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Thread: Thinking of buying a Discovery

  1. #1
    Wild dog Guest

    Question Thinking of buying a Discovery

    G'day all,
    I'm new here so most likely a lot of what I ask has been covered ad nauseam. Going to do extensive travelling without climbing cliff faces or descending into the deepest gullies on the planet. Really looking to buy a vehicle that will handle corrugates, pot holes, bulldust etc.

    Discoveries and Pajeros seem to have the ability and the range in the fuel tank to not have to worry too much about carrying heaps of spare fuel. Have already crossed off petrol powered vehicles and don't really want to be bothered with automatic gearboxes. We have a chap in Cairns who specialises on Landys and my brother has had excellent service from him on his Defender.

    Our number one priority is reliability.

    Any suggestions??

  2. #2
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    Tdi 300 1998/99 (if possible) manual, then as soon as you get it do the timing belts and fit an engine temp alarm.
    I have done 110.000 km with my 1998 Disco and never have problems.
    I sold it and got a Defender Tdi300 because I like to have more room for the camping gear and the Defender have a soul

  3. #3
    dmdigital's Avatar
    dmdigital is offline OldBushie Vendor

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    WHat's been said about the 300Tdi is what I'd say so I won't repeat it. For a Td5 look at the later (2003+) ones with the twin headlights.

    There's much more room in the Disco2's than the D1's for gear, but still not a patch on a Defender.
    MY15 Discovery 4 SE SDV6

    Past: 97 D1 Tdi, 03 D2a Td5, 08 Kimberley Kamper, 08 Defender 110 TDCi, 99 Defender 110 300Tdi[/SIZE]

  4. #4
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    As Chucaro said, a late 90's Disco is a pretty sorted beast. End of the run before they went to the new TD5 in 2000 (I think).

    And regarding DMs comment about the space in the back - The D1s have the least by quite a long way. D2s are better, but then you get more rear overhang.

    We've got a D1 TDi300 from 1997 and it is running as reliably as ever, but for carrying stuff it is a bit lacking. Can be solved with rooftent perhaps, or maybe towing a camper-trailer.

    How much do you want to spend?

  5. #5
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    I'm in the same boat

    Greetings.

    I've been looking at Discos for the past month or so. I think that the TD5 Disco II's started in MY1999 as I looked at a nice one but I want the simplicity of the 300tdi ot 200tdi. My price range at the moment is $8000 and I think I can get a nice one for that (If one can be found lol)

    Chris

  6. #6
    Wild dog Guest
    Appreciate the input from folks with the same interest.
    300Tdi and 200Tdi what's the difference and how do I tell when I look at them???
    Tomorrow I'm going to see the Landrover specialist to see if he knows of some for sale as there appears to be very few in FNQ on the net.
    We want to do the Birdsville Track, the Plenty Hwy and the Tanami Track and a fair bit of central Australia but not interested in climbing all the sandhills in the Simpson.
    Our camping requirements are fairly basic so a large vehicle is not essential but a reliable one is.
    As for how much to spend, it seems vehicles of the same year can have vastly different mileages. Some low mileage 4wds from SEQ have had trips on the beach and through saltwater so they would have to be worth less, is that a reasonable assumption??

  7. #7
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    The 200 TDI is the ealier Discos and are harder to get parts for so stick with a 300TDI. When you buy leave enough money to replace the suspension. The sand hills in the simpson will become very attractive once you start offroading.

  8. #8
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    The Pajeros are very reliable and probably more so than a Disco from what I can tell, but I have never owned a Paj...driven a few over time including the latest in Exceed DiD auto guise. I thought that the Paj would be much much better than the Discos live axles in corrugations but the Paj was only a little better despite Indep suspension at both ends. The Disco would eat it off road even in stock trim, although on the beach say there wouldnt be much at all in it and with standard tyres the Paj (with much bigger tyres) would beat the Disco with stock tyres on the beach - I am referring to later models here in both vehicles.

    The Disco is a better tow vehicle - live axle and just an honest truck in this regard.

    I dont like how slow the steering in the Paj and it negates what should otherwise be better handling...it really is a pain. The Discos handle very well really. I think the Disco has a soul (just not the handbrake in the thigh of the Deefer). I think the Disco has soul in spades and in that regard the Paj is downright bland and boring...and I like character in a vehicle.

    Cheers and good luck mate.

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