Buying advice - Disco for around £9k

[Theoldfm]

Following the recent spell of slippy weather and the addition of child number three a few months ago, we are now looking to get rid of our 3 series touring and get either a Discovery or a Defender 110. Any advice would be appreciated as I don't really know what I should be looking for!

[BLUETHUNDER]

I take it for that kind of budget you are looking at a series 2 Dicovery rather than a Serie 3. For that money you are looking at bottom of the pile base model on a Disco 3. The Defender in comparison will be a bit agricultural compared to a Discovery. But does offer cheaper maintaince and is simple in its parts. Best bet is to try both and see what suits you and your other half.

You will be looking at a TD5 or V8 in the discovery series 2 or TDV6 or V8 petrol in Disco 3. Defender will either be a 300Tdi or TD5. On the 300tdi make sure the cambelt has been changed. Early TD5,s suffered with cylinder head cracks. But most by now would have been sorted. Both good engines. TD5 more refined than the 300Tdi. TDV6 better still. But more complex electronics on the later car.

[lasermatt]

Sorry for the thread hijack!!

I'm in the same position at the moment. Have roughly £10k to spend and have a real thing for the Land Rover marque. At the moment thinking Defender for some back to basics motoring and real off road ability, as well as having some character but then I get all sensible and think that at 6'2" I don't really fit, its gonna be noisy and the last one I drove was just too rough and ready and start looking at a Discovery (A 2 not a 3). Trouble is I prefer the facelift ones with the different headlights but everyone I speak to says to stay away because they're unreliable and can become a money pit (I know one chap who has spent £3k on repairs in a few months) and I should buy an earlir TD5 or even a 300TDI.

Not that anyone should make my mind up for me but if anyone does have any words of wisdom or advice to help my decision (And stop me getting a divorce - Cos if I talk to my wife about it much more I'm sure that'll happen) I'd be very grateful.

Oh and for info my other non LR choice is a mitsubishi shogun sport.

Cheers


Matt

[BLUETHUNDER]

lasermatt said:

Sorry for the thread hijack!!

I'm in the same position at the moment. Have roughly £10k to spend and have a real thing for the Land Rover marque. At the moment thinking Defender for some back to basics motoring and real off road ability, as well as having some character but then I get all sensible and think that at 6'2" I don't really fit, its gonna be noisy and the last one I drove was just too rough and ready and start looking at a Discovery (A 2 not a 3). Trouble is I prefer the facelift ones with the different headlights but everyone I speak to says to stay away because they're unreliable and can become a money pit (I know one chap who has spent £3k on repairs in a few months) and I should buy an earlir TD5 or even a 300TDI.

Not that anyone should make my mind up for me but if anyone does have any words of wisdom or advice to help my decision (And stop me getting a divorce - Cos if I talk to my wife about it much more I'm sure that'll happen) I'd be very grateful.

Oh and for info my other non LR choice is a mitsubishi shogun sport.

Cheers


Matt

Ive never seen too many problems on series 2 discoverys. There is a lot less to go wrong than either a later Discovery 3 or a Range Rover of equal age. One other thing to look out for is if it has ACE fitted. Standard on the E.S optional on the rest. Can be an expensive fix.

On the Defender front i can understand what you are saying. But i run 50th model V8 auto. More refined than its diesel brethren.Ive covered big distances in it,and never been strained or tired at the end of it.Ive had it nearly 3 years now,and all that has been required has been the yearly service,and a rubber door strip i fitted whan i first bought it. Its an everday vehicle. So if i'm not using it,then the other half is.

[lasermatt]

I think the disco I was referring to had ACE and that was what cost the money to fix.

Really want a defender so will try a few more and if I really can't live with it (I hope I can) then it'll be a disco.

Thanks for the reply

[topsparks]

I now have a Disco 2 V8 ES with LPG,sounds great,very cheap to run and much better to drive than a Disco 1,had a few probs sunroof not working through lack of use and a leak from it also.Both were quite easy to fix.Paid £4300 for it 8 months ago its a 02 facelift model 78K .I have also bought a write off that has been rolled for £750 for a source of cheap spares,2000 car with 30k,as I know how LR like to charge!

