The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on May 07, 2013, 01:54:40 pm
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Due to test drive one in 8 minutes...its a nice colour (that probably gives you an idea how wised up I am on vehicles :innocent: ) Not sure how old but it looked well driven but for the price seems like it could re place our current VW that breaks down every few days >:(
just wondering what your feedback is on Discos? we have a freelander 2 (on a 2012 plate) which I love so far but I wanted something a little less dainty and slightly sturdier for towing etc
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Whats the engine? If you can find a 300TD with not to many miles on, should be a good thing - they are fairly old though.
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Engines OK, bodywork and electrics shocking ('scuse the pun). I was glad to see the back of mine...
If you get a good one, they're quite comfortable to drive and capable off-road but lift the rear carpet as the metal floors are very rot prone and expensive to replace. The inner wings also rust badly.
Once I'd disabled the immobiliser on ours, it started fine but it wasn't a job for the faint hearted
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Thanks both.Its an XS apparently. Just driven it, felt lovely but steering completely different to what Im' used to on the freelander.
lifted carpet and no rot :fc: currently the windows don't open properly (electrics probs!) but he's mending that right now as well as servicing and taxing. for £1500 I think it could be a good buy? especially as we are waiting to hear if our VW caravelle is a right off (with insurers now following a rear shunt) - we need something with 7 seats that can handle some rubbish weather on the slopes here in the vale.
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For 1500 quid I'm assuming it'll be a 300tdi. Engines are excellent though keep your eye on coolant as they don't like to be overheated. Not a problem on most of them. Transmission and drivetrains are usually trouble free if they've been looked after in terms of the odd oil change etc. Electrics can be bad but not always. The big problem is rust and electrolytic corrosion of the aluminium bits. Places you absolutely must check for rot are the boot floor, the wheel arches inside where the rear doors shut, the sills and the inner wings. Finally have a really good poke around inside where the rear tailgate closes. If it's rotten there it will likely be terminal as the whole body shell can twist out of shape. First sign can be the tailgate not closing easily but that could also be the hinges. You won't find one with no rot so you need to judge how rotten it might be at the next MOT time. There's nothing that can't be fixed but if there are a lot of bits it will add up to a lot of money at MOT time.
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Better off with a 110 safari longbase, or Isuzu Trooper .
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I have on old D1 and find it very reliable and easy for my OH to repair when it goes wrong - like a giant Meccano kit, everything just bolts together. None of the electronic things like the modern cars. I used to drive them from Southampton to Peterborough and Birmingham with no problem. I took a New D3 out for a test drive a couple of years ago and I think I prefer the old ones. That is just my opinion though. I don't like all the electronics in new cars - more things to go wrong.
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For 1500 quid I'm assuming it'll be a 300tdi. Engines are excellent though keep your eye on coolant as they don't like to be overheated. Not a problem on most of them. Transmission and drivetrains are usually trouble free if they've been looked after in terms of the odd oil change etc. Electrics can be bad but not always. The big problem is rust and electrolytic corrosion of the aluminium bits. Places you absolutely must check for rot are the boot floor, the wheel arches inside where the rear doors shut, the sills and the inner wings. Finally have a really good poke around inside where the rear tailgate closes. If it's rotten there it will likely be terminal as the whole body shell can twist out of shape. First sign can be the tailgate not closing easily but that could also be the hinges. You won't find one with no rot so you need to judge how rotten it might be at the next MOT time. There's nothing that can't be fixed but if there are a lot of bits it will add up to a lot of money at MOT time.
thank you - will print this off and take with me at second test! we had a crawl around and could find no rust spots and did check in the boot. whatever we have has to be a 7 seater so it kind of rules a lot of other 4x4's out.
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We've got three! i do like them BUT the boot rots out and the windows sometimes work, depends on the weather. They are notorious for door catches breaking and siezing up, saying that they've got good pulling power and are reasonably comfortable.
We had two freelanders before and i'm sure mine was inhabited by a ghost the radio used to switch itself on and off, the back window wiper would keep going even when the engine was switched off! and the window would go down whilst iwas driving her all by itself all in all a very odd truck. We got rid off because she failed the MOT on two pages worth of stuff!!!
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we have one tho mine is old. it has never broken down but it does overheat which puts me off going far. its perfect for towing, really easy to park as you can see the bonnet etc, its great off road aswell. its better on fuel than my new car. id buy again just try and get a younger one unless you have someone who will fix it for you.
i love them.
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We have a Disco2 and its been FAB,
i would only swop it for a Defender,but can't afford one !
