Disco or Defender for long term home?!!

Hey all,

Having chucked in the office job and sold the house I am looking to buy a Disco or Defender in the next couple of months. I plan to pretty much live out of it for the next year whilst undertaking various trips. I was leaning towards a Disco on the basis that 1) it would probably offer greater mpg (very tight budget) 2) greater weatherproofing (I will have some sensitive kit with me and also don't want paper/books to get too damp), and 3) more secure (considering I will be travelling with all worldly posessions).

Can anyone give some input on what Disco would be best suited (in terms of: affordability/value for money, off-road capability, maintenance, mpg etc etc.)

Also, is Disco the right option or should I really be thinking Defender? It has to comfortably sleep me in the back as well as carry all the crap. I saw somewhere that certain discos can take a double matress in the back but don't recall which model or which version. My heart tells me go Defender, but then I worry about increased fuel costs and the more basic interior and potential damp etc.

I own a S3 and never even been in a Defender or Disco so all my thoughts so far are based on reading. Obviously I will shortly go out and start looking at them but as always your experience/advice would be a valuable part of my decision.

I want to keep initial layout to minimum (like a well used £3k motor).

Defenders look great and are awesome off road, but i find them a bit cramped inside, and they suffer from condensation quite bad so i would go for the Disco. I had a Disco 300TDi the other year and for the money you pay i dont think anything comes close. They are quiet and very comfortable, the family and me took ours around France last year and covered 1600 miles and it didnt miss a beat, it even started first touch in -13.

I prefer the classic the look of the Defender over the Disco.

But.....

1. The Defender is better offroad, but the Disco is more comfy and still well capable offroad.

2. I don't need to wear my reading glasses to see the satnav in my Disco, but do in the Defender as there is less cockpit room (satnav too close).

3. I drove from Glasgow - Dover on a tank of fuel in my Disco 500miles = £100. More than happy with that. Not sure that a Defender could achieve that due to it's shape/gearing?

Here's my baby in Morocco.....

Nice, thanks for your replies.

So I think I am still leaning towards the Disco then. Does anyone have any opinions to share on the engines TDi/Td5/V8? Obviously not just the "newer is better" but still taking into account reliability, affordability/value-for-money/mpg, maintenance on the go etc.

Do you think sleeping in the back of one long term is realistic? If so which model would accomodate that? Some of them look as though they have a pretty small floor area rear of the front seats. I read somewhere that the floor space fits a double mattress but can't remember which model that referred to.

Cheers,

Andy.

IMHO the 300tdi is reliable and easy to fix if it goes wrong (no need for computers and fault codes).

If you buy a disco the money you save by not buying the same age defender means you can buy a roof tent, and you won't need to sleep in it.

You'll get a very nice 300tdi for 3 grand. But that aint gonna get you a 'nice' defender

Agree with muddyfox, I don't think sleeping in a Disco on a regular basis would bode well for your body, unless you built some form of raised bunk bed that let's you sleep comfortably. Personally I reckon a roof tent would be the ideal solution should you decide on getting a Disco. As for engine's the pre 98 TDi's are easy enough to repair, your biggest issue will be rust.

Water247 said:

Nice, thanks for your replies.

So I think I am still leaning towards the Disco then. Does anyone have any opinions to share on the engines TDi/Td5/V8? Obviously not just the "newer is better" but still taking into account reliability, affordability/value-for-money/mpg, maintenance on the go etc.

Do you think sleeping in the back of one long term is realistic? If so which model would accomodate that? Some of them look as though they have a pretty small floor area rear of the front seats. I read somewhere that the floor space fits a double mattress but can't remember which model that referred to.

Cheers,

Andy.

Click to expand...

For an all round affordable, reliable, maintainable engine I would go for a tdi every time. The 300 is a bit more refind interior wise than a 200 but has a bit more electrickery in it (not much)that could possibly go wrong, both 200 & 300's are easy to work on, parts are v cheap and both will run happily on bio, veg or regular derv.

To sleep comfortably in a disco you really need a 3 door so you can remove the back seats and flip the front seats forward to get the length in the back you need. I have built storage boxes for the back of mine that are the same height as the wheel arches with a folding section behind the seats so when the front seats are flipped forward it gives a flat bed base of over 4' wide and 6'2" in length.

