Belgian guy lost in the UK

Hello everyone,

Just moved from Belgium to the UK recently, for profesional reasons. I've ALWAYS wanted a Land Rover, and this is the best excuse I've ever had so far!

My grandfather owned a 1953 Series 1, and I literally fell in love with land Rovers at that point. We still have the Series 1 which is sadly rotting in the woods at the moment (lost the papers...), I'd love to find a chassis with matching papers some day, and get it back on the road! One day, maybe...

Right now, I'd really love an early Defender (Tdi engines) but they're incredibly expensive, so I thought I'd go for a Disco instead. Always liked the Disco 1 (especially the 3 door models) and the Disco 2 pre facelift models.

I guess I'll find all the info I need here, mainly looking for buying advice. I've read several threads speaking of what to look for on Disco 1s, but don't know that much about the Disco 2. Looking for Tdi/TD5 or LPG fitted V8s with manual transmission. Keeping in mind that this will be a daily driver, not doing many miles daily, just maybe occasionally a bit more.

Oh, and are there any Land Rover "meetings"/shows/exhibitions around Essex in the summer? I'd love to go to one, time permitting.

Cheers guys!

Welkom op het forum

DuckSherminator said:

I guess I'll find all the info I need here, mainly looking for buying advice. I've read several threads speaking of what to look for on Disco 1s, but don't know that much about the Disco 2. Looking for Tdi/TD5 or LPG fitted V8s with manual transmission. Keeping in mind that this will be a daily driver, not doing many miles daily, just maybe occasionally a bit more.

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If you go looking in the vehicle forums there are loads of threads in there and some stickies about buying.

I bought my 3 door 200Tdi Discovery when I lived in Hasselt and imported it back into the UK when I moved home a couple of years ago.

Where about's in the UK are you? Maybe there are some helpful folks who know their way around the vehicles and might have time to come with you when you go to look at a vehicle?

Hi there, I'm having a look on the forum as we're speaking, guess I'll quite easily find all the info I need there!

Checked some French second hand websites, they've got tons of Disco 1s, but they all seem to have been abused, sadly.

I'm in Essex, Bishops Stortford (near Stansted airport), would be even better if I could meet up with someone indeed!

I know my way pretty well around early generation Polos (currently own 3 of them), but Land Rovers are all new to me, 4x4s in general as a matter of fact.

Oh and thanks for the welcome, only just saw it But I'm from the other part of Belgium, the French speaking one

DuckSherminator said:

Oh and thanks for the welcome, only just saw it But I'm from the other part of Belgium, the French speaking one

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Ardennes, oops, just saw it, Bon jour

I had several bad experiences down South, we used to go to Bertrix quite a lot for a very wealthy client with very expensive horses.

Did you ever go to the Belgian national rally in Durler? I went several times, the off roading road books were very good and the company was, well, let me put it this way, it was more like an alcoholics anonymous meeting than a land rover rally lol

Your in Hertfordshire, too far for me but if you find a vehicle on the South coast look me up, my blog in my signature should give you a clue that I've been round a few Disco's

No problem

Never heard about it actually... But I'm not impressed with what you're telling me, Belgians are heavy drinkers

Thanks man, I really appreciate! I've actually just got myself an insurance quote... And DAMN, it's expensive here! I'm at over £3k a year, what the f*ck! Might end up looking for one on the continent (LHD) and insuring it in Belgium

We used to play the Duvel challenge, 10 in an hour and you got them all for free

I could never manage that, it'd kill me I think

My D1 was cheap to tax and insure in Belgium, but when I moved to Holland over that invisible border it was shocking!!!

You will be better to go into the offices of a broker and present them with proof of insurance and no claims history in Belgium and see what they can do for you, I had to do that when I moved home as I had no no claims history in the UK for over 8 years and it was going to really hurt to insure the little 2ltr diesel 307 starting from 0!

I can recommend NFU mutual and they should have an office local to you in Hertfordshire somewhere.