Will I ruin my financial future? Potential first time buyer looking for advice.

GrantD20

Member
Feb 7, 2020
10
0
California
Would you just take it to a shop to get an idea of immediately necessary repairs?
And what about buying out of state. Could you just have a mechanic check it out before going to look at it in person?
 

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
Would you just take it to a shop to get an idea of immediately necessary repairs?
And what about buying out of state. Could you just have a mechanic check it out before going to look at it in person?

Yes. While you might repair or even improve a lot of things as time goes by, you probably don't want something that's going to overwhelm you immediately. Having a rover shop (best), general shop (good), or enthusiast (better than nothing) look at it is a very good idea. I'd only buy out of state if it looked far more promising than anything local, and I'd ask someone local to look at it before traveling. However, you're in LA, one of the best markets to buy these from.
 

Harv

Well-known member
I think some neglect is ok, especially if it's only been the last couple of years. All 3 of mine had been neglected, but the price reflected that and I was able to get on top of them without too much work (except the 2A). The plus side of neglect is that they didn't come with bodge jobs from a well meaning enthusiast, which can be worse than neglect.
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
Maybe you can get real, real, real lucky and find a Series in decent shape. I had one when I was a young punk with no dough and kept it going n.p. It was my daily driver and I wheeled it a couple times a month. I did see one last year out of Phoenix that looked just off the a showroom floor for around 10K. I still kick myself,. Somebody hit the jackpot.
Starting out on a D2, well, wait for one with a rebuilt engine with top hat liners. They come around. Check with AZLRO club and the Socal Rover clubs.
Then there are the 5-speed D1's. A top hatted 5-speed would be the new jackpot.
 
Last edited:

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
Maybe you can get real, real, real lucky and find a Series in decent shape. I had one when I was a young punk with no dough and kept it going n.p. It was my daily driver and I wheeled it a couple times a month. I did see one last year out of Phoenix that looked just off the a showroom floor for around 10K. I still kick myself,. Somebody hit the jackpot.
Starting out on a D2, well, wait for one with a rebuilt engine with top hat liners. They come around. Check with AZLRO club and the Socal Rover clubs.
Then there are the 5-speed D1's. A top hatted 5-speed would be the new jackpot.

lol, a Series? Things have changed a lot since you were a wee lad. Sticker prices are 10x a D1. Parts are more expensive, lower quality, often unavailable. Driving standards have evolved too far in a city like LA to be practical in daily duty.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Howski

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
838
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
Would you just take it to a shop to get an idea of immediately necessary repairs?
And what about buying out of state. Could you just have a mechanic check it out before going to look at it in person?
You live in LA, dude. There's zero need to look for a truck out of state; and, given your situation, I would never even consider a D2.
There's plenty of competent Land Rover independent shops in and around LA; look up John Gadd, for instance - I am sure he'd find you a D1 or a Classic worth living with.

Maybe you can get real, real, real lucky and find a Series in decent shape.
And it will cost you 10 times a decent Disco. You won't ever be able to merge to any of SoCal freeways, and any left turn at the end of the green light will be horrifying.
 

GrantD20

Member
Feb 7, 2020
10
0
California
What are the "obvious" reasons?

They’re really cool.
The normal reasons people love them. Comfort, off road capability, “character,” etc...
I figured that on a Disco forum there would be some obvious things that we all like about them.
 
Last edited:

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
They’re really cool.
The normal reasons people love them. Comfort, off road capability, “character,” etc...
I figured that on a Disco forum there would be some obvious things that we all like about them.

Right. To some the obvious reason is they watched a Camel Trophy video on YouTube and instantly had to have one at any cost. For others the obvious reason may be that they're a cheap SUV, at least initially. This does not usually result in a happy long term relationship.
 

FatMcNasty

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2006
204
63
Southern Oregon
Right. To some the obvious reason is they watched a Camel Trophy video on YouTube and instantly had to have one at any cost. For others the obvious reason may be that they're a cheap SUV, at least initially. This does not usually result in a happy long term relationship.

Yup lots of special tools needed, test equipment, then if on a 95 you will need to build adapters to get the test equipment to talk to the ECU's. For me its the CT vids. Started watching them back in 92. Ive had my 95 DI since 03, I have a mechanic background (.mil). And its a LOT of work to keep it a daily driver. TONS of PMCS weekly done on it. Think high maintenance girlfriend, its about the same.
Im not trying to talk you out of it, just giving you the facts so its not a OH shit after the fact when your balls deep chasing an electrical problem.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
Buy the 300TDI Disco that Will Tillery is selling. That is a hell of a deal, even with shipping to CA. You won't have much in the way of engine-related electrical problems. It will also get you that much closer to the Camel Trophy.
 

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
Buy the 300TDI Disco that Will Tillery is selling. That is a hell of a deal, even with shipping to CA. You won't have much in the way of engine-related electrical problems. It will also get you that much closer to the Camel Trophy.
Would it be legal to register in CA?
 

Dave03S

Well-known member
Jun 22, 2012
62
2
Seattle, Wa
I agree with Tugela... Buy a cheap beater while you are in college... Buy a Rover after you land your first good job but before you get married.

I always answer the budget question with a round $2k per year for maintenance on average. This is if you pay someone to do the work. This figure may seem high but when it comes time to swap out the engine you will pay more for that than you likely will pay for the whole truck.

My experience comes from 13 years ownership and a mix of DIY and indy shops and over 200k miles driven. Sure I have a job which affords me this leaky wallet but in my mind it is cheaper and better than buying new every 5 years.
 

GrantD20

Member
Feb 7, 2020
10
0
California
Right. To some the obvious reason is they watched a Camel Trophy video on YouTube and instantly had to have one at any cost. For others the obvious reason may be that they're a cheap SUV, at least initially. This does not usually result in a happy long term relationship.

Im sure. That’s why I’m trying to get an idea of what ownership will look like.
 

bgbrox

Well-known member
Dec 25, 2016
63
8
Golden, CO
With a $7k budget and 100 miles a week driving (7k/year with roadtrip), I think you'll be fine. D2s will be worth at least as much in 2 years as they are now. Keeping it moving wont be more than $2k year. Accessories like lifts, bumpers, etc are not included in my estimate.

Spend $4.5k on a clean D2 with real maintenance records. Personally, I'd look for:
-good tires (replacements will cost about $1k
-head gaskets done more than 1 year ago but not more than 3 (HG done 3 months ago probably still overheats)
-no 3 amigos lights (if the PO loved it, they would have fixed it)

That said, I've lost a lot of money on cars so my advice might be dumb.


Edit: LA doesnt have much on CL. Go to SD and talk this person down:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: GrantD20

GrantD20

Member
Feb 7, 2020
10
0
California
With a $7k budget and 100 miles a week driving (7k/year with roadtrip), I think you'll be fine. D2s will be worth at least as much in 2 years as they are now. Keeping it moving wont be more than $2k year. Accessories like lifts, bumpers, etc are not included in my estimate.

Spend $4.5k on a clean D2 with real maintenance records. Personally, I'd look for:
-good tires (replacements will cost about $1k
-head gaskets done more than 1 year ago but not more than 3 (HG done 3 months ago probably still overheats)
-no 3 amigos lights (if the PO loved it, they would have fixed it)

That said, I've lost a lot of money on cars so my advice might be dumb.


Edit: LA doesnt have much on CL. Go to SD and talk this person down:
Cool, I’m not in the market to buy right now but I’ll keep all of this in mind when I am.