Hi everyone, on account of the advice here I chose to go ahead. Bought a 2002 Discovery 2 TD5 for around the $10k mark.
A wrangler would have been the sensible alternative as suggested.. But I preferred the space in the end of the D2.
Prices are a bit nuts at the moment for old cars.... A disco 1 isn't hugely cheap any longer (they arent that easy to find). My ****box range rover was about $800 bucks .... I've spent a bit on it over the last 5years, but the biggest outlay at any one time is probably replacing tyres.
If it's going to be a toy you keep over time ... try to find a range rover classic. They are appreciating in a crazy fashion (not half as nuts as any of the land rover defender/county vehicles though).
any old car is going to need upkeep ... and may break down. but that's half the fun. get something you're like and go to town with tinkering with it. If you just want something to drive and not care about. Old pajeros probably aren't to bad and aren't worth silly money.
if you intend to do serious milage... go something later with a diesel motor. The v8s use a LOT of fuel......
I'd buy one too.............. but I've got a 74 RRC (with 3 fuses in the fuse box instead of something like 48).
cheers, DL
Honestly if I was bright I'd have done that.. Either bought an appreciating one or just held off for a year until prices drop and people stop scrambling for used cars.
That said, I'm not.
😂
But life is short. I've been sensible for so long that I need something a bit wasteful to enjoy. Although I really don't want to speak too soon.. need to have it checked over and drive it enough that I trust it..
Regarding prices.. searches of old threads show that Disco's at the same mileage (around 250,000km) cost less 10 years ago than they do now. Which is crazy.
One thing I love about Australia though, cars just don't rust like they do in the UK. So it's actually possible to keep them on the road indefinitely if you're sensible (and a bit lucky). There are some good old cars out there.