Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day guys and girls.

I'm in the market for a 4wd around the 10 t0 12 k mark. So far I have not found much that I like. The only cars that I even want to test drive are the 1998 - 1999 landrover Discos.

What are some things to look out for on here. The one I looked at was mechanically sound full service history but had rust around the windows and all the seals were cracked.

All so I hear of this EAS (no idea what that means.)

Any constructive opinions would be great. If you have to burn me for some reason do so. Only if it makes you feel good in internet land though

Rockstar wrote:G'day guys and girls.

I'm in the market for a 4wd around the 10 t0 12 k mark. So far I have not found much that I like. The only cars that I even want to test drive are the 1998 - 1999 landrover Discos.

What are some things to look out for on here. The one I looked at was mechanically sound full service history but had rust around the windows and all the seals were cracked.

All so I hear of this EAS (no idea what that means.)

Any constructive opinions would be great. If you have to burn me for some reason do so. Only if it makes you feel good in internet land though

Like all vehicles, discos have their strong points and their weak points. Most cars do. And most people will vary in their opinions but IMHO, if you were going to buy a Disco then you really will need to love the thing becasue they are like a high maintenance girl friend. They need quite a lot of maintenance and your friends will look at you strange wondering why you bother. But only you know the pleasure in "riding" her

Anyway, there are plenty of good cars available for that money so look around. Even early GU's can be had for that coin and they are an okay vehicle. Personally I would look around for a factory turbo 80 series ... although I'm a little biased, but I love em.

Good luck.
Simo

Simo63 wrote:

Rockstar wrote:G'day guys and girls.

I'm in the market for a 4wd around the 10 t0 12 k mark. So far I have not found much that I like. The only cars that I even want to test drive are the 1998 - 1999 landrover Discos.

What are some things to look out for on here. The one I looked at was mechanically sound full service history but had rust around the windows and all the seals were cracked.

All so I hear of this EAS (no idea what that means.)

Any constructive opinions would be great. If you have to burn me for some reason do so. Only if it makes you feel good in internet land though

Like all vehicles, discos have their strong points and their weak points. Most cars do. And most people will vary in their opinions but IMHO, if you were going to buy a Disco then you really will need to love the thing becasue they are like a high maintenance girl friend. They need quite a lot of maintenance and your friends will look at you strange wondering why you bother. But only you know the pleasure in "riding" her

Anyway, there are plenty of good cars available for that money so look around. Even early GU's can be had for that coin and they are an okay vehicle. Personally I would look around for a factory turbo 80 series ... although I'm a little biased, but I love em.

Good luck.
Simo

Not true, in that era they are no more maintenance intesive than any other make despite what the nissota owners tell you. 98 and 99 and 2 quite different vehicles, eas was only in the early 90's rangies i guess you mean sls which is the air suspension in the series 2 disco of 99 up mostly found in the 7 seaters and high spec models. Considering they are at least 10 years old now they will most likely have some splitting seals etc, V8's are firsty but no worse than a 4.2/4.5 patrol or lc, tdi needs to have a good service history or at least receipts for maintenance done. For 12k you should find a reasonable D2 in either 4ltr V8 or TD5, td5 can be chipped and will give the jap boys a run for their money.
Td5's suffer from oil in the injector loom which is an inexpensive repair and they dont like to be overheated due to the alloy head but when in good condition can get as good as 8l/100k and will tow up to 3500kg .
Take one for a drive and you wont go back.

If you look around you should be able to get a TD5 factory 8-seater for that money, which is the pick of the disco bunch of that era.

Alternatively a good V8 should be very easy to find at that budget.

I'm worried if I do take one for a drive I will like it. Thanks for all the great points and opinions.

Also I forgot to ask what are they like on gas and can I put the tank under the back not in the back.

Edited:

chimpboy wrote:If you look around you should be able to get a TD5 factory 8-seater for that money, which is the pick of the disco bunch of that era.

Alternatively a good V8 should be very easy to find at that budget.

The 7 seaters come with SLS which is the rear air suspension.

The series 2 Discovery can have rather expensive repair bills due to the rear air bag suspension. Another thing to watch out for os a noisey ACE Pump (Active Cornering Enhancement, an electronically controlled hydraulic anti-roll bar system) These pumps fail causing another costly repair. The Discovery 1 face lift doesnt have all this stuff that plays up.

nicinnz wrote:The series 2 Discovery can have rather expensive repair bills due to the rear air bag suspension. Another thing to watch out for os a noisey ACE Pump (Active Cornering Enhancement, an electronically controlled hydraulic anti-roll bar system) These pumps fail causing another costly repair. The Discovery 1 face lift doesnt have all this stuff that plays up.

To be fair, the ACE system has a normal buzz in it when its operating, and the incidence of the ACE system failing is very very very rare. It has proven to be an exceptionally reliable bit of equipment. I would highly recommend looking for ACE as it makes the vehicle corner as flat as a tack on the road, and it releases the swaybars (in effect) when offroading giving a lot more articulation.

