Thinking about buying a disco - is it worth it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by d2dave

And can you tell me what makes it unreliable?

---

Reliability is of course relative. Compared with just about every other car Ive owned - simpler non-4WD cars including Volvo S40, Mazda 323, the Disco is unreliable. Mine's been flat bedded 4 times, these all being due to built in design weaknesses of the car - we all know what these are.

Would you recommend one to your Mother in Law? No way I would !!!

BUT having got to know mine so well now and keeping across these weaknesses I wouldn't have any other vehicle as it does so many things so well!

And like D2dave Im keeping mine for our next remote trip!

If you don't mind sharing what was the 4 flatbed causes?...

My wife kindly reminded me it's been 6 times, once when she was alone on a dark night miles from anywhere near Bendigo and another when she was 35 week pregnant!

1. Melb - fuel hose above tank rubbed through
2. Alice Springs - faulty throttle pedal ( could have driven just using cruise control but took up benefits of Racv total care!)
3. Walpole, WA. Fuel hose again! Reputable mechanic who fixed it the first time not so reputable after all
4. Bendigo, Vic - original non lube driveshaft finally gave up. Now have a tom woods one :-)
5. Melb- transmission failure (end of its life!)
6. Melb- With new trans, the installer did not connect the cooler line correctly so it blew off- lucky I noticed this as soon as TC unlocked so didn't loose to much fluid or do any damage!

Most of the above are preventable with regular servicing and good mechanicàl skills. I now do all my own servicing and so know the car very well now. I've got a pretty good idea what's due for replacement soon. ( eg alternator is still untouched at 275kkm).

Thanks for all that, very insightful..

Ive been flat bedded once, the 'O"ring on the brake master cylinder had a weep. I was over the other side of the Blue Mountains and was fully loaded up with the family, only noticed it as the car was dusty. It could have been there for months/weeks but NRMA had strict instructions not to let me drive the car with brake issues. I agreed. They gave me a free car to use!. The kit was $80 but apparently had a spit chamber so you don't run low on fluid and loose brakes. Did not take chances. That again would be age...by dad who's a mechanic see's it a lot on all cars which are older.

About your car..

Given the K's and the age, are these things more to do with those factors than reliability?. After all LR only give 3-5 warranty when new.

My 2001 V8 SE7 has now done 98,000. it's build date was May 2000 registered April 01 here in Aus. I've renewed hoses and a few gaskets, air springs, thermostat, rad serviced. in the last 3 years. Basically all things perishable and rubber failing...I changed my Driveshaft after reading so much about them ending their lives lately, I have a fully greasble Hardy Spicer unit.

Maybe the D2's are not Lemons but just getting old!....?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by simonmelb

My wife kindly reminded me it's been 6 times, once when she was alone on a dark night miles from anywhere near Bendigo and another when she was 35 week pregnant!

1. Melb - fuel hose above tank rubbed through
2. Alice Springs - faulty throttle pedal ( could have driven just using cruise control but took up benefits of Racv total care!)
3. Walpole, WA. Fuel hose again! Reputable mechanic who fixed it the first time not so reputable after all
4. Bendigo, Vic - original non lube driveshaft finally gave up. Now have a tom woods one :-)
5. Melb- transmission failure (end of its life!)
6. Melb- With new trans, the installer did not connect the cooler line correctly so it blew off- lucky I noticed this as soon as TC unlocked so didn't loose to much fluid or do any damage!

Most of the above are preventable with regular servicing and good mechanicàl skills. I now do all my own servicing and so know the car very well now. I've got a pretty good idea what's due for replacement soon. ( eg alternator is still untouched at 275kkm).

---

Fuel hose. Maintenance. I will be changing mine.
Faulty throttle pedal. Not a known issue and just one of those things. Could happen to any car.
Tailshaft. Again maintenance. I also have a TW shaft. Changed it with nothing wrong with the old one.
Transmission. You say end of life. Happens to all cars.
And number 6 on your list is not the LR's fault.

Flat bedded only once in 9 years with failed fuel pump and only because I ignored the warning signs.

Nick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pippin

Flat bedded only once in 9 years with failed fuel pump and only because I ignored the warning signs.

Nick

---

Same here, once in 13 years due to fuel pump failure. As with Nick I failed to take action when I noticed it was becoming louder and seeking attention. So I put this one down to my fault.

flatbed now 315k, need a new transmission, cut my losses still not decided 2002 td5. in good shape otherwise i guess, will check tailshaft is that a propshaft?, so is it worth buying yes but you will be up for a transmission auto on td5 anytime after 250k, so keep a little aside for that , it will happen!

Newowner, did you get any warning signs before your auto crapped itself?
My td5 auto is at 308K now, running sweet, but I don't want to be caught out while towing a camper in the back of beyond.

-Wasa

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eevo

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

---

My wife has no mechanical skills, either, (in fact, she hasn't got much in the way of driving skills, either!) So I bought her a freelander Xedi! 7 years of troublefree motoring, it is now awaiting my next holidays, when I'll put in a clutch, and do the timing belt. Been a great car, never let us down. Had S2 & 2a, County 110, and now a D1 300tdi. All good, but they do require a bit more hands on than the Japanese stuff, but I grew up with Vanguards, Triumphs and Royal Enfields, so always had spanners handy. :rolleyes:

Sent from my HTC One XL using AULRO mobile app