By lynden smithson on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 01:22 pm: Edit

I'm looking at purchasing a '96 Disco., my question is how reliable are they. I've read some bad press on carpoint from owners. I'd like a candid opinion on how many problems you've experienced. I'll be tapped out w/ the payments so I don't have any extra $ to put into expensive maintenance. I am drawn to the exceptional off road ability which I would likely use. However, I will give up some of that performance for a rig that will not cause me problems. This will be a daily driver for my wife. Any honest opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Lynden

By Ron on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 01:26 pm: Edit

You want honest:

Don't get it. Get a 97+ and spend more or get a 95/94 which seem to break less and don't have "major issues".

Ron

1996 disco

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 01:38 pm: Edit

Like Ron said, if you can swing a 97+, then go for it. If you are mechanically-inclined, then go for a pre-97 WITH A GOOD SHOP MANUAL. Or, go for a pre-97 with a ~$2000 extended warranty.

You say that you'll be tapped out with payments - that was the same story for me when I picked up my dealer-certified (12 month warranty) 1996 SD. Luckily, the little bugs that popped up were all taken care of under that 12 month warranty (door lock actuators, window motor, dash lights, rearview mirror, etc.). I took it upon myself to do the standard maintenance (fluids, brakes, exhaust manifold, troubleshooting, etc.). I'm no auto mechanic, but these discos are pretty simple when you get down to it.

The good thing about a 96 is that most "problems" should have been worked out by now. And there are not necessarily problems - some Disco's are just fine with normal maintenance (must have been a good day at the factory ).

How many miles on the 96? Private purchase, or from dealer? Is paperwork available (maintenance records)? Give Gil Stevens the VIN #, and he'll do an independant VIN run for you (Gil will see this message sooner or later).

-Blue
1996 SD

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 01:43 pm: Edit

I would have to say that if you are going to spend all of your money to get a truck that you won't be able to pay repairs for then you shouldn't get it. I would get a cheaper one that will leave you money in the bank for repairs or anything else that comes up in your life that requires some pocket money. You really don't want to take it off road either as every time you do that you run the risk of dents and dings or broken parts cause you slipped down a muddy hill into a big rock.. Which will happen eventually and will cost money no matter what you get. Just my 2 cents..

By Ron on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 01:50 pm: Edit

The good thing about a 96 is that most "problems" should have been worked out by now.

This is untrue for 96. It does apply to 94-95 though. 96s have recurring problems.

Ron

By Jim C. on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 01:54 pm: Edit

What type of recurring problems are you talking about?

By lynden smithson on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 01:55 pm: Edit

Thanks,
There are three '96's in town and a '95. Ron mentioned getting a 94/95 and everyone else said 97's. Are 96's the year to avoid? I can do most work on my cars but the parts and diagnosis are what I want to avoid. I thank everyone for their responses. Keep them coming, the more info. the better. Eric's point is well taken as well. I am between an Explorer and Disco., I'm leaning towards a disco. but don't want any headaches.

Thanks again,
Lynden

By Ron on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 02:03 pm: Edit

Search valve job

ron

By Matt Rigby (Mrigby) on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 02:14 pm: Edit

I have a 96 with 78K. I've owned it since 39K. I've only had one problem in that entire time. The right side exhaust came loose which cost me about 8bucks to fix. I converted my rotoflex to U-joint and do all my own services religiously and have had no other problems. And I take it off road 2-3 times a month. My friend has a 97 with about 50K and it has spent more time in the shop than not and run up bills totaling over 4 grand so you never can tell by just year. I would have the truck checked by a competent mechanic and get the extended waranty as advised. They are great trucks and you will regret buying an Explorer.

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 02:17 pm: Edit

The good thing about a 96 is that most "problems" should have been worked out by now.

I am speaking from personal experience with ONE vehicle. I'm not commenting on the law of averages...

By JEEPER on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 02:35 pm: Edit

Go Jeep; they rule and have no problems.

By Ross on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 02:37 pm: Edit

In my personal experience with several Disco's...The 94 that I owned was in need of repair all of the time. The 96 I owned had a valve job and they replaced the heads at 19K miles but after that it was great. The two 97's I've owned are delightful and the 98 is the best one yet. In my experience the 97+ is the way to go as far as reliability. I've also heard of other disco owners that feel the same way. I'd buy the newest best example you can afford and then buy a warranty.

By ROFLMAO on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 02:41 pm: Edit

"Go Jeep; they rule and have no problems." ~JEEPER

Now that was FUNNY!

By Mike W. on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 02:44 pm: Edit

JEEP what s that a tow hook accessory?

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 02:58 pm: Edit

might as well go with a Radio Flyer wagon...they are about as complex but a little cheaper than a jeep and just as good off-road

By Cal on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 04:25 pm: Edit

J**per. Thanks for the good laughs.

