Shortage of decent used examples?

[A.J.M]

Trying to upgrade my 04 Freelander to a Discovery 3 HSE, however, there is a real shortage of decent examples up for sale.

Most seem to have missed services or patchy history, cheap tyres fitted. Bodywork/interior damage.
Some have been on sale for month's now which doesn't inspire me.

I know with a budget of £13k im buying at the lower end of the market but surely there's got to be a few decent well maintained examples out there in that price range?

Anyone else in a similar position?

[bakerstreet]

Sounds like you are just being a bit too picky. You are looking at used cars and there are bound to be issues.

Lets face it, regardless of SH, its a Land Rover, so its bound to go wrong at some point

Also, you are not at the bottom of the barrel. D3s now start from as little as £8k.

[A.J.M]

Im being picky this time as the freeby has cost me dearly by not checking it properly.
I dont want to make that mistake again, and considering the disco is far more advanced it could throw up even larger bills if i buy a lemon.

[bakerstreet]

A.J.M said:

Im being picky this time as the freeby has cost me dearly by not checking it properly.
I dont want to make that mistake again, and considering the disco is far more advanced it could throw up even larger bills if i buy a lemon.

Have you thought about looking at something else? Cars like that have big bills for a service and new tyres, let alone something going wrong. If the turbo goes, then its a body off and about 7 hours of labour!!

I admit that I would like a D3 one day, but I am under no misconceptions that they will be cheap to run.

Best of luck with your search.

[A.J.M]

They dont need to remove the body to get to the turbo, there are other methods.
Although, we have had diesels in the family and covered over 200k in them, no turbo issues but nothing is certain.
Disco's dont have transmissions that can chew themselves apart etc.
Tyres for the freeby were £650 for 4, so disco will be similar.

You only ever hear of borked ones on the internet, my bosses 55 plate has done plenty miles and only went wrong when her husband used it to tow home a farming bailer and knackered the bushes etc and then the suspension compressor went. Hardly the car's fault though.

Another 2 had sold but not been removed off autotrader.

Might try private sales as well.

[sjc]

Ours has done 80K miles now (2007.5 reg), had EGR valve and door locking module done, and that's all other than routine maintenance.As for tyres, got a brand new set of 2012 HSE 19" wheels with OEM tyres for 690 quid from a LR dealer. As for dings etc, these are big cars and they will pick up more than their fair share from car parks and the like unfortunately.

[whoami]

sjc said:

Ours has done 80K miles now (2007.5 reg), had EGR valve and door locking module done, and that's all other than routine maintenance.As for tyres, got a brand new set of 2012 HSE 19" wheels with OEM tyres for 690 quid from a LR dealer. As for dings etc, these are big cars and they will pick up more than their fair share from car parks and the like unfortunately.

Bloody hell, that's a good deal.

Care to share the dealer?

[sjc]

Lookers LR Chelmsford, they get a bunch of sets in from time to time.Think they've gone up to around £760ish now, but still a bargain.

[A.J.M]

I now have found a decent one, silver HSE, auto with 98k on a 54 plate. Interior is lovely, the exterior is unmarked and it's had the belts changed as well.

Have checked it's MOT history and it's had a wheel bearing replaced and is getting another changed on monday, just needs front ball joints and inner steering joints as they were advisories on last MOT.

Leaving a deposit on it, so they can change their private plate off it and gives me time to sell my freeby on.

[whoami]

sjc said:

Lookers LR Chelmsford, they get a bunch of sets in from time to time.Think they've gone up to around £760ish now, but still a bargain.

Ta.