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Corey (Discobro)
Member
Username: Discobro

Post Number: 205
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 02:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Just wondering how many of you Discoheads rate the Jeep in comparision of overall reliability on and off road to the Discovery.

Anyone???
 

Bill Howell (Billh13)
Member
Username: Billh13

Post Number: 88
Registered: 03-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 07:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Jeeps are more reliable than Discos as everyday drivers. You just can't be as cool in a Wrangler.
 

Chris Marcel (Gumarcel)
Senior Member
Username: Gumarcel

Post Number: 502
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 07:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Yes everyone has a wrangler with a lift and such, but how often do you see rovers taht way!? Rovers are much cooler!
 

M. K. Watson (Lrover94)
Senior Member
Username: Lrover94

Post Number: 829
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 07:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

i disagree, i drive my Disco everyday, both as a means of traveling to and fro work as well as long trips on the weekend. for the past 45k it has required a few repairs but i bought a hi-mileage truck and that was to be expected. the modern Land Rover is in fact a reliable vehicle, it like any other motorized carraiges require service and in that is the key to reliabilty and longevity.


mike w
 

Craig Devenport (Craigd)
New Member
Username: Craigd

Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 08:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have a Sahara and a discoII. Disco II hands down less problems, better running. However disco's turning radius is a pain in the butt, and the Sahara get's better mileage.
I loved my sahara til I got the disco, now I never drive the jeep.
 

Bill Howell (Billh13)
Member
Username: Billh13

Post Number: 90
Registered: 03-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 09:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

After I posted I got to thinking about my post. See, I traded my raised 2000 Jeep Wrangler in on my 96 Disco. I did alot of research before making the trade (reading Discoweb) and I have had to do tons of little things (adjust locking knobs, change from oil to grease in cv balls, fix keyless entry, reset SRS, fix sun roof, replace belt tensioner bearing, replace power steering hoses and reset engine light). I still like my disco better. More power, more room, a shit load less road noise, and most important I look cooler.
 

David Seger (Croakus)
New Member
Username: Croakus

Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 10:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I traded a 1999 Cherokee on a 2001 Disco.

In short because I would have had to spend $10,000 upgrading the Jeep for off-road and I still would not have had a LR.

What really got me was the test track at the dealership. When we went on the lean I just knew my Jeep would have tipped. And every Jeep mechanic I talked to said there's nothing you can do to keep a Jeep from tipping over - it just happens. Well, not in my opinion; you can trade it for a LAND ROVER!

Oh! I almost forgot. I also look cooler.
 

Milan (Milan)
Member
Username: Milan

Post Number: 211
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 08:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have a 98 TJ/Wrangler. Way more reliable than the Disco. Fewer leaks too. It went over the local LR track better than the Disco and is better offroad as well. I'm not so sure I look "cool" in a stock Disco either. The Disco is gutless, does not turn well, does not like water, etc. But I love them both almost equally.

I feel the TJ is a better "runabout", quicker off the line, easier to park, easier on gas. Disco is better as family vehicle or LONG distance hauler/highway cruiser.
 

Mike Rupp (Mike_rupp)
Member
Username: Mike_rupp

Post Number: 202
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 09:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Milan, I'm interested in your comment "It went over the local LR track better than the Disco." Would you please describe how it did it better?
 

Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
Senior Member
Username: Leslie

Post Number: 2269
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:26 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I've had 2 Jeeps (an XJ and a FSJ) and two Discos... I've had less trouble out of the Rovers than the Jeeps. Both Jeeps had engines replaced, dead trannies, chronic issues. The Rovers, while having odd niggling things, had and have thus far been minor issues.

And, I hate to say, I've heard worse about newer Jeeps than the older Jeeps even....

FWIW....

-L
 

Mike Rupp (Mike_rupp)
Member
Username: Mike_rupp

Post Number: 203
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I had a '93 Jeep Cherokee. The thing had wonderful flex. Not suspension flex, but body flex. When going offroad, even on the easiest of trails, the body would creak and groan. At about 100k I had to replace two sets of door hinges.

It makes me so happy when I can get out of my Disco when the suspension is so flexed that tires are off the ground and the doors still shut the same as when its on level ground. To me, long-term durability is more important than getting over one obstacle.
 

Milan (Milan)
Member
Username: Milan

Post Number: 212
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 11:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Mike,
It did not lean as much on the off camber and it did not slip a wheel coming out. A DII with ETC got stuck coming out because the front wheel got too light. A DI would have spun the front wheel in the same situation but probably would have kept going.
 

