| Author | Message | ||
     Zin Head (Zinhead) New Member Username: Zinhead Post Number: 30 Registered: 12-2001 |
Yeah, I generally hate these kind of "what should I buy threads" but here goes. We have had our 97 Disco SD since new. and it has been a very reliable truck. Once the warrenty was over in 2000, the only problem outside the regular maintenance cycle was a bad intake manifold gasket. It has had Mobil One since 5K and is going strong with 75K miles. We don't drive it on a daily basis anymore as I take the train to work. At most, it will get 5K miles a year, and we were planning on keeping it indefinately. However, kid #3 is coming this summer and the wife thinks we should have a 7 passenger vehicle. Given that this the last year of solid axle Disco, we were thinking of replacing our 97 with a new 04 with diff lock for the infrequent times we would be the extra passenger capacity. My wife can run the purchase through her business, and we figure with the tax write-off and selling our old truck for a miniscule amount, the out of pocket cost to switch our 97 for a new 04 would be $20K. The advanages of buying a new Disco: 7 passenger seating. Newer nicer truck. Greater reliability. Warrenty for the next four years. With 5K a year in mileage, the 04 should last until I am collecting social security. The disadvantages of buying a new truck: I am out $20,000. So, what do you guys think? | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 749 Registered: 07-2002 |
We are going to get rid of the '94 and get an '04... ...in '08, when it is broke-in, bugs out, cheap, and when the '94 is so upgraded that there is nothing left to do on it. Oh, and when we can afford it! | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Senior Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 432 Registered: 09-2002 |
I say keep it. the jump seats are uncomfortable for anything more than a 5 mile ride, even for a kid. The rest of the time they get in the way of storage. Besides it sounds like your vehicle has lived for only 1/2 its life. I don't think the tax break would be worth it to you. I think there are better tax savings methods than a new car. Keep the 97 and get some jump seats for it if you really think you need them. Just my opinion | ||
| Leigh Mikolajczyk (Leigh_m) New Member Username: Leigh_m Post Number: 32 Registered: 01-2004 |
I agree with aaron just get some jump seats for the 97 they are easy to find and do not cost all that much. I have them in my 94 and the kids love them but they are not all that comfortable for adults. I also have the jump seats in the 2000 disco 2 and they do take up a lot of storage spce even when they are up. | ||
| Darren Burgess (Darren) New Member Username: Darren Post Number: 3 Registered: 02-2004 |
I'd say it depends on what you plan to use it for. If you intend to take long trips to out of the way places then your '97 is going to be lot easier to fix with a big hammer than the degree in computing you'd need for the newer model. However, if it's going to stay closer to home then the newer vehicles with toys like ACE and SLS are much nicer to drive. Personally, I don't know what I'll do when my '95 300tdi wears out, but at the moment it's still going strong with 136k on the clock  | ||
| Austin Everett (Roverman) New Member Username: Roverman Post Number: 16 Registered: 12-2003 |
Where are you located Zin? If you do decide to get a new one and sell the '97 I might be interested if you are in/near Washington state. Here is my e-mail address: gotrover@hotmail.com I think you should get a new one, warranty, reliability, new car smell..:-) Thanks, Austin | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Senior Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 435 Registered: 09-2002 |
amazing the one guy that says get a new one, offers to buy yours. | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 752 Registered: 07-2002 |
I really don't think the DI jump seats can be compared with the DII jump seats -- does anyone? I mean really, have you actually ridden in either? If it is about jump seats - '04 all the way! Otherwise, wait till the year is proven good or bad, hunt for a good used one, and buy away. Think about the alternative - LR3... You don't want to go there. | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Senior Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 440 Registered: 09-2002 |
Yeah but RB he would essentially be paying $20k for jumpseats, which are for kids. I still say keep the 97, worse case wait a year then buy the 04 for 10k less then you would only be paying 10k for jump seats | ||
| Zin Head (Zinhead) New Member Username: Zinhead Post Number: 31 Registered: 12-2001 |
Thanks for the replys. I wouldn't add the side facing jumpseats to our 97; don't think they are safe. The forward facing jumpsets in the DII's are a much better design. The other problem with keeping the Disco is that my wife will eventually want a 7 passenger vehicle. That means replacing our other car with something like a minivan or Tahoe, and why the 04 Disco is so appealing. Austin- The vehicle is located in Chicago. If we do sell, it won't be for a few months anyway. | ||
| Alyssa Brown (Alyssa) Senior Member Username: Alyssa Post Number: 522 Registered: 01-2003 |
Aaron, that's actually not true. He will get the tax savings on a new vehicle, but not on the used one. I bet the net difference will be very small. | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Senior Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 443 Registered: 09-2002 |
Alyssa it is still money out of pocket. If you look at it as a tax savings you will always lose money. If you need something for business then buy it and get the deduction. In most cases it is better to invest the money and pay the taxes you will end up with more money in the long run. I never liked justifiying buying new cars for tax purposes. If you want or need the new car and you get the tax deduction great, but don't do it for tax purposes, because he will still be spending money out of pocket. Curious why a person with 3 kids would need to seat 7. Two adults plus 3 kids = five people. Discos seat 5, unless they are going to be hauling a bunch of kids around. | ||
| Ron Brown (Ron) Senior Member Username: Ron Post Number: 743 Registered: 04-2001 |
It makes little to no sense to spend that kind of money on a car that gets used 5k a year unless you have it to burn. Kid number three can sit in the middle of the second row seat, and if perchance they bring friends you take two cars. That is not worth 20k Ron | ||
| Zin Head (Zinhead) New Member Username: Zinhead Post Number: 32 Registered: 12-2001 |
1 Wife + 3 Kids + 2 In-laws = 6 Passengers Don't you guys have in-laws? Mine fly in and stay at my house, eat my food and need to be bused around. Or are you luckier than that? | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Senior Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 449 Registered: 09-2002 |
I deal with the same thing as you do when our families come to town. Like Ron said not worth the money. Rent a suburban when they come to town. You could probably still write that off through your wifes business, and you will save a lot of money. $20k is a lot of enterprise rentals. Not sure if you were hoping if we would support you and say go get it or not. If you want it do it, it just doesn't make sense to me. Seems like more of an emotional decision that you are trying to justify. | ||
| Dan Ratcliffe (Dan_ratcliffe) Member Username: Dan_ratcliffe Post Number: 66 Registered: 07-2003 |
My wife's 97 has 157,000 miles on it and outside of maintenace it has cost us nothing. I am of the Old School, and think that you should ride this beast into the ground, and be so in love with it that when you do let go of it, it brings a tear to your eye. Good luck deciding! Dan | ||
| Christopher Boese (Christopher) Senior Member Username: Christopher Post Number: 288 Registered: 10-2002 |
I had a '95, traded it for an Audi, but couldn't not have a Land Rover, so I bought a new '02. I'd been wishing for years I'd just kept things cheap and simple and kept my first Discovery. | ||
| Christopher Boese (Christopher) Senior Member Username: Christopher Post Number: 289 Registered: 10-2002 |
PS - "Zinhead", as in Zinfandel? One of my favorite drinks... | ||
| Zin Head (Zinhead) New Member Username: Zinhead Post Number: 33 Registered: 12-2001 |
Yeah, Zin=Zinfandel. Anyway, we decided to keep the 97 for now and see how things work out with three kids first. I figure the 05's won't be out until late this year, so if we do decide to get one, there is plenty of time left. Besides, it is pretty depressing seeing how little these trucks are worth nowadays. |
