| Author |
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Joel H
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 12:24 pm: | 
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Hello all-
This sounds like a very active board so I really have some burning questions to ask about the D2's. I just got a boat so I need a solid tow vehicle. I have always loved how the Discos looked, and want one badly. I went to the dealership in my area recently to take a look and drive one. I actually really enjoyed how it drove, even at 65mph on the highway. I drive a BMW e46 3er currently, and I was not really let down with the D2's smoothness. It was great. So, I want to know what I should look for in a 2 year old D2. Apparently the dealer said that the one I drove had a bunch of gaskets replaced which is common?!?!?! If a D2 engine needs major engine gaskets replaced at like 26k then I am really worried about reliability issues. I don't want to be on the side of the road with the D2 every other day. PLEASE let me know what you all think of the 99-00 D2's in terms of reliability and towing. I can't afford much more than 25,000 after I sell my Bimmer, so a new one is out of the question. |
Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 12:39 pm: |
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Joel, I have owned E12's, E28's, E34's, E36/7's and currently own an E39 and E53. The LandRover is not quite up to the standards of any of the past BMW's I've owned but they will not leave you on the side of the road. Note I haven't owned an E46. The Disco will get you home but you may have the engine light on, leaks along the way and other minor issues but they'll get you home. They're also very easy to work on. If you look around here you'll get an idea for the kinds of issues that D2's have but keep in mind that most people here (myself included) don't baby these vehicles. We use them and put them to the test. For the most part the D2 is a good vehicle but there is a common issue with the valves that you'll find people talking about here. You're covered under warrantee so take advantage of it. My 1999 D2 has only gotten better with age.
For towing they're great vehicles with a very solid frame. You might also consider a CDL upgrade if you launch from very slippery ramps where the rear wheels are on slime at low tide. But I wouldn't expect your dealer to help you with that upgrade.
Bottom line if I was to do it over again I wouldn't think twice about owning another Land Rover. In fact the 1999-2000 Discoveries are probably the most current Land Rover I would buy in the US unless they make some improvements to the 2004 D2 (CDL) or bring back the Defender. You might even want to consider the earlier Discoveryies if you want to save some money as they have better axles and come with the CDL. |
Joel H
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 12:57 pm: |
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Al-
Great advice. I hate to sacrifice my BMW, but the boat is priority. I don't want to get some boring Tahoe or 4 runner. I was really happy with the fit and finish of the Discos that I looked at. I love the quirky interior with all the storage space and the dual sunroofs- such a neat car. The boat is 3500lbs with a tandem axle trailer. I think I will have to get one of those DiscoWeb stickers as well if I get the Disco because they look so cool! More advice please! |
Brian
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 02:46 pm: |
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Joel,
I have a 1999 Discover 1. I like the truck very much. Yes, there will be some minor issues with the truck; but, overall it is a solid vehicle. A Disco will leak to some degree during the time you own it. It will not leave you stuck. It's just like an old college friend, they might drink to much and show up a your door at five am. You will hate them at the moment; but you will be friends for life and they will always be there for you.
As far as towing goes, make sure that you get one with the trailer wiring harness installed. Land Rover is having some issues getting them right now. The Disco is rated to tow 5,500 pounds. They must have done the rating test on a slight downhill. I towed a 5,000 lb box trailer with mine and it definitely lost speed during long steady inclines. You might also consider some braking system on your trailer. they help considerably. The Disco has a relatively short wheelbase compared to a Suburban or Dually, the extra braking is a welcome.
Overall, I would say go for it. It's a nice truck to drive. It's different. It's easy to work on. And most important, they are fun to own.
Good Luck with you decision,
Brian |
charles pastrano (Charles)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 03:43 pm: |
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Once all the quirks are worked out they get better with age. I've pulled huge pallets of flagstone with my truck in excess of 6000lbs. No problems. A boat should be cake. Good luck.
