Looking at a disco 2

**yyeessno** · 7th June 2009, 01:04 PM

Hi guys, lately I have been looking around for a TD5 Disco 2 in Adelaide. Yesterday I went down to Black Forest and had a look at this one:
http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=6178768&ref=Item&__Ns=pCar_RankSort _Int32|1||pCar_Price_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0 ||pCar_Model_String|0&__N=1216%201247%201252%20429 4965541%204294965540%20901%20937%20%201643&__Nne=1 5

It seems to be very solid, although it did have some trailer brake control modual on it, obviously meaning it has done some serious towing in its life, and this worries me a bit. I want a disco to drive most of the way around australia in so the more life in it the better...What should I look for?

The other car that has taken my fancy is this one: http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?ST=_140973_Item&YearFromShort=1643&__ Qpb=true&Cr=&R=6429529&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1| |pCar_Price_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Mo del_String|0&SearchAction=N&__N=1216%201247%201252 %204294965541%204294965540%20901%20937%20%201643&s ilo=1011&CT=Item&MST=10&__Nne=15&__sid=12004D7EBE2 9

Not only has it done 70 000 less kms, it is also a country car (at Port Lincoln), leading me to guess wildly that a good portion of those kms were cruising on the highway.

Is there someone here that could give me an informed opinion on those two? I understand there is not much to say by looking at the ads, but perhaps one of you knows these cars...

**spudboy** · 7th June 2009, 01:22 PM

Well, of he two you've listed I'd be going for the red one at VH.

I am very biased against Black Forest for an episode a few years ago when they were official Land Rover dealers and behaved very unfairly. Might be different owners now, but would be very cautious dealing with them myself.

The VH car has much better KMs, has a proper bull bar and the price difference is negligible.

The BF car is a better colour (to me) but if used for heavy towing will have more wear than one that hasn't towed. That brush bar won't do anything if you hit a roo.

Just my opinion though!

**yyeessno** · 7th June 2009, 01:44 PM

As you say, towing is bad news and I've also heard bad things about BF, and their prices...the red car is actually in port lincoln, so that is even more country than the VH!

At any rate, the red car looks better to me but until i sell this damn hilux there is nothing i can do!

Both the cars have good service history, with the BF car having been serviced at sovereign. The red car seems to be good, so perhaps on tuesday I'll give them a call.

**Traco** · 7th June 2009, 03:10 PM

Black Forest used to be LR dealers, and were co-owned with Prestige LR, but the company lost their dealer franchise a couple of years ago. Having dealt with Black Forest back in 98 when I was wanting to buy a brand new Disco I'm not surprised. I ended up going elsewhere. 70.000 km is a lot of km, just check the service history.

**Mully** · 7th June 2009, 06:42 PM

Hey yyeessno... just bought a TD5 from BlackForest (delivered last Friday) and I have to say Barry P was an excellent sales guy who actually loves his Landies... dunno who you dealt with but Barry was Grade A. Very surprised black duck I was. The service dept on the other hand I'm sure are good fellas.... but you gotta count your fingers after you shake hands. Just my experience.

The TD5 you mention from there I didn't drive coz I bought the one you prolly would have bought... a year older but drives very tight all round.. and cheaper.

Happy hunting and you should have no drama selling the Hi Lux. I stuck one eBay a couple of years back and wish I'd had a dozen of 'em. Buyers came out of the woodwork.

Cheers.

**Bytemrk** · 7th June 2009, 08:45 PM

Of the two, I would look at the second.

BUT it still sounds too expensive to me for a 2000 model unless you got a big chunk of that price I would keep looking.

Also just because a vehicle has an electric brake controller - doesn't mean it has done lots of heavy towing... Mine came with dual batteries, ARB Winch Bar and Winch, Snorkel, side steps and more... yet taking a close look I really don't believe it had ever been off road before I had it. Some people buy these things, kit them up then never use them.

My advice would be look for a really good service history - every service done on time by a Land rover specialist... not Joe's garage.

Your thoughts about country Km's etc are really valid and I agree I would look for the vehicle with lower k's.

Good luck with it... when you find the right one.... you will know.

Mark

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 7th June 2009, 09:27 PM

Yep,, sometimes people actually acknowledge they tow stuff and maintain accordingly,,

hard to tell unless you have history.

Talk to the last service agent.

**yyeessno** · 10th June 2009, 03:02 PM

Thanks for the help and ideas, I am still looking. While the Port Lincoln car looks good, I'm not sure that I would be game to spend that much money sight unseen, even if it was inspected by someone legitimate. I think I'll keep looking around for a vehicle with good history in/around adelaide.

Am I right in thinking that a perfect service history makes up (somewhat) for high kms?

Mully: the car you bought is the one I actually wanted...I also dealt with Barry and he was most helpful, but I've heard that their prices are at the upper end. Did you get a good deal on yours? The car I drove was not bad at all really.....

**yyeessno** · 10th June 2009, 03:11 PM

Update: Have just found out about this car
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/dealer/LAND_ROVER/DISCOVERY/details.aspx?R=6586832&Model=DISCOVERY&State=South %20Australia&__Nne=20&Make=LAND%20ROVER&RegionID=7 87&Region=State%20Wide&silo=1000&seot=0&__sid=1200 4D7EBE29&state_id=901&__N=4294965541%20901%20244%2 04294965540%20787%201216%20834%20285%20258%20287&_ _Ns=pCar_StatusSort_Int32|1||pCar_Price_Decimal|0& distance=25&Cr=2&trecs=9&__Qpb=true

I spoke to the dealer and will go down this evening to have a look. Everything seems to be in order, serviced by land rover etc etc and it's got the 5speed 'box, which is what I want (although not essential). Do any of you know this car?

Haven't sold the ute yet, but I think I'll be able to borrow enough to put down a deposit if all is well.

**BMKal** · 10th June 2009, 03:37 PM

That last (green) one looks pretty good. Someone has done a bit of work on it, as it has the 2003 (update) grille & headlights - still running earlier model (2000 - 2002) tail lights, which I think look better than the update tail lights anyway.

I note that all three ads list centre differentials but none of them mention if the CDL (centre diff lock) is connected or actually in the vehicle - I'd be jumping under the vehicle to check to see that the spigot is there so that you can install a CDL actuator later on if there is not already one there. The spigot at least should be there in this model -it is only later models (2000) where Landrover removed the CDL mechanism completely (and then re-instate the complete system in the 2003 update).

Also worth noting that the green one claimed to have stainless steel exhaust.

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