Is this a nightmare in the making????

[poseidon]

I'm looking at a 'J' plate 200 Tdi with just over 100k on clock (full MOT series to verify). External paintwork not too bad and no unpleasant gearbox behaviour, although synchro on 1st a bit rough. Rear load area and apron are heavily corroded and peforated with a couple of large 8-10cm rust holes at the foot of the pillars. Clutch travel seems limited, but she drives and stops without incident or funny noises. Dirty upholstery and well worn inside. Full years MOT and price maybe negotiable down to just over £3K....

My question to the group - does that seem a sensible acquisition for a runaround disco, or is the extensive rear load area and apron corrosion essentially terminal (beyond economic repair) and I'd just be buying into a financial disaster? Any views would be appreciated ...tia...Keith:behead:

[NewBloke]

There's more people on this forum who canhelp you a LOT more than I can. BUT.

I'd keep looking.

It's all to easy to buy with your heart rather than you head, and I think you should buy with both, after all what's the point of having a car that never breaks down and does a hundred to the gallon if it's boring and / or a crap colour?

I bought a 93 200TDi for £3050 with a few electrical niggles - like most of the dash apart from the speedo. Most important thing I think is the solidity of the vehicle. Mine had spent nearly its whole life in a hot country and (touch wood) has very little rust.

Mine's done 156000 but very little wear on the inside.

Only you can decide how to spend your hard earned. make sure you get one though, even if not this one, they're greeeeaaaat!

Andy
Who loves his Disco despite all it's little foibles

:goofylook :goofylook :p :p

[poseidon]

Thanks Andy......yes, I'm sure your right. I've actually set myself a limit of £5K and I really want a 300Tdi Defender 90. The Disco just came up in the local paper and I gave it a look. To be honest, even with the obvious limitations of heavily perforated corrosion in the rear floor and apron, it just didn't feel right on the test drive. Solidity is certainly a key quality on any s/h landrover with highish miles and that disco just felt sloppy and tired

Reckon I'll be patient and wait to get the right Defender (or Disco).

Nice looking Disco on e-Bay with 16 mins to run. Dream on.......

Cheers....Keith

[poseidon]

I've just closed a deal on an 'N' plate 300Tdi Disco with 96K up and fully documented service history etc. Seems to be tight, reasonably bright and has been well kept. No funny transmission and gearbox behaviour or noises, so here's hopin....Done 120 miles in her today and she behaved fine in all respects apart from acceleration performance, but I've been used to TD5 for recent work use, and the 300's not far behind that.

Some superficial corrosion in the usuals places (bumpers, lower door posts and parts of chassis, inner front wings), but seems to be plenty brightish metal underneath. I'm frankly surprised to see that in a 9 year old prestige(?) car costing the fat end of £25K new. Anyway, my last landrover was a 1951 S1 80" which I bought in 1972 for £60 and ran for 10 years until MOT hassles parked it up, so maybe it's not a fair comparison. At least there's no corrosion perforations you could stick your fist through like the last old dog I checked out.

Looks like it's wire brush, grease and waxoyl or something like that for the underbody. Anyone suggest any particular techique for surface trating chassis and underbody without the full cost exposure of a waxoyl treatment? Thick bitumouns paint comes to mind as a cheap and cheerful alternative....any views?....Keith