Am I "wasting" time and money on a disco?

Struggling a bit today!

I have had my 2nd Disco 1 300 tdi for about six months now. Its a solid machine as it had all metal work done by previous owner over a 2 year period, but it did stand during this time.

I do love them, but am I right to be reluctant to spend much more money on it? Its not where I want it to be yet, it cost around £650, I have spent around the same so far on standard replacement parts and a set of tyres. I probably need to spend the same again, to get it going and stopping as it should. Then it could do with a screen, then a hand paint, and a cambelt...etc etc - all before I get the mods on it I would like.

All to possibly sell it for £1200 if the day ever came!? It doesn't feel right really but cant find any other options that suit me.

Defenders are expensive, and I don't really fit in one comfortably. (But they seem to hold their money, and if I was to do all the above work on one, if I needed to get out of it at least you should get some of your money back.)

Most newer stuff is crap or expensive, or both.

What do you think chaps?

Confused from Hertfordshire!

I'll hedge my bets here and say that the Disco 1's time is now coming. Values are at rock bottom and can't really drop any more. Look at where the classic Range Rover was a few years ago. Disco 1's are in the main, rusty and have spaceship mileage, they get robbed of their engines and then get turned into soup tins. If it carries on this way then any remaining good ones are going to shoot up in value. I've seen this happen with another favourite of mine , the Fiesta XR2 hot hatch. 10 years ago you could buy a "project" for £100/200, now you can't find one to restore for cheap money (check Ebay, you'll get a shock). Unlike the XR2 and most Fords the Disco has a big advantage and that's the availability of spares and panels. I've only has my 95 300 tdi Disco since Sept 14 but its in good nick and I intend to keep hold of it for a long time.

Defenders are expensive , but I'd rather have a Disco anyday.

Thanks for the reply.

I think I just need to man up a bit! Its difficult to find the time to work on it though with work and everything else. Perhaps a nice day out at the land rover show this weekend will help boost moral/buy parts!

depends if you are doing it to sell or enjoy. i like disco's, worth the effort doing it up if you are wanting to keep and enjoy it imo

trax said:

depends if you are doing it to sell or enjoy. i like disco's, worth the effort doing it up if you are wanting to keep and enjoy it imo

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I know what you mean. I want to keep it, but not sure for how long - suppose that is the million dollar question really.

Squares said:

Thanks for the reply.

I think I just need to man up a bit! Its difficult to find the time to work on it though with work and everything else. Perhaps a nice day out at the land rover show this weekend will help boost moral/buy parts!

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Hi matey, been in your shoes, but here's my honest answer, if your looking for some fun and adventure and learning about the discos then the money shouldn't matter, if your looking for an investment then your going to have to spend and then there's no guarantees, I work out a couple of years ago it cost me 2500 quid to go to Spain with wife and dustbins for a fortnight, all done and dusted and forgot about in a month, put the same into your disco, get it how you want, years of fun, then when your ready for a change you'll have forgot about the input of cash, you'll just remember the laughs, it's nothing to do with manning up matey, it's a matter of personal choice, spend wisely,
Grezz

Every single tin box that had wheels fitted to it costs too much money and gave nothing but grief.

Dont you just love em........................

any landy can cost you money in up keep, mine is betting there with panel repairs and sometimes i think is it really worth it but then you have a day laning or out playing in the mud with a big smile on my face and i think YEP im glad ive got it

I've been having the same debate as you with myself.

Do I buy a defender or spend far more than the cars worth on keeping it really well maintained.

I've decided to keep mine for as long as possible and spend a fortune on it. I'd rather sit in a disco for a full weekends laning than a than a defender. I'll never get the money back but I don't plan on selling it.

All it means it that you own a Land Rover. It's simple.

So, now the problem's not so complex.

Feel better?

Just ask yourself what you would replace it with? It will still need money spending on it whatever you get, might as well keep your Disco, as the D1 following the Range Rover Classic in future speculation, I think only the 3 door ones in original condition will be worth investing in short to meduim term, unless you can find a low mileage immaculate 5 door to hide away, I'd just enjoy playing with your Disco and use it.

Bobsticle said:

Every single tin box that had wheels fitted to it costs too much money and gave nothing but grief.

Dont you just love em........................

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Yeah, before I bought my first car my father told that a car was nothing more than a bottomless hole at the side of the road into which you throw money. When I did manage to buy my first car he just shook his head and said "That's it, you'll never have two brass farthings to rub together now"
He was right.
But I still enjoy my Disco.

