Do I really want a LR Disco?
 

I am looking to replace my beater Grand Cherokee. Would like to spend under 5k preferable $3500, remember, this is going to be a beater. I have been shopping for a replacement for weeks now, and no matter how hard I try, I just cannot get excited about an explorer, trailblazer, another jeep, or a durango. ML's, X5's, and XC 90's are out of my price range, and just a little to nice for my intended purpose.
I will drive it every day and more days than not , it will either have muddy bicycles , auto parts, or tool boxes, and home repair supplies stacked up to the roof in the back.
99-2004 disco's keep popping up in my price range, and I have found a few downright cheap, either needing head gaskets, or front end work , which is right up my alley. I know about the trio of lights, and that is not really a worry, seems my parts vendor has most of the maintenance parts I would need in stock, and there a few wreckers local, that keep a handful of these trucks in stock as well.
This is not really about the look at me factor, just that a Land Rover has been on my bucket list, for a while now, always wanted one, and hey, you only live once.
Am I asking for trouble? Remember, I am a tech, do my own work, and have access to parts. Will I be under the thing every weekend? I know a few of you have had them. How was your experience?
The jeeps have spoiled me. they almost never break, and when they do, repairs, are simple and cheap, but I am just bored with them for now.

In the UK Landrover products are not the most reliable cars available by a long way. The Rover V8( ex-Buick) petrol engine is reliable if you don't over-rev it, especialy from cold, and keep plenty of good quality oil in it(I use Valvoline 20/50 Racing in mine -high compression cammed, 4 barrel carb etc )and do regular oil changes and change the antifreeze frequently to prevent oxidation inside the engine.

Stay with the reliable Jeep - and just get some new music in it so it won't be so boring. ;)

Older Land Cruisers? run forever, parts easy to find, durable enough for 3rd world countries....

Step up to a LR3. Have had one since they came out in 2005. Ex wife kept that one. Recently purchased a 2006 from Colorado with 106K miles, no worries, now has 118k. All the major issues are known - air suspension compressor goes out, front control arm bushings go out, rear diff can go out if fluid if not changed at recommended interval, brake switch should e changed ($35 and 5 mins.) etc etc, tons of know how on line, check out the UK disco3 site. locking diff more bullet proof. Motor and tranny are bullet proof. Base LR3s are 5-10k. Being able to wrench most things is a plus. You won't regret it. Ravi.

Nooooooooooooo! Been down that road. Bought a seemingly solid 1995 Rover used in 2001, about 60k on it, all service records, etc. Proceeded to spend gobs of cash on it which it happily soaked up then proceeded to develop a new problem almost weekly. Sold it after 6 months at a big loss.
It drove great and ran great when it wanted to. Amazing off road but at a big cost. I understand the newer ones are better but not sure how much. Parts prices were staggering... Made 911 parts seem like chump change.

f**k no

I'd lean towards a Landcruiser over a Range Rover. By far.

Not on Fred's budget.

Just don't drive it farther than you're willing to walk home.

Fred really? You've got way more sense then that
Land Cruiser all the way The 92-98ish ones with 24v 6cyl motors are great

They are way cool but can be labour-intensive to maintain. Try to find an '04, since they had the best of everything. Sounds like you can keep it running yourself so I say go for it!

I am currently on my fifth LR, Btw...

I am a big fan of Land Cruisers. I had two, some of you know that. May I suggest a older 4Runner, pathfinder or x-Terror? Those are pretty solid trucks. Small, but good 4WD vehicles.

I love LRs.....but in your price range......no no no no

LR3s are awesome, but air suspension can be problematic. Arnott is a good supplier of air struts and compressors at decent prices. Replacing all of those is relatively straight forward and Arnott does how to videos. They also have thermostat housing issues.....they're plastic and like to explode....

I bought my Trooper with working AC and a 5 speed for $700. I have beat the s**t out of it. All ive done is put in ball joints and an alternator.

Land cruisers and patrols are not as nice to drive as the disco.
However tthe disco will need a constant supply of parts. They dont break down so much as they require constant maintenance

Friends 2003 discovery broke a camshaft. Yes you read that correctly.

if your get a Disco 2 make sure its a 2004,
or dont get one, best of everything plus the transfer case lock this will make it a lot more able
2003 didnt have the TF case lock

We don't have the Nissan Patrol here. Land Cruisers ride nice enough if you get the later V8 ones or 100 series. I had the 80s and yes they rode like a truck.

