Range Rover or Discovery

DM74 · 20th April 2010, 08:56 PM

Hi there to you all. I'm hoping to become a Land Rover owner shortly and hopefully have found the best website for info on these cars?

I just registered and have had a look about the site because I'm sure this topic must have been covered before - so feel free to chop this out and direct me if it has - but it would be great to hear some input from owners who may have been through the same as what I am now.

My dad and I have decided to add another car to the garage essentailly to tow our boat (about 1800kgs). It will barely do 10000klms a year so the V8 is what I want as petrol isn't an issue and better performance is! I'm trying to keep to a budget of $15000 but can sneak a bit more if needed. The biggest problem is to decide to go either Discovery or Range Rover? My research so far has taught me this (may be right, may be wrong....)-

Range Rovers -
Best to stick to 2000' plus for better engine electronics and less general issues as BMW had pumped a bit of coin in for the Pomm's.
Nicer ride than the Disco for Freeways etc, but not as good in general traffic and nice twisty roads? Or as quick?
Much more general problems than the disco; ie electronics, suspension etc.
I've noted that out of all the private cars for sale, 9 out of 10 of them are being sold after being owned for 2 or 3 years - money pit???
Most car yards will not touch them as they all seem to have been burnt by one at some stage in their careers!
Maybe not as easy to sell / worse resale?
Economy?
Is ther a big difference between the 4.0 and the 4.6 in power and REAL WORLD economy?

Discovery's -
Best to stick to Series 2 for my budget.
Will get a lower klm / later model Disco than a Rangie.
Much less general issues / problems.
There are HEAPS in car yards so they can't be all that scarey???
Handle better and go harder? (Especially if Santa brings me one with 'ACE' suspension?
Easier to sell if I don't end up liking it?

This main choice is really doing my head in, so should I just choose one model and stick to it, or just look for the 'most loved' of either.
Is the Range Rover that much better that it is worth buying wisely and taking a punt?

PLEASE HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEE....

regards
Darian

**warren9981** · 20th April 2010, 09:02 PM

G'day and Welcome to the forum Darian.

Can't help with your decision as I drive a Discovery 1, 1996 model.

**loanrangie** · 20th April 2010, 09:59 PM

Your budget will keep you out of a post 2000 range rover that would be worth owning, yes you may buy one for less but these vehicles arent known for reliabilty. For your use a V8 series 1 or 2 discovery would be well suited and will easily be purchased within your budget.

**Michael2** · 20th April 2010, 10:01 PM

Hi Darian,

it sounds like you're after a boat tractor, so if you would like a vehicle that holds better value and doesn't age as easily, as well as looks the part in any garage, you could consider a Defender. Though this would mean having neither a V8 or an AUTO.

I've got an older 3.5 V8 Range Rover and a 300Tdi Defender, both manual; and the Defender is by far the better tow vehicle, both for power and stability. So for your budget, you may want to consider a chipped TD5 Defender - after all, it looks more like a tractor.

**big guy** · 20th April 2010, 10:02 PM

I suggest you drive both and decide that for yourself.

Both cars will do what you want. the Rangie especially in 4.6 HSE guise will have all the fruit but does require more maintenance.
For such low mileage though that should be no problem.
Either one needs a very good-perfect service history and get it checked by some one that knows Landy's.

But drive both, they are chalk and cheese.
i love the Rangie but drive a Disco diesel- Go figure

**LandyAndy** · 20th April 2010, 10:37 PM

D2s are Nice.
The last of the P38as are possibly alot nicer.(My Mrs wants to upgrade to a P38a)
You are onto it with the late P38A rangies.
Love my early D2,see if you can steer a D2TD5 with a chip,the HP and economy MAY help you decide.
Im sure anybody near to you will give you a go!!!
Andrew

**jakeslouw** · 20th April 2010, 11:41 PM

How about the Disco2 with a P38 4.6 engine? The 4.0 and 4.6 blocks are identical, and it is a straight swop apart from some work on pumps, alternator etc.

**lux201** · 21st April 2010, 12:16 AM

alternatively you could buy an older model, and pour 10k into it, build yourself something really nice that will hold resale value

.
eg.
vehicle $6k
suspension lift $800,
arb lockers $3k,
offset rims $500,
tyres $1k,
flexi flares $670,
uhf $500,
bars $1k,
racks $1k,
winch $800,

etc..

**UncleHo** · 21st April 2010, 08:12 AM

G'day DM74

I would also suggest the Defender, as it is a more useful body shape for carrying boating stuff internally, wet stuff,and is much more serviceable as far as wheel bearings go, the D2 from memory has non-replacable wheel bearings the whole hub has to be replaced, not cheap,and seeing that you will be doing limited milage, a 300TDI would do,or if you can get it an Isuzu 4BD1 diesel County for the shear pulling power

cheers

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 21st April 2010, 08:27 AM

Boat tractors tend to have a hard life,,
yearly inspections too in VIC I think,,
Best to go with as much ally as possible

How about a V8 County?
cheap enough,,
as long as its only 20 minutes to the ramp,,,

In the real world a 4.6 eats a 4L.
From one extreme to the other--
A 4.6 2000 RR would do what you want,,

though an absolute WASTE of the car,, it might end up doing more than 10K a year after you ride in it,,,,,

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