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For 1500 quid I'm assuming it'll be a 300tdi. Engines are excellent though keep your eye on coolant as they don't like to be overheated. Not a problem on most of them. Transmission and drivetrains are usually trouble free if they've been looked after in terms of the odd oil change etc. Electrics can be bad but not always. The big problem is rust and electrolytic corrosion of the aluminium bits. Places you absolutely must check for rot are the boot floor, the wheel arches inside where the rear doors shut, the sills and the inner wings. Finally have a really good poke around inside where the rear tailgate closes. If it's rotten there it will likely be terminal as the whole body shell can twist out of shape. First sign can be the tailgate not closing easily but that could also be the hinges. You won't find one with no rot so you need to judge how rotten it might be at the next MOT time. There's nothing that can't be fixed but if there are a lot of bits it will add up to a lot of money at MOT time.
thank you - will print this off and take with me at second test! we had a crawl around and could find no rust spots and did check in the boot. whatever we have has to be a 7 seater so it kind of rules a lot of other 4x4's out.
I've just re read my post and realised that I've come across very negatively. I've owned several 200 and 300 series discos and I have to say that apart from the tinworm eating them away they're fantastic vehicles. I've been all over the country in them with no problems, including towing some very heavy trailers. When things do go wrong it'll be easy to fix and parts are very easy to get and very cheap compared to most makes.They're comfortable. Possibly the most comfortable things I've driven over a long distance. They're not too expensive to run fuel wise, plus if you can get your hands on some chip oil they will run great on it. My current one has been truly abused over the last year or so and hasn't let me down once but it isn't going to get another MOT due to the stuff I mentioned earlier. But here's the best bit. I've owned six of them among other Landies over the years and without exception when they've finally run out of MOT and with no hope of passing another one, I've sold them for spares and got good money back for them. The ones I've broken myself I've made a profit on and the ones I've stuck on ebay for someone else to break I've never got less than 500 quid for. If you're careful what you pay and don't mind getting your hands dirty once in a while an old disco can be truly cheap motoring.
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Your first post was spot on hughsey..apart from trouble free gearboxes.. Our gearbox man does loads of them
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Thanks Hughesy :thumbsup: I've got an MGF rotting on the driveway (we've just sold it for parts, yay!) so I'm cautious about rust prone vehicles now :-\ AA wanted over £300 to inspect it for us which is a lot of money for a cheap car which we would expect to have bits go wrong now and then. Your posts have both been really hlepful, thank you.
Carl...just wondering if automatic gearboxes are as bad as manual? this is auto and the last auto I had lost its power for the kickdown and was a 'mare to get fixed (it was a renault!!) wondering how this might compare.
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Sorry bad news..he does more autos than manuals :(
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OK. Thanks Carl. Better to be forewarned ;)
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Sorry bad news..he does more autos than manuals :(
We see so many bad ones I really wouldn't advise anyone to have one..people who have ignored the advise say now they wish they took it.. There obvious some ok out there..but lots of shite
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How do they compare to MGF's ;) anything has to be better!! Its been useful reading all the replies, will help us make an informed decision. Been so happy with our Freelander 2 (which I know isn't a practical, farm car!! but its been lovely to drive and very reliable) was hoping another LR would be a good idea.
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£1500 is the price of a banger disco really, maybe a few yrs left before scrapping unless you are happy to replace the engine and then replace the chasis. :roflanim:
id buy another but i wouldnt spend less than £5k next time. i still love them tho, but not as much as the 110.
comparing a 2012 plate freelander to a £1500 disco is like comparing caviar to cod roe :innocent: ;D ;D
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I appreciate that ;D was more the fact that Land Rover as a make has been one that we've been happy with compared to a lot of other car makes we've had. VW has served us well but that is now completely wrecked so we need to get something else with 7 seats and even if it only last a few years, for that price its not too bad really is it? Sadly we don't have 5K plus to part with (unless I sell body parts ;) )
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There's an element of chance just like there would be with any older car. If you could find one for under a grand with a long MOT you'd be on a winner really. Even if it only lasts you a year you'd get most of what you paid for it back at the end. Another option which can be had with seven seats is older Volvo estates. You can get a real quality motor for not much money. If only Land Rover had figured out how to build cars of that quality.
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Have a good look at the gearbox - chances are it will have dropped out/died already and they will have had a new one in, so thats one less thing to worry about.
Not a massive fan of discos, but I do have a defender with the same engine and they are, IMO the best engine that Land Rover have made, 200TD lacked some oomph, but Id rather have either of those than a TD5.
If/when the chassis is shagged you will be able to sell the engine - people are always looking for those and they pay good money - hell, Id probably buy it off you for spares.
The good thing about Land Rovers generally is that parts are cheap - filters for that engine are literally a few quid online, so you can service them for peanuts.
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thank you Steve - thats reassuring too.