[lasermatt]

I think the disco I was referring to had ACE and that was what cost the money to fix.

Really want a defender so will try a few more and if I really can't live with it (I hope I can) then it'll be a disco.

Thanks for the reply

[stripy7]

110 Defenders are excellent with kids- allows you to spread them out! We found in other cars on longer journeys they got fractious being crammed along the back seat. Residuals are strong so if it isnt for you its unlikely you will lose out.

[james S]

To the OP. Might be a good idea to wait a couple of months if you can. I get the impression Disco prices are somewhat high at the moment, driven by weather and the strong D3 prices over the last year. I can't see the latter lasting for ever and suspect it wll have a knock on effect on the last of the D2s. I looked at a couple this week but am waiting until summer now to see what happens

[Theoldfm]

I have looked at a couple of Disco's this weekend - I prefer the look of the facelifted ones but I am somewhat concerned over the potential depreciation as the prices seem to vary wildly! My OH only does 2-3000 miles a year so the V8 is not out of the question but these seem to depreciate even more although they are £2k cheaper like for like to the TD5

We have always liked the Defender but I am not sure that I can pick up a decent one for this price - especially as we like the XS model...

Edited by Theoldfm on Sunday 17th January 21:21

[300bhp/ton]

Theoldfm said:

I have looked at a couple of Disco's this weekend - I prefer the look of the facelifted ones but I am somewhat concerned over the potential depreciation as the prices seem to vary wildly! My OH only does 2-3000 miles a year so the V8 is not out of the question but these seem to depreciate even more although they are £2k cheaper like for like to the TD5

We have always liked the Defender but I am not sure that I can pick up a decent one for this price - especially as we like the XS model...

Edited by Theoldfm on Sunday 17th January 21:21

The D2 is a good vehicle. In the UK the TD5 ones will tend to hold their value better than V8 ones and at this age often be more expensive to buy for the same spec and condition.

Overall they are fairly good trucks, although they do have the usual Land Rover niggles. Most will just be silly things that don't really affect the use of the vehicle though and everything is fixable.

I would highly recommend getting one with ACE (active cornering enhancement) although I think only the base model didn't have it. The air suspension can cause problems, but its usually a combination of not having been serviced or one of the airbags starts leaking and needs replacing. When they don't get replaced it makes the air compressor run overtime causing more issue.

That said I don't honestly believe they are any worse to run than the majority of vehicles out there.

As for depreciation, yes they will lose money, there is no two ways about this. But to be fair if you bought a Ford Mondeo or Honda Accord it'd fair no better.

The Defender on the other hand is a bit oddball, these generally hold their value rather well, and as you've probably found out getting a descent TD5 for the same money is not an easy job.

Underneath the major mechanicals are the same on both vehicles pretty much, just no air suspension for the Defender.

The Defender is a more basic vehicle, I personally like them, but they are quite different to a Discovery to live with and drive. If you've never been in one I highly recommend you try one and see how it appeals.

Another approach might be to look at a slightly older D110. In reality the options list is very small and any additions on later vehicles can always be added to an older vehicle by an independent specialist without too much hassle or cost.

The TDI diesel engines while not as modern or refined as a TD5 are still good units. Driven half sensible you should see mid 20's to low 30's on a run mpg wise.

As for power and driving experience. The 300TDI produces 111bhp and a TD5 Defender 122bhp. But in most cases you can add a bigger intercooler and have the injector pump tweaked on the TDI. These will then easily out perform a standard TD5 powered one and make around 150bhp.

[Theoldfm]

What are the main things that I should look out for on the D2 - condition wise?

I have heard some horror stories about rust etc on earlier discos but I am not sure if this is also an issue with the later, face lifted versions - also is mileage that important with a TD5?

Any advice would be much appreaciated!

Edited by Theoldfm on Wednesday 20th January 21:09