What to buy....Disco?

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Originally Posted by 2 rocks

Ok, so I've missed out by minutes and hours on 2 very nice 100 series Cruisers this week (why am I looking at Cruisers? 1. they're big, 2. most people have an inkling of how to work on them, 3. just enough electronics to make them relatively economical, 4. they're big and 5. room for more than just a couple of swags, 6. did I mention they're big?)

But to buy wih the $$ I have, I'll get the car and not much more, maybe a steel bullbar if I'm lucky...

Which brings me back to the '99 D1 for $15k...I could buy a lot of extras for the change (assuming I can live with the auto box), winch, lift kit, lockers, STT's and maybe moving the seat so a 1.95m person can drive it - say $7k worth. Strangely for such a late model it has no airbags - which is a bit of a stumbling block.

Or there's a D2 with bullbar, snorkel, chip, LR tank, OME susp (yuk!), UHF, s/s intercooler for $23k. Sounds good, but the luddite in me says that the first Kimberley river crossing it does will see me pushing it home - too many little black boxes!

Any thoughts on this?
Mike

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Yeah, you're obviously sold on a cruiser, buy one:o

Ok I'm probably maybe biased perhaps. I'd be loath to get a TDI. For me it's just too small an engine for the size of the car (that'll wind 'em up:twisted:).
But seriously, off boost they are hopeless. It really depends what type of driver you are and if you can adapt to having to keep it on the boil all the time. The most common wear item you seem to hear of in TDIs is the clutch, they really cop a hiding.
I wouldn't touch one WITHOUT an auto to help compensate for lag, and then I'd still tweak everything.
The economy would be a novelty tho.
If you're not sure, if all else fails you could test drive it..

Cheers Dan
I plan to drive it tomorrow - the idea of the extra cash for lots of goodies is very appealing, with the LC it'd be a while before I could get it trail ready (oops, that's a bit of Jeep-speak!).
Had the V8 - loved it to bits but for my daily drive is too thirsty...unless I put LPG tanks on the roof, lolol.
Mike

Dont worry about the negative coments from the V8 brigade, Ive had a 97 D1 TDI auto for 4 years and yes it is a little slow off the line until it starts boosting but then I pull away from most normal drivers off the lights at only about 3/4 throttle.

You just need to remember to leave that extra 100m or so of room or be a little more patient when pulling out across traffic.

As far as overtaking goes, as long as it isnt going up a hill your pretty safe and will generaly top out about 140kmh on a bit of a down hill run and get there pretty quick if you boot it.

The auto is great, mines needing work now, sprag slipping and a vibration in 1st but it has done 290000kms and done tonnes of off road and towing and has never been out.

Any driver after a few hours behind the wheel can get used to it, Ive had people drive mine who have hated it at first but once they work it out they love it.

As far as the seats go, the main problem with them is probably because your so tall that they dont get to fold all the way forward so they are probably still leaning back a bit but no they dont lock in as such.

My TDI is happy to spin the wheels powering around a corner and 4 wheel drifting on dirt roads but Im not much for thrashing and crashing so a TDI is powerful enough for me and the novalty hasnt worn off getting 10l/100kms or less up to 100kmh even around town and the worst with head wind and at 135kmh in NT gave us 13l/100km.

Mine has been built for more long distance stuff rather than an off road monster but has enough goodies to get me around the bush and Im rapped with how good it is off road.

I had an 80 series 4.0 petrol before the Disco and it was great as well but the fuel bill nearly drove us broke but the extra room was nice but it just meant we took more crap with us and that means it gets heavy.

I see it as unless you need a school bus, dont buy one.

Good luck, buy the Disco and enjoy it. Dont be afraid about the Auto off road, it is like cheating it is so easy. There are more advantages than disadvantages and once you have had an auto 4wd you will either love it or hate it but I havnt met many that decided they hated it.

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Originally Posted by mcrover

I had an 80 series 4.0 petrol before the Disco and it was great as well but the fuel bill nearly drove us broke but the extra room was nice but it just meant we took more crap with us and that means it gets heavy.

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McR
Yeah the 2 100's I looked at were petrol GXLs (one LPG retaining all tanks plus 2 x LPG next to the sills) - the diesels are just too dear for a good, low km one.

It's a double edged sword I s'pose - less room but can buy lots of stuff to use right away, or more space but no money for the real off-road bits. :mad:

Anyhoo - will drive the 300 tomorrow and see what it's like - I can always ring Bruce Davis!
Mike

Well I looked at the Tdi - ouside very nice, inside horrible. I couldn't believe they were seats in 150000km car - I sold my V8 with 240 on it and it looked like new inside. Couldn't even be bothered driving it.

Oh well, get the "flame"-throwers out - signed on for a GU 4.2TD ST Patrol instead!
Mike

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Originally Posted by 2 rocks

Well I looked at the Tdi - ouside very nice, inside horrible. I couldn't believe they were seats in 150000km car - I sold my V8 with 240 on it and it looked like new inside. Couldn't even be bothered driving it.

Oh well, get the "flame"-throwers out - signed on for a GU 4.2TD ST Patrol instead!
Mike

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Nah, the flame throwers only come out when you start bagging the landies now you have a patrol.

Good on ya, at least you got a 4.2, it should be good for a couple of years.

Good luck with it.

Cheers McR
I'll always have a soft spot for Landies...they, like Jeep, have a heritage and individuality sadly lacking in 4WD's today. (Hence our Wrangler - well I call it "our" - she calls it "hers"!)
I don't delude myself that the Patrol has a lot of this - but they are good at what they do. The '08 is due to have IFS, so that's another tombstone in the graveyard.
Mike