Since I'm really trying to convince myself I don't want one (its not working!) I did a parts price comparison on RockAuto for things like calipers and starters. I used both 2003 MY but used a Ford Escape as a control.
Most parts that Ive commonly replaced in past vehicles are within a few dollars of each other.
So aside from what I know about head gaskets and the front driveshaft, why do so many consumer reviews warn of the expense of replacement parts?
PS, I do MOST of my own work and I don't really care about electric seats or sunroof or door lock failures. I really only care about getting stranded on the side of the road.
I've daily driven Samurai's for years so I only am concerned with the basics as far as reliability is concerned.
In my experience the parts weren't expensive but things broke constantly.
Unfortunately for Land Rover fine engineering was defeated by indifferent assembly by drunken communists.
Maybe all the Camel Trophy videos I've watched is making me think I can also buy one, load it up with gear and drive it off into the jungle without breaking down.
(Sure would like a Diesel like the Trophy Disco's)
My understanding it its the modules and switches you have to watch out for, not the basics.
indeed.. it's the luxury junk that is the problem.
the 4.6 is the one that blows head gaskets. If you can get the smaller 4.0, they are more robust.
I have put 6000 miles on my 2003 with the only failure being a seal on the powersteering pump.. another known issue. I replaced the whole pump with a rebuilt for the whopping cost of $125. Other wise, it has been a tank and easily pulled my 3000 pound boat plus trailer from Lake Champlain down to Atlantic City without complaint.
Shameless plug for Discovery Parts, because they're awesome.
http://www.discoveryparts.com/
My d1 has been a great truck.
the only thing I dislike about my D2.. feeding it. While I have gotten the MPG into the high teens, it is still a lot more thirsty than my last couple of vehicles
I have no idea honestly, I think a lot of the rover internet bashing is unsubstantiated. I've owned two Discos, a 96 and an 02 and neither gave me any troubles.
If you're looking at a 2nd generation be sure it doesn't have the "3 Amigos" which is when the ABS, T/C and Hill Descent lights all come on at the same time.
If it were me, I'd stick with a first gen, I certainly had fun with the two that I owned
In reply to Storz: So that DI of yours was something you'd do again?
from what I have read of the "three amigos" is that regularly exercising hill decent will keep them at bay. As such, I tend to engage it in the parking garage at Ballys Park Place when I work there. The slope in that garage is steep and you can feel the system working.
I also engage low when I enter as the ramp up is quite significant
ebonyandivory wrote: In reply to Storz: So that DI of yours was something you'd do again?
Definitely. Find the lowest mileage, cleanest one you can afford and enjoy it. A '95 5spd manual would be my choice, but they are a bit of a unicorn.
The only thing I would do differently is buy one that is stock, mine was half-arsed when I got it and had to fix a lot of the POs mistakes.
Atlantic British is also a well know parts source.
And Rovers North.
mad_machine wrote: ...the only failure being a seal on the powersteering pump.. another known issue. I replaced the whole pump with a rebuilt for the whopping cost of $125.
How bad was the actual job of replacing the pump? Just as a generic gauge of underhood accessibility...
mad_machine wrote: indeed.. it's the luxury junk that is the problem. the 4.6 is the one that blows head gaskets. If you can get the smaller 4.0, they are more robust.
The 4.6 is also supposedly more susceptible to the sunk liners issue than the 4.0, although that appears to depend on which side of the Atlantic you're on.
BTW, they don't "blow" headgaskets in the common sense unless they have the cylinder liner issue. The head gaskets deteriorate and start leaking to the outside, not necessarily into the engine.
My wife loves her P38 Range Rover with the 4.6 and even I - as a committed SUV disser - like driving it. Heck, if I was after a tow SUV I'd definitely look at another RR or Disco.
BTW, IIRC the 4.6 has a higher towing capacity than the 4.0. Both feel a little underpowered, but they're still reasonably quick.
EDIT: Forgot - the thermostats on these fail closed, with predictable consequences. Change the thermostat if you buy one unless the PO has done it already.
In reply to BoxheadTim:
Do the current replacement thermostats still fail closed?
Ransom wrote:mad_machine wrote: ...the only failure being a seal on the powersteering pump.. another known issue. I replaced the whole pump with a rebuilt for the whopping cost of $125.How bad was the actual job of replacing the pump? Just as a generic gauge of underhood accessibility...
to change the pump depends on if you have "active cornering control" or not. Mine does not, so that was one less thing in the way. I did the job twice as I tried to reseal the original pump, the first time took an hour and a half to get it out and an hour to get it in. Second time had me at an hour and forty five minutes from start to finish.
This video may help. This car as active cornering control, it is the pump above the power steering and next to the air con.
Removing the Power Steering pump on a disco
I had driven a few SUVs and pickups before buying my D2. While it is slower (and thirstier) than the newest SUVs, it handles way beyond what something that tall and that heavy should be able to do
You'll need to log in to post.
