Thread: Considering a D2

Any D2 is now 10 years or older. That's something you have to consider.

You are not going to get a maintenance free D2. I have a 2000 V8, same age as your Jeep. Great car to drive, but Pro Active servicing is the key, a lot of which you can do yourself.

The big weakness of the V8 is the cooling system (there other issues too) so you need to ensure the engine has not been over heated, that the system is in tip top condition.

Best to take someone who knows a thing or two about the vehicle along with you when taking a look.

Cheers Jerry

On D2, perhaps TD5 (manual) is the way to follow. With a Stage 2 remap, it's a good performer, and big enough to carry some material on the trips. The only handicap, imho, is the lower end torque, very poor. It's an engine that require a bit different manner to drive it. On other aspects, D2 TD5 are cheap to maintain, and with a few upgrades, very capable off.road. The perform 800-1.000 kms per tank, according to the wheels primarily.

Originally Posted by Furka

The only handicap, imho, is the lower end torque, very poor.

Easily fixed with a VNT and the right tune.

Mate as long as they habe a good service history including radiator all good for the v8. Mine is LPG and its excellent fun. Better by a long way off road than the Cherokee and nice on road. Paets are cheaper too. Very reliable if looked after.

Cheers

I just bought a 2004 D2a TD5 and whilst it does not have the sheer grunt of my old D1 V8 with supercharger and LPG the TD5 is entirely adequate and very much better on fuel!

I looked at Prado's but they can't tow the float, and Landcruisers and Patrols and was turned off by the price and lack of features. I decided spending 10-13k on a Disco and having spare change to ad mods or fix and repair as needed was a better option than coughing up the Toyota tax and even then possibly having to fork out money for repairs, eg., Patrol turbo diesels are not infallible and Toyota's have their issues as well.

I thought about a D3 but was told to avoid them due to high maintenance costs and in terms of D2's I was told the later models especially the 2004 ones were best and there's heaps of them for sale on the Mainland.

I can do basic repairs myself and have access to the LR national guru Justine if all else fails

My V8 did give trouble but once that was sorted it proved a true workhorse often pulling weights well over the legal limit. Sure it chews fuel and I'll probably have to wreck it to get any value back. But no regrets.

I'm looking forward to the TD5 and so far so good. I am amazed by its power and economy and yes it needs a few things doing eg., head lining sags and the usual LR fallicies of cheap and brittle plastics but mechanically it is fine with a good service record, 3k worth of extras, 12 month rego, near new tyres and brakes and so on.

Look for a good service record and the rest is all easily fixable.

Thanks guys, still got some convincing to do! Looks like the V8 would be the one to go for, for us anyway.

So biggest things to keep an eye out for are a good service history (obviously) and any cooling issues and servicing.

Anything else? Don't know if we could stretch to a later model... might have to make do with a 2000 ish model, or is it much better to go for a newer one?

The update which came out in 2003 has something like 75 new improved parts over the original, from my experience I would look at the 2003/2004 models

Cheers Keith

Originally Posted by rm1991

Thanks guys, still got some convincing to do! Looks like the V8 would be the one to go for, for us anyway.

So biggest things to keep an eye out for are a good service history (obviously) and any cooling issues and servicing.

Anything else? Don't know if we could stretch to a later model... might have to make do with a 2000 ish model, or is it much better to go for a newer one?

If you can stretch for a 2003- 2004 model (The 2a)... they are the best Discovery 2 where they fixed many of the smaller faults and reinstated the factory centre diff lock. (They have the updated headlights)

Well worth hunting for one if you can IMHO.