Disco's offroad and greenlaning

Hi all, I am looking for a Landy (originally a Defender 90) but seeing the prices for a Defender and a Disco (say and N reg 300Tdi) I think a disco is a better bet, for trim and goodies etc. cheaper, more refined and all that stuff. I'm not going for challenge stuff, just basic offroad and greenlanes, so why should I go for an expensive defender when I can get a cheaper, more luxurious Disco for less money, and newer?

Any thoughts please?

If I bought a disco and then dented or scratched it while offroading I'd be pretty ****ed off about it. If I dink my Defender I'm not as worried.

ratty said:

If I bought a disco and then dented or scratched it while offroading I'd be pretty ****ed off about it. If I dink my Defender I'm not as worried.

Click to expand...

Why?

The Mad Hat Man said:

Why?

Click to expand...

Dunno. A defender with a dent on it or scratches down the side just looks used. A discovery with scratches or dents looks abused. Silly really.

how much did yu pay for yo defender and how much did DV pay for his disco?

I know wot i wud rather damage.

The Mad Hat Man said:

how much did yu pay for yo defender and how much did DV pay for his disco?

I know wot i wud rather damage.

Click to expand...

I know exactly what ya mean. I'd still be more ****ed at hitting a disco.

Remember the back of my last one?:doh::doh::doh:
and the roof on this one?:doh::doh::doh:

I'd've been gutted if it wuz a disco.

payed 1200 for my disco looks good with some battle scars on it

I had the same decison to make

bought a disco in the end cheaper more comfortable (have to take kids to nursery in it) and from what you to describe will be more than capable for the off raoding you want to do in it

besides there is a lot of potential to turn them into great off road machines should the calling take you

if yu only pay £1000 and run it for a year before it fails the MOT - yu can then go and buy another one. recover, wot, £400-500 from spares - Offroading is expensive - fuel/repairs etc.

The last three discos I've had have all cost less than 600 quid. I've used them and abused them until their mot's ran out then I've made a profit on each one selling it off in bits. My take on it is this. You can't buy a reasonable, running and road legal defender for 500 quid.

Thanks for the comments. I have noticed that Defenders seem to hold their prices really well (and some are going up by the looks of it). Discos seem to be falling a bit so, with all the other bits (everyday use, luxuries etc.) I think a Disco is a better bet. I don't mind getting a rough defender later (maybe instead) if the serious offroad bug bites but for what I want now, it seems that for everyday, with the levels of off road ability that disco has compared to a defender, then perhaps the disco is the way to go. The spares thing is an issue, but then neither a disco or a defender seems to expensive in parts. Labour costs for what I can't do will probably be higher on the disco though and normal insurance etc. Am I on the right tracks or talking cobblers?

lewisg said:

Thanks for the comments. I have noticed that Defenders seem to hold their prices really well (and some are going up by the looks of it). Discos seem to be falling a bit so, with all the other bits (everyday use, luxuries etc.) I think a Disco is a better bet. I don't mind getting a rough defender later (maybe instead) if the serious offroad bug bites but for what I want now, it seems that for everyday, with the levels of off road ability that disco has compared to a defender, then perhaps the disco is the way to go. The spares thing is an issue, but then neither a disco or a defender seems to expensive in parts. Labour costs for what I can't do will probably be higher on the disco though and normal insurance etc. Am I on the right tracks or talking cobblers?

Click to expand...

You're absolutely on the right track.

I'm in a similar boat at the moment as I'm just about to sell my current Disco to raise money for a building project, but will then later want another 4x4.

Have been looking at Def/Disco prices and I would say if you compared like with like, age for age, the Defender is at least double the money if not treble.

I'm looking at 97 & '98 Disco's that I can buy for about 1200-1500 pounds.

90 Defenders of the same vintage are at £4000 and often more still.

I would love a Defender 90 TDi300 with a galvy chassis, it's kind of my dream vehicle - but I've got small pockets so it's going to be another Disco

Incidently I don't think there is any advantage off-road for the Defender, Disco's are very fine off-road tools and can be made into something really quite special, as per picture. Not mine yet, but you never know???

