| Author | Message | ||
     Chase Pursley (Iguitaryo1) New Member Username: Iguitaryo1 Post Number: 3 Registered: 02-2003 |
I?m in the market to buy a used SUV (ok, so maybe a Land Rover is not a ?suv? but whatever, you know what I mean). I have been looking at my different options, and I want to spend under $10,000. I was looking at jap cars because they are supposed to be reliable and all, then I stumbled across the Land Rover Discovery. I talked to my father about the Discovery and he gave me a speech about how Land Rovers and British made cars are poorly engineered, very unreliable, and expensive to work on. Is this true? Please clear this up for me because I really like the Discovery. I can get a disco that has low miles and is cheaper then a jap suv with a lot more miles. Why is this? Please explain the Land Rover reliability thing. Is it a myth, or is it true? Some people say they are crap, and others say they are amazing, high quality, tanks that will last forever and climb up trees. Please let met know so I can convince my father to let me buy a Land Rover Discovery. What is your experience with the LR Discovery I? | ||
| Corey (Discobro) Advanced member Username: Discobro Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2002 |
I don't know about climbing trees, but they will get you just about anywhere else. By far the "best 4x4xfar". As for reliability it depends on the condition of the rig you're wanting to buy. Check it out thoroughly - check to see if there are any major gashes or leaks in the underbody, specifically the transfer case, diffs, dampener and any part that may be suseptable to a good grinding if it was an off roader. Every year Disco has its + and - so do some research on the VIN to see if its had any major repairs. There are many websites that will give you a good check on the VIN for a few bucks. As far as being poorly engineered, the LRs have been around 50 years with the same 4x4 engineering (why change a good thing?). They can get spendy to work on however. And they scare the crap out of mechanics, mainly because of lack of knowledge. Majority of late model LR owners, especially Discos, do the maintenance themselves. They are actually the most straight forward engines I have seen in a newer vehicle (4.0L V8). The reason for the lower cost than a Jap car is that same reason as above. More common = more mechanics = higher demand from the average driver with not a clue about cars. To sum it up, if you're willing to put some effort into maintenance, I would recommend a Disco. If not, then go for others, but remember.... my winch will be pulling you out of the mud. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior member Username: Leslie Post Number: 1767 Registered: 02-2002 |
British vehicles are known for oil leaks and quirky electrical issues, true, but they are not poorly engineered, they're engineered with different priorities. These vehicles are built to be capable, durable, and self-maintainable. They are easy to work on, you can do most anything on them yourself with a basic set of tools and abilities. Ther are truly competent off-road unlike many other "SUVs". If you keep up with preventative maintenence, the vehicles can be very reliable... but if you let things slip, they can bite you in the rear later on down the road... do NOT engage in a deferred maintenence schedule! These vehicles can take a lot of punishment off-road and still get you home, they can last forever, and they can climb trees... Think of it like a fine woman... treat it well, and you will have more fun than you can imagine, but don't take care of it, and you'll be sorry! These things are ADDICTIVE! They are very fun, and versatile. But, when things get funky, you will either learn to roll with the punches and "laugh off" the quirkiness, or, it'll drive you nuts and you won't stand it anymore... it depends on what kind of fella you are... it either fits your personality, or it doesn't... Now, if you exclusively take it to the dealer, you're gonna pay out the nose on labor and parts. You can get most parts via the internet at quite a bit of $$savings, and do it yourself for even more savings. What you need to do is find someone close to you there in Georgia and check one out, see if you really like it or not... Thing is, my daily driver is a Subaru... it's more fun on the road, gets great mileage, and you don't have to worry about whether or not it's gonna have an issue today.... but, I'm not gonna take it through Tellico, either.... Just some things to think about.... -L | ||
| M. Recke (Disco_obsession) New Member Username: Disco_obsession Post Number: 101 Registered: 05-2002 |
Be a man and stand up to your Dad! LOL If you want it go get it!Try and find one that's been driven by a soccer mom. They have no offroad use and will be in pristine condition. Ok they do have quirks , oil leaks and lucas "Prince of Darkness " electrics,they do guzzle gas and you get low miles per gallon, but they can just about go any where if maintained properly.You will become one with your Disco. Most of the stuff like oil changes etc can be done by the confident home mechanic. Like Leslie said, keep the maintenance up and it'll save ytou $$$ in the long run. that's my 2 cents worth, then again I'm obsessed! | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Member Username: Charles Post Number: 123 Registered: 08-2002 |
