Buying 1st Disco

[lisian]

Hi Guys/Gals
New to the forum so thought I would say hello and maybe ask a question as most of us do. Looking to buy a 93'-96' Disco. Are there any preferences out there with you guys between a 200tdi,300tdi,V8. Apart from the fuel side is there anything in particular I should be looking out for. Pro's and Con's
Great site
Thanks
Ian:D

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Welcome to the Forums lisian:D

Buy as late a model as possible,,

IF you end up with a diesel--
buy a low coolant alarm as advertised top of screen. Dont argue.

[MacMan]

Howdy Lisian.

All have pros and cons. But:

The Disco's up until late 1993 had weaker axles and the older style LT77 manual gearbox. The V8s of that time were 3.5 EFI units, and the diesels were 200TDIs generally better liked by the mud bashers. The late '93 onwards V8s went to the 3.9 EFI and are a much better motor. Not much more power, but better to drive for the same fuel consumption. Better 24 spline axles came in about this time.

1994 saw a significant upgrade with a better interior, the R380 gearbox that was meant to be stronger, a changed transfer case input gear design (better). Not sure when the 300TDI came in, but ABS and airbags came in about 1994 from memory.

When we were looking 2 years ago, the tidy, rust free TDI models were about $5K more than V8s. Since the increase in petrol prices the **** end has fallen out of the V8 market and TDIs seem hard to find anywhere. We settled on a dual fuel V8 because I was doing lots of short runs in town and that would have killed a diesel.

Are you planning for this to be a daily driver? Are you planning to do more than one or two big outback trips a year? How you are going to use the Disco will be a big determining factor on which suits you best.

[waynep]

What's your budget ?
You'll be surprised at some bargains out there in Discos $8-15K- even up into D2s now.
as said if D1 go for a 96 on model preferably one without ABS or airbags as they can be costly to fix. ( I'd prefer TDi but I hear V8s on gas go alright too mind you limits the load space)
if TDi check service books for regularly (10k) services throughout its life
-check timing belts have been changed and timing belt mods done (94-97 models depends on VIN )
-check for rust around alpine windows
-lift carpet and check rear cargo area floor for rust. check all carpets for damp/water
-any receipts or signs of damage due to overheating avoid like the plague
-and yes first thing you install is a low coolant alarm.

[Xtreme]

Howdy Lisian.

1994 saw a significant upgrade with a better interior, the R380 gearbox that was meant to be stronger, a changed transfer case input gear design (better). Not sure when the 300TDI came in, - March 1994 - but ABS and airbags came in about 1994 from memory.


I just sold a DI, 1995 300Tdi with 158500kms - owned since new - delivering next Saturday.

Also have friend with 1996 or 1997 300 Tdi for sale - high mileage & loads of extras. Has been well maintained and has had gearbox and quite a few other items replaced fairly recently. He has it on the market at a very reasonable price.
I don't know what area you're in but if you are interested, PM me and I'll give you his contact details.

[lisian]

Thanks for the quick responses.
Macman- yes it will be a daily driver, I don't really mind the v8's but wasn't sure if there was going to be alot of ( NO DON'T DO IT ) answers.
Waynep- My budget is $5000-6500
Xtreme- I live in Wollongong
Thanks
Ian

[ladas]

[quote=waynep;549397]
as said if D1 go for a 96 on model preferably one without ABS or airbags as they can be costly to fix. ( I'd prefer TDi but I hear V8s on gas go alright too mind you limits the load space)
quote]

Not nessesarily - my D1 V8 had the tanks underneath - didn't impinge on the loadspace at all.

[markyc]

We settled on a dual fuel V8 because I was doing lots of short runs in town and that would have killed a diesel.


Hi MacMan,
Could you expand on this a little?
I'm seriously thinking of swapping V8/LPG for diesel due to severe range limits on (admittedly few) trips but most of my driving is city..

Ta!

[MacMan]

LPG is a lot gentler on a V8 than ULP when starting cold. The reason being it is a vapour rather than an atomised liquid. Even without being warmed LPG boils off at normal atmospheric temperatures.

The difference is only important for the first minute or so of running. Petrol can "wash" the oil off the cylinder walls when cold because there is not yet enough heat in the engine to vaporise it. Albeit VERY minor, this causes a little bit more wear than when running for the same period of time warm. Some of the fuel also ends up in the oil for this reason. The volatile hydrocarbons cook off when the engine warms up but there are some residues that remain suspended in the oil.

Diesels on the other hand run a MUCH (more than twice) higher compression ratio and hammer everything at startup much harder. The cold running tolerances are different to warm running tolerances in the turbo, valvetrain, bores and pistons, and in all bearings. Once they are up and running they are fine, but it's the first few minutes before everything expands to warm running tolerances that do the damage. This is part of the reason you'll see heavy industrial diesels stopped as little as possible during a working day - it's cheaper to fuel them than fix worn parts and deal with the downtime.

