Thinking about buying a disco - is it worth it?

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Originally Posted by Roberto

James

You are getting a lot of vehicle for $7k. To run a Disco of this age you need to have mechanical aptitude, and access to reasonably priced expert assistance. This forum will be invaluable for advice and problem solving.

It is a bit of a gamble. You might be lucky and nothing serious goes wrong, or you could be unlucky, and spend as much as you might spend on repayments on a new $50k vehicle for a year.

If you love cars, and don't mind having to get deeply involved in maintenance/repairs, the Disco can be a very rewarding car. If you are looking for something that just gets you from A to B then perhaps the Disco isn't for you.

Bob

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Well said!

The Toyota "tax" includes businesses that only service Toyotas. Discos are a better ride than any of the Japanese offerings from that era but you do need to consider the attitude of mechanics in more remote locations. It's got electronics, don't know how to fix it.

I'd consider paying more for a Toyota and having the additional fuel consumption, shorter service interval if diesel (2 to 5 thousand k rather than 10 to 20k), less safety features, less creature comfort, less off road ability, same suspension set up as a 1972 range rover (if the toyota has coil suspension) but better support when things go astray due to attitude of mechanics who don't know Land Rovers.

Hi all. Defiantly after a Disco, always wanted a Land Rover :) It turns out the radiator wasn't replaced, but just flushed. -> which sounds like general service to me.

It's getting its RWC tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be its new owner soon enough.

I've emailed Hyper Tune land Rover, and I might get them to check out the head and prop shaft after a few weeks of ownership.

I'm also seeing it as an opportunity, to learn some mechanical skills. And at the end of the day, I'll have an ancient Pajero lying around, for when the Discovery isn't working.

Good luck and have fun.
I have owned a LOT of cars but my disco has a strangle hold on my hart.
( and sometimes my wallet!

is it worth it? hmm.

comfort and capability wise,yes.
reliability wise, no.
with reliability, i assume just got the bad pick of the bunch. nothing detectable on a presales inspection but a lot of things broke between 120k and 135k km.

From what you describe it sounds like an honest car. If it passes rwc get a specialist to look at it. Mention your concerns re the cooling system and get them to have a closer look for you.

If the service stamps are local give the mechanic a call. They may be able to give you more detail.

Re the cosmetics I wouldn't worry. Every d2 I've looked at has stuffed gaiters and seats are just a cover away from being neat. You can get leather replacement gaiters of ebay very cheaply.

Cheers

Steve

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Originally Posted by Eevo

is it worth it? hmm.

comfort and capability wise,yes.
reliability wise, no.

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And can you tell me what makes it unreliable? I have 190,000 on mine and so far it has been reliable. With good maintenance and the appropriate spares( and this applies to any vehicle) I plan to take mine to some very remote places.

I have more confidence in my Disco than I would in a Nissota, purely because I feel that there is so much knowledge here that there is nothing being a showstopper that I could not fix myself.

I have 408K on mine, I have owned it for 9 years, yes I have had to do a lot to it over that period but I swear it goes better now than when I first bought it and I look forward to getting in it for a drive more than ever. Weird isn't it!:)

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Originally Posted by d2dave

And can you tell me what makes it unreliable? I have 190,000 on mine and so far it has been reliable. With good maintenance and the appropriate spares( and this applies to any vehicle) I plan to take mine to some very remote places.

I have more confidence in my Disco than I would in a Nissota, purely because I feel that there is so much knowledge here that there is nothing being a showstopper that I could not fix myself.

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That's my thought, 90% of the mechanical work I should be able to do myself following the RAVE. It's actually determining the issue, which is the hard bit, but I suppose that's what the forum is for :)

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Originally Posted by d2dave

And can you tell me what makes it unreliable? I have 190,000 on mine and so far it has been reliable. With good maintenance and the appropriate spares( and this applies to any vehicle) I plan to take mine to some very remote places..

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as i said, i assume mine was the runt of the litter.
i can give you a list of failed items if thats what your after.
when i think reliable, i think about things not breaking. im not thinking about easy to repair.

ie, the wife needs a reliable car, she has no mechanic skills, given my experience, i wouldn't be getting her a land rover.