Thread: question about buying a landy

The fact that you are talking about a V8 suggests that you are talking about Discovery not Series Landrovers, so I will address that.

Not being involved with Discoveries (Discoverys?) I can perhaps look objectively at them.

The Disco 1 is basically a direct development of the Classic Rangerover, with a different body. As such we are looking at a design from the late sixties, which has the advantage that the problems were pretty much sorted, and there are a lot of bits available to fit, both new and second hand, but at the same time it is a fairly old design.

The Disco 2, although looking very similar, is very much a new design along similar lines, and has significant improvements particularly in the area of handling and noise/vibration/harshness, not that the D1 is bad in this area. As against this, it comes with increased complexity, and since many of the bits are specific to this model, they tend to be harder to find and more expensive. Some parts (e.g. wheel bearings) are a LOT more expensive as whole assemblies have to be replaced, not individual components. The amount of electronics also increased.

So it is pretty much up to you where your priorities are. Add to this the fact that all D1s are older than any D2s. With V8 being a dirty word in the used car market, it should not be too hard to find a bargain in either model.

John

Hi Mate
Welcome.
Go the D2.
A tad more expensive to lpg as it needs the sequential injection.
But,they are real cheap considering the vehicle you get.
Look for ACE(active corner enhancement),its real good.
There is substantially more room in the D2.
The traction control is good,but can cause you bogging problems in deep sand and mud.Get the early 99/00 model as it still has the internals in the CDL,which you can activate(with a kit) for even better off-road ability.
Rear air suspension(7 seater models) can be painfull.
Climate control is standard.
Love my TD5 D2,best $15000 Ive ever spent on a vehicle!!!!
Goodluck
Andrew

Originally Posted by purdster

Hello,

Can someone possibly enlighten me..

I am in the market for a lr discovery and was wondering what advantages or disadvantages there would be in buying a series II over a series I apart from the obvious ones of styling and age?? Were there any major mechanical changes??
I am thinking of buying a V8 model and converting to gas.. Is one model simpler than another to convert??

Any info would be great,

Cheers

A D! is much easier to convert to lpg but that will come down to budget and where you want the tank/tanks placed. A D2 with sequential/ injected lpg conversion is more sophisticated and will give better economy and power than a simple old style setup.

It all depends on if you have a disposable income that will cover you when things go wrong but the D2 is a much nicer car with much more room and much better to drive.

Even a set of leads on a D2 will set you back close to $700 from LR but then again they last a lot longer than on older ignition systems.

There have been people with problems with head gaskets etc on the V8's but I dont know if it's anymore than any other car.

The D1 is much cheaper to maintain and modify than the D2 and in some ways can be a little more capable as it doesnt have as much rear overhang and more articulation.

I would go the D1 but still get the sequential gas injection because its worth it.

I've got a D1 TDi300 which is 11 years old now (bought it new) and really the only thing I would complain about is the slightly small boot area. The D2 is quite a bit bigger.

Every so often it chews out the flexible connector on the rear prop shaft but I have a 2" lift which doesn't help. Don't know if they still have this in a D2 (I think they might have gone to double cardan but someone else will know that).

Other than that - I reckon it's the best car I have ever bought (and that's comparing it to a couple of Rangies, a Porsche + a few Euro wagons). Practical, tough, cheap to run, comfortable & a great tourer.

A V8 on gas would be a good compromise for power vs fuel costs. The TDi300's are quite a bit slower but they get up and go if you put the boot in.

no comparison between the two,
as JD says, cars built in different era's.
The D2 is longer wider has MORE articulation,
is better on and off road(rear overhang is negated by raising rear bags ).

car goes faster, stops quicker and handles better,

it WILL be more expensive to fix.

but V8s dont seem to have as many problems, that said the ratio of diesels to v8 is about 10 to 1


as Andy says, sequential injection is the ducks nuts, $4000 , but you do get half that back,
(have I talked myself into this?)
nearly the same power at half the running costs,,

do not underestimate the ability of a LR V8 to eat fuel,,,,

Originally Posted by spudboy

flexible connector on the rear prop shaft . Don't know if they still have this in a D2 (I think they might have gone to double cardan but someone else will know that).

.

Disco II does still have the rubber drive coupling.

Late model D1 V8, bargain!

Plenty around, many never off road.

Depending on what D2 you may consider, there's an issue about the CDL (centre diff lock)...if you intend to use it off road seriously...

plenty of info about that subject (D2 CDL) here...

...as said, it depends on your budget.

Good luck!

GQ