Charles
97 DI |
andy Coleman (Andy99)
| | Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 10:37 pm: |
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I have a 99 D2 that I use for work. I own a portable rock climbing wall company, and if you have seen them, they are about 25 feet long when lying flat, and mine weight about 3500 on the trailer. I can tell you that the Landy pulls the walls very very well- up hiills on the highway, backing up on tight curves. No problems. On the other hand its the only V8 suv that I've owned so I have nothing to compare it to. Mine leaks. Big surprise there. Mine has 65k on it and I am nervous about trying to do my first head gasket repair myself. They are easy to work on, so if you are mechanically inclined, like to work on cars, or are rich and can pay a tech, then go for it. My landy is the last thing I would sell. |
Joel H
| | Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 11:36 pm: |
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Awesome. Keep em comin'. |
Kim S (Roverine)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 12:18 am: |
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Hmmmm, not trying to rain on anyone's parade here, just wondering ....
I have been given to understand quite the contrary about Disco's & towing. Joel, how heavy is your boat again? Once again, not trying to be a downer - I have no first hand experience with it as I've been flatly told the Disco isn't the one to tow a heavy load on a continuous basis with (??). Therefore, we don't tow with the Disco.
Kim |
Brian
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 01:02 am: |
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I agree with Kim, as I said in my earlier post, 5000 lbs and a 22 foot box trailer definitely taxed the disco. If you are hauling anything over a long distance or with long inclines, I would be careful making the Disco the main hauler. My Dually is the main tow vehicle for the race car and the assorted tools. I konw that my friends boat on his trailer is about 3800 lbs. Then you have to add all the things everyone else forgets, water skis, tubes, coolers, extra fuel, the six people you are taking, etc.
The Disco is an ok tow vehicle. I own a 1999 D1 and I will personally only tow the car when it is absolutely necessary. The Disco is great for the jet ski and the bike.
Very good truck overall. I would recommend it for many reasons; but, this is one of the few where you can do better for the same dollars.
Brian |
Todd Phenneger (Toddp)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 01:57 am: |
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I agree with everyone,
What I'm reading, and what I believe in my own personal experience is this.
There are obviously better tow vehicles. If you need a TOW vehicle for just towing then a F250 with a Big Motor or better yet a Diesel (or Dodge or Chevy) will be perfect.
But if you want an SUV that is stylish, good driving, comfortable, etc that you can tow your boat 20ft boat around with a D1 or D2 or RRC is a GREAT vehicle. I tow a 19ft Four Wins with a V8. Its in the 4000lb class everyone with a 19-20ft boat and trailer combo ends up in. It does great. on long grades I only get 60-65, milage isn't great, buy if your only going 30miles or so then who cares. I dont want to drive an F250 every day jsut to make my 10 tows a year better. But if you Tow Often and have a second car maybe an F-250 or other 2/4 / 1-ton would be better.
I do know this, our rover tow WAY better than any Ford Explorer, Jimmy, Jeep Cherokee, 4-runner, pathfinder, etc. Some of those have the power but they dont handle the weight very well. WIth 4000 lbs my rover handles GREAT. And with my new brakes (combined with trailer brakes) I can stop FAST when needed. "which is often in Bellevue and Seattle"
l8r
Todd |
Chris Browne
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 04:40 am: |
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Just one snippet I'll pass on to you based on a friend's experience with 5000lb boat-
When pulling the boat up the slip and out of the water use low range otherwise you'll start smelling burnt atf- which is what happened to the friend until I encouraged him to use low range.
Darn it if it didn't work..... |
Joel H
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 07:26 am: |
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Oh, yeah, I agree on the issue of it not being the ultimate tow vehicle. I will only be towing the boat 15 min to the lake every weekend in the summers. The only reason I was worried is that my friend's cherokee with the 190hp sixer has obvious difficulty pulling it anywhere. I'm hoping the disco torque and weight will make it better than the heep. |
John Moore (Jmoore)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 07:43 am: |
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I pulled a Pop Up, 1200 #'s, from Albany, NY to Prince Edward Island, to Cape Beton, Novia Scotia and then to Acadia Maine with my 88RRC. I logged over 2400 miles and it pulled like a beast and that was with a 14 year old 3.5 rover engine. It did get slow on long hills and sometimes would squat. These trucks can pull and are tough.
I also used the old Rangie to pull my 4500#, Chapparral 24" aft cabin from Albany, NY to Lake George. Approx. 40 miles one way. The trailer brakes were bad and I did smoke the brake on my Rangie on one steep hill. Make sure you have trailer brakes. But no problem towing. Plenty of torque.
