Land Rover Discovery,should i buy it?

[brett5141]

Hi Everyone,

I have posted this in the Rover section but thought i should try to get some unbiased opinions.

I have been looking around at getting my first four wheel drive, the only specs being it cant be a single cab and needs to be deisel (and less than 9K).

I have seen a Land Rover Discovery, 1992 Model, Turbo Deisel, 230,000k's and seems very clean.

Main problem being that when we had a chat to our mechanic he told us to steer clear of them as they are very expensive to run.
He says that the parts are very expensive compared to Toyota, Nissan etc, and they dont last as long.

Could anyone please help me with some advice, are the parts expensive and hard to get? there seem to be alot out there so I though there must be something good about them.

thanks


Brett

[grazza]

Friend had one with a engine problem, quoted $8500 to fix...until then he was very happy with it and it went everywhere, solid axle with lockers.

Traded it on a 4.2L GU...

[J Top]

Excellent suspension and ride, poor build quality and reliability.
Over here they are known as Glass Houses because they are so Fragile.
I advise all my customers to stick with the common makes, Patrol, Cruiser etc.
J Top

[F'n_Rover]

If you have to ask a mechanic if you should buy a land rover.. you should not buy one. Most people with no mechanical knowledge or aptitude buy toyotas. Buy a jap tank, you will still pay through your arse for parts and service though and running (fuel) costs will be higher. (than a tdi landy)

[RoldIT]

NO

It'll cost you the farm ...

[Cossie]

Another 'no' vote here I'm afraid (and I'm a pommie!!)

I used to be a breakdown mechanic in England so have seen the problems first hand

[Micka]

$9k seems a bit high for that model and it is getting a bit long in the tooth at 230 000klm.

They are, of course, not without their faults. But then, there isn't a brand out there that is perfect...despite what the datsun owners will say

Search around a bit more, if you are keen on them. Try the auctions for a later model. Make sure - as much as you can - of its history. Many wont have done hardcore off-road, but they do get used/abused for towing as the diesel is quite strong and very economical. It will give around the same power as a datto/toyo diesel with half the fuel usage.

They are basically a rebodied Range Rover Classic, so strength is not really an issue, and the panels are rust free...as opposed to the free rust you get with a japper

They give an excellent ride - best constant 4WD made - and the driving position is far better than other makes. The climate control in them is superb. It is split, so that you can have the air con as cold as you like on your side, while she can warm that cold blood on the other side. And neither of you will know the difference .

I have owned a 98 Disco V8 and I currently have a TD5 Fender. SOme mates have had a 94 Disco, 01 Disco, 05 Disco, and various RRs....so yes, I am a little biased. But I have spent many, many hours and klms out on farms and using jappers as shooting rigs. They are excellent 4Bs - don't get me wrong.

They are just not Land Rovers...



Micka

[Beastmavster]

If you're not "mechanically minded" and don't have spare time I'd say no. They are more likely to break than jap stuff.

Cool while they're running though.

Excluding breakdowns,
I doubt that a similar sized 4wd (Patrol or Cruiser) would cost less to run.

[Jeff80]

Big no from me too. Theres a reason why people choose toyotas and nissans to mod!!! Rangies are pretty much the same too, so steer clear of the Rovers. Just my 2c...

[landy_man]

Hopefully this is not going to turn into another slinging match...

First off, I think the reason people in Australia (I come from South Africa) think that Rovers are crap is because they have never owned one and a mate of a mate of mate had one once and it broke down.. so they must be just like all the mechanics and "experts" say - crap.. Land Rover have also not done a very good job of marketing the brand here in Australia...

Secondly, why is it that most people who buy Land Rovers usually will own more than one... I dont think it is because they are a rubbish car that always breaks down...

Thirdly.. can some of the Jap 4x4 diesel owners tell me how much for example a set of rings and pistons cost for their big diesels.. how much a diff centre costs and how much a set of brake disks costs...

And lastly.. In South Africa.. in the REAL bush.. where if you break down - you get eaten.. you will hardly see a Landcruiser or a Patrol.. it is mostly Land Rovers..

In the end it is your $$ you will need to spend.. YOU need to make up your mind what YOU want to drive.. and YOU need to decide what you would like to be seen in..

