would it be the same just sticking it in hill decent control?

[Rich_P]

They strike me as a little low in standard form for offroading. Experiences?

Go look at the Camel Trophy Discoveries. Standard ride height (although 2 inch lift to compensate for weight while loaded up) with 7.00r16 tyres.

[stabinthedark]

Bought a "J" reg 114000 miles 18 months ago for £1200. I had done some homework. The 3 door does not get the rot on the rear wheel arch that the 4 door one does. Don't get air conditioning, more to go wrong and it puts fuel consumption up when used. If it is nice and warm open your windows.

Done 15000 miles including work pulling sheep trailers off road on a regular basis. Spent less than £500 in service and repairs in 18 months and really enjoyed doing all the jobs like replacing bearing, shockers "A" frame ball joint, new (out of scrap peugeot) radio. Disco in very good condition now. It is the 200tdi so a bit agricultural. Great off road and towing, great on a motorway. Not so good driving aroun a town changeing gear all the time. 200Tdi dosn't have any of these crap new-fangled electronic gizzmos that you cannot take to bits and mend.

You don't need to spend £2000 to get a good one, with this recession about £1000 will get you one.

[guyz]

Iv just bought an n reg 200 tdi es , fully laoded leather air con , 150.000 miles runs like a dream i gave £1200.