Why did this influence my decision? I had only a few km to drive to work when I bought our Disco, and the only parking was metered parking. This meant that the car had something like 6 cold starts a day, and I knew this would be VERY punishing for a diesel. It still hurts a V8 on gas, but far less in the long run.

If your purchase is going to do a lot of cold starts (mum's taxi/shopping trolley) then it's worth considering. I'll freely admit that having to think so carefully about fuel stops when going bush is a pain in the **** but in reality it's only a problem 5 or 6 times a year. The rest of the time I'm close enough to civilisation to NEVER need to run on petrol. On LPG $35 to $40 gets me 300km of driving so it's as cheap as diesel running these days, but for me as a home mechanic the prospect of having to rebuild a V8 is far less frightening than dealing with potential disasters with a TDI diesel. Yes, head gaskets can and do go in both but diesels have two fuel pumps and injectors that can go wrong and when they do replacement is the easiest option.

The **** end has fallen out of the V8 market. Although I'm losing because our V8 is dropping value it means that if/when I start to think the V8 in mine is going to need substantial work I'm going to buy a complete damaged vehicle and tax it for parts.

Everyone looks at the pros and cons differently, but this is how the cookie crumbles for me.

[markyc]

Thanks for the insight..I'm pretty much in the same boat! My last trip was the high country over Easter and we're doing Goog's Track next week, so overall 3-4 trips a year.
The answer is probably to keep my V8 as the daily and have a diesel tourer on ice but as if that's going to happen sometime soon!

Ta!

[MrsMcRover]

Im a newbie too.. Hubby knows all lol, well would like to think he does. I love our Disco it took some time to talk me around, but 4 years and only self inflicted repairs. Thumbs up for the Disco :p

[ddkemp]

I use my V* daily and is mainly city running.Im running a mix of 91%octane and 98% octane unleaded.The 98% gives me far better fuel economy, but youve got to think when at the pump $ for $ saving per tank.
The car diffently runs quieter and is very much smoother.Gets serviced every 10K and has cruise control beinga absolute saver in fuel and speeding fines.

Ive jsut driven my first TDI 300 and having a TD5 S11 as well, I would buy another V8 over aTDI, but not a TD5

Dave Kemp

[Pedro_The_Swift]

dammit....
thought McRover was,,,,
:p

[lisian]

Hi again,
Very interesting views from all of you.Will be going to look at a 95' V8 on the weekend, fingers crossed its as good as they say.
I was steering towards a V8 from the start but it is always interesting to here other views and reasons. I also do my own work on my vehicles and the thought of - heaven forbid - a rebuild cost of a diesel over a petrol is probably why we are going for the V8.
Thanks again
Ian:D

[disco-bob]

Hi again,
Very interesting views from all of you.Will be going to look at a 95' V8 on the weekend, fingers crossed its as good as they say.
I was steering towards a V8 from the start but it is always interesting to here other views and reasons. I also do my own work on my vehicles and the thought of - heaven forbid - a rebuild cost of a diesel over a petrol is probably why we are going for the V8.
Thanks again
Ian:D


personally weve owned a 96 v8 disco for three years, and love it. i now share your concern re diesel repairs. running fuel wise is pricey, but someone told me once petrol is the cheapest thing you ll ever put into your vehicle. let us know how you go with the 95?

thanks rob.

[Tank]

Hi Guys/Gals
New to the forum so thought I would say hello and maybe ask a question as most of us do. Looking to buy a 93'-96' Disco. Are there any preferences out there with you guys between a 200tdi,300tdi,V8. Apart from the fuel side is there anything in particular I should be looking out for. Pro's and Con's
Great site
Thanks
Ian:D
Ian, welcome to the Forum, I would suggest you go for a 93 V8 Disco Automatic. I have had 2 93 Disco V8's, first one was a March 93 Build Date and the second and current one is April 93 Build Date, both had 24 spline axles and not the weaker axles as said elsewhere in this Post. The reasons for my choice are, 1. No Catalytic Converters, 2. Single Coil and simple Electronic Ignition System, 3. No Oxygen Sensors or Computer Codes, 4. No multiple Coil packs (very expensive) or Plug wires buried between Engine and Firewall, 5. V8's if Maintained and Serviced properly are good up to 450K klms, 6. could upgrade to a Reco'd 4.0 or 4.6 Litre engine (using the 3.5 Timing cover and Dissy and Fuel Injection system and Manifolds, like mine) for less than the cost of replacing a Head on the Diesel engine, 7. the ZF 4 speed Auto is the duck's guts on and off road.
For around $4K to $5K you can p/up a good condition 93 Disco and stick a 2'' lift, ARB Lockers front and rear and a set of muddies for about what you would pay for a later model Diesel.
I bought my second 93 disco for $8K with all the above and lots more, it has $16K worth of extras including cross-bolted late model 4.0L and it is close to being my ideal 4WD, that's my thoughts on the subject, have fun and good luck, Regards Frank.