As has been said any car will cost you money ,one of the guys at work pays £300 a month to drive around in a seat leon that he will never own (its leased) in six months of his payments you could buy both my landrovers
Parts for older landys are cheap and easy enough to fit if you have the skills and basic tools

Of course it's a waste of money. My D1 was a money pit. D2 is better but it's getting to the age/mileage where it needs bits doing now.

Wouldn't change it though.

Enjoy it!

I'm finding myself agreeing with almost all of this, especially the biit about £KKKK holidays that are over in 2 weeks and all you have left is sunburn and millions of dodgy digipics.

I'm off to Billing on Friday on the Disco Owners club stand, can't wait as its my first Landy show...there goes the never booked mega holiday money !!

I have been through this thought process. What will you replace it with? A nice shiny thing that can be hacked via the DAB radio and needs a laptop to change a wiper blade all for £300+ a month in car finance?

The answer is yes and also no. There worth having if you enjoy it. You ain't gonna make money on it that's for sure.

My 300 tdi clicked over to 96k miles today. It's rock solid underneath, has rear wheel arches and a boot floor with paint as shiny on the bonnet and has a stunning interior. This year I believe I need to throw a grand at it in tyres and new standard suspension components as it's starting to feel a little bit tired. I figure I might see 3 grand as it sits if I hung on. But what would that 3 grand plus the 1k I'd like to throw at it buy in real terms that's just as capable?
All I can think of is a D2 with similar miles which probably needs the same sort of investment. In defender prices I'd get a battered offroader with 250k on the clock and a sore back. To end up with the same quality of defender I'd have to spend somewhere in the order of 15 grand. What's the logic in spending more to be uncomfortable?

For what they offer I think Discoverys are a bargain. They cost no more and no less than a Defender or Range Rover to run and they are much more comfortable than a Defender in any event. It might sound like I've got a chip on my shoulder re: defenders. I haven't... I also own a series 3 which is much the same thing.

Unfortunately Discovery 1's are currently going through banger status. A fair few more need to be cubed before they start to rise in value but you're not going to find many cars that you can buy, run, maintain and then turn a profit on when you move it on. 99 times out of 100 a car will always be a money pit.

MGBGTV8 said:

My 300 tdi clicked over to 96k miles today. It's rock solid underneath, has rear wheel arches and a boot floor with paint as shiny on the bonnet and has a stunning interior. This year I believe I need to throw a grand at it in tyres and new standard suspension components as it's starting to feel a little bit tired. I figure I might see 3 grand as it sits if I hung on. But what would that 3 grand plus the 1k I'd like to throw at it buy in real terms that's just as capable?
All I can think of is a D2 with similar miles which probably needs the same sort of investment. In defender prices I'd get a battered offroader with 250k on the clock and a sore back. To end up with the same quality of defender I'd have to spend somewhere in the order of 15 grand. What's the logic in spending more to be uncomfortable?

For what they offer I think Discoverys are a bargain. They cost no more and no less than a Defender or Range Rover to run and they are much more comfortable than a Defender in any event. It might sound like I've got a chip on my shoulder re: defenders. I haven't... I also own a series 3 which is much the same thing.

Unfortunately Discovery 1's are currently going through banger status. A fair few more need to be cubed before they start to rise in value but you're not going to find many cars that you can buy, run, maintain and then turn a profit on when you move it on. 99 times out of 100 a car will always be a money pit.

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SWEEEEEET! looking lovely.

MGBGTV8 said:

My 300 tdi clicked over to 96k miles today. It's rock solid underneath, has rear wheel arches and a boot floor with paint as shiny on the bonnet and has a stunning interior. This year I believe I need to throw a grand at it in tyres and new standard suspension components as it's starting to feel a little bit tired. I figure I might see 3 grand as it sits if I hung on. But what would that 3 grand plus the 1k I'd like to throw at it buy in real terms that's just as capable?
All I can think of is a D2 with similar miles which probably needs the same sort of investment. In defender prices I'd get a battered offroader with 250k on the clock and a sore back. To end up with the same quality of defender I'd have to spend somewhere in the order of 15 grand. What's the logic in spending more to be uncomfortable?

For what they offer I think Discoverys are a bargain. They cost no more and no less than a Defender or Range Rover to run and they are much more comfortable than a Defender in any event. It might sound like I've got a chip on my shoulder re: defenders. I haven't... I also own a series 3 which is much the same thing.

Unfortunately Discovery 1's are currently going through banger status. A fair few more need to be cubed before they start to rise in value but you're not going to find many cars that you can buy, run, maintain and then turn a profit on when you move it on. 99 times out of 100 a car will always be a money pit.

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That is a very nice looking disco ,and i shall be doing my bit for future disco prices soon as il be breaking a 200 so my series can have an engine again !!!