200 disco as a commuter ?

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sivy28

Member
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38
hi im on the lookout for a disco 1 , seems so difficult to find one which has had the major stuff done

anyway ive seen a 200 series 93 plate for sale which is described as having no rot at all ? 110000 miles service history all good etc

my concern is this would be my main vehicle but at this age am i asking for problems , would it be plausable to use as a work commuter as well

or is it too old and reliability suspect ?

cheers nigel
 
200tdi, 93.......no rot at all?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wouldnt rely on a disco to commute, well, not unless you can work from home when it breaks down and you have to fix it
 
yes this is what worries me the reliability is supposed to be suspect ?
its been serviced regulary had new bits eg transfer box camb belt exhaust etc but with the disco 1 record should i look else where ? do most people use them mainly for occasional towing /greenlane etc ?

been looking at a newer jeep cherokee 2000 2.5td maybe that would be a better choice but what interested me with the disco 1 was that they are supposed to be easier to work on
its just the age and record puts me off for everyday use

nigel
 
Any 4x4 is a rubbish commuting car, not from the reliability but from the fuel consumption point of view. Can you afford to pay 50-100% more than a medium hatchback for fuel? Discoveries can be as reliable as any other car, so long as you keep on top of maintenance. Its going to be 18 years old though, there will be items which are worn out or nearly worn out. Are you prepared to have a few days where the car is unavailable because its waiting for parts, or being worked on, and to pay for a string of consumable items such as shock absorbers, brake discs, pads, battery, tyres, plus keep on top of regular servicing including gearbox oil, transfer box oil, 2x diffs, engine, coolant, brake fluid, etc etc
 
I am on the other side of this argument. I have a 1993 Discovery that I use every single day, and my daily mileage is at least 50 miles per day both on and off road. As long as you maintain and service it regularly you should have very few problems. As it has now done over 150,000 miles, I have had to replace a few components, but if you stick your head under the bonnet regularly, you will see what may be in need of replacing before it breaks down and leaves you stranded. The only other problem with them is rust on the bodywork. Again prevention is better than cure, but if it does take hold, then it may well be worthwhile investing in a mig welder and some lessons, or find a friend that can weld. A long as you look after it and maintain it, and realise that it isn't as economical as an estate or hatch back, then a Discovery is perfectly fine as an everyday vehicle. With the benefit of not being stuck when we have any more than a couple of inces of snow or flooding.
 
thanks for the great replies

ok this is my situation i live quite out in the sticks potholes from tractors etc
real bad when weather gets rough
i tow a caravan
i live 18 miles from work
cars ive had get knocked about and covered in mud from roads each day

im trying to get the best solutuion but im on a budget
2000 ish

is running 2 cars more feasable eg 2 x tax mot etc

im in the process of finishing my biodiesel plant so im hoping to save a bit there

but its the age of the landies and there record of issues that worry me

i thought about do i really need 4x4 but if ever it did get bad by us i know its rare but it would be a problem just though that it would be better towing , handling the bad roads etc than going for a big estate front wheel drive or do people thing that thats a better option as snow etc is not too big an issue

nigel
 
sivy28 said:
thanks for the great replies

ok this is my situation i live quite out in the sticks potholes from tractors etc
real bad when weather gets rough
i tow a caravan
i live 18 miles from work
cars ive had get knocked about and covered in mud from roads each day

im trying to get the best solutuion but im on a budget
2000 ish

is running 2 cars more feasable eg 2 x tax mot etc

im in the process of finishing my biodiesel plant so im hoping to save a bit there

but its the age of the landies and there record of issues that worry me

i thought about do i really need 4x4 but if ever it did get bad by us i know its rare but it would be a problem just though that it would be better towing , handling the bad roads etc than going for a big estate front wheel drive or do people thing that thats a better option as snow etc is not too big an issue

nigel
Click to expand...
I would definately go for a discovery. Condition is far more important than age. As long as you have some mechanical competence, then they are really easy to maintain. I would go for the 200 Tdi rather than the 300 Tdi, purely because the 200 is easier to work on. Yes, there are some bad ones about, but that is no different to any other vehicle. The vast majority of problems with a Discovery 1 are down to owner neglect.
 
