Which Disco

Not usually in this side as i'm a freebee owner (jokes please..) but i'm looking for a Disco for the wife as she wants a run about for towing the horse box trailer rather than taking the wagon.

Broad question but which diesel model is best, 200/300 td or TD5? What are the typicaly faults on a Disco (plenty on the Freelander!) and what do I need to look out for? Is ACE to be avoided? Reasonable budget - not sure to go for a late 04 or something a lot older with most problems sorted out and cheaper tax. Often 4 year old cars are just starting to have problems in my experience.

Any advice much appreciated.

so you've got a freebie and you want the wife to have a discovery..


let me get this straight.. you wear skirts and you need to have at least one member of the household in trousers...

can't comment on the different derv engines but if you want newer you will end up with a TD5.. a bit older a 300 and a bit older than that a 200...
I would go for a late 300 if it was me becasue most of the niggles had been ironed out by then and an generaly td5 had all sorts of issues... that being said you are then talking about at least a 10 year old motor and hence the rust / lack of maintenance issues are starting to show themselves...

just buy a defender 200tdi and be done with it

All cars have niggles/ faults etc even very expensive ones, its the same with Discos.

200/300 probably easier to mend if your a DIY man however i would say a pre 2001 TD5 is the way forward.

More power than the others if you want to tow, however they do burn more fuel.

I personally think ACE is a must, i drove a 07 Defender today and it makes such as huge difference without ACE, all over the road!!!

Personally i would go for a Pre 2001 TD5.

(I do have one!!)

Everyone knows 300 tdi Disco are best

sorry i have to disagree, i have had x2 200 disco and the 300 disco and now a td5 and i must say i found the 300 to be the worst of them all power wise it is (my opinion) the slowist of them all by far.

4x4xfar said:

sorry i have to disagree, i have had x2 200 disco and the 300 disco and now a td5 and i must say i found the 300 to be the worst of them all power wise it is (my opinion) the slowist of them all by far.

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If CC and I were to line up for a Tug-of-War... his Disco 200tdi and my Disco 300tdi......... he would pull me backwards every time but for creature comforts......... my 300 wins.......

bonnybrook can you test drive any Disco`s in your area?
My electric window drivers side has just stopped working,and my sun roofs leak...but I wouldnt change her for any other model Let us know what you get...also piccies please

If its for what you say its for, the face lift TD5 maunual. These had shaken a lot of the D2,s problems off.

You,ll get about 30 mpg.
I wouldnt bother with electric this and that,( more to go wrong ! ),and A.C.E. costs a lot when it goes wrong !. ( Mine doesnt have ace, and I cant fault its road manners ).

I had a 200TDI I thought it a better machine than the later 300 I had after. It could look a hill in the eye then go up it.

Andy.

I have a 97R 300Tdi auto and power-wise it is hopeless pulling even one pony in a double trailer, and it slides on our deep wet clay but hasn't actually got stuck. Will be getting EGR blanked and intercooler flushed next month, as per advice from those here who know - grateful thanks to you all. Rubbish turning circle too but otherwise I love it.

Oh, and the rear sunroof leaks, but on the plus side it hasn't used a drop of oil in the 6000 miles I've done in it

mayday08 said:

I have a 97R 300Tdi auto and power-wise it is hopeless pulling even one pony in a double trailer, and it slides on our deep wet clay but hasn't actually got stuck. Will be getting EGR blanked and intercooler flushed next month, as per advice from those here who know - grateful thanks to you all. Rubbish turning circle too but otherwise I love it.

Oh, and the rear sunroof leaks, but on the plus side it hasn't used a drop of oil in the 6000 miles I've done in it

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Hiya MD, I have a '98 TDi300 auto as well and I found it was lacking in the horse trailer towing department, so, in chronological order, I did the following and now it's MUCH better:

1. Full service inc NEW air filter - slight improvement;

2. De-EGR'd - slight improvement towing and going up hils;

3. Changed the engine oil for 5w-30 - better starting first thing in the morning;

4. Changed the exhaust downpipe for a non-cat version, cost +21.25+vat from Paddocks - biggest difference!!!! Really, now she's driving properly.

5. Next thing to do is try a centre box straight pipe swap.

I just came back after doing nearly 8,000kms on my Moroccan trip and she performed faultlessly, even at 2800mtrs, delivering overall 33mpg !!!

Do the changes, then you'll tow much better.

Good luck

Dave

we have a 300tdi auto, had it 2 yrs now and same probs with power for towing so in august this year it had a allisport intercooler and silicone hoses, egr removed, de-cat pipe ,K&N air filter and pump tweek..
goes like stink now

Buy a 200 Discovery in the best condition you can (even import) and do NO mods, just service and change the cambelt ALL DONE!!!!!!!

It is noisey (enough to drown out wife) but utterly reliable and cheaper to run than all other options!!!!!

regards

Dave

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I'm now considering changing the Freebe for a Disco to kill two birds. Not sure I want to run two 4x4 and get one economical car as a run about. Seems a bit pointless paying £400 odd tax on the freebe when I can't tow with it and it's an auto so I image MPG will be better on a manual disco.

Think I would probably go for the latest TD5 I can afford and get a decent one. Don't want the wife moaning when it breaks down whilst towing the horses. Seem to hold their price better than the Freelanders.

Driven a 300TDi D1 I think it is - my Dad has a P reg with 130K odd on the clock - did hint he might was to let me have it but no joy! Didn't feel as powerful as the TD4 however. I might pop down the steelers and see if I can test drive a TD5 with ACE.

I'll keep you posted.

I have disco 200tdi amazing machine but like said above for a top 4x4 get defender 200tdi parts are cheaper in defender then discos and 200 tdi engine is best in business and rust proof body and galvanised chassis u will be sorted mate yer wife won't nag! hehe

I am tempted, prices of the 90 seem to hold up well. Had a quicky look on autotrader. Perfect for a bit of o/r & laning in too

200tdi the strongest enjun by far and it runs on one wire