Regreting your Land Rover Discovery Purchase?

[tellicorick]

Only regret is not buying one sooner; got my 97 Disco last year and it's been the best multipurpose rig I've ever owned, and I've had most all of them; 2 J--Ps, 76 Bronco, & numerous other 4WDs. Love its size and the fact that I CAN work on it. Other than the few problems (and they've been thoroughly documented on this forum), it's really a simple vehicle at heart.

Suggestion: Buy the Factory Service Manual and get your parts on this forum.

I've got a 2006 Ford SD diesel and the Disco is my DD!

 

[ange87]

rripatti wrote:

totally agree in all your points! However as never having owned an Xterra, what specific points does the LR put the Xterra to shame? Not trying to stir an argument at all! Rather genuine curiousity

Yeah, let me qualify mine was old one without the new engine etc but IMHO I didn't like the front IFS for wheeling, cheap construction, spare tire located under rear caused bad exit angle plus it just looked wierd. I know guys beef them up an they do great so not hating just my opinion.

 

[MonLand]

I'm sure everyone will correct me if I'm wrong, but if you can wrench , have an OBDII scanner, and truly appreciate a great off road vehicle, you were born to own a Land Rover.


I'll never own anything else.

No need for an OBD-2 scanner, he mentioned he is getting a 1995!
But x2 on everything that was said so far (eventhough I have a 1996 with OBD-2).

 

[DiscoS2]

I don't regret my '94 D1 purchase, and I'd even consider buying another one. I use mine as my daily driver, so I can't afford to break it on the rocks which is why I don't wheel it except for on rough forest roads. I drove vintage SAABs for a looooong time, and working on a D1 sucks royally compared to working on a SAAB 99. The Rover is more fun to drive than the SAAB though, and my D1 has been generally reliable except for usual maintenance & wear items like brakes, ball joints, exhaust, etc.

 

[rripatti]

Thank Ange87! its pretty much what i thought. thanks!

rripatti wrote:



Yeah, let me qualify mine was old one without the new engine etc but IMHO I didn't like the front IFS for wheeling, cheap construction, spare tire located under rear caused bad exit angle plus it just looked wierd. I know guys beef them up an they do great so not hating just my opinion.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

(new front axle last Sun)
Ed

didnt I tell you that thing was messed up months ago after looking at a pic?:rofl:

man you wanna jump these things you better truss that sucker!!!

 

[lowwill]

People laughed and said not to get one. Funny thing is when we go out every one wants to drive in the Disco. Go figure and enjoy.

 

[Springsroverfamily]

We have two 1995 Discovery and a 1993 RR classic and love them both as everyone else has said they do have there querks but we love them and may never drive anything else. Even the new ones we have been looking to get a newer vehicle and have tried every suv out and none of them are built the way we want them. I want a vehicle that will safely take my wife and kids to the store or up to the mountains in 12 inches of snow towing our trailer. There are just to many cars today with SUV bodies. I think that the only other vehicle that we have looked at and liked was the land cruiser and its an ugly duck compaired to the landrovers. My wife and I just love our rovers.

 

[disco_convert]

Yes, I regret it 100%. I even made the mistake of asking others their opinions prior to my big mistake (buying a Diso). I will admit, it is by far the most fun to drive SUV I've ever had. I'll also second it's great factory delivered offroad capability, along with the cushiest ride I've ever had.

BUT!

The complete lack of reliabilty, lack of anyone cabable of fixing or even diagnosing the endless electrical problems has left a bad taste in my mouth.

Another plus, the Land Rover comunity seems to be as good and tight knit as the Suzuki crowd I love and wheel with.

-My tainted opinion, CZ

former zuky wheeler, current disco wheeler.
i love my disco, and i got it for cheaper then alot of zuks out there now a days, ( got it for 3000) it wheels better and has power seats and working defrost!

 

[GregH]

You will regret not having bought an RRC instead.

 

[PMA1420]

Just bought a 95 5 spd 4-5monts ago it is great. I cant always follow my buddies 06 rubicon with 5" lift and 35's but I can pull his ass out when he gets stuck. I have waited about 8 years to be able to own, abuse and maintain one of these and it was well worth the wait. This last weekend I added the best mod, "I would rather push a landy than drive a jeep" sticker So some where in that rambling I wanted to say buy it and enjoy.