[lisian]

Hi again,
So I know you are all saying to buy as late a model as we can afford but:( what if we found a 91' V8 Manual Disco with 171 000klm on it and lets say its $2999 and when we have a look at it, it's a fairly good honest car :angel:,
What do you think? Run in the other direction or think about it ;).
As it's sort of on the way to looking at a 95' Disco.
Wadda reckon, huh huh :D

Thanks

Ian

[disco-bob]

Hi again,
So I know you are all saying to buy as late a model as we can afford but:( what if we found a 91' V8 Manual Disco with 171 000klm on it and lets say its $2999 and when we have a look at it, it's a fairly good honest car :angel:,
What do you think? Run in the other direction or think about it ;).
As it's sort of on the way to looking at a 95' Disco.
Wadda reckon, huh huh :D

Thanks

Ian


gotta be worth a look

[Hunchy]

Hi Ian, welcome :D

I was going to say what others have said, look for rust around the alpine windows.

Re the '91, if it drives OK then certainly the price & kms look good. But be aware it has the older donk which has less grunt for the same (heavy) thirst.

But then, at that price you could spend a $ or two for some under-bonnet whizzy bits that should improve performance ...

[dungarover]

Hi again,
So I know you are all saying to buy as late a model as we can afford but:( what if we found a 91' V8 Manual Disco with 171 000klm on it and lets say its $2999 and when we have a look at it, it's a fairly good honest car :angel:,
What do you think? Run in the other direction or think about it ;).
As it's sort of on the way to looking at a 95' Disco.
Wadda reckon, huh huh :D

Thanks

Ian

Is that the one on e-bay?? In the pics it looks pretty decent and for $3K you can't go too much wrong. Even if you had to spend that again on repairs it's still a good cheap Disco. Pity it's a manual but beggars can't be choosers (I'm a lazy bastard and hate changing gears :mad::mad:)

I prefer the 94 onwards models myself but the earlier ones now at bargain prices are worth considering. The 93 vintage Discos have 10 spline axles but have all the 24 spline flanges and can be easily converted to 24 spline if you plan on fitting a diff lock later on.

Anyway, good luck with it.

Trav

[Utemad]

So I know you are all saying to buy as late a model as we can afford but:( what if we found a 91' V8 Manual Disco with 171 000klm on it and lets say its $2999 and when we have a look at it, it's a fairly good honest car :angel:,
What do you think? Run in the other direction or think about it ;).
As it's sort of on the way to looking at a 95' Disco.
Wadda reckon, huh huh :D

I reckon if you want a 94-99 model then you shouldn't be looking at a 91 model. It might be the same shape but just about everything else is different.


Is that the one on e-bay?? In the pics it looks pretty decent and for $3K you can't go too much wrong. Even if you had to spend that again on repairs it's still a good cheap Disco.

Personally I would think $3k is too much for a 91 model. $6k is just ridiculous.

[dungarover]

Personally I would think $3k is too much for a 91 model. $6k is just ridiculous.

You miss the point. What I was refering to even if you spent another $3K on the Disco you still would have a great vehicle that will last you 10 years that's all. But if like me it's DIY you can easily half that :D

By the way, I haven't seen a 91 Disco for less than $3K, unless it's a real dunga and destined to the wrecking yard :eek::eek: But then I would be intersted :twisted::twisted:

I agree, $6K is waaay too much for an early Disco. there's one at Slacks Creek in Brissie for $9K and it's an early 3 door. Like Darrel Kerrigan would say "tell him he's dreamin' " :lol2::lol2::lol2:

Trav

[Utemad]

You miss the point. What I was refering to even if you spent another $3K on the Disco you still would have a great vehicle that will last you 10 years that's all. But if like me it's DIY you can easily half that

Yes I suppose if you can't do any work yourself. But then you shouldn't be buying an old Land Rover:D

I guess the thing is once a car gets down to $3kish then it can't drop too much further as people would sell the parts off instead of the whole car. However for slightly more money you could get an update model (or less money if you are lucky).

[dungarover]

Yes I suppose if you can't do any work yourself. But then you shouldn't be buying an old Land Rover:D

I guess the thing is once a car gets down to $3kish then it can't drop too much further as people would sell the parts off instead of the whole car. However for slightly more money you could get an update model (or less money if you are lucky).

So true, it's a sad state of affairs but that's the harsh reality. I've seen good 94 updated dash, etrc.. for less than $5K and these to be honest are a better buy :)

As an example of vehicles dropping to a point that they're worth more in parts, look at the scareness of the old 2 door Rangie now. 5 or so years ago there was a heap of then getting around but now you hardly see any. grabbed my 76 Rangie at the right time and it's a real gem too :thumbsup:

Trav