So, if we go into it knowing that from buying cheaply we will have to quite likely spend at some time soon but also that the parts/value of land rover at end of time with us will still be worth something (unlike our MG!) then it could be a good idea.
The doors are sticking and an electric window isn't working but...the mechanic where we are buying from is guaranteeing these will be 'done' prior to buying plus we get a months warantee. The mechanic owns 2 discoveries (well ones his wifes) so seems to know and like them :fc:
Last week it was £2500 but they want quick sale to move to new premesis. Hmmmm think I might be dropping a deposit to them today on a nice greeny/blue shiny disco....
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I know you say you have a months warranty but get them to put in writing exactly what that does and doesn't cover. A friend of mine recently bought a new van with 3 months warranty and so far has spent £1800 on it as things have gone wrong that apparently weren't covered by the warranty, she had nothing In writing so could do nothing about it.
And speaking from experience, check the coolant level weekly and never let it overheat! :innocent: My husband is a mechanic and Discovery is a swear word in this house!
Lovely to drive though and loads about so they can't all be bad!
Good luck :wave:
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I know you say you have a months warranty but get them to put in writing exactly what that does and doesn't cover. A friend of mine recently bought a new van with 3 months warranty and so far has spent £1800 on it as things have gone wrong that apparently weren't covered by the warranty, she had nothing In writing so could do nothing about it.
And speaking from experience, check the coolant level weekly and never let it overheat! :innocent: My husband is a mechanic and Discovery is a swear word in this house!
Lovely to drive though and loads about so they can't all be bad!
Good luck :wave:
;D ooh crikey! LUSH is a swearword in this house and so is VW caravelle currently haha. OK will take your advice on the warranty and check coolant (must learn how to do that!) passed so many older Discoveries on school run this morning and decided same as you that they can't all be bad.. :fc:
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I've had my 300TDi XS Discovery from new. Now it's the old vehicle and is used for all the grubby jobs that the Range Rover isn't allowed to do, but still absolutely love it. 7 seats and can fits loads in the back.
Like any vehicle, there are good ones and there are bad ones, some folks like 'em, some don't. Mine has been brilliant but now it's showing it's age, just can't bring myself to get rid of it yet, far too handy.
:love:
I'll probably end up keeping mine on the farm, stick it in the barn and let the chickens live in it. Then one day it can be found covered in hay and eggs and rediscovered as an old classic, restored and worth lots of money.....
:roflanim:
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;D could I use it as a goat shed do you think? :roflanim:
well I've popped down to the place twice in the last hour and they still aren' t open...is it a sign?! :innocent:
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make sure the head gaskit is covered by the wriiten warranty. my warranty was verbal and then he wouldnt honour it. our puppy sleeps in ours when hes exhausted, hes loves it.
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Any update yet plums?
:fc:
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I've put a deposit down ;D collect early next week once all the work is done (ie little bits like a door won't open properly, the electric windows need sorting and the heater is bust) and they've towed away my little MGF and paid cash (for a takeaway lol!) sad to see that go but when you have 4 kids a 2 seater convertible is just downright daft!!
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If the heater isn't working then double make sure that head gasket is covered in the warranty!!
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collect early next week once all the work is done (ie little bits like a door won't open properly, the electric windows need sorting and the heater is bust)
it sounds exactly like mine lol
congrats, welcome to the world of discos :excited: :excited:
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;D thank you! children excited about sitting 'in the boot' with the dog....oh good....
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Best join the AA
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Been driving a VW camper for 4 years Stufe - the AA and I are well aquainted ;D
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Re the heater. Yes be aware that it could be a sign of head gasket problems. Might well not be though. The tdi engines are sometimes difficult to get all the air out of the cooling system if it's been drained for any reason and you'll find the heater works fine once this air has been bled out.
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Yay! I'm pleased for you.
:thumbsup:
What year is the vehicle? Head gaskets cost pennies, we've got a new one still in it's wrapper just laying there in the garage.
And you can always ask the seller when it was last changed and what he did to repair the heater. Then you know.
:wave:
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its on P plate Ohlala so pretty old :fc: I will ask what he did to mend the heater. they are about 100 metres from our house in a little leafy business park (that joins onto my sheep paddock!) and are soooo into their landrovers (mainly discos but defenders too) and have said that any work, they will be happy to undertake and as they are disco enthusiasts that kind of fills me with some relief! not just "yeah, we'll do it..." kerching! but actually they enjoy the vehicles. will pick it up next week. They are at a Landrover convention today...
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I ought to add that all this talk of head gaskets and gearbox problems is not something to worry about. Generally the LR tdi engines are really reliable and pretty bulletproof. There used to be a thing with gearboxes crunching when you changed down into 2nd but that isn't a sign of imminent failure they go on for years like that and you just get used to it. You'll love your new disco without a doubt. We're currently on the lookout for another one to replace ours that has terminal body rot.