With your abilities and willingness to wrench on an LR Disco in you price range, I say go for it. Worse case scenario is that you fix it up and sell it for a profit if you decide that you don't like it. No need to drive a boring vehicle. ;)

The most expensive car you will ever own is probably a cheap Rover variant. Parts just fall off all by themselves. For cheap and reliable 4x4 it's hard to beat a 4Runner. Sherman freaking tanks!

note 2003 Discos had a misaligned timing case alignment dowel,
and this will over time cause the engine to seize,
a lot of these engines were replaced as that was Rovers repair a new engine,
so check the oil on these engine do a vin search for 2003 rover engine failures
Vin range link

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDUQ rAIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flandroverforums.com%2Fforu m%2Fdiscovery-ii-18%2F03-bad-oil-pumps-vin-range-16454%2F&ei=6ggaUpbEGor72QXGuYDACA&usg=AFQjCNGy2ND 2Gs-Eg0O3gcldYuWSCPGxcQ&bvm=bv.51156542,d.b2I&cad=rja

One owners struggle with an 03 Disco 2

NOTE the 03 doesnt have the transfer case locker like the 04 does,
so this is another thing to consider,
it can be added to the 03 transfer case for about 700.00

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC4Q FjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flandroverforums.com%2Fforum% 2Fdiscovery-ii-18%2F2003-discovery-oil-pressure-light-engine-failure-12805%2F&ei=mgcaUpGkMeXn2QWb7oG4DA&usg=AFQjCNEblFK m_BbTyxnFGS2cKcAweIrMog&bvm=bv.51156542,d.b2I&cad= rja

Not sure if your budget or this guys price are flexible enough for you to meet, but...

2005 LR3 SE-7 111k miles grn/beige $9800obo - Defender Source

Can't remember the year of my neighbor's old Disco but I recall bad head gaskets, valve issues, horrible mpg as they are in 4wd all the time.

and if you can swing it an 05 would be a way better choice,
as the rattly Rover engine with the loose cylinder liners was finally put to rest,
and the new Jag engine was installed.
To do this again I dont think I would ever buy a RR with the Rover engine but that me.
I did own a 2004 Disco2 from new for about 2 years it always had a rattle from the cylinder liners .

Fast Fred is a mechanic right? Do it! They are awesome. My sis sold hers so cheap. I almost got it, but I'm not a pro mechanic.

I say the Land Cruiser is a better vehicle, bigger, just as reliable if not more, bit a bit more money.

LC is also excellent except for the 1992. It was a new model and there was a mismatch between the 4600lb vehicle, 155hp motor and gear ratios. Really slow dog. My brother had the 4.0L 1992 LC and I had a 3.0L 89 4Run. We used to tow to Nevada a lot over 3 serious grades. I was pulling 1000lbs more and he could never keep up. He also had a lot of mechanical issues that were not found on earlier versions. Just a bad year I think. I put 260K on that 3.0L 4run and all I did was change fluids, brakes, belts, and tires. The LC typically got 12mpg and the 4run got 18mpg. Very different tools.

Fred,

You know what you are doing and know what to look for in the intitial purchase, so I vote "yes". There are alot of cheap examples out there and they aren't terribly hard to work on. I resurected a 96 Disco I from a salvage and drove it for years.--terrible gas mileage though. I wish I still had it.

Do NOT buy a range rover--after the LR, I had a 91 classic--pain in the ass and not nearly as easy to wrench as the Disco. I have since sold it and bought a 90 Landcruiser FJ62--which is also easy to wrench on.

I vote either Disco or a LandCruiser.

You are correct that the 3FE equipped FJ80 is SLOW. But, they are great trucks if you go in with your eyes open. The 3FE is bulletproof and will easily run over 300k with only basic maintenance. Removing the smog equipment will really help open the motor up as well. I had a 1991 (same as the 1992) with 200k on it, the only engine work done was a water pump and alternator, it still didn't burn a drop of oil and ran great. The FJ80 and later FZJ80 are fantastic trucks, simply bulletproof.

Regarding the Discovery, I had a 1995 Disco 1 that was a pretty decent truck. Lots of little nitpicky annoying stuff and expensive parts were my biggest complaint. The Disco 1 is much simpler and therefore more reliable, the electronic gizmos on the Disco 2 are the primary failure points, most of those parts are very expensive and require setup and calibration with the LR computer system. They are cool trucks with a lot of character, but after owning a Disco and a Land Cruiser I'll take the Toyota all day long.

I had a 93 and found that to be complete opposite except for the 10 mph part. Plenty of Tq out of that straight 6. a pinhole developed in the head gasket after 200k+miles. I think the 93 was the year they changed to a double over head cam engine. I know the LCs has a robust tranny that's for sure. Brakes were terrible. calipers were way to small for the vehicle. It will go anywhere. I had two of them. The first I beat the heck out of it in the desert when I was young. I can't kill it. It rolled.

I have a 95' RR Classic TDI with 300.000Km, used as a daily driver and has been quite reliable since I have it (1yr)

I think the TDI's were never imported to the US. They're slowish, but reliable and easy on the diesel (22mpg).

Apart from the coolness factor, it's really nice to drive, was quite a surprise indeed.

93-97 had head gasket issues between cylinders 5 and 6 on the 4.5l motor. 1994 got rear disc brakes. 1991-1992 with the 3FE are bullet proof.

Out of the 3 80's that are/were in the family, the 91 is the most reliable. Just turned 265K, gets 10 in the city, 14-15 on the highway. Haven't changed the plugs in over 100K. You can wake up a 3FE if you advance the ignition timing a tad.

They are solid vehicles.