| Author | Message | ||||||
     Zach Graham (Geekonbike) New Member Username: Geekonbike Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hello All, First time poster, long time reader. Anyway, I had a quick question that you guys may be able to help me out with. I'm a college student up in Minnesota and have become fascinated with the Land Rover Discovery. It appears as though it has all the qualities that I would be looking for Cargo hauling (Avid Cyclist/Runner/Camper), a unique style that is super cool and Safety. I'm used to less than stellar gas mileage as I Have a dodge dakota w/ a v8 now but I would be worried about the reliability issues that seem to plague the rover, I don't want to have to spends thousands on nagging problems. Is the rover a realistic choice? I've got a budget of about $8000. Any comments or suggestions would be great Thanks, -Zach | ||||||
| Joe Still (Joedisco) Member Username: Joedisco Post Number: 130 Registered: 09-2002 |
Zach, they are good solid vehicles IMHO. Other than a few lemons you will hear about, most of us have gotten long life. That said you will spend money or learn to be handy with tools cause it's a steady procession of small (for most of us) things. Stay away from modified or off road rags. Get a retired Mom's soccer taxi like I did. Then you take it off road. I'm from the South and don't know about rust from winter. I'd buy one from down south on ebay if I were you. Don't spend all your money. Keep $1,000 for steering gear, alternator, and misc. | ||||||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 811 Registered: 02-2003 |
If you are reasonably handy and know how to do routine maintenace and basic repairs, a used Disco may be a good choice for you. If you need to go to a dealership for everything, it will be costly. I don't necesarily agree with the notion of staying away from offroaded rigs, as they tend to be maintained better than lease returns or soccer mom trucks. If you find a Disco you are seriously considering, post back here with details about it, such as year, asking price, known issues etc. We should be able to give you some advice on whether it is a good deal or not. - Axel | ||||||
| Jamil Abbasy (Jamooche) Senior Member Username: Jamooche Post Number: 275 Registered: 05-2003 |
Zach, I have a preowned 1999 D2 that i got last year. It the 4th vehicle I have owned and by far the best. I not only got it for wheeling, but for the same reasons you list above. It's just a great truck for hauling skis, bikes, and other gear. I agree with Axel that people put more maintenance into their offroaded trucks. I also read like crazy for a couple years before I actually bought the Disco. I wanted to know all the options, issues, drawbacks, etc, before I bought into it. And I can tell you it's well worth it. Jamil | ||||||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 164 Registered: 10-2003 |
I would agree with what the others have said. I would imagine the Disco will be just as trouble free and reliable as a domestic offering such as your Dakota or a Jeep. It may be less so than a Japanese product though. Seriously, if you are decent with tools the Disco is very easy to work on compared to other offerings. Expect to live with some stuff such as oil leaks, pretty much all are easy to fix except the rear main, so you may want to find one that has had the rear main replaced. I think the best advice anyone can give is simply to choose wisely. Although you may want to jump at your first sighting, compare lots and you will notice the differences showing whether it is a well maintaned vehicle or a neglected one. YOU DON'T WANT A NEGLECTED ONE! I agree with Axel, enthusiasts usually do some wheeling and will make mods to suit, but enthusiasts also usually take better care and give more attention to their trucks. Just don't buy shined shit from a dealer. I like the private market because individuals are less apt at covering up problems. Good Luck. | ||||||
| Ryan Graham (Ryangraham) New Member Username: Ryangraham Post Number: 5 Registered: 01-2004 |
I am a college student myself and own a 95 D1. Honestly, like the other posts, get one if you can do a majority of the work on it yourself. One major benefit to a college student though is that the chics love 'em. | ||||||
| Ken Rountree (Krountre) New Member Username: Krountre Post Number: 3 Registered: 01-2004 |
I have not experienced the "high upkeep" you often hear of. I, too, bought a '98 soccor mom unit about 3.5 years ago with 65K on the clock. I do most of the maintenance, and my experience from farming is that regular maintenance is the key to long life. (and yes I learned that the hard way.) I've got 123K on it now and the only problem I had was around 80K when it dropped a lifter on an exhaust valve. I live 3 hours from a dealer, but just happened to be about 3 miles from the selling dealer at the time (talk about good timing for a bad problem.) Good thing I've found about Rover dealers is that they have the best mechanics I've seen at a dealer and keep parts in stock. They had pulled the head, replaced the bad parts, checked the head and had me back on the road in a little more than a day. I've had to wait long for a ford dealer to service a truck. For normal stuff, its as easy to work on as a tractor, and about as reliable. | ||||||
| Brian O'Connor (Hooky) Member Username: Hooky Post Number: 64 Registered: 09-2003 |
Zach, I was stationed in Germany when the Disco wasn't even offerd to the US market, so I know where you are coming from - it was a dream to see one on US soil. These days there is a bunch of Discos out there so if you can take your time with finding a good one do so. Once you do be sure to keep up with it, that'll save you more in the long run. But I I have to be honest, they can be spendy to get fixed - not sure how handy you are, or are willing to be... That being said mine could be availible in the near future, being a third car and I'm looking at another potential European assignment in the eyes... :-) More seriously though, sure get one, but be sure to go over it, and not get hung on any one in particular! | ||||||