[grazza]

In South Africa.. in the REAL bush.. where if you break down - you get eaten.. you will hardly see a Landcruiser or a Patrol.. it is mostly Land Rovers..

Wow, that must add a whole different dimension to offroading.

But the Disco is not a Defender...

[RoldIT]

I will qualify my answer.

A friend of mine who I have known for nearly 20 years and see/wheel/camp with very regularly had a 96 Disco. Bought well serviced and looked after with 70,000 odd klms. Major problems, manual gearbox and transfer rebuild under 100,000, complete brake and bearing overhaul required under 100,000 klms. Minor problems that I can remember, electric windows, ABS sensor, V8i hated to get wet, nearly stalled at the sight of water. Thirsty as a camel, used to double or triple my fuel usage offroad. Services were always $600 plus when you had them done and that's just a minor. This thing used to have problems every time we took it offroad/camping and not even major offroading.

Vehicle was disposed of around the 150,000 klms for a Diesel Patrol. Lost approximately 70% of it's purchase price in 4 years.

My mate would not piss on a Rover if it was on fire and neither would I.

Why do Rover (mainly range and series/defenders) get modded for offroading? They are cheap to buy. Why do they get used nearly exclusively in Africa, they are cheap to buy.

I agree they are comfortable but that is about the only thing they have going for them, IMHO.

But, all that is just my opinion and I'm sure there will be 100 other people who disagree ...

[lucy]

Hi Everyone,

I have posted this in the Rover section but thought i should try to get some unbiased opinions.


Brett

There are 2 groups with opinions on Land Rovers. Those who own them, and those who have never driven them. Getting an honest unbiased opinion is probably impossible.

My biased opinion is that they are great. I have owned 3 Discos, still have 2 of them, and 2 series vehicles, still have 1, with very few problems. The vehicles I don't have, I wish I hadn't sold. As long as they are well maintained they are generally trouble free. Parts don't cost any more or less than anything else (the rest of my family have cruisers). They are NOT for everyone.

My every day car, a '95 Disco V8, has 255 000km on the clock, and still goes hard.

My biggest gripe has always been with the poor support from Land Rover Australia, unlike Toyota, once they sell you a vehicle, they don't want to know you.

[Loanrangie]

And lastly.. In South Africa.. in the REAL bush.. where if you break down - you get eaten.. you will hardly see a Landcruiser or a Patrol.. it is mostly Land Rovers..

I totally agree, i spent 6 months in Africa travelling from Nairobi to Capetown and the landy's out numbered the japs by 10 to 1.
It is a real personal choice, i have 2 rangie's and ever since i learnt to drive in one at 13, i decided then that i wouldnt drive anything else - once you drive one, you'll either hate it or love it. I have had a rangie for 12 years and it has NEVER been near a mechanic apart from me for anything other than lpg tuning, and i have rebuilt engines, replaced a clutch etc and both are on 270k at the mo.

Drive a range of vehicles and then work out what suits you.

Good luck with your choice.

[Loanrangie]

One thing i will add, and its more a funny story than anything else, when in Tanzania we went to visit ngoro- ngoro crater which funny enough is a huge volcanic crater that has formed a mini zoo. It has various lanscapes all in the one crater including wetlands, dry open plains, forests and low scrub. Anyway, there were 13 of us in various 4by's , series3, toyo troopy, V8 defender. When we reached the destination after 3-4 hours of driving, i and 3 others got out of the coil sprung V8 defender fresh as, the others almost had their teeth shook loose. Our driver would constant overtake the others on the crappiest roads you can imagine at up to 120kph then slow down and overtake again - he said he was boss driver !

[Wooders]

They are capable & you want one - don't ask the sheep in jap junk to give a decent answer.......Just get one....although I agree the pricing on that one seems a tad high...,.

[RoldIT]

They are capable & you want one - don't ask the sheep in jap junk to give a decent answer.......Just get one....although I agree the pricing on that one seems a tad high...,.

I find being called a sheep, very amusing.

If, by buying strong, reliable, torture tested 4WDs with plenty of aftermarket support makes me a sheep then I'm proud to say ... BBBBBAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

If you want reliability and quality finish, buy Japanese. (... and wear your wooly coat with pride. )

If you want the Queen's comfort and an empty wallet, pommie junk is for you.

Nuff said.