Michael (Donkey_boy)
New Member
Username: Donkey_boy

Post Number: 3
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 12:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Here my experience, with a couple of Land Rovers when I lived in Europe and my current Jeep Grand Cherokee:
- Of my 2 newer Land Rovers, (the 25 years old Series IIA does not count), one was very reliable and the other one became pretty reliable after I paid for the lack of maintenance of the pre-owner. My Grand is doing great so far.
- It's true that there are many modded Wranglers (90% posers, 10% trailrigs), but there are very few lifted Grands. Therefore coolness factor of a trail prepared Disco and a trail prepared Grand Cherokee is about the same.
- Off road: The times I wheeled with similarly prepared Discos (2" lift, little bit bigger tires, skids, rockrails) we were pretty darn even. Nice thing about the Disco I that you can cut off the airdam pretty easy, as for the Grand, you either deal with the low OEM plastic bumper or invest $$$ in an aftermarket.

IMHO the competition between Disco and Grand is pretty much a dead heat. It really comes down to personal liking.
 

Milan (Milan)
Member
Username: Milan

Post Number: 213
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I myself would not even consider the Cherokee Sport or the Grand Cherokee becuase of their unibody construction. That's actually one of the reasons why I got the Disco in the first place. So, when I compare to Jeeps, I compare to Wranglers and then I should really be comparing a D90 to the TJ/Wrangler. IMHO, in the "bus" category, the Disco really has no competition from Jeeps (or much else for that matter). Reliability be damned. :-)
 

Jim Reynolds (4x4xfar)
New Member
Username: 4x4xfar

Post Number: 29
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 03:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Lemon Law 1999 Grand Cherokee V8, replaced by 1994 Disco, a few problems but all in all less than the "new" J**p. The power was awesome on the J**p but it ended there, Of course LR addressed that for 2003.
 

Justin (Vanroth)
Member
Username: Vanroth

Post Number: 42
Registered: 02-2003
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 03:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Well, owners of both discos and jeeps will tell you sometimes you get a lemon and sometimes you get one that is solid as a rock. This is pretty true of any vehicle (yes even toyota's have lemons ;)).

But by looking at the overall picture, jeeps are far more reliable than disco's or Land Rovers in general. It really isn't even a matter of contention as their reliability ratings speak for themselves.

As far as my personal experience goes (which like I mentioned above, doesn't mean much overall), both my Disco II and '80 CJ-5 have been very reliable. Nothing yet has broken on either (although I replaced the slow but still running jeep engine with a chevy 350).

-justin
 

Daniel Covaciu (Danielcovaciu)
Senior Member
Username: Danielcovaciu

Post Number: 259
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 05:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

How much comparison is there between a disco II and a 1980 Jeep? LOL
 

Tony Zuniga (Tony23007)
Member
Username: Tony23007

Post Number: 57
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 09:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Asking a question like that in a Discovery based web page will always be biased, that is except from the occassional J**p owner that put's his/hers 2-cents in the pot. To get a true meaningful survey you also have to post the same question in a Jeep based web page that way you can get both sides of the story with out one being biased. With that said I love my disco and there is not other SUV out there that looks as cool or plows through mud like a Land Rover, it's a plain known fact Rover's are made specially for Off-Road purposes first hand and on-road second.
 

Milan (Milan)
Member
Username: Milan

Post Number: 215
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

"it's a plain known fact Rover's are made specially for Off-Road purposes first hand and on-road second"

You mean with no lockers, ECU sensitive to water, no real protection underneath and such? :-)
 

Alan Yim (Alan)
Senior Member
Username: Alan

Post Number: 539
Registered: 09-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Milan - i'm sensing more of a hate than love relationship you have with your Disco. :-) How's it going in Cowtown?
 

Alan Yim (Alan)
Senior Member
Username: Alan

Post Number: 540
Registered: 09-2002
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Tony - don't forget that the first LR was built off a Jeep chasis.
 

Tony Zuniga (Tony23007)
Member
Username: Tony23007

Post Number: 64
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

My 95 has CDL, I've treaded through water with no problems, and yes my exhaust system looks pretty banged up but I've never gotten stuck in the mud and furthermore I even pulled my brothers Montero out of two inch thick mud?
 

Matthew Gibson (Mattgibson)
New Member
Username: Mattgibson

Post Number: 17
Registered: 06-2003
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 07:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I've had my 96 Disco for over a year and a half. Has 190,000 miles. My friend w/J**p 99 Wrangler has had had nothing but problems.

It all boils down to preventative maintainence.

A LR Disco takes over twice as much maintainence as any other vehicle. If you're OK with that, get one. More oil, more lube, more little things that have to be addressed each service.