It seems that I am on the right tracks which is good. I have seen a few Discos recently (web searches) in my area from dealers with fsh and good condition for about 3.5K and if I got one of those it could well last me years. Insurance checks this afternoon show that I would pay more than for a defender, but then again, comfort etc. is a god idea and worth it I think. Better keep looking I guess. Thank you for the view though.

lewisg said:

It seems that I am on the right tracks which is good. I have seen a few Discos recently (web searches) in my area from dealers with fsh and good condition for about 3.5K and if I got one of those it could well last me years. Insurance checks this afternoon show that I would pay more than for a defender, but then again, comfort etc. is a god idea and worth it I think. Better keep looking I guess. Thank you for the view though.

Click to expand...

The only serious word of warning i would offer is DO NOT pay too much money for a second-hand TDI 300 Disco - if you pay £3500 for one from a dealer it will be worth, at best, £2000 in the open market immediately you leave his premises.

I understand that you may feel that you will get some support and guarrantee from a dealer, but please, beware.

£2000 is MORE than enough to be paying for a '98 TDi300 in super condition at the mo'.

Good hunting

Dave

i was after a defender but the cost is just silly for some of them. i paid 300 for my disco and i wud rather bash it up off road than a 2 grand defender.

Thanks again for the thoughts. I'm going to wait for a bit and do my offroad driving course first anyway, but if a dealer is asking a lot, I can always make a low offer, the worst they can do is say no (maybe not that polite, but so what).

lewisg said:

Thanks again for the thoughts. I'm going to wait for a bit and do my offroad driving course first anyway, but if a dealer is asking a lot, I can always make a low offer, the worst they can do is say no (maybe not that polite, but so what).

Click to expand...

Disco are the best way of off roading on a budget at the mo.Get one for 400-700 notes even if yer wreck it you wont be fussed, for the money they are cheap enough to run as a second car, i got a classic and insured it for less than a grand.Disco you might get some tax too.

I have a 1999 300 tdi, great car, and compared to a defender, a bargain. Insurance is cheap, running costs cheap, headlining doesnt fall down, does nearly all the things a defender can and at a fraction of the cost. It also works as a family car, very comfy etc. I think the 300 tdi disco is the new defender. :biggrin1:

my disco is the cheapest to run car ive had for a while even more than my astra van i had before it disco £200 fully comp,astra £400 fully comp. bits cost nowt. Just as good for laning medium off road use as defender only advantage i can see with the defender is when the going gets really hilly it doesn't have the overhangs the disco has. but if ya that keen just chop the back off the disco lol id rather do that to a 600 quid disco than shell out 3000 on defender which is basically the same vehicle undernieth

shinydiscoball said:

my disco is the cheapest to run car ive had for a while even more than my astra van i had before it disco £200 fully comp,astra £400 fully comp. bits cost nowt. Just as good for laning medium off road use as defender only advantage i can see with the defender is when the going gets really hilly it doesn't have the overhangs the disco has. but if ya that keen just chop the back off the disco lol id rather do that to a 600 quid disco than shell out 3000 on defender which is basically the same vehicle undernieth

Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. I bought my Disco a year ago for 500 quid, and its just cost me 225 quid to get it through the mot, most of which was a new exhaust. We have 2 90 defenders we can use, one of which is used for night shooting (pick up) and the other mostly for towing around the fields and farm. Both defenders are modded, with lifts, snorkels etc, the disco is pretty much standard, though now is lifted a couple of inches and bigger tyres. On a recent visit to Bures pit, a pay and play site, I went round in the disco on ROAD tyres, as thats what were on at the time, and ok, couldn't do some of the bigger hills or deep water, but apart from that it went everywhere the defenders did, only getting stuck once.

So what I'm saying, for the difference in price compared to the difference in ability, insurance (check out National Farmers Union for insurance - 200 quid fully comp for me) comfort etc, its Disco everytime for me, especially with prices being what they are at the moment, it aint the end of the world if you bend it.

Get one and enjoy.