disco vs defender - please help me choose

Hi All,

I'm having a serious dilemma at the moment, and I was hoping you lot might be able to help me make up my mind.

First off, I should explain that I used to have a '92 van back defender 110 with a 200tdi engine. I loved it, but had to sell it when i got a job far from home. I now no longer have a massive commute, so have been looking for at least 6 months to get another similar defender.

for some reason, defender prices have gone mad since 1997 - they seem to have gone up in price, whilst the economy crumbled... odd.

Anyway, I have a diesel saloon which I can probably sell for £800 - £1000. On top of that I can probably put another £500 ish, maybe a touch more, so my budget at the moment is about £1500 (perhaps a bit more for a sound defender).

Well, obviously for the sort of money I'm looking at, it seems I'm only going to be able to get a bodged 80's defender - normally with some sort of disco engine in it.

For the same money, I've noticed I could get a nice shiny silver disco from the for sale section here. 300tdi manual.

I hope that if I tell you what I need it for, you could help me choose whether an older landy is better, or whether I get more for my money with a disco.

so, here's my list of factors:

Must have decent fuel economy - no worse than 30mpg (as per my old landy)

Must be capable of the 45 min drive to work (25 miles each way)

Must be capable and useful for scuba diving trips (lots of load space - and some way of making sure that it doesn't get ruined by the wet gear)

Must be handy for my to throw logs into the back when I find them lying on the side of the road

Would also like to be able to sleep in the back, and have seen nice fold away bed ideas in both disco's and defenders.

Must be reliable (I know, I know - but which is better for reliability?)

200tdi, 300tdi, or td3/4/5???

mechanically simple enough for me to fix with a spanner and a hammer

must be capable of small-holder level off road stuff - muddy fields, towing stock trailers, loading of oily and muddy gear in the back.

and as an added extra, what about an LPG converted P38 rangie? I've terrified of these though, co's they sound very expensive to keep running.


I know that's a long list, but I also know that a defender *can* do all of the above... can a disco compete?

thank you all in advance.

Adam

forget the p38 it would put you in the looony bin. with the cash you have i would go disco..

You need a defender. A disco will do all you ask but will very quickly become very scruffy indeed. It will also be quietly rusting away and next MOT time could well be a load of hassle. The only plus point for the disco is comfort. Nothing to choose between them for reliability or fuel economy really, the disco might just win on fuel. If you need to fix it yourself you'll be needing a 200 or 300 tdi. Your problem is the money. You could get a pretty decent disco for 1500 quid, however you're looking at almost "spares or repair" defenders for that price, unless you go for an older engine type, but then bang goes your reliability and fuel economy.

hughesy said:

You need a defender. A disco will do all you ask but will very quickly become very scruffy indeed. It will also be quietly rusting away and next MOT time could well be a load of hassle. The only plus point for the disco is comfort. Nothing to choose between them for reliability or fuel economy really, the disco might just win on fuel. If you need to fix it yourself you'll be needing a 200 or 300 tdi. Your problem is the money. You could get a pretty decent disco for 1500 quid, however you're looking at almost "spares or repair" defenders for that price, unless you go for an older engine type, but then bang goes your reliability and fuel economy.

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yeah, exactly my problem... back in 97, I bought my '92 110 for £1400. It was advertised in autotrader at £2000, and It only had 90,000 miles on it - ex seven trent water. I know I got a bit of a bargain, but I can't even find an equivalent for £2000 now!!!

is the body work rust a pretty serious issue on the disco's - are they like an old rover?

farmershort said:

Hi All,


so, here's my list of factors:

Must have decent fuel economy - no worse than 30mpg (as per my old landy) You will be ok as long as you dont go for Auto

Must be capable of the 45 min drive to work (25 miles each way) Disco would be more comfortable on road

Must be capable and useful for scuba diving trips (lots of load space - and some way of making sure that it doesn't get ruined by the wet gear) Both have quite large rear space although think there is more in a 110 Def

Must be handy for my to throw logs into the back when I find them lying on the side of the road Either would be good with a decent boot liner

Would also like to be able to sleep in the back, and have seen nice fold away bed ideas in both disco's and defenders. No idea

Must be reliable (I know, I know - but which is better for reliability?)

