Newbie looking to join the club

[Supernude]

G'day all,

just joined AULRO a couple of minutes ago and need some help buying a landy. It'll be my first one! :eek:

I feel like I need to say right off the bat, I'm NOT getting one for 4WDing. The only hard work my Landy will be doing is towing a small trailer filled with gardening/building tools, it will be my work car, my A to B and my drive interstate for a holiday car.

I've completely fallen in love with the idea of owning a landrover, only I cant decide what to buy! I'm looking at the 2003-04 Disco TD5 (with all the trimmings, townpack & ACE), or the v8 petrol engine, or the more luxurious 2001ish Rangie P38... I've got around the 20-25k spending money, so I reckon I'll be right to get one with lowish k's too.

I've been researching for a little while and here's some pretty common things I've come across, please correct me on anything that's just not right:

firstly, it seems that no matter where you go people have horror stories about their landy's! but then they're always saying that despite all of the drama's, they'd buy another in a heartbeat...

Now would it be unfair to say - its pretty clear that with any make of car your gonna find lemons, but Landy's seem to have a higher ratio of lemons to success story's? or is that off the mark??

here's some other things (about the three I want):

- TD5 -
pros:
work horse
reliable
economic
great highway cruiser

cons:
is pretty sluggish
bit noisy

- v8 Disco -
pros:
good off the line compared to TD5
nicer interior than TD5

cons:
shocking economy
cant depend on its reliability
money pit


- P38 -
pros:
comfort/luxury
great on road drive

cons:
shocking economy
cant depend on its reliability
money pit

discuss...

I just cant decide if I want to sacrifice my hard earned on petrol and running costs just for a bit of extra luxury and acceleration I guess.

Feel free to say "at the end of the day it's your decision", but I really just want some short stories on why people bought their TD5, V8 or P38 to help sway me in ANY direction.

Thankyou in advance for any feedback you're wiling to share,

Chris

[Landy Smurf]

welcome

[big guy]

Welcome

TD5 and V8 interior is same, it depends on spec you are buying.
By sounds of it, its a work car, I personally would go simple as possible if I were you than. Getting in and out, stop start etc.
May I suggest a S model with leather interior. Also, a V8 is great but put it on gas and you be laughing.
Make sure the cooling system is 100% and get a low water alarm and if auto which most are of that era, get a tranny cooler.

There are right now 3 HSE V8's on car sales and one is low 20's which is about right with very low K's.

Have a proper inspection done and you be fine.
Log book service history is also a must and do frquent oil changes, around 7500km's with good oil like a semi synthetic penrite for example.

They will chew 15-22L/100 on petrol but with gas injection you will almost half the running cost in terms of $ value.
The P38A is a great machine, perfect for going for long drives but as a work car I can not recommend.
They are getting on now and do take a lot of maintenance to keep reliable.
I had one for 3 months and in that time cost me just under $3k to keep going.
I am fanatical but still. I had a offer I could not refuse.
The ride is superd, comfort and poise is second to none but remember, when new they were around $100k and are a true performance/prestige car.

For a work car, compromise and reduce the amount of electronics that can ruin your day.
Same goes for most cars out there though.

Welcome to the site and let the ride begin.

Oh, and take a few for a ride, no 2 cars drive the same. Cheers

[VladTepes]

If you can afford a V8 get one now... they are only going to become more expensive to own / run / pay tax on tc in future years. You won;t regret it they are GREAT.

I had a RR Classic V8 and would get a P38 Rangie V8 if I could. THe Disco V8 would be (almost) as good probably better for work gear carrying etc).

The TD5 is sluggish really (that's my Tdi ! ) but the real answer is..

V8 V8 V8 V8 V8 V8 V8 V8

The money you save on teh car (V8s are much cheaper than the diesels these days) can be spent on a LOT of fuel.

adm333 has a P38 rangie on gas so he'd be a good bloek to ask re which gas conversion is the good one.

Cheers

[akelly]

I have a 2000 Td5 and would not change it. If the Td5 has had the usual issues already - and one from around that vintage will have - and you keep the maintenance up, then it will be as reliable as any other car from those years.

My father had a S1 V8 disco and had far more problems than I've had with my Td5. They are a gas guzzler and although LPG fixes that, you lose storage space so unless you are married to the idea of a V8 I dont see the advantage.

Sounds like you have all the info you need to make a decision anyway - go for a drive in as many as you can and good luck!

Adam

[ramblingboy42]

g'day and welcome, nothin strange about not using your land rover for 4wd'ing is there?
your land rover will find you if you let it. theres a story here somewhere......

[UncleHo]

G'day Supernude :)

I would suggest a late model Disco 1 V8 on gas 3.9 injected, with under floor tanks and the small under rear guard petrol tank,good power,same chassis as Range Rover Classic 70-94, repairable with not too many electronics,you should be able to find something to suit you in our markets section with a service history :) If you are looking at a late model vehicle with electronics MAKE SURE you have a service history


cheers