That is the beauty of these vehicles. When someone has purchased a $40k plus vehicle, babies it, works out all the quirks during the warranty, and uses it to go to the mall then trades it in or sells for $11K in my eyes it is a steal. Some poor soul has already taken it in the bobo. I make sure my oil is changed every 3k without fail. Maintenance is key. These trucks are very easy to work on and parts from the internet are alot cheaper than the dealer. This board can probably diagnose any problems with your truck. Not to mention you will probably be known as the richest kid on the block. Look into 97-99 series I with low miles. Every now and then you will see trucks for sale on this board. You will know if you are getting a deal because rippoffs are usually called out. Good luck. | ||
| Jason T. Barker (Speedminded) Advanced member Username: Speedminded Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2002 |
Harley Davidson's leak and they ride like crap....it took them nearly 100 yrs before they hired Porsche to fix their problems...balance shaft for a smooth ride and re-engineering to seal the engine from that usual puddle of oil underneath. All vehicles have problems. I'm not saying the LR to BMW to Ford was a good or bad thing but Land Rover has been around for 50 years and it's the main vehicle for the general population and Army's all around the world. It's just a machine made of parts....All vehicles have problems, I don't think my Disco has any more than any other vehicle. Routine maintenance is the key....get out there and test drive a dozen differant vehicles. Have a mechanic (or even a LR dealer) check the one out you like, cost: $50-75 and they will find anything remotely wrong and give you a list or printout with cost of repairs if any. It's all about what you actually want. | ||
| Tom Rowe (Trowe) New Member Username: Trowe Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2003 |
Chase, I've been driving Land Rovers for over 25 years. Most of the time as my daily driver. I do ALL of my own work, except some of the esoteric computer stuff on my Disco. The only thing I've had a shop do in that time is last year the Charlotte dealer replaced two motormounts on my way back from a rally. Yes, Land Rovers can be addictive, you love them or hate them, sometimes both ;-) If you want to off-road alot or don't mind getting dirt under your fingernails doing your own work or want to buy an "SUV" for the image, get a Land Rover. If you want trouble free highway/street driving, you'd probably be happier with something else. Personally, I like the way Rovers are engineered, for the most part. For me, off-road ability is more important than the amount maint I have to do. More important than image, which I don't care about at all. If you get a Disco, keep visiting here, and also subscribe to the RRO mailing list. Hope to meet you at a Land Rover rally sometime. Cheers | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 24 Registered: 02-2002 |
chase. discos are very reliable. you just need a pocket full of cash.  not that the cash part has anything to do with the reliability.just DO IT!! | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 1873 Registered: 02-2002 |
that depends, Chase...are YOU reliable? | ||
| Bill K (Bill_k) New Member Username: Bill_k Post Number: 143 Registered: 08-2002 |
Go for it. get the LR. You'll be happier in the long run | ||
| Corey (Discobro) Advanced member Username: Discobro Post Number: 46 Registered: 12-2002 |
To sum it all up... again.... "Preventative maintenance" You take care of your baby, it'll take care of you. | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) advanced member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 376 Registered: 10-2002 |
I don't know where you live in GA, but check these guys out. http://www.bvlr.com/ They are located in Roswell, GA, I have spoken to them when I have been to Atlanta to visit family. Very knowlegable and decent prices on Land Rovers. | ||
| Greg French (Gregfrench) advanced member Username: Gregfrench Post Number: 190 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hang out on here and read through the archives. That will give you an idea of what breaks and how common any problems are. It will also let you see how to fix it. This is probably the best place to do some pre-buying research. Be an informed buyer. I was not when I bought mine. If I was, I probably would not have gotten one. Now that I have one and have fixed almost everything there is to fix on it, I love it. It is one of the things I love the most. I also hate it the most. Be informed. Buy if it suits you. Don't if it doesn't because there is nothing worse than when you give your father a reason to say "I told you so." | ||
| Land Rover Certified Used A**hole (Jason) advanced member Username: Jason Post Number: 277 Registered: 04-2002 |
Keep in mind that Murphy lurks everywhere. Anything that can go wrong will. It's not necessarily a Land Rover or British automobile thing (well, actually, it is), but don't be surpised when an expensive repair is suddenly needed. It's just a fact of life with ownership. Obviously, you can reduce the financial impact as mentioned above. Become your vehicles best mechanic, be keen on diagnosing new problems and take action to prevent others. Don't forget to sacrifice a chicken to Lucas and you're good! | ||
| Corey Shuman (One_bad_rover) Advanced member Username: One_bad_rover Post Number: 69 Registered: 09-2002 |
dont be scared off by the oil thing, my Disco doenst leak a drop, nor have I had any electrical problems, and I beat the snot out of it on a weekely basis...best truck- yes, truck, I have ever owned. | ||
| Corey (Discobro) Advanced member Username: Discobro Post Number: 48 Registered: 12-2002 |
