What's going on with Discovery prices?

SCSL

Well-known member
Apr 27, 2005
4,144
152

At least based on this, they're going up. Considerably. Does this suggest some nostalgia for brand in light of a new fleet of grocery getters and luxury vehicles and the absence of a more rugged halo vehicle in the line-up?
 

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
Difficult to say. Personally, I’d like to see demographic data on who is actually buying these now at these prices.

Is it older people 50s-60s who are looking for a comfortable solid axle off-road vehicle that can be modded and worked on like their old CJ-5s of their childhood? Or is it the mid 30s guys who have made it in tech or other jobs and have disposable income and that itch they had as a young teenager that their parents never scratched by buying a luxury adventure mobile around the turn of the millennium? Or is it the D90 source types that only want a vehicle because it is rare and they like being different and want to stand out? Or is it people who are just trying to look like they’re into adventure and are exciting people, but the most exciting thing they ever did in life was go to college?
 

DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
More than likely people who have no idea what they're getting into. They see LR, roof rack, wench, and are all ohh. I'd bet that thing will be sitting in their local used car lot within a year.

That and/or people with more money than sense because you can find Disco's around here for a fraction of those prices.
 
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Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,212
462
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
More than likely people who have no idea what they're getting into. They see LR, roof rack, wench, and are all ohh. I'd bet that thing will be sitting in their local used car lot within a year.

That and/or people with more money than sense because you can find Disco's around here for a fraction of those prices.
Yes, however, how rust free are they?

Good to see the D1 prices increase.
 

Ed Cheung

Well-known member
Aug 23, 2006
1,584
2
Hong Kong
In terms of USD, I paid 4.5K for a DI back in 06. And just 2 days ago, I paid 3.6K for a 2000 DII. The branding really bringing up the prices for the old stuff over here as well.
 

DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
Yes, however, how rust free are they?

Good point. IDK. That said, those prices, given the Discovery's track record, are misguided IMO. That's a lot of money to pay for a vehicle that will drop a cylinder sleeve in the blink of an eye.

Edit. Looking at the location of some of those Disco's I kinda see why. My house is 300k here, there it would be 1.5 million. NY, Cali, ect....
 
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DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
D1 engine - not later DII.

IMHO mechanicals are easier to sort out than a rusted body.

There were more than a couple of DII's on that page going for some pretty steep prices.

 

Lake_Bueller

Well-known member
Aug 11, 2004
2,105
59
56
Beloit, WI
I keep contemplating putting my G4 on the market. But I just can't bring myself to sell it yet. With the peeling clearcoat, it needs a complete respray and a new headliner. My longer term plan is to do a complete restoration in the next 3-4 years. But for now, it's my "summer Rover". I bought a winter beater 2004 D2 with 165k miles (paid $1500).
 

DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
I may bash that Defender and LR in general, but I loved (love/hate actually) our Discovery. It was a cool vehicle, built like a tank so I felt comfortable with the fam in it. There were a lot of things to like. But, it still was under warranty when we bought it and I can't tell you how many times it left my house on a flatbed. When gas got to $4 it sat in the garage most of the time. Until on a trip into town it overheated and dropped a cylinder sleeve. The only way I would even consider buying another would be if it had pinned sleeves. And even then there are too much other choices that aren't going to be near the headache.

Anyway, if you're a gear head who enjoys working on his rides, or someone with enough disposable income then why not a Discovery. But I see a lot of people around here that are neither one of those driving them. Just some mook who found one on a lot and is like "look at me, driving a Rover". I'd be interested to see the Carfax on some of those Disco's and how many times they've traded hands.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
I keep contemplating putting my G4 on the market. But I just can't bring myself to sell it yet. With the peeling clearcoat, it needs a complete respray and a new headliner. My longer term plan is to do a complete restoration in the next 3-4 years. But for now, it's my "summer Rover". I bought a winter beater 2004 D2 with 165k miles (paid $1500).

It's too bad these things are so expensive to paint to a factory quality level. I know when I have mine sprayed, I'll be looking into protection options.

Fuck that... I'm not taking any chances after spending that much.

Nice to see there's another idiot out there who's about to restore a DII, though. That's half the reason I moved on the Golf so fast. I can't restore the DII until I've got something sensible to drive during the process. Even if I'm not doing most of it myself, it's going to be unavailable for some time.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
More than likely people who have no idea what they're getting into. They see LR, roof rack, wench, and are all ohh. I'd bet that thing will be sitting in their local used car lot within a year.

That and/or people with more money than sense because you can find Disco's around here for a fraction of those prices.

Sometime last month two people walked past mine in it's current condition and had a brief conversation about the value; which was estimated beyond ten times it's actual value. That's not the only time it's happened, either. Somehow, the perception in no way equals the reality.

I would assume it's these people that are snapping up old Rovers at ridiculous prices; but older SUVs in general are climbing in value as newly-bearded people decide to venture off-pavement and encounter hipsters telling them there's only one way to do it properly.

The '80s and '90s are about to get very expensive. It's that time, again.

Cheers,

Kennith