Used to own an 88 . watch the electrics carefully had the window switches on the center console short out and catch fire while driving. there's a reason why lucas gained the nickname "king of darkness" the electrics in them suck but other than that they're tough machines with awesome suspensions for offroad.

Hmmmm, maybe some more exmoor bits for the inside and an overdrive are in order instead. With 4 fuses there's not a lot of electricals to go wrong on my SIII.

Any opinions on Land Rover Disco '98 or so? My Daughter has her head set on these things.

Valve cover gaskets are prone to leaking. I think every single one I've seen has had leaky valve cover gaskets, but that's pretty much true of any rover over 10yo.

They're big, very visible and relatively safe. All factors I would consider important in your situation. There are some really sharp ones to be had for very little $$$ right now.
Personally, the only Disco I would buy would be a Trek edition or something like that. There's one for sale in AL that I keep thinking about going to look at.

Less quality time under the hood of the Toyota?;)

I gave serious thought to a Land Rover. They look nice, drive nice, and have a lot of character. But then I sobered up and bought a '91 Land Cruiser. Mine has 195k and records since new. Most expensive repair was a fuel pump at 150k and a water pump last month. Otherwise I have three inches of oil changes and brake pads. I love my 80, the only complaint is crappy MPG and it's slow. Lots of character, lots of room for people, 4x8 sheets fit in back, and it's rock solid. Incredible build quality. I've owned it for almost a year, almost a record for me!

should be carved into the dashboard of every one of these British things...

hey I fixed the post above

Eh, my Series has been nothing but reliable. I think you'd need an AT4 to make it inoperable. I've replaced the starter (included with the truck, PO knew it was bad and didn't have time to replace before deploying) and $200 in shocks.

Nothing else that I've done has been necessary, just catching the ol' modification bug.

I'll PM you over the weekend on the Disco..."I have detailed files" ;)

I am absolutely dumbfounded that you are still remotely interested in a vehicle that has a horrible track record when it comes to mechanical/electrical failure and is less capable than the aforementioned Land Cruiser.:confused:

Now before anything is said about buying a Porsche, bla, bla, bla, I bought mine mainly for the gas mileage and it's mechanical history. It's been trouble free for the most part. Only minor repairs needed in nearly 9 years of ownership.

Like I said I really like the outside of the 80 series LC but once inside behind the wheel the love was gone. It looks and feels no more special than a normal Toyota truck. When equipped with the optional front and rear lockers the LC is indeed very capable off road however it's no more so than any other rig similarly outfitted. True the Rover just can't equal the LC reliability but on the other hand the LC does not share the RR's unique character, interior comfort, and excellent ride. Different strokes ;)

I wouldn't do a 98' They have the GEMS engine, 1999 and up excluding the 03' is the BOSCH/ZF series, that's where you have best combination. My 01' has been a tank, beats the pants of my old LC.

Well, I decided to step it up. I'm going to look at a diesel 90 and a 109 stage 1 sometime in the coming week.

After some back and forth, haggling, and more pictures...I'm going to pick up a Land Rover 90 2.5l diesel with a hard and soft top next wednesday. It's got fresh paint, some interior upgrades and a really nice price.

You mean one of the Defender 90s that have been imported in recent years? I didn't know they came into the US in diesel.

This one was imported this year. It's an 86 so it's exempt from all the whiney, tree-hugging BS, titled and registered legally.
I don't think the NAS defenders were offered in diesel, not sure.

On a slightly related note: I've had the cash for my 'highway-capable truck' purchase for a few days now and went to pick up a christmas present for my mother (New Kel-Tec dura-coated pink). On the way back, I 'failed to stop' at a stop sign. Yeah, that was an interesting traffic stop. "Son, is there any particular reason you have 20 grand in 20's in the car" (the whole time he was just quizzically staring at the KT)
"Actually, sir, it's only 14 and I'm buying a truck from an individual"

Pretty sure he thought I was a ghey pimp or something.

I've got a lead on a mechanically sound 2 door RRC with good exterior if anyone is interested.

RRs are the biggest POS vehicles ever bestowed upon humanity. I had a '92 back in '97 or so. 4 days after I bought it from a private party, the CVs exploded, along with the transfer case, or whatever its called. I sourced parts directly from the UK, but labor and parts still cost me over $4K. I had it in Colorado once on 11,000 foot passes and the thing wouldn't even do 35MPH up the grades. These things all belong in the junk yard. But, I'd still like to have one of the old Series 90s someday :D

Series and defenders are very solid trucks that don't typically suffer british car syndrom. My series III has been incredibly reliable and the electrics are stupidly simple.
You can get solid examples for about 10k too.