The wifes new Landy.

The wife is looking at Landys. Good girl. Her requirements are black, with black interior. I want her to get a Disco 2, or a Freelander 1. She wants a Disco 3 or Freelander 2. She doesn't want to pay over £5k, and it needs to be in mot condition, with less than 130k on the clock.
I know, it's a big ask. But, which would you get, and why?

Freelander 1 with all the goodies and get it booked in for full service and recon IRD & VCU & clutch with the left over cash and call it done.

From the options she wants... Freelander 2. A disco 3 will need a lot more work to keep it on the road int comparison to a FL2.

If £5K is your budget, then the FL1 is your best bet. For half your budget, you'll get a nice FL1 with sensible mileage and all the trimmings. Don't over pay for a base model, as £2.5K will get you an SE or HSE in good condition and TD4 engine. I personally don't like the TD4, but it's the most economical and most common power unit fitted.

Your budget will only get you a tired and high mileage base model (pointless imo) FL2 and a D3 for £5K will need another £2-3K in parts and repairs/maintenance to get it up to decent condition. Also a D3 can't be maintained on the cheap, so expect another £1-3K annually for additional maintenance and repairs. Been there, done that. I loved my D3, but it's appetite for parts and fragility forced me back to the much cheaper FL1, which I don't regret.

I paid 4k for an early F2 (08) with high miles in excellent nick in HSE spec, had it 12m now and not a problem, drives a dream.

Am always on the lookout for a defender and will replace it sometime but at the moment the F2 does all the green laning I need it to do.

Well it's been a funny weekend. My wife has decided that she would also go for a Disco 2. But she also wants me to either sell my 90 and but a 110 van, or swap my 90 for a 110 van. Women.