200tdi, 300tdi, or td3/4/5???

mechanically simple enough for me to fix with a spanner and a hammer 200/300tdi have less electronics so better for the more mechanically minded.

must be capable of small-holder level off road stuff - muddy fields, towing stock trailers, loading of oily and muddy gear in the back. Def is a better off roader but Disco is more than capable

and as an added extra, what about an LPG converted P38 rangie? I've terrified of these though, co's they sound very expensive to keep running. See mechanically simple question, P38s are an electronic nightmare


I know that's a long list, but I also know that a defender *can* do all of the above... can a disco compete? Yes

thank you all in advance.

Adam

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It will come down to what you mainly want to do, Discos are a good commuter but there are many who commute in a Defender on a daily basis. Defenders are generally better off road but Discos are more than capable although slightly hampered by less ground clearance.

I would have loved a defender but as my car spends more time on road than off and with the budget I had the Disco was the better option for me.

bobbler said:

Defenders are generally better off road but Discos are more than capable although slightly hampered by less ground clearance.

.

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Not sure where this myth comes from. Because a disco has exactly the same ground clearance as a defender if they have the same size tyres on. and as a 110 has a longer wheelbase it is more likely to get hung up than a disco is. The overhang is better on a 110 but that only becomes relevent on a pay&play site or in competition circles. Disco also has a better turning circle than a 110.

For what the OP wants A discovery would be his best bet. & As I've owned 110's 90 & disco's I should know.

farmershort said:

I know that's a long list, but I also know that a defender *can* do all of the above... can a disco compete?

thank you all in advance.

Adam

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I'm a Defender man, but what you describe and with your budget, has Disco written all over it. Just make sure you damtbget one with the rust already in it!

Cheers

Blippie

I have one of each.
But if I had to have one it would be the Disco for day to day jobs but it will fall apart if you don't keep on top of it.
I love my 90 but with 2 kids, a wife and dog they don't all fit in.

I really really would love a defender, but like bobbler, I deffo spend more time on road than off. I quite liked commuting in a defender too.

what's the going average for mpg from a 300tdi disco? my 200tdi defender used to get 29 - 30mpg all the time.

is there a nice way to have tools and stuff in the back of the disco, without water and oil and crap 'infecting' the front seat areas?

How much shorter is the disco than a 110?

thanks for the advice redhand - nice to hear from someone who's owned the lot. Do you think the disco's can be just as reliable and easy to fix as a 110?

redhand said:

Not sure where this myth comes from. Because a disco has exactly the same ground clearance as a defender if they have the same size tyres on. and as a 110 has a longer wheelbase it is more likely to get hung up than a disco is. The overhang is better on a 110 but that only becomes relevent on a pay&play site or in competition circles. Disco also has a better turning circle than a 110.

For what the OP wants A discovery would be his best bet. & As I've owned 110's 90 & disco's I should know.

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Sorry RH, I was talking about a pretty much standard set up. defenders can take bigger tyres without mods giving more clearance.

Farmershort, with a manual 300tdi you should see about 30mpg but autos regularly return around 25.

farmershort said:

I really really would love a defender, but like bobbler, I deffo spend more time on road than off. I quite liked commuting in a defender too.

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Been there done that in a 90td. and drove me 110n/a all over Wales The longest drives were North Wales to Northants, Northants to Torquay and Torquay to Hull. Would much have preferred to do all 3 trips in a disco.

what's the going average for mpg from a 300tdi disco? my 200tdi defender used to get 29 - 30mpg all the time.

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On a long run you should get about 34/35 out of a 200 or 300 disco.

is there a nice way to have tools and stuff in the back of the disco, without water and oil and crap 'infecting' the front seat areas?

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Yes either large plastic storage boxes. or ammo boxes. Or get a good boot liner the one in mine is rubber with a 2" raised sides that makes it completely waterproof. add an HD plastic sheet for when the rear seats are folded forwards and that will suffice.

