Should I have a disco?

Hi there,

I'm not a Landy owner yet. I currently drive a SWB Vitara, not as bad as some think with a decent set of tyres. I was taught to drive in a IIA 109 station wagon and then a 88 IIA hardtop with an FX diesel. Dad also had a III 109 station wagon with a 3.3L perkins (sweet as!). I've also managed to drive 90's through a previous job but have never bought one of my own.

So here's the biggy. I will own a Landy one day and my wife and I have chatted about a 4 week tour of europe in a couple of years time. This would probably involve getting as far south/east as Italy. I feel we need something bigger than a normal car. While a 110/defender would be lovely I feel the driving could be a bit tiring whereas a disco would have both the space we need (for camping and two kids), be able to handle some off main route exploration and still be enjoyable to drive.

What do you think? And what mods would you recommend to make the trip more practical and enjoyable.

Please impart your wisdom upon me.

300tdi Disco, easy to maintain yourself, very comfy on long journeys, nothing needs doing to use off road (same as any landy) other than maybe some decent AT tyres. 200tdi Disco is the same but does not benefit from having anti roll bars fitted so can be a bit rolly on cornering (can be an advantage for off roading though), the interior is dated now (radio position awkward to use, reverse too close to 1st etc). Check on here for previous posts as it is a much asked question and some of us are very biased!!!!!!!!!!

Just done a 800 mile round trip in my 96 300Tdi ES and it was a pleasure to drive. Two adult passengers in the rear had loads of leg/headroom and luggage for four of us was all contained under the load cover in the back. The best bit was the 31mpg that it averaged. Not at all tiring to drive either. I would highly recomend a Discovery 300tdi and if you want creature comforts get an ES. But then I suppose I am a bit biased!

i never imagined i would be a disco owner as i used to drive a high performance vectra
till i lost it doing 110 in a 30 the missus said its going time for a disco the next thing i had a 300tdi on the drive hated it for six months then became hooked over three years later still got it . if the missus said the is disco going i would say get a lawyer i am divorcing you.

thanks for all your thoughts. I once saw a camel disco with shelving in the load area. Considering that we will be camping and I want to avoid a roofrack if possible this seems like a good idea. Would doing this involve drilling the bodywork? I would like it to be removable.

Cheers

Martyn

The Dog guard - or gun carrier, depending on what part of the world you live in, would be ideal for hanging a few shelves off - would save you drilling anything on the body. The ES has roof bars and removable cross members should be in tool bag under rear seat. Useful, if push comes to shove. Mines a 95 model 300 tdi auto and JUST got it run in proper at 165K! Buy and enjoy!

Go 4 it and get an ES Discovery a very comfortable car with plenty of room I personally think the boot is a bit small unless you pile it high and don't use the load space cover as the wheel arches and the fold up seats protrude into the load space and not much rear leg room if you have the front seats right back as I do. Not as much room as a classic RR. The longest non stop run I have done was nearly 4.5 hours 300 miles but then had to stop for petrol I can vouch for the getting out of the car at the end of a long journey without any pains. I will have owned my Disco for 10 years soon and have enjoyed every moment of it, as I did with the RR untill the body rot set in, the later D1s and D2s have better proofing against that sort of thing.

Get one!

Just got back from Spain dusty laneing on the Costa Brava with Doris & 3 kids-Sweet as Saved me mega bucks on fixed & mobile radar fines (at least 20 there and back) Mega comfortable but do get the ES with cruise control or take a table leg to wedge throttle

Well done I have been 2 Germany and dream of driving 2 Spain and back to show the LR flag but it would cost me a mint in gas. Sorry nothing 2 do with this thread but another tick I think 4 the Disco I hope it was a D1 which will be a/the classic..

discool said:

Well done I have been 2 Germany and dream of driving 2 Spain and back to show the LR flag but it would cost me a mint in gas. Sorry nothing 2 do with this thread but another tick I think 4 the Disco I hope it was a D1 which will be a/the classic..

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Make yours dreams come true-Buy a Diesel

Yip 1995 300tdi,cheating a bit though as I already live in Gorfland!

I have a disco for sale if you want it...r reg 3 door £2200 10 months mot and tax till july im in south wales

Get a M reg onwards ES with aircon, dont worry about roof rack if you want econamy ,i get 6 dogs in my boot and have a elastic netting full length of roof for bits and bobs insde, we did 570 miles NON STOP recently comfy, do be aware of rotten boot floors etc loads on here about buying guides, having had a few the ES spec cars are nicer for the extra bits on long trips, and dash layout.

Also i used to get 2 dogs, 2 weeks camping gear our son and a bike in a Porsche 944 turbo and RS2000 4x4 [seperatly] easy so a disco'll be no probs.

Andy

I dont think a roofrack makes much difference to economy. Discoverys are as aerodynamic as a brick. The boot is spacious enough if you stack it to the roof.

ffs if we are comparing notes on how far we have been in our disco's, i went from north wales to southern spain in 1 week in mine

yella disco said:

ffs if we are comparing notes on how far we have been in our disco's, i went from north wales to southern spain in 1 week in mine

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Stuck in 1st gear, Yella??? York to Warsaw in 24 hours - proper shagged I was when I got here as it peed it down all the way from Hanover. Couldn't bloody sleep neither when I got here as the brain was still in motion. (Yeah, ok, leaving myself wide open with that comment!)The disco might be a brick but, by hell, its great sat up there above all the shoeboxes especially when it peeing it down! Happy birthday.