Maybe I'll get a Disco??

Hi there, this is my second post here, the first one being in the Defender section. I want/wanted a 90 but as I have 2 small kids my wife is "suggesting" that a Disco is more practical, and she does have a point.

So I'm going to look at a couple. I will not ask what to look out for as there are already posts, but I would like your opinion on a couple of issues. I will be looking at TD5 models from 2001 to 2004.

1) How much mileage is high mileage?
2) How important is a full service history?
3) Are they a lot more difficult to maintain than a Defender?
4) Are there any differences, apart from cosmetic, with the face-lift models?
I would prefer manual, but are auto boxes ok (just in case I like one which happens to have an auto box)
5) How much should I pay. On ebay there seem to be quite a few 2001 ones which sell for about £3,500.

I will be using the car daily to go to work (5 miles each way) plus as a plaything over the weekend.

Originally I did not want a Disco, as some years back I bought a Range Rover classic which looked great, but then I discovered that id you reached under the wheel arches you could pull out bits of rusted metal. I sold it at a significant loss asap. I don't want to repeat this mistake as I could not live with such a vehicle.

Thanks to all

My advice is an AA or RAC inspection if your not 100% sure.

maelstrom said:

So I'm going to look at a couple. I will not ask what to look out for as there are already posts, but I would like your opinion on a couple of issues. I will be looking at TD5 models from 2001 to 2004.

1) How much mileage is high mileage?
2) How important is a full service history?
3) Are they a lot more difficult to maintain than a Defender?
4) Are there any differences, apart from cosmetic, with the face-lift models?
I would prefer manual, but are auto boxes ok (just in case I like one which happens to have an auto box)
5) How much should I pay. On ebay there seem to be quite a few 2001 ones which sell for about £3,500.

Click to expand...

Avoid the early ones, go as late as you can

1) Anything over 90k I'd say then again I bought the last disco on 72k and another on 32k, most will say anything abover 120k
2) Very on a TD5, make sure both oil filters are changed regularly
3) A bit more as theres more electrics and the underneaths not as easy to clean after orrfoading
4) Facelift one has better lights, autos are fine just make sure the fluids changed every 20k I think
5) I'd look to be paying about £5000 for a very good one

!

Dr_evil said:

Avoid the early ones, go as late as you can

1) Anything over 90k I'd say then again I bought the last disco on 72k and another on 32k, most will say anything abover 120k
2) Very on a TD5, make sure both oil filters are changed regularly
3) A bit more as theres more electrics and the underneaths not as easy to clean after orrfoading
4) Facelift one has better lights, autos are fine just make sure the fluids changed every 20k I think
5) I'd look to be paying about £5000 for a very good one

Click to expand...

That was a rather civil and rational reply you gave the noob, doctor. You okay?

West Slope Rover said:

That was a rather civil and rational reply for you gave the noob, doctor. You okay?

Click to expand...

I's trying out this karma shiz and behaving :scratching_chin:

The facelift ones do have numerous little updates - too numerous to mention really. So they're preferable, but a crap facelift is worse than a good non-facelift model. The later the better, but condition is everything of course.

I expect, having scoured the posts on here you'll have seen that TD5s usually have good bodywork but their downfall can be the chassis, especially at the back, so make sure you have a good squint there on any you are interested in. I also expect you'll have seen posts about rear air suspension models and ACE equipped models. Nice to have, but expect bigger maintenance bills. Sunroofs are better described as an internal hydration system but again there's a fiddly fix.

Enjoy looking and buying!

Thanks for all your comments. I must say that reading through this forum makes me really nervous!! I'm sure I won't get a good one!!

They are more problematical than a simple two wheel drive car with no offroad capabilities without doubt, simply because there's more to go wrong. The way to look at it is to accept that there will be more running costs and budget accordingly. In effect, you pay for the better capabilities.

But don't be fooled by all you read on this, or other forums. Not too many people post saying: "Today I went out to the car, it started, I went to Tescos, bought some milk, bread, a cheeky six pack and came home without a problem".

Yesterday I went out to the car, it started, went to Waitrose and bought a nice bottle of Bordeaux and came home without a problem.