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We are on disco no. three. They are hard to beat as family vehicle that will also tow a big stock box and that also has a big load space. Double cab pick ups seem to be all the rage around here, but you can't fit three kids in them, particularly not on a long trip.
Yes, they have their faults, but so does any type of vehicle. Forewarned is forearmed. The first of ours, the engine died at 170K, the second, the head went at 160K, but had the block skimmed and managed to get a good trade in on it as it essentially had a new engine and the current one, we have had trouble with the suspension, but if yours is a P reg, it won't have the air suspension, so no worries on that score.
Don't rely on them being watertight - every one we have had has leaked.
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We are on disco no. three. They are hard to beat as family vehicle that will also tow a big stock box and that also has a big load space. Double cab pick ups seem to be all the rage around here, but you can't fit three kids in them, particularly not on a long trip.
Yes, they have their faults, but so does any type of vehicle. Forewarned is forearmed. The first of ours, the engine died at 170K, the second, the head went at 160K, but had the block skimmed and managed to get a good trade in on it as it essentially had a new engine and the current one, we have had trouble with the suspension, but if yours is a P reg, it won't have the air suspension, so no worries on that score.
Don't rely on them being watertight - every one we have had has leaked.
:thumbsup: Thanks Dot.
We were warned about the leaking issue by the sales man - he said same as you.
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We were warned about the leaking issue by the sales man - he said same as you.
Landies: Water in, oil out ;D .
I managed to fix the water leak on my Defender though - drilled a hole in the floor pan so it can drain out again! ::)
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We always had Landrovers.Then we had a green disco - think that was a P reg. Back door was rusty, which was quite the norm for that model. Went back to a Landrover, then got one of the newer disco;s - S reg. Now that was great, loved to go in that one, so comfy. Only thing was the electics we had trouble with a few times, but nothing major. Sold to a friend, who still has it, and I have been known to forget its not ours when we visit, and go and get in to come home, much to his amusement!!!
We bought a big Shogun for towing the wedding carriage, but we now have someone wanting to buy that (he has 4 kids to transport!), so we are now looking for another Disco. I have never felt the Shogun as comfy as the disco, but its never broken down.
I am sure you will be happy with your Discovery ....like I said we had no major issues with ours.
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if you've got 4 kids and want space, 4x4, no rot, an engine that will go on forever and very cheap to fix I would recommend the Mitsubishi Delica L400. We're on our second one (first one written off after a rear-end shunt that ended extrememly badly for a Renault Clio), it has a 2.8TD engine (same as the Shogun and L200) mainly with auto boxes (manuals are pretty rare) and has the advantage of having a proper boot *with* 7 seats as opposed to putting your kids in the rear crumple zone. Loads of mobile mechanics out there that don't charge the earth to come and fix if you're not handy with spanners and you can pick up a decent one for £1K-£2K...
Just sayin'.... :innocent:
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All good advice so far ... The biggest killer of Tdi discos is rot, it even works its way into the cleanest examples. Re heater not working, as mentioned before, head gasket..... But also thermostat stuck open could render the heater pretty useless. Also check that the heater matrix has not been bypassed under the bonnet to hide an expensive dash out water leak. My last Tdi disco covered 250,000 miles with no major mechanical problems... Just the rot killed it !! Such a shame.
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Don't rely on them being watertight - every one we have had has leaked.
oh yes, we used to have a handy roll of kitchen roll as the ceiling used to drip....but u get used to it... :roflanim:
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Our defender used to have a bad water leak just above the driver's right shoulder. Then when it was snowy, our peafowl took to roosting on top of it in the hayshed at night. Anyhow, one of them must have deposited something in just the right spot, as it hasn't leaked since (at least that's my excuse for not washing it!) ;D
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Funny seeing this thread back as we went ahead and did buy the Disco in the end!
I LOVE it to bits, so much fun to drive and feels safe and sturdy. Yes the sun roof leaks though.... ;D
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we had a Saxo and bought it when it was summer, as soon as it rained and we went around a bend, my husband ended up with wet trousers :roflanim: , never leaked on me......I love our freelander but still cannot get to grips with the locking, sometimes I take ages to unlock the tail gate...arh well....
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When I go from the Disco to the Freelander I get into a bit of a muddle with wipers, lights etc! and yes the tailgate is a mystery all unto it self!
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I've had my current disco for about 18 months now and in that time it's needed a new rubber donut on the propshaft and a new lift pump. Total cost in parts about 25 quid. And easily fixed by myself. Apart from their vulnerability to tinworm you can't beat em.