SLS - there are enough used compressors on the market to replace them, but they dont like to suck mud at all. The bags themselves are not particularly high quality and can become porus with age and offroad use. There are aftermarket options, but they are still quite a few hundred dollars. Those with SLS swear by it, those without don't want it.

Thanks for all the advice. I went and looked at two today one 1998 one 99 I drove both of them and ended up doing a 180 and buying a 1998 3ltr diesel
Dual cab Hilux for a very good price. Just need to put some tyres on her and change the windscreen. Mechanically she is sound.

Rockstar wrote:Thanks for all the advice. I went and looked at two today one 1998 one 99 I drove both of them and ended up doing a 180 and buying a 1998 3ltr diesel
Dual cab Hilux for a very good price. Just need to put some tyres on her and change the windscreen. Mechanically she is sound.

Good choice

Rockstar wrote:Thanks for all the advice. I went and looked at two today one 1998 one 99 I drove both of them and ended up doing a 180 and buying a 1998 3ltr diesel
Dual cab Hilux for a very good price. Just need to put some tyres on her and change the windscreen. Mechanically she is sound.

Damn i thought we had another to the rover dark side

nottie wrote:

Rockstar wrote:Thanks for all the advice. I went and looked at two today one 1998 one 99 I drove both of them and ended up doing a 180 and buying a 1998 3ltr diesel
Dual cab Hilux for a very good price. Just need to put some tyres on her and change the windscreen. Mechanically she is sound.

Damn i thought we had another to the rover dark side

BWahhahahahah yota wins again

Simo63 wrote:

Rockstar wrote:Thanks for all the advice. I went and looked at two today one 1998 one 99 I drove both of them and ended up doing a 180 and buying a 1998 3ltr diesel
Dual cab Hilux for a very good price. Just need to put some tyres on her and change the windscreen. Mechanically she is sound.

Good choice

but about as comfy as a disco running on three flats.

Thats a perfect 180 Hope she does you proud mate. Now put up some pics in the members section.

I will put pics up when I pick the car up. Was suposed to pick her up this afternoon but one of the old boys at work retired and that = free booze. So I will pick her up tomorrow.

Rockstar wrote:I will put pics up when I pick the car up. Was suposed to pick her up this afternoon but one of the old boys at work retired and that = free booze. So I will pick her up tomorrow.

good idea, free booze and the excitment of a new car wouldnt mix well.

GRIMACE wrote:

Simo63 wrote:

Rockstar wrote:Thanks for all the advice. I went and looked at two today one 1998 one 99 I drove both of them and ended up doing a 180 and buying a 1998 3ltr diesel
Dual cab Hilux for a very good price. Just need to put some tyres on her and change the windscreen. Mechanically she is sound.

Good choice

but about as comfy as a disco running on three flats.

Closer to 4 than 3 ... and seized shocks too

Simo63 wrote:

GRIMACE wrote:

Simo63 wrote:

Rockstar wrote:Thanks for all the advice. I went and looked at two today one 1998 one 99 I drove both of them and ended up doing a 180 and buying a 1998 3ltr diesel
Dual cab Hilux for a very good price. Just need to put some tyres on her and change the windscreen. Mechanically she is sound.

Good choice

but about as comfy as a disco running on three flats.

Closer to 4 than 3 ... and seized shocks too

So would that mean Yota looses again
All the more Rovers for the ones who Know what awsomness they have inside.

nottie wrote: So would that mean Yota looses again
All the more Rovers for the ones who Know what awsomness they have inside.

Yeah .. awesomeness to the power of rad

Simo63 wrote:

nottie wrote: So would that mean Yota looses again
All the more Rovers for the ones who Know what awsomness they have inside.

Yeah .. awesomeness to the power of niggling issues and god dang oilleaks

fixed ha ha just kidding each to their own.

thehanko wrote:

Simo63 wrote:

nottie wrote: So would that mean Yota looses again
All the more Rovers for the ones who Know what awsomness they have inside.

Yeah .. awesomeness to the power of niggling issues and god dang oilleaks, and broken axles, and stuffed electricals, and blown diffs etc

fixed ha ha just kidding each to their own.

Fixed again and zipping up flame suit!!!

Slunnie wrote: SLS - there are enough used compressors on the market to replace them, but they dont like to suck mud at all. The bags themselves are not particularly high quality and can become porus with age and offroad use. There are aftermarket options, but they are still quite a few hundred dollars. Those with SLS swear by it, those without don't want it.

Can you replace the factory airbags with cheaper aftermarket ones, like polyairs or something? Could you modify the mounts to accept landcruiser/patrol sized airbags (if they exist)???

Wonder if you could have airbags on all corners, not just the rears (which I think the SLS is?)?