Disco, Freelander, RR Classic, P38, Hi-Lux, Explorer, other?
Disco, Freelander, RR Classic, P38, Hi-Lux, Explorer, other?

Poll: Disco, Freelander, RR Classic, P38, Hi-Lux, Explorer, other?

Total Members Polled: 5

Author
Discussion

Bayeux

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Next summer - I'm going to be after a good sized 4WD car (not particularly due to current weather but would also be good for this).

Economy is not a big issue. Price will be. Looking to spend just £2.5k

I have a list (as per the voting options).

My thoughts are......

Discovery 1 - tough & simple to repair, good diesel engines & a nice V8 available. Can rust badly in places, trim can wear, many are badly treated.

Freelander - already had one a few years ago, excellent apart from head gasket failing. Probably a bit too small for 4 adults, 2 kids & luggage.

Range Rover Classic - would love one but would it ruin me? Bodywork can get bad due to age and mixed use of metals reacting (same goes for any LR really). Easy to fix?

RR P38 - good bodies on these, complex suspension & electrics may be the acceles heel?

Hi-Lux - pretty good all rounder, can rust but pretty reliable?

Explorer - don't know much about these other than recalls for sticky accelerators eay in life, should all have been sorted. Quite thirsty, lots of kit & big.

Would you give these a miss in favour of something else in the same budget?

All advice & suggestions much appreciated smile

RileyRa

24 posts

177 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
I would try and get a defender mate i think there brilliant. Id avoid a P38 if it had airbag suspension mate. And havent owned any off the others so cant comment

FranKinFezza

1,073 posts

195 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Bayeux said:
Next summer - I'm going to be after a good sized 4WD car (not particularly due to current weather but would also be good for this).

Economy is not a big issue. Price will be. Looking to spend just £2.5k

I have a list (as per the voting options).

My thoughts are......

Discovery 1 - tough & simple to repair, good diesel engines & a nice V8 available. Can rust badly in places, trim can wear, many are badly treated.

Freelander - already had one a few years ago, excellent apart from head gasket failing. Probably a bit too small for 4 adults, 2 kids & luggage.

Range Rover Classic - would love one but would it ruin me? Bodywork can get bad due to age and mixed use of metals reacting (same goes for any LR really). Easy to fix?

RR P38 - good bodies on these, complex suspension & electrics may be the acceles heel?

Hi-Lux - pretty good all rounder, can rust but pretty reliable?

Explorer - don't know much about these other than recalls for sticky accelerators eay in life, should all have been sorted. Quite thirsty, lots of kit & big.

Would you give these a miss in favour of something else in the same budget?

All advice & suggestions much appreciated smile
Wide choice there i think you need to focus a little more on the primary use

D1. good all rounder but there are a LOT of sheds about chose with EXTREME care i,ve had 3 of them.

P38. lovely lovely motor until it breaks then unless you DIY and source parts from the states it WILL rip the arse out of your wallet i,ve had one and got bored with resetting the alarm ecu and the suspension ecu even though i had the software and cable to avoid paying £50 a pop for the dealer to do it.

Freeloader getting the mrs one next year good "soft" roader and as you say a little
small but ok as long as any potential headgasket issues are in hand.

RR classic again lovely motor if thirsty a late "softdash" 300tdi is the one to have
again rust around the rear X-member is a killer otherwise repairs are fairly cheap and relatively easy. i have had 4 i think would have another one tomorrow.

Hi lux is really a lugger unless you have a surf good motors so i'm led to understand
not owned one yet and thirsty for a diesel rust can be a problem.

Explorer was going to buy a S/H one some years ago till i tryed to get a quote
for it and the best quote i got was almost twice the asking price of the car
so i never looked at one again.

ETA i,m currently running a heavily modifyed defender and i love it but its
an acquired taste for all but confirmed loonies like me and its no family runabout.

Edited by FranKinFezza on Wednesday 8th December 01:13

Bayeux

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Funny thing is that Disco's never really look rusty but it all happens underneath and out of site, I understand.

Another consideration would be a LWB Terrano.

What are LWB Frontera's like?

I drove one back in the 90's & it wasn't bad as I recall.

dudleybloke

20,553 posts

202 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
i cant actualy remember the last time i saw a frontera on the road.
mates dad had the big monterey petrol back in the day and pretty much everything that could go wrong with it did.
horrid thing.

