'96 Discovery as a daily driver ?

[anton]

Hello,

I started looking at trading my car for a nice SUV, since I have to carry sport stuff on the roof on a daily basis.

But my limit is about $5k ...

Right now there are two alternatives:
~ '96 Toyota 4Runner - nice car, but it seemed kind of small in the driver's seat and hard to find for $5k

~ '96 Discovery - nice car : ) ... but I'm afraid, if I'm going to have troubles with it ... I need it as a daily driver (around 300 miles a week in the city + misc stuff)

What would you say ? How reliable is '96 Discovery ?

Thanks a lot,
Anton.

 

[Chris-St Louis]

How mechanically handy are you? Your looking at 10 year old trucks that likely went through 2-3 different owners. Having worked on both, the Discovery is easier to work on (For me), part avalibility is less the the Toyota locally.

I have a friend of mine with a 96, Driven daily, 200,000 miles on it.... Leaks, noisy taped together and just keeps going.

 

[waboehler]

You'd need 5k for the vehicle and another 5k in the bank depending on how it was maintained. If I was buying an older Rover, I would buy it off D-web. This board is amazing at calling people on their bullshit if they try to push something off on somebody. Plus the pricing is amazing. I wish I had known about this place when I bought mine. That being said.....Check the leaks (its going to have some) Check the cooling system (radiator, hoses, fan), Rust, see if O2 sensors have been changed, new plugs, wires, Mass air filter, VSS (vehicle speed sensor). Headliner might be sagging, door actuators, power windows, sunroof leaks. etc, etc, etc.

Just remember its a 10 yr old car. As far as a daily driver, from a comfort level absolutely you could do it. From a cost effective perspective...NO WAY. Figure a tank and a half a week minimum. thats sitting about 90 bucks for me right now. you're looking at 300-400 a month on gas...Esp. if you lift it and tires, bumper, etc.

 

[edthediscoman]

Well, I bought my 94 for 4K, use it as a daily driver without really any problems so far (knock on wood). It definitely leaks fluid, which you have to watch every few days...all of them. Strange ones pop up and dissapear...its weird. Yesterday it was leaking antifreeze - refilled and drove and today fine. Two weeks ago it was power steering (FYI - ATF). Its been one of the most enjoyable driving experiences though. There is not great power, or handling for that matter. Its just enjoyable as hell. FWIW, my last car was an Acura Legend that I bought almost new in the mid 90's, at the same time I bought a brand new 96 4runner for the ex-Mrs - so I know that car very well. I MUCH prefer the Disco to the 4 runner. Manily due to charisma and the fact that I am no longer a sheep. Plus my other car is another leaky english car, and I am used to repairing something.

 

[edthediscoman]

Ahhh...I noticed you are in Ohio (I moved to cali from the Natti). Cars back there will have rust more likely than not - almost unavoidable. I have to say that the 4 runner did have coatings on the metal to prevent that (cause I bought my 4Rnr in Cinci and that was a question at the time). Guys on here can probably tell you what to look for, but my 94 doesn't have a spot on it. There are definitely some deals out west as the cars hold up better so you can find them cheap and in great shape out here - sorry to say - but that probably goes for all models.

 

[cmoore207]

You might want to see if you can find a Cherokee with the straight 6. You could get a late model (newer than '96) with low miles for $5k if you really shop around. Those things are bullet proof.

 

[RBBailey]

I just sold my 2001 Saab 9-5 Wagon to buy a 1989 Range Rover... it is my daily driver. Does that answer your question?

 

[syoung]

My wife drove a 95 Disco every day for years- never once let us down. About 100K we did the typical external oil lines, rotoflex, power steering lines, calipers and rotors just like any truck. Original alternator died about 95K or so. I think the only thing currently wrong on it is the driver door lock needs to be fixed. For the age and for the miles it has on it, it really doesn't seem any worse than any other car I've had with the same age and miles. The cost of fixing stuff isn't bad if staying away from dealers.

 

[jimjet]

i drive my disco round trip to work everyday.
costs me 20.00 a day on fuel.
ive got a lift , a roof rack , 235/85/16 ( i think) trxus mt
and it goes just fine.65mph in cruise.
im at 103000 with no major engine snags to date.
cats are rattlinn sounds like failed engine to those in traffic around me.
i would take a disco anyday over a cherokee and ive been a jeeper my whole life
from cj 5 to, sx4, to full size cherokes to baby cherokees
you get 3 times as much truck in a disco as you would in a baby jeep cherokee.
ive still got my fullsized cherokee and SX4
jim

 

[jsonova99]

How many people drive Defenders daily on this site?

