1996 Discovery 3 door, TDi

[Panama]

Hello to all,

I generally post in the Series section, but today there is a 1996 Discovery, 3 door, diesel for sale in the paper.

I have a couple of questions, what is the wheel base of the 3-door? Is it shorter than the 5 door?

TDi would 1996 be a 200 or 300 Tdi?

Any specific problems to look for on this model?

Thank you for your comments,

[mr_clarkson]

96 would be a 300tdi check for the body - chassis mounts prone to rot aswell as sills and chassis obviously

[Cannonball Bob]

3 and 5 door are both built on a Range Rover Classic chassis by the way....100"

[Panama]

96 would be a 300tdi check for the body - chassis mounts prone to rot aswell as sills and chassis obviously

Thank you for the reply, I think I will make a call to find more details and maybe go have a look. Here, in Panama if they have been used on the beaches the metal parts rust pretty bad from the salt water.

Thanks again, I will let you know how it goes.

[bilge rat]

boot floor , sills,inner and outer towards front , inner wings under the bonnet , front floor iff the screen leaks. good luck . ive got a 300 3 door there dont seem too many of them about . alan...

[Panama]

boot floor , sills,inner and outer towards front , inner wings under the bonnet , front floor iff the screen leaks. good luck . ive got a 300 3 door there dont seem too many of them about . alan...

Hello Bilge Rat,

Thanks for the info. As you say, not many 3 doors about. I see a few of the 5 door models, but have never seen a 3 door in Panama. I was hoping maybe it was a Defender. Left a message on their answering machine, let you know how it goes.

[Disco-Ron]

3 and 5 door are both built on a Range Rover Classic chassis by the way....100"


Is the Range rover and discovery 300tdi chassis identical....???? my disco chassis is suffering from rust, and i'm struggling to find a replacement...... if i can look at range rover ones aswell, that'll help slightly.......

[mr_clarkson]

Is the Range rover and discovery 300tdi chassis identical....???? my disco chassis is suffering from rust, and i'm struggling to find a replacement...... if i can look at range rover ones aswell, that'll help slightly.......


couldnt you use a 200tdi chassis? seems to be plenty of them about?

and just for the record my 300tdi disco is a three dor aswell, and no i havnt seen that many about :)

[Disco-Ron]

Could do i guess, engine mounts are different, and there are no ARB mounts... not that i use them, but i'm toying with the idea of re-fitting them to aid on road performance...... with quick release fittings for off road use.....

[Panama]

Well it has been two days and I have left two messages on the answering machine, no call, no message to say it has been sold, the ad is still in the paper.

Guess I will have to look for someting else. I wonder how my wife would like a Patrol?

[Panama]

Well so much for a 3 door, must have called a dozen times, tired of leaving messages.

Seen this today,

http://www.encuentra24.com/clasificados-page-o255219-panama-316-es.html

It is a 5-door, V8, auto. Has all the bells and whistles. And the owner answers his email. I would much prefere a diesel and manual box. But I have the SIII and my wife likes an auto.

Any comments on the V8? How do you tell a 3.5 from a 3.9, the rear door says V8i.

How are the auto off road?

Thanks,

[thebiglad]

Well so much for a 3 door, must have called a dozen times, tired of leaving messages.

Seen this today,

http://www.encuentra24.com/clasificados-page-o255219-panama-316-es.html

It is a 5-door, V8, auto. Has all the bells and whistles. And the owner answers his email. I would much prefere a diesel and manual box. But I have the SIII and my wife likes an auto.

Any comments on the V8? How do you tell a 3.5 from a 3.9, the rear door says V8i.

How are the auto off road?

Thanks,


My off-road autobox experience only relates to a diesel, but I much prefer it it to the manual that we also have.

The V8 petrol engined Disco's will give about 15-17ltrs/100kms, so IF petrol is cheap in your part of the world, that's ok!!

From our two diesel Disco's we get 7-8ltrs/100kms - quite a difference!!

Good luck

Dave

[Rich_P]

I'm not aware of any 300s that are 3.5 litres, they're all 3.9 units. They are very good off-road, and the auto makes it nice and easy. But the downside from what I have witnessed is that you can't quickly shunt back and fourth easily (e.g. stuck) without being brutal to the gearbox.

I'd have one.

[V8_Disco]

Some of the 3.9s have had linner issues MUCH less than the Later 4.0 and 4.6, usual things look for pressure in a cold coolant system and Rock hard Cooling hoeses when up to Temprature

At high millage Cam shaft where can be an issue, esp at the back,

It should Pull Well, Run Completely smothely with no ticking or other issues, and Drink like a fish!

Aidan

[Panama]

Thank you for the info,

The price of gas here today is $2.44 per US gal, diesel is $2.64. Down from almost $5 per gallon a month ago.

I have averaged the milage for my other vehicles:

1995 Chevy Suburban 5.7l (350) - 18.5 miles per Imp gal - 8 years of data
1979 Land Rover SIII 2.2 diesel - 25 miles per Imp gal - 6 years of data

The Suburban is a 4 speed auto and at 100 kph the engine is only turning 1600 rpm. And it will go to 90 mph very quickly. The SIII is another story.

Guess the full time 4 wheel drive, smaller engine would account for the thirst.

Weights are not much different.

A 3.9 is aluminum with steel liners, not a good thing is Panama as most people will not spent the money for the proper coolant. I have seen a fellow filling the radiator of a $65,000 Land Cruiser from a road side ditch.

I don't do any high mileage, so I don't mind paying to drive a larger vehicle. More security and comfort.