(I'm the one on the left ... they call me "Evil Eye" Sean)

[landy_man]

i am sorry to say but you have been misinformed about the quality of the finish ...
My '93 Discovery does not have 1 loose interior panel or rattle anywhere..
My '84 Rangie that gets bashed to the sh1thouse does not have a loose panel or squeak anywhere...but that is not to say they dont have their problems.. The axles are weak, the old V8's thirsty and underpowered, and yes a 20 something year old will have electrical problems..

Yes I have driven in many a Toyota and Nissan, and yes I will say that they too did not have a rattle or squeak anywhere... but these were all late model i.e. 2000+ cars...


The '84 60 series Landcruiser that I owned was and absolute rattle trap.. there was not a straight panel on the thing.. the glovebox never closed.. when it rained I had a swimming pool in the rear.. the front kick panels fell off all the time... Does this mean that all Toyotas are rubbish and poorly built.. I dont think so..
Lets not talk about the Patrol 3.0 td engine.. what a fine piece of machinery and Japanese engineering that is..

You see, every manufacturer has it's problems, and every manufacturer will produce a lemon every now and again... but to call them all junk is just rubbish especially if you have never owned one..

Over 60% of ALL Land Rover ever made are still on the road.. that is a pretty good figure for a car that is junk, rubbish, poorly built and unreliable...

If you believe everything you hear and read.. then I suppose Iraq really did have weapons of mass destruction... Osama is still hiding in the hills of Afghanistan and Johnny Howard knew nothing about the kids being thrown off ships

EDIT: Just took a look around the Nissan and Toyota forums.. and yes you guys are all correct.. Not one Nissan or Toyota having any problems with their vehicles..

[itsame]

gotta love the landy bashing..

see they are starting to call landcruisers landys now..

they even want the nickname the crappy rovers have had since 1948!

all models and makes of 4wds have problems...

get one with a good service history and make sure you service it regularly and it will treat you right.

i have owned various models of rovers for years and have never once not made it home... had a few nissans as well without a problem. me thinks a lot of it comes back to how you treat them (4wd's that is)

[one_iota]

Opinions are just that.

They can be informed or uninformed, biased or unbiased.

So how can you tell the difference?

The only way is to form your own opinion from facts.

and where do you obtain facts... well as landy_man suggests there is plenty of information available on places like this.

Ironically some of the best information about the inherent problems or positive features will be found on model specific sites. People will be more open and less defensive not to mention some of them reasonably well informed.

So by the time you have digested all of the stuff you will make up your own mind.

No mechanical device is perfect. I understand that the Space Shuttle is having some issues as well.

[drivesafe]

Brett, as has been posted, do lots of snooping and you can then get some FAIR ideas of your own.

But as for spare parts costs and having owned both A toyota and now 4 LRs, I can assure you that LR spares are on average HEAPS cheaper that most of the jap stiff.

Reliability, as 48% of all Land Rovers ever built are still on the road and the nearest the japs can get is less than half, at 22%, so much for the reliability crap.

Almost every model of land rover will out do the equivalent model that the japs have but remember it still comes back the the ability of the person behind the wheel but a landy helps you with it’s advantage of being good off road at all times.

And last but not least, if someone had a landy and it lost 70% of it’s value after 4 years, how is this a problem. No matter what vehicle you own, LR or Jap, 4x4 or not, there are so many new vehicles being sold that there is a glut of second hand vehicles out there and it makes no difference what type or make you have, it is going to have a very low resale value. Again, do some shopping around.

One more point, at this time from info being posted by Toyota owners, the new the toyota the more unreliable they seem to be, whereas, Land Rover seems to be getting it’s act together.

Turn yourself into an expert before you buy and I bet you will still buy a Landy.