 

[Steph]

Just bought a 95 5 spd 4-5monts ago it is great. I cant always follow my buddies 06 rubicon with 5" lift and 35's but I can pull his ass out when he gets stuck. I have waited about 8 years to be able to own, abuse and maintain one of these and it was well worth the wait. This last weekend I added the best mod, "I would rather push a landy than drive a jeep" sticker So some where in that rambling I wanted to say buy it and enjoy.

As a recently ex-Jeep owner I must say that the one that really made me piss my pants, was '' I got your Jeep thing...and now it hurts when I pee''

But to get back on the subject at hand..... I bought my Disco 9 months ago, and haven't stopped putting money in it. As a mather of fact, What I hate the most, is that the same things keep needing replacement over and over again. The gaskets being the worst. But if you can accept the fact that a Discovery is about the looks and definitely not about reliability...... What I mean is that it's the exclusivity and the looks that attracted me to it. Lets face it. If it didn't look so good, it would have been off the market in the mid-90's. LADA made a truck with the same capability off road and although it didn't have 1/5 of the Disco's luxo interior, it was butt ugly and had the same reliability of the Disco, which killed it.

But nothing makes me feel the way I feel when behind the wheel of my Discovery. I'd do it again, but I'd spend more and get one with the factory warranty.

 

[Timmy!!!!!!!]

Bought one and liked it so much I got another. Then I realized that I do a lot of repairs to it so I bought a volvo to drive around as a DD while I replace a few components on the rig.

 

[Alpine47]

Haha well thanks for most of the encouraging posts I'm even more excited about getting mine this weekend and the Land Rover community seems to be a really cool bunch making my purchase even more comforting. I'll post pics the day I get it and I plan on being a regualr here picking up knowledge and parts when I can. And the nay sayers a lot being my family can try and keep up with me on the trails if they can.

 

[EJB90]

I love mine. I've had it for about 7k.

Its not comfortable, probably won't be as reliable as most cars, andnot cheap to fix (but at least you can fix it). It just has that lovely rover charm to it.

The only thing I regret is all the rednecks that try to make fun of me. I saw one of them that constantly makes fun of my car broken down on the side of the road today on a back road. I waved and just kept driving as I laughed to myself. Not only does he make fun of my car, but he has a giant confederate flag decal on the back of his truck.

 

[varova87]

ive owned mine for about a year. i havent driven it in 3 months becuase it needs a new block and im a broke college kid. ive got a honda till the rover gets fixed. the disco was, and still will be, my DD.

regrets? hahaha, please. i regret that I didnt save enough money to fix this if it ever happened. the last three months have been HELL not having her. i dont feel like a badass on campus anymore, and i cant go up in the mountains for a weekend unless its on foot.

i drove it long enough to tease myself, then she broke. she'll be back one day. and when she is, so will my good moods!

 

[EricCo]

I will probably get in a world of hurt for saying this, but.....It seems that the D1s have less issues than the D2s. Or maybe they are just a bit easier to fix. My D1 so far has only broken things that are "non-essential"- for example, it likes to destroy EVERY stupid plastic washer in the power windows. Although it is nice enough to wait until I fix one to break another.

So, while I feel I am always fixing and tinkering it always gets me where I need to go. Of courese now that I have written this something important will break on the trail this weekend.....

 

[Colin hughes]

I bought a 1995 D1 as my first LR with 95,000 kms on it. Eight years ownership, 435,000 kms, it was great and dependable, only let me down once and that was in my driveway when the starter went south. Fifth gear blew out so I converted it to an auto box. Swapped the seats for a set from a 1993 RRC and enjoyed the ride even more. I've got a 97 P38 now and still miss the disco from time to time. Buy it and enjoy!

 

[DiscoDwayne]

No need for an OBD-2 scanner, he mentioned he is getting a 1995!
But x2 on everything that was said so far (eventhough I have a 1996 with OBD-2).

Good point.

 

[rmuller]

I've had my disco2 for 4 years... last year I really wanted a soft-top, and defenders were too expensive so I bought a 2002 Jeep Wrangler.. threw a 2" lift on it and 32s.. Yeah, it was nice because it was a convertible but I still found myself wanting to drive the Rover more.. i just felt like 'everyone else' with the jeep.. so recently I found a nice 1994 Defender 90 to replace it.. definitely enjoy driving that more then the Jeep.

Anyways, if you still want a Jeep.. I've got one for sale