Buying a Land Rover Disco with high mileage

[JFTDWS]

So do I - that’s why I have a Disco not a Defender now 😛

None of the 2s I've driven have functional versions of any of those

 

[{97702}]

None of the 2s I've driven have functional versions of any of those

How weird - all three of mine have been absolutely fine with all of those

I think the thread proves that - as with any car - you have to know what you are looking at? I’ve had landrovers for years with no problems whatsoever, it always amuses me when people say how unreliable they are 😊

 

[JFTDWS]

See the disco 2s I've driven have all been borrowed from mechanic friends... Apart from one which was a loan from my actual LR mechanics while my 3 was in self-harming. I reckon they knew what they were doing with their cars, but they were still all bastards to drive day to day!

With my Defender, I always disputed the land rover rep, I had it for years and no bother at all - but then I encountered the cursed disco and my perspective changed

 

[{97702}]

Lol isn’t that the old saying about the cobblers children being the poorest shod? 😊 Or as I tend to update it , never marry a farrier because your horse will be last on his list 😂

I have to say the only thing I hate about my TD5 is the heavy back door, one day I’ll upgrade to a 4 with the split rear door!

 

[JFTDWS]

Parking on a hill, trying to swing that back door shut I feel your pain...

 

[sport horse]

My first Landrover - vintage 1965! - is still going strong although I would probably not want to use it for towing horses. We have had two more and they got progressively poorer and after the last one, which we ditched after flying out of control across and dual carriageway and no apparent fault being detected, I never ever ever want another! We are confident drivers but that experience was not one I care to repeat.

 

[turnbuckle]

I would keep your everyday car and spend £1000 or so on a big old thirsty barge like a Jeep or Landcruiser, petrol is fine as MPG will be dreadful in any case and you won't be going far.

If it goes wrong just sell it on and get another. It's called bangernomics and works rather well.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I'm looking at the 3's I can't afford a 4 they start at about 20k and 2's are a bit old for my liking. Do you know what the difference is between a 3 and a 4 mechanically?
We had a Disco 3 for a few years and it's had a few niggles but nothing too serious or expensive but that had much lower mileage than the one's I'm looking at. I think before I buy one it would be a good idea to ask an independent LR specialist to check it over first and/or get a warranty.

The Shogun is a good shout and yes I am considering them, I have a Mitsubishi Colt now and it's been brilliant over the 4/5 years I've had it. Never driven a Shogun though, does it feel solid? I like towing with the Disco because it does stick to the road.

Disco 2's may be old.. but they're damn good trucks and as they're old have less electronics. Any repairs are cheap and parts are so easily found, we replaced the diff and it was £90 in parts and we fitted it ourselves. For towing, you could buy one and then keep a nice car for everything else.

Disco 3 and 4 are completely different vehicles, different engines. The 4 has a better engine but best off speaking to a Landrover Specialist. I'd avoid a 3, as I only know of friends who have had issues but may just be me?

The Shogun is great, it feels solid (we have 06) specially the newer (from 08) and they'll tow with ease, apparently better than the previous model. They also hold money very well. Automatic, It pulls like a dream but some prefer Landrovers. My old YO use to have Landrovers for towing to shows all over the country, now has a Shogun and said she'd never go back.

 

[scruffyponies]

Ever recovery man I've ever spoken to says they're his best customer.

 

[ihatework]

Why don’t you buy a very cheap older tow vehicle and keep your little car for every day use?

 

[Abi90]

For £12K you could get a more economical newer car with less mileage if you look at other tow vehicles such as a Mitsubishi Shogun or VW Touareg, other suggestions have been named further up.

Also around the 110,000 mile mark is not really that much mileage for a diesel (although it is around the mileage clutches go). It should easily do another 90,000 miles at least!

 

[Goldenstar]

So do I - that’s why I have a Disco not a Defender now 😛

My youngest defender has electric and windows heated seats but I do prefer my TD5 aka the Kennel .

 

[Sophire]

It's really luck of the draw I think. Brother and Dad both have 4s, 1 from new and one 2nd hand but from LR with warranty. Both (touch wood)have been great cars, but Brother's previous 4 died far earlier than it probably should have and wasn't economical to repair at 150k.

 

[maisie06]

I would keep your everyday car and spend £1000 or so on a big old thirsty barge like a Jeep or Landcruiser, petrol is fine as MPG will be dreadful in any case and you won't be going far.

If it goes wrong just sell it on and get another. It's called bangernomics and works rather well.

I would do this too!! Just don't get an Izusu - bigger pile of crap than a land rover!!!

 

[Regandal]

Bangernomics. Love it.

 

[Suechoccy]

My Daihatsu Fourtrak is 22 years old now, well-maintained but obviously showing its age, 137,000 on the clock. I wish they still made them, strong little workhorses that tow 3.5 tonnes but aren't a big-sized vehicle. Probably worth about £2k.

 

[ed&arch]

I bought my Disco4 roughly six months ago with 111k on the clock - pulls like a train! Absolutely love it, gives you that confidence when towing and there’s nothing like owning your own!! Paid 12.5k for mine. Touch head/wood - no problems as of yet...

 

[Sasana Skye]

I would keep your everyday car and spend £1000 or so on a big old thirsty barge like a Jeep or Landcruiser, petrol is fine as MPG will be dreadful in any case and you won't be going far.

Why don’t you buy a very cheap older tow vehicle and keep your little car for every day use?

This is a good shout too, better still that would mean 5 cars sitting outside my house and my neighbours (cycling, green party member environmentalists who knit their own yoghurt and are anti absolutely everything) would hate us even more
I do have less use for a smaller car now because I cycle the 20 mile commute to work and to the yard everyday so driving miles have been reduced quite drastically.

 

[McFluff]

my neighbours (cycling, green party member environmentalists who knit their own yoghurt and are anti absolutely everything

then you need to get a Defender as these are still the most environmentally friendly vehicles on the road (and they are awesome to tow with) (mainly because 75% of them are still on the road, coz they are owned by mad people like my OH who won't part with them!).

 

[Sasana Skye]

then you need to get a Defender as these are still the most environmentally friendly vehicles on the road (and they are awesome to tow with) (mainly because 75% of them are still on the road, coz they are owned by mad people like my OH who won't part with them!).

I love the Defender I really do it's by far my favourite LR model and I'd love to have one. I worked on a farm for 2 harvests and drove them around for hours ferrying flatbed trailers around but as much as I love them I find them really uncomfortable to drive for long periods, although I could sit and admire them all day long. One of my nicer neighbours has 6 Defenders of varying ages and conditions living on his drive and in his garage, 90% of them are not at all road worthy but I don't think he'd ever part with them either.

 

[irishdraft]

I have a landrover defender td5 it's 21 years old I've had it 19 years overall it's been very reliable and I do quite a bit of towing with it once or twice a week on average but it's not a motor I use for anything else much it's very agricultural.

 

[Annagain]

I've had several Landrovers of all models over the years and only ever had trouble with one Defender - one of the very first new engine ones. The difficult thing is finding the right one second hand - one that's been well looked after and serviced regularly. I'm going to PM you a recommendation of a garage to try.

 

[Sasana Skye]

I've had several Landrovers of all models over the years and only ever had trouble with one Defender - one of the very first new engine ones. The difficult thing is finding the right one second hand - one that's been well looked after and serviced regularly. I'm going to PM you a recommendation of a garage to try.

Thank you!

 

[Joop2]

I have a 23 year old disco one. That keeps going and going. She isn’t the most luxurious and leaks in the winter but pulls like a train. Brilliant for towing.