Cheers

[bad_religion_au]

Secondly, why is it that most people who buy Land Rovers usually will own more than one...

in a vain attempt to have a running car every day of the week?

why is it if someone posts up "are nissans reliable" most people regardless of whether they drive a zook or a toyota, will agree yes they are.

but ask the same Q about rovers and only the rover owners seem to defend their marque. it seems that to them "reliability" is making it home.. where as to us, reliability is making it home with all car systems functioning 100%

i have never had the option of owning one. but friends have. one guy in our club snapped 3 axles on one hill (he's locked on 33's) that an unlocked 40 series drove on road tires... hardly strength testing

that guy now owns a shorty maveric on 36's

another friend bought a 2000 disco for towing his sailboat (14footer)... had it at the dealership for suspension (some electronic trickery self levelling thing) about 4 times, the transmission was rebuilt once under warranty. he never was happy with it, with small glitches like central locking not working, stuff like that... he traded straight up on a 93 80 series as soon as his warranty run out. he's more than happy now.

there are studies throughout the world, publishedon the web, on the "least reliable cars of XXXX year"

look them up... last one i saw for the UK had the landrover discovery as most breakdowns per 1000 sold.

who cares if the "new landies are more reliable than the new cruisers" we're talking 1992 vehicles here

[AJ]

Without getting into the Brand Loyalty/Brand Bashing thing......

You seem to be on a small/fixed/tight budget so I would suggest that buying a 14 year, 230,000km old diesel of ANY BRAND is a lottery you cant afford to enter. Most are very reliable but when diesels die the costs are horrendous.

In your price range/vintage Id be buying a petrol.

[alki]

This is what I have to say about LR.
One of my best friends,who went 4wdriving with me,in my car, many times,decided to buy a 4b.
He did not want anything big,but wanted 4 doors.(Landcruiser,Patrol out)
It had to be a diesel.(Jeeps out)
Budget around 10-12000.
He decided to buy '94 Disco 300tdi.($13000)
Going on second trip,engine blew up.$10500 rebuild
Straight after rebuild,it had problems shifting gears(auto) when cold.$2800 rebuild.
Soon after wheel bearings,brake rotors and pads (can't remember the price)

Than it was stolen and burnt.
All in all,he owned it for about 9 months,cost him close to $30000 and he did only few trips in it as it spent more time at mechanics than on the road.

If you are on tight budget do your self a favour and stay clear of LR

[scratchedsafari]

I have 2 mates with tdi Discos - one manual, one auto. here's a couple of unbiased reasons not to get one:
alternator $2000 genuine! no sh1t
vacuum pump $450ish IIRC
and you can expect other replacement parts to be similarly over-priced.

Off Road
open diffs both ends are a turn-off, and a limiting factor that is easily reached. standard ground clearance is ordinary too. front bumper is particularly prone to damage. their owners like to brag about their articulation, but they're easily outdone by the standard 80 series that comes on our trips - I won't compare them to mine because I have a monster 2" lift!

On Road
they are comfortable, but have alot of bodyroll when cornering. Alot. good economy. good leg room in the back seat. Just make sure you follow the Rover code and wave to every other Rover owner you see, because when you're broken down somewhere you'll need to cash-in all that Landy-Karma...

General
the rooflining will drop. seals will go around those stoopid windows in the roof at the back, that are very good at heating the car up too I might add.
electrics will play up - my friends have recently had trouble with air con and central locking
I find their engines quite harsh sounding, and i drive an old clunker td42, so that's saying something!
high service costs are the main factor why i wouldn't consider buying a Landrover (apart fromt he fact that its a Landrover, that is )

[Wooders]

Reliability, as 48% of all Land Rovers ever built are still on the road .......

The other 52% made it home

[bad_religion_au]

Reliability, as 48% of all Land Rovers ever built are still on the road .......

The other 52% made it home

nah that % seems wayyyy too high... unless your factoring tow truck jobs

[J Top]

I question this 48% on the road stuff, more likely at home in someones garage being stored for the " I'll rebuild this one day"
A valid previous post, if you aren't mechanical then they aren't for you.
Every service will be one of , bent tie rod, perished rubber coupling on rear driveshaft, oil leak on handbrake, etc etc.
That said my top off road vehicle would still be a V8 90.
J Top

[Thor]

i agree with Dr Jeremy Clarkson, great vehicle but not really designed for Australian conditions.

Ones i have seen to be honest though are either hit or miss... i wouldn't want to risk a miss just MHO

[81 rangie]

I'm still 18, but have had a couple of rangies, and wouldn't swap em for anything. They are eisier to work on (cheaper cause i can do more) than a 4 runner i used to have, and i can run it on my limited budget. Parts from a wrecker or trading post are also really cheap if you know the right wrecker, but you have to be mechanically minded, or else it's probably not your cup of tea, but hey each to their own.