Which Discovery?

[james S]

Guys,

The time has come for me add a 4X4 to the fleet. I orginally thought about a Defender, but to be honest I thnk I'd get a lot more use from a Disco.

However knowing very little about them I'm a bit lost. I want the car for bad weather work, bit of shooting etc and a general workhorse, probably doing no more than about 2/3k miles a year.

I can't decide whether to spend about 2k and get a 3.9 petrol of about 1996/7 vintage; about 4k and get a car from around 2000, or 6k and get one of the cheaper facelift cars, but only if they are significantly better, as its meant to to a cheap additional car.

Given the low milage fuel costs are not really important and petrol cars seem cheaper to buy - is there any other reason I should favour TDI / TD5?

I want a 7 seater - are the later cars with forward facing 3rd row seats much better or are they much of a muchness?

In general is there any age / model I ought to avoid or is it just matter of finding a decent example?

Sorry for the vagueness but I am a bit new to Landrovers



Thanks

James

Edited by james S on Sunday 3rd January 21:52

[carlosfandango]

The main issues on a car of that vintage will be more about rust than diesel/petrol. In particular the floor behind the rear seats is infamously prone to rot. The good news is that replacement panels are about £70. But you may also find that the inner wings etc. that it's welded to have also gone.

Personally I went for a 300tdi- but it's the bodywork that really matters.

[300bhp/ton]

A Disco II is a different vehicle to earlier Disco's. They have air suspension on the rear and ACE equipped ones are quite different in the corners. Traction control is also a bonus.

Older models you'll need to check conditon and rust more so. Also diesel autos are rare as are manual petrols. A Defender 110 will hold it's money way better over time so cost less as an ownership proposition.

[james S]

Thanks chaps - v helpful