How much shorter is the disco than a 110?

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if you mean the storage area I'd say about 2ft. but overall vehicle length is probably about. 12"

thanks for the advice redhand - nice to hear from someone who's owned the lot.

Do you think the disco's can be just as reliable and easy to fix as a 110?

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Yes engine Transmission & axles etc are exactly the same with the exception of the Salisbury axle on a 110. Only difference is that a disco is likely to need more welding than a defender. Though defender chassis isn't adverse to a good dose of rot either.

oh, one more thing - are there any years or models to be avoided with discos? I remember a long time ago someone told me that a few years (R or S maybe?) had a dodgy problem with a fuel or oil pump, and it was an engine out job to replace it. Is this a well known one?

from the looks of the prices on flea bay, I'm probably looking at around a '95 (M) with about 100,000 to 140,000 miles on it.

farmershort said:

oh, one more thing - are there any years or models to be avoided with discos? I remember a long time ago someone told me that a few years (R or S maybe?) had a dodgy problem with a fuel or oil pump, and it was an engine out job to replace it. Is this a well known one?

from the looks of the prices on flea bay, I'm probably looking at around a '95 (M) with about 100,000 to 140,000 miles on it.

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any major faults that far back will have been repaired by now. Get the latest year you can Not sure which ones you're looking at on Fleabay but M reg max prices should be 700/800 and you'd want a minter for that price. £1500 should get you a tidy P/R reg 300tdi.

Thanks redhand, so would you say I should choose a newer year over lower milage in the case of disco's? if it was a normal car I'd prob give milage the priority.

I've seen some '96 and '97's on fleabay, but they all seem to be high high milage - 160,000 plus - and right on my money at £1500 - £2000

the '95 year ones seem to be around 100,000 miles plus, but topping out aroudn £1000 plus for a nice looking one.

It's worth mentioning that this is my first scouting on fleabay for discos, so it;s prob a case of 'sit and wait' like with the defender. The silver one that's new in the forsale section here is £1300 with 173,000 miles and an M reg. seems steep given what you've said, and what i've seen.

farmershort said:

Thanks redhand, so would you say I should choose a newer year over lower milage in the case of disco's? if it was a normal car I'd prob give mileage the priority.

I've seen some '96 and '97's on fleabay, but they all seem to be high high mileage - 160,000 plus - and right on my money at £1500 - £2000

the '95 year ones seem to be around 100,000 miles plus, but topping out aroudn £1000 plus for a nice looking one.

It's worth mentioning that this is my first scouting on fleabay for discos, so it;s prob a case of 'sit and wait' like with the defender. The silver one that's new in the forsale section here is £1300 with 173,000 miles and an M reg. seems steep given what you've said, and what i've seen.

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The engine in my current disco has 263k on the clock and a part from a little smoke at start up, it runs sweet as a nut. though the mpg is down a little bit . My current L reg disco cost £350 and needs very little welding done (they're usually rotten in the boot area at this age) but the engine was goosed. But as I had a spare engine sat round doing nowt this wasn't a problem. £1300 for an M Reg is taking the ****. Prices do seem to have surged a bit recently Prob because of the recent Snow and the good press they've been getting. Wait and wait would be my advice and a good one will come along soon enough.

Well thanks very much all. Looks like I'm looking for a disco then... I'm a bit deflated that everyone agrees with what I suspected - that you can't buy a decent defender for that money any more, but I am looking forward to having a bit more in-cab comfort. I might try and get one of the XS ones with the rangie-esq trim inside, just to make me feel a bit better about not having a defender.

Shame the disco's are so bloody ugly though

Could try the ES version too, think they have full leather.

bobbler said:

Could try the ES version too, think they have full leather.

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good shout, just found one of those and they have the nice bits of walnut everywhere too - so I can pretend I'm in a rangie!

Definitely a Disco for £1500. A 90/110 at that price would be a money pit, and you'd soon get tired of commuting 25 miles a day in it.The Disco should be comfortable, reasonally economical and for £1500 should be rust free.