I have had both. They both towed brilliantly. Fourtrak is quite a bit smaller and more basic. I found the Disco more comfortable, especially as I have to drive on motorway every day. Fourtrak parts are easy to find now, but could get more difficult since they stopped making them whereas Disco parts very easily available.
I would rather have a fourtrak because as well as towing well they are nice and compact. there may be probs with getting parts in future though.
the disco I had was easy for me to drive and as i am told by so many, they are relatively easy to fix/get bits for. i only sold mine cos i was commuting from kent to oxford 3-4 times per week and it was rather uneconomical for just little old me!
Disco. Cheap to buy, spare parts are easily available (they need to be!), they are light and airy inside, they are fantastic to tow with, they are economical to run, cheap to insure, very easy to drive, comfortable and they look great. Also, they are permanent four wheel drive, so you don't find yourself on a wet road with a rwd car and the back end flipping out at a roundabout...
Dixie, I agree with you, having had a Foutrak that had a rear axle problem (had to find our own part on the internet as garage didn't want to know) we got a Terrano and would recommend it to anyone, gets the trailer up a steep hill with both horses in no problem and with seats 6 & 7 removed we can fit 2 great danes and a staffy x comfortably in the back!
I tried but couldn't get my DISCO to fall over either !!
The only experience I've had of that was borrowing a friends nasty little Suzuki jeep.
I reckon discos are the better out of the two, but Daihatsu's are fab for the money. I also found that my trailer (Ifor Williams HB505R) was actually wider than the Daihatsu so you have to careful in small lanes - whereas the trailer was about the same width as the disco.
Fourtrak all the way as you well know! Yours is a great one anyway, runs well etc. Parts should not be too hard to come by, lots of suppliers for them; still the best value IMO!
I go with moodimare Terrano anyday. Had fourtrak and find Terrano much comfier, and with seats down you can get loads in - best yet 9 bales of shavings (short wheel base)
I've just got a Disco after having a little Shogun and I LOVE it, its so comfy, easy to drive and seems more than powerful. The Shogun on the otherhand was a pile of poo, spent half its time in the garage, was underpowered and apparently 90% of the garages warranty claims were on my car
Maybe Im biased as we are on our 2nd fourtrak but I'd go with the fourtrak. Disco's are more luxurious but on paper the fourtrak can tow more and for a 4x4 are quite economical. We were told by a Landrover main dealer mechanic not to buy a Disco but thats only his opinion.
The newer fourtraks have a much smoother ride than the older ones which had leaf springs.