| Author |
Message |
    
Matt Collins (Njdisco)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 26, 2002 - 03:31 pm: | 
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Hi to all board members,
I am thinking of purchaseing a Disco around the 95/96years. This will be a weekend driver, and hopefully will see more trail mileage than street. I am not "new" to the offroading community however i have never owned a Landrover and need help finding a good trail Disco that i can build. For instance, are there any years that i should really stay away from? Likewise, did landrover improve some vital parts form one year to the next? All and all i'm looking for a good realiable truck to take me where the IFS's can't get to. I'm also concerned about certain years not having parts available, and having to do busniess w/ overseas companys, ex: a snorkle may not me imported to this country (USA) for 95 Disco, but 96's have lot's of aftermarket availabity.
Thanks to anyone who can steer me in the right direction, you have a great site here.
-Matt |
Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 26, 2002 - 04:01 pm: |
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Matt, I don't think you'll find much in the way of after market that won't fit one disco to the next when it has to do with the D1's. Lots of parts are even interchangeable with Defenders and Range Rover classics.
Post 1996 models seem to have less issues but there are people here with 1994 and 1995 Discos that use them as daily drivers with no complaints. |
perroneford
| | Posted on Thursday, September 26, 2002 - 04:08 pm: |
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Land Rover only makes large changes in generations. There are a few small changes year to year, and build quality seems to have improved over the years according to some on this board and others, but the 94-99 Disco's pretty much share all parts. And the newer Disco IIs share parts.
Now as for "reliable" well that's a horse of a different color. All Land Rovers are as reliable as your maintenance regimen. If you take care of your truck, it will be good to you. If you are slack with it, it will punish you!
Practically all parts for any Land Rover imported to the US can be had overnight if you want to pay for it. But don't be afraid of dealing with companies overseas. While vendors and shops in the US see Land Rovers as some exotic vehicle (they really aren't), in England they are the equivalent of a Jeep. Ordering parts from overseas can be incredibly rewarding.
You're example of the snorkle would never happen. If it fits a 94, it also fits every other first generation disco. Same with engines, trannys, axles, etc. All the basics are the same from year to year with a few minor exceptions.
Stick around on the site. There are a lot of good Disco owners that will be of great help to you. I own two LRs, but neither is a Disco.
Best of luck, and welcome to the family!
-P |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 26, 2002 - 04:24 pm: |
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Well....
True, there's not a lot of differences between Series I Discos, but, there are some.
They're usually lumped as '94-'95, which have the 3.9 V8, and '96-'99 which is the 4.0 V8. The 3.9 is a OBD-I setup with a distributor, the 4.0 is an OBD-II computer setup that is distributorless. The other differences are cosmetic mostly... rear turn signals, some trim, minor things.
Now, in '99, the Disco II was introduced, which is a bit different. You have to differentiate between a '99 DI and a '99 DII for that year.
Good luck,
-L |
Matt Collins (Njdisco)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 26, 2002 - 05:37 pm: |
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Thank's for all your advice, I've only just began to do my homework on the Disco's.
All advice is welcomed.
-Matt |
Cameron
| | Posted on Saturday, September 28, 2002 - 08:23 am: |
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If you want a "good reliable truck" you might consider a Toyota rather than a Disco. Some people have good luck with them, particularly those who are very attentive and take good care of them, but they are English after all. You should NOT buy a Disco if you are going to get upset everytime something breaks. It's mostly little stuff, but if you're not pretty laid back about fixing stuff you won't enjoy owning any Land Rover product. You will be happiest if you actually like to work on it yourself, and have fun tinkering with it, then the little things won't get you down so much.
That is quite different from say a Toyota, which is totally bulletproof, you just turn the key and drive and never think about it, and like that for years and years. On the other hand, Toyotas are pretty boring -- the Disco has character, has fantastic off-road capability right out of the box, has a much better suspension than any Toyota (soft, long-travel suspension which lets you just float over rough roads and trails), and will give you a lot of pleasure, as long as you can be philosophical about fixing it.
Land Rover was bought by BMW in 1993, and rumor has it that the BMW guys were steadily improving quality from about '95 on. So people say the later the better. But that's still pretty relative. |
Matt Collins (Njdisco)
| | Posted on Saturday, September 28, 2002 - 02:55 pm: |
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Cameron,
Thanks for the "thought" of getting a "toy" over a Disco. I agree w/ you that they are well made and run FOREVER!!! but... That's not what i want. Perhaps when i said i wanted realiable, i should have said "TOUGH". To be honest, why i really want a Rover is the solid front, and the rep that follows Rovers as being amazing 4wd trucks that can be fixed on the trail. I understand that there are some quirks w/ Rovers, but just about every truck has them. I want to "BUILD" a truely trail worthy truck that can go anywhere and get home, in any situation. 4wd is about the adventure, not about how bad your gas mileage is or how soft the ride is on the highway. I think a Rover is a perfect platform to start my own adventure. I posted to see just what kinda trouble I will be getting myself into.
Thanks for eveyones help, I hope to join your ranks ASAP.
-Matt |
pete
| | Posted on Saturday, September 28, 2002 - 03:43 pm: |
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dont buy a disco!
pete |
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