Nuts to trade RR Classic for Discovery?

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windhorse

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Sex appeal or common cents; can't have everything, so am considering trading my classic v8 (2-door, petrol, 5-speed gear box) for an early model discovery 200tdi 2-door to reduce my fuel bill. I am not a mechanic and live in a remote corner of east africa so ease of maintenance and reliability are also considerations.

What I am trying to figure out is which has more value price wise if both are in similar condition: the RR Classic or the LR Discovery and what I would lose by letting my RR Classic go as well as what I would gain in fuel economy?

Is it right that the 200tdi diesel engine while consuming less fuel would also require more service and maintenance than the Classic V8 that may offset the advantage of less fuel consumption?

Also would like to ask if there is a big difference in the strength and reliability of 200tdi Discovery compared to the RR Classic in terms of off road use in sand and mud?
 
In your circumstances as you describe them I would recommend sticking with "the devil you know". Despite not being a mechanic you will have picked up a few things about your Classic's individual quirks, presumably you have a mechanic who has been doing jobs for you on and off who also knows the car, you may have sources for parts, etc etc. There's always a learning curve with a new car, even another identical Classic could by this time have had a totally different life and behave very differently. If your existing car is reliable and good to drive, stick with it until you are ready to upgrade to newer technology (or lower mileage although if E Africa is anything like Bangladesh where I work and keep my P38, mileage says very little because our cars live a very hard life).

That was my 2 cents but to answer your question on which has more value, are European prices a relevant indicator? If so there are plenty of online tools to estimate the value of a car of certain make, model, variant, age, mileage etc. Just type both in and see what you get. I would have thought that the price where you live would be more interesting - how much will you get for your Classic against what is being asked for the Disco.
 
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Datatek, if you were going to drive 6000 km on tarmac and 1000 km through mud, pot holes, creeks and bush in the next four months would you "avoid any land Rover product and buy a Jap"?

I can see your point Rasheed about the "devil you know" that really does make a big difference now that I come to think about all the time and effort I like most other RR owners have spent getting my chicken shed rolling.

Here like most other places RR Classics are quite rare these days and so are those who have an interest in them but those that do are very enthusiastic and the reason why is not simply the performance of the car that is my main concern but also has a lot to do with the throaty chuckle of the exhaust :)
 
I like the chicken shed analogy. :)

Lots of, in fact majority of Jap 4x4s out in BD so can't say they're a bad choice. Had a Landcruiser VX before the Rangie. It was underbraked for power and weight hence they would overheat and fade but other than that no fundamental complaints. Day to day reliability was certainly better.
 
I think I would be looking for a newer defender than an older disco, if to change cars at all. 2 door RRCs are become quite rare all over the world. I would just keep the RRC, Having a RRC, P38A and a Discovery Series one parked in my parking I can tell you the Discovery's don't drive anything like a Range Rover, specially if you are going from a V8 RRC to a 4 pot oil burning Disco.

In short yes you are nuts for even thinking of doing the trade.
 
I was in the off road bussiness for around a decade and drove yotas for a living, they are not as great as people think they are, specially the newer ones. My Disco 1 with 330,000 kms on the clock has been my most reliable vehicle I've ever owned !
 
Sad to say but word that has reached me over the years is that the Land Cruiser is the vehicle of choice for EAST africa .

WEST africa , well , maybe another kettle of kassava (or whatever).....but having owned a jap truck for the last 5 months , my first ever (an old Pajero diesel) I have to say I would NOT want to work on one or any of the other jap trucks I have had dealings with over the past few years . The maintenence of a RRC or D1 is far simpler and cheaper in the UK at least .

The fuel cost where you are may be the factor . My auto 300tdi D1s give me 18mpg or so which with diesel so much dearer than petrol here in the UK means that a V8 manual RRC is a viable alternative....and I have just bought one .

The 200tdi is a great , rugged engine , the D1 in its 200 guise a good simple vehicle but prone to rust....oh so much rust . Underneath....its an RRC , so lots of parts crossover . But sometimes , its better to stick with a truck whose faults you know than inherit a load of surprises . Is diesel SO much cheaper for you ? How about a transplant of a 200 into your RRC ?
 
shocker said:
Sad to say but word that has reached me over the years is that the Land Cruiser is the vehicle of choice for EAST africa .

WEST africa , well , maybe another kettle of kassava (or whatever).....but having owned a jap truck for the last 5 months , my first ever (an old Pajero diesel) I have to say I would NOT want to work on one or any of the other jap trucks I have had dealings with over the past few years . The maintenence of a RRC or D1 is far simpler and cheaper in the UK at least .

The fuel cost where you are may be the factor . My auto 300tdi D1s give me 18mpg or so which with diesel so much dearer than petrol here in the UK means that a V8 manual RRC is a viable alternative....and I have just bought one .

The 200tdi is a great , rugged engine , the D1 in its 200 guise a good simple vehicle but prone to rust....oh so much rust . Underneath....its an RRC , so lots of parts crossover . But sometimes , its better to stick with a truck whose faults you know than inherit a load of surprises . Is diesel SO much cheaper for you ? How about a transplant of a 200 into your RRC ?
Click to expand...

The Pajero is dead simple to work on and rarely needs working on in my experience. I have the full set of workshop manuals.:)
 
the starting motor falling off daily and no access to any but the bottom bolt ? Maybe my Paj is a special one ! Its for sale , by the way......
 
I would have a RRC over a Disco and day but not yet found a better rugged go anywhere tow anything bomb proof truck as a Daihatsu Fourtrak (Rocky) They are the 3 door you are after, easy to work on and built well. only draw back is the 3000mile servicing on them, I had one and only had to replace the exhaust box, my bro has one on 270000 miles and has been abused on the farm.
 
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