Man Greg, you hit it on the head... you love em and hate em at the same time. (a little more luvin, otherwise we'd all be in Jeeps) | ||
| todd slater (Toddslater) Member Username: Toddslater Post Number: 201 Registered: 08-2002 |
Chase, Unless you are a good to excellent wrench and/or you have lots of $$$ to burn having others doing the wrenching...listen to your dad. My .02 | ||
| Chase Pursley (Iguitaryo1) New Member Username: Iguitaryo1 Post Number: 7 Registered: 02-2003 |
I talked to a rover mechanic and he had one comment. Land Rovers are not dependable transportation. I guess I will wait a few years untill Ford helps design a better engine for them. | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) advanced member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 381 Registered: 10-2002 |
OUCH! That hurt, we're hoping Ford leaves it alone! | ||
| Brian Friend (Brianfriend) advanced member Username: Brianfriend Post Number: 397 Registered: 09-2002 |
Chase, You probably ought to talk to more than one lr mechanic. and remember...the mechanic only see vehicles htat are already borken, he doesn't even think about the ones that are working fine. I have 112k miles on mine. The only things that have gone out on their own (I have broken a few things myself) are the strater at 119k and a power steering hose 111k. I replaced them both myself and I am not anything close to a mechanic. You need to ask yourself why you like the land rover, that will tell you if you should buy it or not. I fell in love with lr 2 years before I actually bought one. I talked myself out of it originally because I didn't think I could justify it. Too expensive, too much gas, too much manintnance. In that two year period I bought a mini van, 85 nissan pickup, geo metro, ols alero, suburbon. I hated every one of those stupid cars and the only one of those I have left is the mini van. I hate that too. In my attempt to be practicle I wasted SO much money. The costs that I see with the LR are far less than I spent on vehicles the two years prior. Just make sure that you understand why you want land rover. It is much more than a car. if you just need a car buy my minivan. | ||
| thom mathie (Muskyman) Senior member Username: Muskyman Post Number: 148 Registered: 11-2002 |
i also would take the mechanics word with a grain of salt....they very often fix them by the spehgetti method...step back and throw parts at them till either its fixed or the owner runs outa money. these trucks are easy to diagnose and easy to fix on top of that they use many standard service parts that can be sourced at napa or pep boys to save money the parts boxes dont have to have the green and white with all the different languages on them to work in a LR if you go get something else...you will drive around with LR envy, because it sounded like you really wanted one. best stock 4x4 I have owned...and I have owned a shit load of 4x4's | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) advanced member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 640 Registered: 08-2002 |
Chase, what are you going to use it for? Just on-road A to B stuff, then don't get it 'cause that's not what it was made for. Taking off-road and really using it, then yes, go for it. Just don't expect it to treat you like a car would, because a car it ain't! | ||
| Erik Olson (Jon) Advanced member Username: Jon Post Number: 302 Registered: 02-2002 |
Don't buy a Land Rover. They're difficult to maintain, expensive to run, insurance is about twice that of a minivan, and trucks like the H2 are far better vehicles for the money. Don't throw your life away. e | ||
| Will Bobbitt (Rkores) Advanced member Username: Rkores Post Number: 176 Registered: 09-2002 |
Ouch, Eric you are going to get burned on that one! Chase, when you own a LR you are pretty much in one of two catagories...The majority: People who only see pavement and don't know the difference between a Defender and Wrangler. The minority: People who go off-road, and don't mind turning a wrench. If you are in the first group, don't get it. If you are in the second group then go for it. I am 17, and I got my '89 Range Rover right after I turned 16. Just be prepared to put in some time...They are addictive. Will | ||
| Steve (Steve2) New Member Username: Steve2 Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2002 |
chase please do not use the truncation for japanese. it offends me greatly. racism intended or not can end with us as a generation and society. it is something that is passed down and learned. if we stop it now - no one else will have to suffer from it. thank you steve | ||
| Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) New Member Username: Gearhead Post Number: 33 Registered: 04-2002 |
OK lets see. 99 d1, 96K miles. driven daily for work and play on weekends. Moderate off road. lots of hwy and city driving. Do all my own wrenching, a must if you plan to use as intended. Costs so far: Lots of gas Bake pads at 50K and pads & rotors at 96K Lots of gas Tires @ 60K Yes I got 60K out of stock Mich Lots of gas Oil & filter every 3K Lots of gas Tran & axle lub every year. Serp belt every 30K Lots of gas Sofar the least costly vehicle I have ever owned. By the way, did I mention lots of gas. I feel it's a very good daily driver but don't expect to drive it like a car because it's not. It's a truck with really nice interior and under powered on road but all that is quicky forgotton the first time you go off road and find your self saying " holy shit I drove though that " Gabe |
