Hello! Any advice/comments to a prospective Discovery buyer?

[CharleyUSA]

How is everybody? My name is Charley, and I hail from Tampa, Florida in the USA. I am considering purchasing a 1996 Discovery for about $8000 (or about 5000 or 6000 pounds, i imagine). I am a little nervous since I have absolutely no experience with British technology. Could any of you possibly lend me some advice? I hear that the engine breaks down quite a bit. Is this true? I also hear gas mileage is atrocious. True again? Thirdly, is it as underpowered as owner's say?

Once again, glad that there is actually a forum out there for this. Glad to participate in it.

Charley

[Mark Charnley]

Har Har! - British Technology! Like It!

Yes, reliability is an issue, the dash peels off, the cam belt snaps, they leak oil, guzzle gas, leak water on your head and generally like lots of TLC....

BUT....

I can promise you that once you start driving it, go offroad in it, get waved at from other Landy owners whilst driving it - and dont mind putting in the extra work to look after it, you will realise you have made a good choice and wont want to drive any other 4x4 again!

My only advice - get one! If not a Disco, get a 90 (less comfy!)

Go for it!

[OldFart]

Or

Get a late 200 Tdi Disco, more reliable engine, dashboard stays where it should be, etc etc, Just got one and its great .........(keeps fingers crossed)

[Vicky]

Best vehicle I've ever owned , I didn't believed it when I was told 'you'll never want to drive anything else', I've had mine 2 1/2 years and the affection (or should it be affliction) is getting stonger

[kempus]

I too have a late 200 Tdi, so far (in less that 2 years)

New radiator
New Alternator
New Wheels and Tyres
New Water Pump
Head gasket replacement
Timing belt change
New springs and shocks
Replacement gearbox
Replacement Powersteering pump
New rear discs
Replacement prop shaft u/j
Replacement steering u/j
Transfer box leak
rear diff leak
Rear ball joint
New battery
Added steering guard
Added diff guards
Added towbar

todo:
Rear floor
Different transfer box leak (probably pourous gasket)
Replace now bent towbar with southdown fuel guard and tow hitch
Front BENT bumper (and winch - yeah right)

Keep smiling (Old Fart)

[Webbits]

I have a '94 200 TDi. Her name is 'Betty'. She has only covered 55,000 miles, which for a 2.5 Diesel engine that has been fully serviced this is nothing. A friend of mine is driving a similiar Disco with 375,000 miles on the clock.
Yes things go wrong with Discos but that is the same story with every car that has ever graced tarmac roads. The difference with being in a Landy is the simple fact that you will be motoring in a vehicle with a bit more caracter. You can drive along safe in the knowledge that it can go almost everywhere. If you are unfortunate to be involved in an accident you will be the one more likely to walk away unhurt. 2 ton of metal at 60 mph can do a lot of damage.
Is it a gas guzzler? I get 28 miles to the gallon, on average. The most I have got is 30 on a long run of 275 miles. I used to get less than that in my last petrol motor.
The Disco is a comfortable vehicle to drive. You are sat more upright and the views whilst driving are better. You can see over most hedgerows.
Working on a Disco is easy enough if you get yourself a 'Haines' manual. The only difference? 'Think Big!' I managed to change the Cambelt on mine myself. It did take me two days but hey if I can do it anybody can.
Should you buy a Disco? If you do, be prepared to only ever buy Landrovers in the future. You will soon be hooked.
I love my Disco and couldn't imagine life without her. Hope this helps.

[OldFart]

Originally posted by kempus
I too have a late 200 Tdi, so far (in less that 2 years)

New radiator
New Alternator
New Wheels and Tyres
New Water Pump
Head gasket replacement
Timing belt change
New springs and shocks
Replacement gearbox
Replacement Powersteering pump
New rear discs
Replacement prop shaft u/j
Replacement steering u/j
Transfer box leak
rear diff leak
Rear ball joint
New battery
Added steering guard
Added diff guards
Added towbar

todo:
Rear floor
Different transfer box leak (probably pourous gasket)
Replace now bent towbar with southdown fuel guard and tow hitch
Front BENT bumper (and winch - yeah right)

Keep smiling (Old Fart)

Lol thats a wishlist i do not want !!!!

[Mac]

KEMPUS - SH!T !!!!!! I to have been dithering over whether or not to get a Disco - your list DEFINITELY puts me off!!

Retorical question I suppose, but why can't LR get (even a little bit) closer to Japanese levels of build quality & reliability???

A really want a (prf British) 4x4 for the long term for towing (boats, cars, etc) and for long-distance trips (down to Med & back) with loads of kit. BUT, the thought of loads of problems especially when abroad where spares & expertise might be harder to get hold of swiftly, really makes me hesitate about getting any of the LR products.

AND that is a shame because I've driven them loads & loads of miles off road and really like the 'product'. Difference was I wasn't the owner - they were "COMPANY CARS". Someone else was fixing them and payying the bill.

I was wondering whether to hold out until some reasonably priced newer versions become available but on the DISC2 site I read of loads of problems on newer vehicles despite the fabled "owned by Ford now, they are sorting things out..."

Ho hum. AM I being too hard on LR??

[kempus]

Don't be too put off. Mine is an old (K) Disco with high mileage (130K) - it is just wearing out. I drive it hard (on and off road) and it is in general reliable - it has only been undriveable twice (water pump and head gasket). Many others are just things run their lifetime. Would I buy another one - hell yeah.

Most cars at this age are rusting, off the road and certainly do not provide the comfort and fun that mine does.

I LOVE MY DISCO AND WOULDN'T SWAP IT FOR ANYTHING (apart from a new one or and new Rangie )

Tim

[rockhopper]

I too have got a 1992 200 Tdi, had it for a couple of months now. Had to spend £400 on it with 2 weeks of getting it, but it's well worth it. They are superb vehicles!

Cheers, Matt.

[Mark Sims]

Yep they are good vehicles, they do rust but so does everything including Japanese cars, and they do tend to leak a bit, but then again not as much as a Lotus Elise. Outside of a Landy main dealer you can find very good specialist garages whom are a lot cheaper.

And the big bonus comes when you can tow an overheated volvo with a 5.5m RIB behind it full of dive kit up a slip and then realise you forgot to put it in low box !

Mark

[thumper]

I am a jeeper. Yeah what am I doing here huh? LOL
I was looking over that list of everything that has been replaced on that older 200tdi and I have to say that seems about normal for any vehicle driven like it was ment to be driven.
Landys leak like a sive but so does my jeep and harleys for that matter.
To be honest if your going to do any wheeling most of that you will replace in the first year.
I know my first landy will be taken to a shop so new lower gearing can be installed,new seals and gaskets.
A lift will be put in complemented by a nice set of new wheels and tires.
In my dry Nevada heat a new radiator probably will be installed too.

So dont be put off by that list. I go through that about once a year for my baby.

Strange the love affair we have with our vehicles.

Thumper