Joel H, buy your Disco.
-John |
Steve Fesperman
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 10:07 am: |
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If you are looking for a vehicle to use for towing first and everything else second, the DiscoII is not the "best". Everyones message states that the truck slows on long uphills. It also drinks significantly more fuel (consider 15mpg as avg without boat).
Given the above, there are many other trucks more capable of towing than the DiscoII, get better gas mileage, cost less and have more room.
Steve '00 DII |
John Davies
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 10:28 am: |
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It seems as if no one here has addressed one of the most important factors: wheelbase.
A short wheelbase vehicle like a Disco (100 inches) is much less safe than one with a longer WB (like a 112 inch or longer full-sized truck). While I do not doubt that those of you using your Discos to haul heavy loads are happy with the setup, longer is better. Short WB SUVs in general suck at hauling heavy trailers safely. |
John Stecz
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 10:41 am: |
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I have a Disco 1 and a Suburban. I occasionally use the Disco to tow my 22ft tige (5500 lbs on trailer).
The Disco tows fine and I've never had the transmission overheating light come one, but I have to be patient in the hill country (around Austin)like 15mph up some steep hils, but it's fine on the flats.
The Suburban is much better, Whenever I'm towing to a lake that is farther away (Temple or Marble Falls), I use the Sub.
The Disco is capable (much better brakes for one thing), and is more comfortable, etc, but the Sub wins in towing comfort...
John S |
Matt Taylor (Whodatmatt)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 11:28 am: |
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I have to throw my hat in with those who say the disco isn't a great tow vehicle. It can do it, but I get the distinct feeling that it ain't happy about it. I feel guilty every time I make it pull the fishing boat. If you've ever towed with a tahoe or something you can feel the difference.
That said, get the disco anyway. Just treat it nice most of the time so when you do make it pull, it will forgive you soon after. |
Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 12:10 pm: |
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I have a 4000 lb boat/trailer. I tow it with a '99 Isuzu Trooper or the RRC. Either is OK. The Trooper has torque converter lockup in 3rd which keeps the transmission cooler. (Overdrive 4th is too tall and usually not recommended for towing).
I agree with the comment to put the transfer case in low range on steep ramps. It moves the stress to the axles, which can handle it better.
Without a doubt a longer wheelbase vehicle is more stable, especially during braking, and frankly a Tahoe will tow it more comfortably in my opinion. I had a '99 F-150 with 5.4l and I can tell you it didn't even breath hard in comparison and was lower stress on longer drives.
That said, I originally towed the boat with a '93 GMC pickup. It was stable due to the long wheelbase, but I would say similar in power (it had the 160 hp V-6) to the Rangie. We towed the boat through the mountains in Pennsylvania with my foot to the floor for long periods, like 45 mins at a time. Never had any problems (I mean none!) through 135K miles. So pushing the engine hard does not necessarily mean reduced longevity. |
Pete
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 03:45 pm: |
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Does the D2 or in that case any LRs have transmission oil coolers? Sorry if that is a stupid question but I really don't know if they do or not so I need to find out sometime!! |
Jim
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 04:00 pm: |
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My .02,
I tow a 5500lb, 25' sailboat up and over AZ mountains (albeit on pavement) with my '94 D1 with no problems whatsoever. Big mountains do require givin' it the spurs to maintain speed but it'll do it easily.
Braking is a little slow though, even with trailer surge brakes.
Good luck.
Jim |
John Stecz
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 04:28 pm: |
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Discos have a •••••• cooler, otherwise they would never survive towing...
Don't get me wrong on towing with the Disco, it's not a matter of towing being harder on it than on other vehicles, it's just a design compromise, longer wheelbase and different gearing, help other vehicles tow better, but you also lose off-road capability for those exact (and other) reasons. |
Joel H
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 07:06 pm: |
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Welp, I've decided. I'm getting the Disco and that's it. There's one sitting outside my window in the parking lot right now (someone elses) and man it is beautiful. I'm putting the for sale sign on the bimmer this weekend! I'll show yall pics whenever I finally get it.
-Joel |
joeylovela@aol.com
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 10:37 pm: |
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Joel, I have two words for you...
EXTENDED WARRANTY
Joe
99 Disco II |
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