Early noughties Discovery
Discussion
Are these money pits?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
I'm thinking one could be a fairly smart-looking way to smoke about (perhaps literally) through the winter and maybe keep hold of it as a useful lugger after that.
Any experiences?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
I'm thinking one could be a fairly smart-looking way to smoke about (perhaps literally) through the winter and maybe keep hold of it as a useful lugger after that.
Any experiences?
Test Drive one.
I was given one by a LR garage when my D3 was getting a bit if work done.
I had it for 3 days.
It was one of the worst cars I have ever driven.
Not just because of the terrible body roll and handing which may be fixable with new bushes and shocks.
But the whole driving position, seat position, back seats.
They were all poor.
You can clearly see the good ideas.
But these good ideas weren't implemented properly until the D3.
Other opinions are available.
I was given one by a LR garage when my D3 was getting a bit if work done.
I had it for 3 days.
It was one of the worst cars I have ever driven.
Not just because of the terrible body roll and handing which may be fixable with new bushes and shocks.
But the whole driving position, seat position, back seats.
They were all poor.
You can clearly see the good ideas.
But these good ideas weren't implemented properly until the D3.
Other opinions are available.
Loved mine, but mine was a complete money pit unfortunately 
5 seater does with out rear air suspension which is one less thing to worry about, but injector looms leak oil along loom to ECU which can fry them. Sunroofs leak, gearboxes leak (mine was horrendous for this), windows leak, chassis can rot very badly (unless your gearbox or diffs leak so badly that the chassis is coated in oil...), MAFs can fail, ACE (Active Cornering Enhancement, standard on all but base models) hydraulics can play silly buggers, steering boxes fail, electrics in general are flakey, wheel bearings can fail which throws up Hill Descent, ABS and TC lights (known as the 3 Amigos) which isn't a super cheap fix, I could go on forever!
I really did like mine, I chose the mid-range GS spec thinking less on it means less to go wrong (partially true). Still had dual zone climate, CD Changer, twin (manual) sunroofs, cruise, leather steering wheel etc. Mine had 7 seats, but converted to coils and retained the ACE, ride isn't as good as it is on air, but ACE is very useful.
Mine also had the auto box, suited the character of the car very well, but did leak and wasn't hugely advanced. Absolutely enormous inside, very useful on a trip 4 up and fully loaded to Le Mans in 2012 (where it sat at 90 all day long without an issue). The front seat doesn't go back all that far however (I'm 5ft 6 and had it almost whole way back), and room in the 2nd and 3rd rows isn't huge either. Rear doors are much tighter than you'd expect on a car that side.
Superb at long distance driving, supremely comfortable, superb views out, and fairly quiet. Fuel economy was ok, I got between 17-22mpg locally, up to 30 on a run at 65-70mph. 90mph cruising fully loaded yielded 21mpg. Superb off road (despite the lack of diff locks, which can be re-instated on cars built before March 2001).
Happy to answer any specific questions, all the best
5 seater does with out rear air suspension which is one less thing to worry about, but injector looms leak oil along loom to ECU which can fry them. Sunroofs leak, gearboxes leak (mine was horrendous for this), windows leak, chassis can rot very badly (unless your gearbox or diffs leak so badly that the chassis is coated in oil...), MAFs can fail, ACE (Active Cornering Enhancement, standard on all but base models) hydraulics can play silly buggers, steering boxes fail, electrics in general are flakey, wheel bearings can fail which throws up Hill Descent, ABS and TC lights (known as the 3 Amigos) which isn't a super cheap fix, I could go on forever!
I really did like mine, I chose the mid-range GS spec thinking less on it means less to go wrong (partially true). Still had dual zone climate, CD Changer, twin (manual) sunroofs, cruise, leather steering wheel etc. Mine had 7 seats, but converted to coils and retained the ACE, ride isn't as good as it is on air, but ACE is very useful.
Mine also had the auto box, suited the character of the car very well, but did leak and wasn't hugely advanced. Absolutely enormous inside, very useful on a trip 4 up and fully loaded to Le Mans in 2012 (where it sat at 90 all day long without an issue). The front seat doesn't go back all that far however (I'm 5ft 6 and had it almost whole way back), and room in the 2nd and 3rd rows isn't huge either. Rear doors are much tighter than you'd expect on a car that side.
Superb at long distance driving, supremely comfortable, superb views out, and fairly quiet. Fuel economy was ok, I got between 17-22mpg locally, up to 30 on a run at 65-70mph. 90mph cruising fully loaded yielded 21mpg. Superb off road (despite the lack of diff locks, which can be re-instated on cars built before March 2001).