 

[FrankyRizzo]

It definitely leaks fluid, which you have to watch every few days...all of them. Strange ones pop up and dissapear...its weird. Yesterday it was leaking antifreeze - refilled and drove and today fine. Two weeks ago it was power steering (FYI - ATF). Its been one of the most enjoyable driving experiences though. There is not great power, or handling for that matter. Its just enjoyable as hell.

Manily due to charisma and the fact that I am no longer a sheep.

Well put. I second that.

 

[frickjp]

I have a pair of '95's. Bought one for $3,500, blown engine, and every single major parts has failed. It saw no maintenance between the original owner at 45K and 90K when I got it. I bought it to off-road, and knew the engine was going to be upgraded. Diff, transmisison, transfer case failures were not foreseen, but not exactly unexpected.
The other one cost me $1k, and $2k to get caught up, but that included fixing the A/C. Yes, it drips a little. But it holds a lot. I bought it for a winter truck. It's been reliable, and somehow, the wife gets 15mpg around town with it. Dash is curled up, but a new one is enroute.
If you get into it right, it can easily be a reliable driver, if has had some sort of care and feeding. If it hasn't, and your luck stinks, you'll bad-mouth Land Rover 'till the day you die.
My daily driver is an Audi turbo quattro. 25mpg if you can keep your foot out of it.

 

[rover4x4]

I do but I usually ride my bike to work so the Defender might get driven once or twice during the week. I mostly drive it on the weekends usually sunday

 

[discovery12]

I drive my 96 D1 daily and it's very good to me like the others said all discos leak something I get decent mileage 18mpg most of the time. I put it you like this if you live far from work consider another more gas-saving car if your okay with the mileage ,that discos due ride a little ruff,they don't have alot of power, and are killer off road then I say go for it.

 

[mainerova]

My 97 D1 is my only vehicle, I 've had for 15,000 of its 107,000 miles, never been let down except when rear wheel bearing locked up going 45mph. Plus I'm off road almost every week!!! 12-15mpg

I open the hood as much as I open a beer, top everything off, good to go!

 

[Roverlady]

I've been driving my 95 DI daily since it had 59K miles...am now at 108K....no major problems. Had to replace the starter after a mud adventure....not much else major. Just take care of them and they will take care of you. I've jumped in the truck without even checking the oil and driven 8 hours round trip...she's been on many road trips....driven home 16 hours each way twice.....never failed me yet.

Every once in a while I get the new car buzz (drove my boss's 2006 Toyota Avalon Limited Touring Sedan yesterday...wow) but when I get back in my truck, I'm home. It's just love. Can't explain it any other way.

 

[cyoc62]

Mine has issues, but I can't wait to get it fixed and drive it daily again.

 

[edthediscoman]

I open the hood as much as I open a beer, top everything off, good to go!

You have 12 caps under your hood? Cause I pop 12 tops every time I am working on the car!! - Oh, and I open some of those caps and actually put fluid IN...instead. It actually makes me feel one with the car, to be involved in regular maintenance. Actually, its not all THAAAT bad. Just have to check them regularly - or was it drink beer regularly - or both!

 

[MTN_rover]

i have a 96 d1 and have had very few problems out of it. I drive 300 miles a week to college and to work. I wheel it about once or twice a month. It has tjm front, winch, lift, 235/85 mt's, flowmaster and k&n, i get about 15 mpg highway and 10 in the city, but im a little hot on the gas. I bought it when it had 52k and now it has 110k. It leaks, but no major engine stuff, just plugs wires, belts and gaskets. all i can say is be careful who you buy it from, because it can be a blessing or a big pain.

 

[KaJuN]

The constant attention my Disco needs actually makes me feel more comfortable driving it everyday. I know what the usual problem areas are and I keep an eye on them. With my last car (90 Chevy Beretta), I felt like anything could go wrong at any time. (It left me stranded 3 times in the less than 2 years I drove it.) So far the Disco has gotten me home everytime, even despite gushing steering fluid at a rate that made Old Faithful look like a squirt gun.

These days it's hard to find a vehicle with real character. Rovers certainly have that going for them. I think the most satisfying thing to me is the head-turning effect of a Rover. I got a good stare from a guy in a little Kia Sportage as I turned a corner around him. It was priceless. If nothing else, I've read that they're tanks in crashes.

:Edited for wording and typos: