looking for a Buyers guide

Hi, I currently have, now no laughing a Frontera:doh: it has been a good truck but it struggles with clearance and I now want a proper 4X4.

I am looking at a couple of Discovery's this weekend, they are both V8's 1 auto 1 manual.

So my questions are,
What do i need to look out for e.g. rust areas and other faults.

Am i going to have no money keeping fuel in it I dont have far to travel to work and the only other use would be laning. I would be changing the fan over to kenlow fans as I know from my old job that the original fans sap fuel.



Many thanks in advance


Rob

Rust ! Is major problem, other parts can be fixed quite cheap, steering boxes leak,
Im selling mine if ur interested, discovery 1 3.9v8 auto, 110k, new rad and steering box, 5 months tax, will have 12 months mot when i get it tested next week, clean car, ideal as a laning or starter vehicle, no rot to chassis or body, looking around 1400 pm me for more info

Auto is much nicer and easier, especially for laning,
Rust - check inner wings, sills, boot floor, rear crossmember, inside rear arch,
Also check gearbox, and hi low and diff lock, plus the usual car buying things !

rust, they are all foked, dont buy one.


or use the Search button and simply type... "what to look for on a disco"

Quite frankly with a V8 I don't think the fan really has much bearing on the fuel consumption. It's going to be pretty heavy whatever.
Transmission issues are pretty well covered if you go onto Ashcroft transmissions site.
Rust is the real problem and thats covered endlessly round here.
p.s. Don't feel to bad about the Frontera. I had a 2.4i and while its probably a bit more of a big estate with 4 wheel drive than a really serious off-roader, I only wish Land Rover could build things as reliable. Only let me down in 130000 miles when the fuel pump wore out and it kept eating fuses.

have to agree with above disco's came off the production line with rust!Think its only the lancia that can beat them for rust great tools if you can find a sound one few and fair between d2 a more sound car body wise but suspention and electronics let them down.Read thro threads and look at as many as poss before you buy!The reading is scary a lot of peeps only come on here when they have probs but it will give you an idea wat might happen welcome

just to add if fuel is a prob dont buy its a 2 tonne brick and luvs the garage fore court.Ive got a td5 disco bought it blind touch wood been a great car but you need to be hands on keep up with services.

fastrider said:

Hi, I currently have, now no laughing a Frontera:doh: it has been a good truck but it struggles with clearance and I now want a proper 4X4.

I am looking at a couple of Discovery's this weekend, they are both V8's 1 auto 1 manual.

So my questions are,
What do i need to look out for e.g. rust areas and other faults.

Am i going to have no money keeping fuel in it I don't have far to travel to work and the only other use would be laneing. I would be changing the fan over to Kenlowe fans as I know from my old job that the original fans sap fuel.

Many thanks in advance
Rob

Click to expand...

Hi Rob, first of all V8's are nice to drive but horrendous to fuel - it is not unknown for D1 V8's to be down below 10mpg when offroading and 12-15 around the doors.

Sadly D1's, as other have said, are riven with rust - just about everywhere.

You don't say what your budget is, but if you can manage it, think about a D2 TD5. They start at about £2000 for a fixer-upper so not crazy money and they are so much better in terms of rust.

The TD5 engine is a beauty and has almost the same torque as the V8 but at lower revs.

They are also a much more modern design is loads of ways - some of them include electronic bits which initially I found a bit dawnting, but not a problem once I'd calmed down !!

The suspension on a D2 has two main components to be aware of:
1. ACE anti roll system - can be problems with rusty pipes. Not too bad to solve and worse case just remove altogether, then it's a D1 in effect.

2. SLS rear air suspension - these are nowhere near the problem that Luddites would have you believe. It's a simple but effective system of air springs, ride height sensors and a compressor. Maintain it correctly and you'll have no trouble. Alternatively, replace with coil springs and you're back to a D1 but without rust!!

The only area I've seen on a D2 that causes issues with rust is the rear chassis, but it's easy to spot and easy to rectify if done in time.


Overall the D2 is a fine machine - as good if not better off-road than a D1 and much more refined on-road.

here you go, just a rough guide that i did
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/what-check-when-buying-discovery-131000.html

Thanks for all the info, well I think I may wait a while and see if the right one comes along. I don't have a huge budget basically the sale price of my Frontera plus a bit more i.e. 1500ish.

But thanks for all your help on this, I will keep looking maybe for a td200/300 if thats possible, bodywork can be fixed its more the main workings i worry about.


Thanks again


Rob