Hope this helps and good luck.

didn't think about roof tents, that probably is the best way to go if you're sleeping in it for a long period.

Thanks guys, this is all really very useful. I am suggestible to a roof tent but was put off by prices I've seen and also it seems a little exposed being perched up there on the roof. I don't care about that too much from a security aspect but as I see myself sleeping in car parks as often as I might be 'camping' I thought it might be a little safer (from ****heads) and draw less attention from ****heads and/or authorities if I was akip in the back with blocked out windows. Guess I was hoping no-one would suspect I was sleeping in the back from a casual glance whereas I thought a roof tent would scream "I'm hobo kipping in your carpark!" Something to think about though I guess.

Like the option of being able to explore with diesel alternatives as well.

For the budget byou are mentioning , its going to be a disco, defenders will be a bit of a shed for the money you mention . Engine choice is going to be 200tdi or 300 tdi, V8 are too thirsty unless on LPG which your budget wont allow conversion. Having said that V8 disco are much cheaper for that reason . 3 door or 5 door doesnt make much difference, as the interior is same dimensions. Take out seats apart from front two, build raised floor area to get level bed, with folding at front to get length. You can store stuff underneath. If you are wild camping roof tent is ok in the wild , in built up areas , not the best option , also if wet weather can be a bit of pita . Same reason try and leave room in back to cook , wash etc . HTSH

Htsh?

Hope Thats Some Help

The Disco i had was a 300TDi and ran sweet. My RRC has a 200TDi it's a bit more noisy but runs great and seems to pull better and gets more mpg, but that could be down to the Disco being an auto. IMO the 200 and 300 are both great if looked after so get service history if you can as neither fare well with neglect. My Disco had 110k with full history and was near mint condition with leather,cruise and ac and that went for £2700 and i dont think any other 4x4 can match that for value for money.

I would go for defender 110 everytime - I have 110 300tdi, been over to and around france a couple of times & pyrenees with all sorts of camping gear and 4 bikes with 4 peeps....last trip was about 3000 miles and average 27mpg - but i do have the disco transfer ratios with 265/75/at's.

200 or 300tdi - both good and pretty simple.....i favour the 300

Off-road both are very capable but both have quite large rear overhangs to remember about :doh:

Imo, you have more options for storage & sleeping in the 110 over the disco - i suspect you would opt for 110 hard top....loads of room for whatever in the back, easy to knock up ones own in built storage/fridge/bed/cooking etc..couple of ali tubes fixed each end of a tarp and fix 1 tube to side of roof rack - couple of ali tent poles and hey-presto, roll up/roll out canopy.

More options for extra fuel on 110 also - additional tanks under wheelboxes or jerry cans under wheelboxes rather than in vehicle or high on roofrack.

Defenders are a bit more expensive, but i think well worth it if you are going to be pretty much living out of it.

Condensation is a pain in the defenders unless you line/carpet or whatever the sides and roof - i have insualted and carpeted the sides/roof of mine and makes a massive difference all round.

HTHs

Thanks for everyones input. On the Defenders, is there any insultaion/soundproofing in the back or is it just a thin sheet of metal seperating you from the elements (like the Series)?

Water247 said:

Thanks for everyones input. On the Defenders, is there any insultaion/soundproofing in the back or is it just a thin sheet of metal seperating you from the elements (like the Series)?

Click to expand...

loads of after market sound proofing around if you need it.

Water247 said:

Thanks for everyones input. On the Defenders, is there any insultaion/soundproofing in the back or is it just a thin sheet of metal seperating you from the elements (like the Series)?

Click to expand...

Roof/sides Insulation / soundproofing......Closed cell foam / carpet underlay / camping roll mats / etc... all very light and will stick with ease using spray glue and all cheap.......on load bed i put plywood sheet down on top of a trowelled layer of some type of silicon based black goo which never quite hardens - this both seals and protects the underside of the ply and seals any small holes there may be in tub floor....external varnish on top.......slightly modified rear bottom door seal and edging to finish....good looking and tough

Everything is all kinda flat(ish) surfaces and straight(ish) edges in the defender which makes it a lot easier to work than disco imo.

I'm just in the throws of starting to re-model the rear of my 110 for 1or2 person overlanding inc storage, slide out fridge, water tank, pump, cooking, sleeping (in the back) etc...will post pic or 2 as and when there is progress...