K50 DEL

9,540 posts

244 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
I appears to me (biased as I am) that you've missed the best solution off that list.

Go for a Jeep Grand Cherokee (see profile for my 2.5k example)

Nicer to drive than most on your list
cheaper to fuel than a rangie for sure

a heck of a lot of car for the money.

Fish

4,017 posts

298 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
RR Classic no question...

Bayeux

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
doogz said:
LWB Shogun 3.2D
Thanks all for the feedback so far.

Yes doogz, have been considering the LWB Shogun too.

With the Discovery, was there a year after which the rust issues improve?

Emsman

7,113 posts

206 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
A range rover classic-

Won't lose money
Comfy
Well specced
Quick enough
Good 'image' if such things worry you

Simply a superb vehicle

Bayeux

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
On the Jeep G Cherokee....

Are they 7 seaters?

I had a Cherokee a few years ago & I had transmission issues, not uncommon either.
Is the Grand different?

cptsideways

13,744 posts

268 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Daihatsu Fourtrak too, pretty bombproof, reliable, dead simple mechanicals, plenty of nice ones about with better trim levels too & well within budget too. They'll also do 30mpg quite easily, Look for the last ones made 98 onwards I think.

Bayeux

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Emsman said:
A range rover classic-

Won't lose money
Comfy
Well specced
Quick enough
Good 'image' if such things worry you

Simply a superb vehicle
This would be the choice if bought with the heart, I love them & they are so timeless.

But do they rot like a Disco?

I know they corrode where steel meets aluminium like on the rear tailgate but is the rest if car as bad?

I think they are easier to check smile

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

228 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
If not off-roading, Forester

anonymous-user

70 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
I've got a (works) hilux doublecab. Easily carries 3-years worth of belongings from a student - including telly, a table, etc.

Fantastic off road, in the snow etc. Will do 90mph - doesn't like stopping that much. Drives like a bit of a tractor, but is easy to drive lazily. Not too thirsty, really, unless you rag it (mine's the baby 2.5 so really have to work it to get anywhere).

Better as an industrial beast rather than a passenger wagon, I would say. Although it's got ISOfix, Ipod connection, etc.

ETA oops just noticed your budget - mines a newer one. I'd still probably avoid...

Edited by Opulent on Wednesday 8th December 11:22

fluffnik

20,156 posts

243 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
G-wagen?

Bayeux

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Are these 7 seaters - the Forester & Legacy?

The G-Wagen is a great car, would love one but I'm struggling to find one under £3k but that could be due to the weather & greater price demand.

DKL

4,749 posts

238 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Another vote for a classic but then I'm biased.
Your budget will get you one of the better ones or leave some money for fixing it.
Yes they rust and leak and the air suspension (on some) collapses and the tailgates dissolve and the headlining comes away and lots of other things but its only minor!!
Check carefully underneath, consider an LPG converted one when you buy - they are no more expensive and fitting a system afterwards is not cost effective at this budget.
I bought mine a little under your budget and so far all I've done is have the LPG serviced and the car given a once over. Yes I've found a few small holes that will get welded next spring and I'll be a happier bunny when I can put all the front carpet back in once the leaks have been found but its great.
No issues starting at -5, as it shouldn't to be fair, and with the LPG (which is a separate discussion frequently had) the fuel costs are acceptable.
There are also loads of garages that will deal with a V8 and a rangie chassis - more I imagine, than for the others in your list.

They are, of course, a much better class of waftage than anything else on your list.

Bayeux

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
I think I have a short list developing.

I need to seat 4 adults & 2 kids so this limits me a little.

I'm thinking grand Cherokee as first choice, RR classic 2nd, defender county 110 (hard to find in budget, cheapest on here us a 1989 one needing work for £4.5k).


Bayeux

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Shogun 7 seater is on the list too, near the top I think.

What are peoples opinions on the Shogun?

Although I'd love the RR Classic, whatever I get has to be reliable.

Edited by Bayeux on Wednesday 8th December 21:54

fluffnik

20,156 posts

243 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Bayeux said:
What are peoples opinions on the Shogun?
I have a couple of friends with SWB 2.8TDs, they like them.