best disco for towing/off road fun

shiftyoldscoob · Jul 11, 2012

Hi all,

I'm currently in the throes of setting up a business buying and selling cars.

I had originally looked at buying a beavertail but they can't carry a big, heavy 4x4 or van, so I'm looking at getting a disco and a trailer.

My questions are, which is best for towing? 200/300tdi/td5? manual or auto?

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of the above please? I'd prefer an auto tbh but if the manual is the better option I'll go for that.

Also, I want to be able to have a little off road fun so I'll be wanting a lock diff.

Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance

disco147 · Jul 11, 2012

I have a 300tdi and my mate has a TD5, both manuals.

The 300tdi is a better workhorse/off roader in my opinion as its a bit more rough around the edges. A fair bit cheaper to purchase and maintain with less electrics to go wrong. Enough grunt to tug most things - I can drag fully loaded skips in mine no problems... diff lock as standard...

TD5 is much nicer on the road, alot quieter and more powerful - not all of them have difflocks so it might take longer to find the one you want! Generally in my opinion a bit to nice to knock about off road in at the moment in my opinion...

Jongould · Jul 11, 2012

disco147 said:
I have a 300tdi and my mate has a TD5, both manuals.

The 300tdi is a better workhorse/off roader in my opinion as its a bit more rough around the edges. A fair bit cheaper to purchase and maintain with less electrics to go wrong. Enough grunt to tug most things - I can drag fully loaded skips in mine no problems... diff lock as standard...

TD5 is much nicer on the road, alot quieter and more powerful - not all of them have difflocks so it might take longer to find the one you want! Generally in my opinion a bit to nice to knock about off road in at the moment in my opinion...

Think you will find they all have difflocks still, LR removed the selector lever as ones with traction control don't need the diff lock but it is still all there...

jamesmartin · Jul 11, 2012

not on all by any means ,

Soloby Rob · Jul 11, 2012

shiftyoldscoob said:
Hi all,

I'm currently in the throes of setting up a business buying and selling cars.

I had originally looked at buying a beavertail but they can't carry a big, heavy 4x4 or van, so I'm looking at getting a disco and a trailer.

My questions are, which is best for towing? 200/300tdi/td5? manual or auto?

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of the above please? I'd prefer an auto tbh but if the manual is the better option I'll go for that.

Also, I want to be able to have a little off road fun so I'll be wanting a lock diff.

Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance

Good luck with that, you're gonna need it

shiftyoldscoob · Jul 11, 2012

Soloby Rob said:
Good luck with that, you're gonna need it

Thanks but it's only on the side as more of a hobby. Mainly selling modern classics. Basically a means to have the cars I want and maybe make a few quid out of it.

shiftyoldscoob · Jul 11, 2012

disco147 said:
I have a 300tdi and my mate has a TD5, both manuals.

The 300tdi is a better workhorse/off roader in my opinion as its a bit more rough around the edges. A fair bit cheaper to purchase and maintain with less electrics to go wrong. Enough grunt to tug most things - I can drag fully loaded skips in mine no problems... diff lock as standard...

TD5 is much nicer on the road, alot quieter and more powerful - not all of them have difflocks so it might take longer to find the one you want! Generally in my opinion a bit to nice to knock about off road in at the moment in my opinion...

Cheers for that mate,

TBH the 200/300tdi's seem to be more in my price range as the td5's hold good money unless galactic mileage!

The 300tdi would do nicely as it is going to get bashed about a bit.

Does anyone know which is the better off roader/towing vehicle between the manual and auto?

disco147 · Jul 11, 2012

Jongould said:
Think you will find they all have difflocks still, LR removed the selector lever as ones with traction control don't need the diff lock but it is still all there...

so your saying they have diff locks but no selector? Why would they have difflocks if they can't be used??? I don't disbelieve you - it just seems a tad stoopid on land rover's behalf if this is true

thebiglad · Jul 11, 2012

disco147 said:
so your saying they have diff locks but no selector? Why would they have difflocks if they can't be used??? I don't disbelieve you - it just seems a tad stoopid on land rover's behalf if this is true

This refers to DII's and the earlier ones have the innards for CDL but no linkage because they also have Traction Control which LR thought would be enough - and it is for most peeps.

disco147 · Jul 11, 2012

thebiglad said:
This refers to DII's and the earlier ones have the innards for CDL but no linkage because they also have Traction Control which LR thought would be enough - and it is for most peeps.

Understood! I knew they had traction control which was intended to work as an alternative but didn't know about the innards... so essentially you could link it all up for not a great deal of money if you wanted to??

thebiglad · Jul 11, 2012

disco147 said:
Understood! I knew they had traction control which was intended to work as an alternative but didn't know about the innards... so essentially you could link it all up for not a great deal of money if you wanted to??

That's right. There are two different ways of doing it: manual linkage, several peeps are making kits now; or electric linkage which sounds and looks good but the jury is out about longevity.

mrnice · Jul 11, 2012

Personally I think a 300tdi would suit your needs.

300Tommie · Jul 11, 2012

300tdi Manual would be the way to go in my opinion.

ricc · Jul 11, 2012

setting up any business you need to buy the tools to do the job for the least financial outlay.

Dr_evil · Jul 11, 2012

300tdi auto would be better for towing no ?

hifly · Jul 11, 2012

auto for both off road and towing

Disco DJ · Jul 11, 2012

Re Diff lock-
I heard the early TD5 had the innards but no means to use it. Then an era of no diff lock at all. Then full use again in the later "facelift" model.

Re towing etc-
Manual for me, all the way. Hate autos.

Dave

hifly · Jul 11, 2012

Disco DJ said:
Re towing etc-
Manual for me, all the way. Hate autos.

Dave

you may hate them but they are better for both off roading and towing, there is also more chance of getting one with a good engine as its not been reved to bits.

scrappyloz · Jul 12, 2012

No they are not really better off road people just prefer them. Manual all the way to be honest

Jongould · Jul 12, 2012

hifly said:
you may hate them but they are better for both off roading and towing, there is also more chance of getting one with a good engine as its not been reved to bits.

I dont agree autos aree better for towing, they use alot more fuel and the torque plate is never fully engaged till 53mph so alot of the time you are 'slipping'. Off road they are easier, not better, I prefer the control of the manuals over the ease of the autos but its all to preference...

If you want one just for towing and off road fun then look at this (its mine BTW) :

1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY ES 300TDi - OFF ROAD TRUCK 4x4 HIGH QUALITY PARTS USED | eBay

best disco for towing/off road fun

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