Happy to answer any specific questions, all the best
Garlick said:
Vixpy1 said:
You really want a V8 though.
Hmm, I'd use it for work miles, going to see the folks in the dales and suchlike. I think this will have to be derv-powered. Krikkit said:
From a bit of research (was thinking of buying one for my vet Mrs), a diesel will still only realistically get 25mpg and be glacially slow while doing it - a V8 should see 20 at the same pace of a diesel.
get out- 20 fom a LR v8? even on a run I never did better than 17. Following on from my post above, the 4.0 V8 in the D2 suffers from slipped liners.
I also had a 3.9 V8 EFi on a Discovery 1 (essentially an identical engine). Around town and lanes it achieved 12mpg absolute tops, about 22 out of the TD5. The best I ever got on a run in the V8 was 17, the diesel was 30.
The Td5 is far from an unpleasant engine, either. Super easy to tune as well.
I also had a 3.9 V8 EFi on a Discovery 1 (essentially an identical engine). Around town and lanes it achieved 12mpg absolute tops, about 22 out of the TD5. The best I ever got on a run in the V8 was 17, the diesel was 30.
The Td5 is far from an unpleasant engine, either. Super easy to tune as well.
PugwasHDJ80 said:
Krikkit said:
From a bit of research (was thinking of buying one for my vet Mrs), a diesel will still only realistically get 25mpg and be glacially slow while doing it - a V8 should see 20 at the same pace of a diesel.
get out- 20 fom a LR v8? even on a run I never did better than 17. CampDavid said:
I'd rather blow a bit more cash, around £4000 and get a Land Cruiser Colorado.
Always worth £4000, they won't drop any cash as there's literally world wide demand, won't break, will take 7 people and luggage and will always, always get you where you want to go
Bit too big for me, all your points are valid though. Always worth £4000, they won't drop any cash as there's literally world wide demand, won't break, will take 7 people and luggage and will always, always get you where you want to go
Garlick said:
LuS1fer said:
I would rather invest in a Nigerian e-mail firm.
What MPG do they return?Snowboy said:
I know it's not the question you asked, but for around £4k there are more reliable and trusted 4x4s.
Hilux Surf (3.0l, not 2.4)
Shogun
Fourtrack
And many more.
I'll open myself up for ridicule here but i'll be honest. I'm a stylish chap (ha) to whom image plays a part. I can drive a Land Rover without issue and it will look good in town and country. The Japanese trucks might be superb, but they look a bit....erm, Japanese. Hilux Surf (3.0l, not 2.4)
Shogun
Fourtrack
And many more.
You may now rip the
out of me, but hey at least I'm honest. Love ours. As a practical family wagon I'd struggle to beat it (admittedly the SMax we had before was faster, more fuel efficient and bigger inside 
). A £225 remap sees similar power to the V8 while getting 25+mpg however you drive it. The seats are comfy, it's civilised enough even on all terrains and it looks better dirty. What's not to like?
Mine's needed a new steering box at 80k (TADTS) and the ACE (essential IMO) seeped a bit but just needed tightening. Other than a few trim niggles it's been fine otherwise and is now on 102k.
). A £225 remap sees similar power to the V8 while getting 25+mpg however you drive it. The seats are comfy, it's civilised enough even on all terrains and it looks better dirty. What's not to like?Mine's needed a new steering box at 80k (TADTS) and the ACE (essential IMO) seeped a bit but just needed tightening. Other than a few trim niggles it's been fine otherwise and is now on 102k.
I would avoid like the plague.
I had a 1999 ES spec for about 18 months and it was a money pit. I the time I had mine it needed a new injector loom, steering box, rear diff, the front sunroof was removed and resealed and fuel/water sensor replaced. I am sure there were other things done that I cant remember but it needed almost constant maintenance. I wouldnt have minded to much if it was a nice car to drive but it wasnt. The previous owner of mine had completely removed the ACE system too as that was causing him problems.
Oh, mine was a 5 seater with the rear air suspension.
I had a 1999 ES spec for about 18 months and it was a money pit. I the time I had mine it needed a new injector loom, steering box, rear diff, the front sunroof was removed and resealed and fuel/water sensor replaced. I am sure there were other things done that I cant remember but it needed almost constant maintenance. I wouldnt have minded to much if it was a nice car to drive but it wasnt. The previous owner of mine had completely removed the ACE system too as that was causing him problems.
Oh, mine was a 5 seater with the rear air suspension.
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