| Brian O'Connor (Hooky) Member Username: Hooky Post Number: 65 Registered: 09-2003 |
BTW Zack I'm a bike geek too. With some clever thought - 4 moutain bikes can fit in the back of the Disco I with the rear seats up and holding passengers! Otherwise 2 road bikes fit in upright and sideways with the front wheels off, or the same for MTB but they need to be saddle down. sorry to highjack your tread dude, but I just noticed your nick name... BTW what are you riding? | ||||||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 167 Registered: 10-2003 |
Zach, you might want to check this out. I dont think it is too far away from you. ../12/41463.html"#333333"> | Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Senior Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 357 Registered: 08-2003 |
I'm a HS junior, and my disco makes a great locker.  Plenty of room in the back to put those 200lb text books. Once you get a roof rack, you can put your bike up there too. | ||||
| BJ Turner (Wturner) Member Username: Wturner Post Number: 247 Registered: 02-2002 |
NO! I AM a student and love mine, but it is not for someone with a budget, TRUST ME. | ||||||
| Jamil Abbasy (Jamooche) Senior Member Username: Jamooche Post Number: 277 Registered: 05-2003 |
I'm a student too and my bank account seems to be leaking ever since I got the D2. Matthew...I did that "car locker" thing too in HS, and everyone made fun of me for it. Had a Volvo 850R back then. | ||||||
| Victor (Vabiro) Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 164 Registered: 10-2003 |
Zach, I purchased my '98 a year ago with 65k km. from a LR dealer. This was a mixed blessing. It was probably more expensive than if I bought it privately, but the history was available and the dealer wasn't going to disappear anytime soon. I have had excellent luck with mine (knock wood), only having to free up the diff lock and pre-emptively replace the water pump. They are very easy to work on if you are patient and willing to learn. Having said that, it is a 4 wheel drive vehicle, and has a lot more things to go wrong than a 2WD. Regarding the soccer mom vs. off roader, mine had just come back from lease and had been a soccer mom special, complete with the child seat anchor over the back door. Last week I stopped by the dealer and got them to give me the service records. Every bump and creek the owner complained about was documented, including it having been stolen and spending one and a half months in the body shop (I'm going to find out more about that for sure). One of the most important things is that the truck was well maintained, and having access to that history let me know many things that I wouldn't have been able to find out in a private sale, except with a very honest vendor. Victor | ||||||
| Ian Kreidich (Ian95rrc) Member Username: Ian95rrc Post Number: 134 Registered: 03-2003 |
"One major benefit to a college student though is that the chics love 'em."  Not in my town.  | ||||||
| Jansen Young (Brucewee69) New Member Username: Brucewee69 Post Number: 6 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hey I was in your exact same position two weeks ago. I am a college student at USC. Girls absolutely love them and it they are fun as hell to drive but read my post titled "serious problem 95 discovery" and make your decision. If you do get one make sure it is runs well and you are dedicated to keeping it well serviced because most college students would rather go out and get shit faced every night rather than check fluids every week | ||||||
| Lee R. Byrd (Mobile) Member Username: Mobile Post Number: 66 Registered: 07-2003 |
I am graduating college this year (I can see the light ). I bought a 99 Disco II to replace my CJ-7. The jeep just was not reliable enough for a daily driver. I loved it but... I have put 8k miles on the rover. It has 62k on it and so far no major problems. If you can do basic mechanic work, mostly maintenance and bearing related junk, you should be fine. Carfax is your friend! I got my rover from a non-rover car dealer, more $ than if bought from an individual. I bought a killer extended warranty from the seller. They were not a rover dealer at the time but are now. I researched and decided on a DII. My local dealers, used and new, told me a lot of DI's had electrical gremlins. (Calm down DI owners. We have tensioner pulley and ACE gremlins) I also had the ability to research the service history through the dealer. By buying from a reputable non-rover car dealer I saved about $5,500.00. PS: There are a lot of people, myself excluded, that know a LOT about rovers on this board. They can be very useful, resourceful, and honest...brutally honest. Good luck looking | ||||||
| Zach Graham (Geekonbike) New Member Username: Geekonbike Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2004 |
Thanks for all your help! Discoweb is probably one of the best resources I've found for any car. I think I'll be making the plunge for a disco this summer (I'll be out east for an internship). I'm relatively mechanically inclined as I am a bike mechanic...but the Disco would be a few notches up on the complexity scale. For now I think I'll keep my eyes and ears open for a Disco that would be in good shape. I don't really mind the upkeep, frankly, I'd rather work on a bike or car than go out and waste my money on booze....hey if i'm gonna sink money into something it might as well be a sweet rig! -Zach |