I run a '92 disco as my commuter / greenlaner etc as it's great, it has had it's occasional break down but no more than any other 19 year old motor so long as you stick to a good maintenance routine and if you do hear any unusual noises (more than normal) don't just turn the radio up, investigate it and fix things before they go wrong. and if you're producing bio you can spend what you save on a nice little toy motor for the summer or when the disco plays up.:D
 
paul_c said:
Any 4x4 is a rubbish commuting car, not from the reliability but from the fuel consumption point of view. Can you afford to pay 50-100% more than a medium hatchback for fuel?
Click to expand...

Being a 4x4 doesn't automatically mean it is expensive to run. For example, my 1989 200 Tdi 110 CSW averages 33mpg, whereas my mum's 2003 Jaguar X-Type V6 only gets around 24mpg! And she is one of the most careful and steady drivers I know.

Of course, if you are comparing a 4x4 to a hatchback, then yes, the hatchback is likely to achieve better fuel economy - but think about the other benefits of a 4x4 over a tin can like a Fiesta or Polo. Far greater comfort, better cruising ability, better safety, much more space for passengers and luggage, and better visibility in most cases... it's not just a black and white argument.

To the OP - nobody can say how reliable any car will be. The key things with keeping landies reliable are in my opinion preventative maintenance and mechanical sympathy. If you've got time at the weekends, the good news is that parts are cheap - very cheap, so it's fairly easy to keep on top of things.
 
Langers said:
Of course, if you are comparing a 4x4 to a hatchback, then yes, the hatchback is likely to achieve better fuel economy - but think about the other benefits of a 4x4 over a tin can like a Fiesta or Polo. Far greater comfort, better cruising ability, better safety, much more space for passengers and luggage, and better visibility in most cases... it's not just a black and white argument.
Click to expand...

I said medium hatchback, not small. So something the size of a VW Golf or Ford Focus, not a supermini like Fiesta or Polo.

The medium hatchback would have better: comfort, cruising ability and safety. Only a little less space, and yes the visibility is better on a 4x4. Move up to a hatchback like a Ford Mondeo, and its pasenger and bootspace will be same as/better than a 4x4 although the economy savings won't be so good.

Worth doing the sums. A 30mpg diesel (eg 4x4) over 12,000 miles will use £2400 of fuel per year. A 45mpg diesel (eg med hatchback) will use £1600 of fuel per year. If you want to compare Disco vs a Fiesta diesel, then the cost difference would be greater still

Obviously in the original poster's case, there are strong arguments for the Discovery in terms of lifestyle (muddy roads, etc) but 2wd cars also cope with this most of the time; and 4wd cars also require cleaning and have carpets which get wet, etc etc.

Anyway, we can't make your mind up for you, but its worth doing the sums etc.
 
Forgot to ask, how big is the caravan (and how much does it weigh)? Running 2 cars is not cheaper than suffering the loss of fuel economy, so if you need the Disco to tow a heavy caravan, then Disco it is....what's the current towcar? Any other towing involved?
 
Yes, but he could get a 200 Tdi Disco in good condition for less than a grand, at that price a Golf is going to be pretty dire, isn't it? When you take into account the purchase price, depreciation (likely to be very little on the Disco), insurance costs, etc - it starts to look quite attractive next to a Golf or equivalent hatchback.

I also fail to see how a Golf is any more comfortable than a Disco, which is likely to be better equipped, have far better seats, with a more spacious cabin and a softer ride. Obviously the hatchback would handle better in a sporting sense, but I have much more fun driving my 4x4 than I would driving a boring hatchback.
 
I've had three old discos, the newest being a 1993 200tdi. I used them all every day to go to work, and for everything else including the sort of stuff you expect to use a landy for. None of the ever let me down. Yes I had to replace a few bits here and there, but never broke down or failed to start in the morning. The last one I ran for 18 months and it cost me less than 500 quid. Doubt you could get one in roadworthy condition for that price nowadays but even at today's prices still a bloody good buy if you ask me. The rust gets them all in the end though.
 
 
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