Call a few Landrover dealers and ask them to tell you straight. They can tell you what's common for all the years. I found from they're repair loggs that 94-95 had the same valve sticking problem and so did 97 but not as common. Didn't I hear someone post that BG bk44 solves that problem?
If you get one with a maintenance record stating they've done them and it's up to date it will make a better choice

By Gil Stevens (Gil) on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 07:55 pm: Edit

here i am...lynden send the VIN on over and we shall have a look.....

By cdn rvr on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 09:22 pm: Edit

Jeep ... I would rather have a bus pass. Made the mistake of CJ7 early in life ... never again. If I ever win the lottery, I am buying a CJ7 and driving over top of it with my disco ... maybe than I will have closure.

By Mike B. on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 09:53 pm: Edit

96 was a pretty good year, 97 was better, and 98 was better still. Supposedly, in 1995, Land Rover could not keep up with the demand for the Discovery, so production quality suffered a little.

If you are are a tight budget, then any vehicle (expecially an exotic car like a Disco, Jaguar, etc.) that puts you at your max may not be the wisest move. I would think that it would be impossible to enjoy owning the vehicle if you woke up every morning fearing something might break.

My suggestion would be to be patient. Wait around for a bit. The high gas prices and slowing economy will help lower the resale value of used Discos even more. Rumor has it that Land Rover is taking 3K off the residual on Lease Returns in order to motivate people to buy their vehicles at the end of their leases. This probably fortells of a soft market for used Discos. This is probably good news for anyone looking to purchase a used Discovery.

Best of luck in your decision,
Mike B.

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 11:29 am: Edit

(Mike B.): Rumor has it that Land Rover is taking 3K off the residual on Lease Returns in order to motivate people to buy their vehicles at the end of their leases.

This is very interesting...where did you hear that?

Thanks,
Blue

By Gil Stevens (Gil) on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 11:39 am: Edit

i havent heard anything about any 3K off lease residuals...the market is softening for all 90s SUVS, as there were so many of them out there. The Disco is actually holding up quite well, as the most they sold in any given year was 25,000. compare that to 400,000 Explorers and 350,000 J**p Grand Cherokees, and u can quickly understand why the values are dropping. alot of dealers pass on the lease returns because the residual is more than the truck is worth...

By lynden on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 11:54 am: Edit

Thanks again everyone. We drove it last night. VERY nice rigs! Drives exceptionally smooth and stable. The '95 they had was BEAT! The '96 was in great shape. Interior was perfect, it had leather but didn't have dual sunroofs. It ran quite well and after looking at the motor there really isn't much to go wrong. I can do the scheduled maint., the only thing I'd worry about are big things (tranny, diff., motor internals). The salesman didn't know if it had been given a valve job. He also didn't know if it had stainless exhaust. The service dept. was closed so I'll talk to him about these things in the next few days. Also, Gil I appreciate your offer. I'll get the vin# as well as a printout of the service work done on it and get back to everyone.
Thanks again.
Lynden

By Gil Stevens (Gil) on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 12:08 pm: Edit

if it didnt have valves done, DONT buy it. There are plenty of trucks out there that have had valves done. There are even 99s! out there that have had valves done. we just went in to do valves on my truck and there was not a speck of carbon. The harder the truck is driven, the less of a factor sticky valves would be. As far as the exhaust, I would guess proboably not, but you might get lucky.

By Moe on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 06:25 pm: Edit

Lyndon, so your wife was happy?

Even if the valves were done, ask which type they used. A lot of '96s (mine included) got the old valves as a replacement. I believe the carbon cutting valves came out mid 97. If you have the old valves bargain down the price or make them give you a couple years of extended waranty. It seems to be hit or miss whether the old valves will last and might depend more on maitnenace and driving style.

My '96 had the valves replaced at 17k and now has 73k and is running very well.

Ian

By Peter Matusov on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 06:57 pm: Edit

Gil,

i keep hearing this thing about sticky valves, but I have a hard time imagining the 40-years old design still sporting some stupid flaws.
We bought our '96 SD a year and a half ago, with 46kmi on the clock. It has 84kmi now, and running just as good as it was back then. No valve job was ever done to it.

FWIW,

Peter

By Lynden on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 07:59 pm: Edit

I did get a service printout from the dealer. This one has never had the valves worked on, in fact it doesn't seem to have ever had any engine work. It has 45K on the clock right now. It's had mostly small problems. I think I need to ask at this point what exactly is the problem w/ the valves? They stick? Open, shut? What exactly is the problem w/ the valves and what have people found to be helpful in combatting the problem? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Lynden

By Mike B. on Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 11:59 pm: Edit

A friend of mine just purchased his Disco off lease. He told me about the $3,000 reduction.

Thanks,
Mike B.

By Cal on Friday, June 08, 2001 - 01:25 am: Edit

Lynden,

Ask about the oil seals that were recalled if they haven't been replaced already. It may take talking to several individuals there or mabe from another dealership. They can be costly to fix. It's mostly just an annoyance and a reminder that it's a Brittish car but why not get the dealer to fix them or give you an extended warranty?