Don't expect more power, just more longjevity if you keep the basic idea of service in mind.

That goes for any vehicle.
 

Milan (Milan)
Member
Username: Milan

Post Number: 216
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 08:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Alan,
It's definitely more love than hate, otherwise I would not have it. I just replaced the t-stat again - well I really just ripped the "fail-safe" feature off of the one I put in last time. Found a Chevy t-stat ($10) and a Ford gasket ($0.99) as a perfect match. Disco is treating me very well right now, so we'll see for how long. I just don't buy the "be all, end all" attitude of some brand loyalists (be it Jeep or LR or anything else for that matter). :-)

The Jeep I love and hate also. But when I hate it, it's for different reasons. Reliability is not one of them (so far anyway). Things are kind of OK here for now. Hope to squeeze in a camping/wheeling trip and a mini-vacation soon. How are things with you?

Shoot me an email at milans37@hotmail.com.
 

Brendan Kearns (Howboucha)
Member
Username: Howboucha

Post Number: 76
Registered: 01-2003
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 09:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I traded my 97 Cherokee that was in awesome condition for my 95 Disco. I like the Disco much better. The Jeep was okay and performed well for me. The lack of leg room in the rear and shorter headroom wasn't a plus. It just felt too small.

BTW, my mom was very instrumental in the 98 Lemon Law recall for the Cherokee's. Her unit was on of the first "Nightmare" units for Jeep. Everything went wrong on it. She ended up with a newer unit.

I am sold on Disco's now after my rollover on Friday. Photos at www.redbirdsra.com/disco.htm. I wouldn't have crawled out as easy if I did the same thing in my Cherokee.

Brendan
95 Disco that is all crumbled up. :-(
 

Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
Senior Member
Username: Paulschram

Post Number: 1631
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Brendan:
Sorry to hear about your truck, you did it far more dramatically than my gentle roll!

E-mail me please.

Peace,
Paul

Oh yeah, I haven't owned a J**p, but the Rover is a lot more truck than my Blazer and my Chevy pick-up.
 

Chris Marcel (Gumarcel)
Senior Member
Username: Gumarcel

Post Number: 512
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Paul you have pictures of your roll? Oh yea I get the rover back today!
 

Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
Senior Member
Username: Paulschram

Post Number: 1632
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 11:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I was more concerned with getting the truck upright! The only damage was the breakage of one of the bolts holdingthe rear fender to the rear of the truck. If you didn't know it happened, you'd never know it. I suspect that the tires and rims took the brunt of it.

Most of the time, I'm too freaked out to even think of getting pics until it's too late.
 

Chris Marcel (Gumarcel)
Senior Member
Username: Gumarcel

Post Number: 513
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

well that is good, the gentle roll is better then kearns!!
 

Regis Dean (Bent_victor)
New Member
Username: Bent_victor

Post Number: 6
Registered: 02-2003
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 11:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have a '97 Disco and an '03 Grand Cherokee. The Disco drives like a tank (I love it). The GC drive like a car (feels wimpy). While the disco has its share of over the road noises, it is basically due to the off road tires. While the new Jeep is replete with knocks, creaks, and squeeks that I would have not expected from a new vehicle. As far as fit and finish goes, I would have to give the nod to the Disco as well. The Jeep is "nimble," but the Disco is a tank.
 

Alan Yim (Alan)
Senior Member
Username: Alan

Post Number: 553
Registered: 09-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 12:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have to agree with Regis about the "feel" of the vehicles. I had a brand new JGC late last year for about a week while my Disco was in the body shop getting some rust work done. The JGC felt very "light" and the truck pitched forward a lot when breaking, especially when coming to a corner. The power was nice but other than that, I didn't like it. The hood looked enormous from inside and it felt like a tomb everything was so dark. The Disco feels heavier and more connected to the ground. I couldn't wait to get my truck back. I actually tried to return the JGC after two days for a car. That thing sucked gas worse than a LR which surprised me a bit.
 

Luis Constantin (Luisc)
New Member
Username: Luisc

Post Number: 22
Registered: 02-2003
Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 01:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

One question for you. Why do you think that Camel Trophy used Jeeps for just one Trophy, the first one in 1980? After that they went to Rovers. I looked at several SUVs. I settled on the MB ML320. Was one of the first to own one in Austin. Was a really nice car. Wasn't long before things went wrong. Started thinking,"What if I was in the middle of no where? Could the vehicle get me back safely with all those electronics to go wrong?" Sold it and got a LR D1. At least it is simpler to work on.

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