2001 Land Rover Discovery SE V8

[Nylintjunkie]

so im looking at gettin a used land rover disc. se v8 anyone have experiance with these trucks...they have not so good reviews but im able to get it for $6,000 it does have 100,00 miles and it looks really good only thing is the alternator bearings are growling but im a tech that doesnt worrie me much... so ftell me yalls stories on and off road:roll:

 

[toyofast]

They leak, have electrical issues than if taken to the dealer will cost you lots of money, aftermarket parts don't last long on the Rovers so you wind up going to dealer for factory parts that will last longer, the leak, they don't hold their value worth a pile of beans...... you tend to dump a lot of money when wanting to lift it properly. You'll wind up spending a lot of money setting up gears, diffs and lockers since they are outside of the normal mainstream of rigs.

If it will be a project rig, fine but I wouldn't trust it for a DD especially if you have to drive more than 40-50 miles per day.

 

[Mr.Slave]

most european cars we see here are terribly unreliable especially in the higher mileage.

 

[Nylintjunkie]

ok yea it would be DD not alot of off road really just 10-20 miles a day back and forth

 

[toyofast]

ok yea it would be DD not alot of off road really just 10-20 miles a day back and forth

Unless you know how to repair/work on a Rover... I'd pass on a Rover of any kind, unless you were looking for a project rig.

My buddy had an '03 Disco SE and loved it, but spent more on fuel and repairs that what it was worth. He traded it in just as a ABS light came on, dealer only repair and he would have had to spend $3200 for parts alone out of pocket. He's even happier with the FJ Cruiser now. Better mileage, nothing to worry about other than oil changes and fuel.

 

[Nylintjunkie]

yes im a former Ford tech and we service rovers at my dealership
"thumbsup" and i still get my parts discount

 

[Nylintjunkie]

well guys that have had off road experiance does a stock rover have anykinda diff locking like a detroit locker type deal havent really found anything on the net just people say the series 2 was better than the 3

 

[syber70]

Most rover's don't have locking diffs if I recall correctly, and rely on the ABS/Traction Control system to prevent wheel slip.

 

[chrisjlittle]

I'd steer clear of it. They're underpowered, they leak, parts are expensive, they leak, they don't get good gas millage, they leak, in all you're paying for a name.

I'll admit I'm biased against luxury cars in general, they all seem to suck in my experience as a tech. Seems like all the little gadgets and gee-gaws they stick on luxury cars cause a lot of problems, and you can get by without them just fine. I prefer simpler cars.

 

[Nylintjunkie]

i prefer simpler cars as well power windows is all i realyl care about anymore but this car id pretty cheap and since my wife has decied to leave me and the kids the only thing she want is my supercharged bonnie,:-( and joint custady, but the kids are going to live here so i need a car to get her off my back. i can buy this cash unless he sells it next week but its nice and all and i will trail ride a little here in KY but just in the LBL area wich is mostly just dirt and gravel trails that the rangers use to patrol but i would if you guys know any good sites for gear for these trucks let me know: roof racks, light kits, brush gaurds...ect...ect.:roll:

 

[8onick]

toyota land cruiser 80 series. 1993-1997, do not get the 91 or 92 models. you can find them with factory locking diffs front and rear. reliable, decent power, parts easy to get and the trucks are very easy to work on. if you look hard you can find one in that same price range as the land rover.

that price seems about average here in the SF Bay area. in fact, there is one right now that looks clean for $2500!

good luck

 

[binaryterror]

I can't believe how many people tell you problems of it...yet you insist on buying it.

Range Rovers are only a name...for $6500 you can find a much better vehicle that will last longer, be easier to fix, and more readily accessible parts; both stock and aftermarket.

 

[chrisjlittle]

toyota land cruiser 80 series. 1993-1997, do not get the 91 or 92 models. you can find them with factory locking diffs front and rear. reliable, decent power, parts easy to get and the trucks are very easy to work on. if you look hard you can find one in that same price range as the land rover.

that price seems about average here in the SF Bay area. in fact, there is one right now that looks clean for $2500!

good luck

The FZJ-80 (93-97) is a great truck, but people don't give the FJ-80 (91-92) it's due. They're plenty reliable, a touch underpowered but still great trucks. Matter of fact, I find the 91-92 models more comfortable, the seats in FZJs mess with my knees. I wouldn't ever say a Toyota was easy to work on, but they're better than english cars.

All that aside, land cruisers leak almost as bad as land rovers, just from different spots:lol: Land rovers are really bad about rear main seals, but Toyota 3FE's (88-92) are real bad about oil pans, 1FZ-FE's (93-97) are moderately bad about P/S pumps. The 2UZ-FE (98-07) doesn't really leak much that I've seen. None of them get good gas millage though.

I used to work at TLC Land Cruisers and we stuck a supercharger on a 93 at about 180k miles. The last time I saw that truck it had 365k miles on it, and it was smoking. I did a compression test and it still had 150 PSI of compression! The smoking was coming from bad valve seals, so I replaced them, adjusted the valve clearance and sent it down the road. To the best of my knowledge it's still on the road, original engine and all. They've been known to blow head gaskets, but they're really not all that bad about it.

 

[MCSCOTT]

I can't believe how many people tell you problems of it...yet you insist on buying it.

Range Rovers are only a name...for $6500 you can find a much better vehicle that will last longer, be easier to fix, and more readily accessible parts; both stock and aftermarket.

Couldn't agree more.

You even said yourself "they have not so good reviews". Reviews are bad, everyone you're asking about it that has had one tells you to steer clear of them, yet you still keep talking yourself into it. For $6000 with the auto market the way it is you can get something MUCH better, on or offroad. Factor in the marital situation you say your in, and you really need to stay away from the amount of repairs it seems these will take.

My opinion is basically useless here I guess though, because I already know I would never buy one. I just hate seeing threads where someone asks for advice or opinions, yet refuses to take the advice or pay any attention to the opinions.

 

[Nylintjunkie]

yea you guys have convenced me to stay clear it does have leaks one vavle cove ris leaking and the rear main is leaking like you guys said they do the guy daid he adds a quart every 1800 miles so ill look in to the land cruisers that you guys have suggested. i am wanting a capable off roader so the more factory perks the beter thanks guys and yea i was persistant at first the truck has nice curb apeel and i haev wanted one but the FJ's are nice to i like the style."thumbsup"
And MCSott soory to annoy just wanted to get the most opinions i could and i can see there really isnt any good one lol but i did get the info i needed from chrisjlittle he gave me the other name of a good family 4x4 thanks all you guys for repling and educating me on the bad of the trucks.

 

[MCSCOTT]

And MCSott soory to annoy just wanted to get the most opinions i could and i can see there really isnt any good one lol but i did get the info i needed from chrisjlittle he gave me the other name of a good family 4x4 thanks all you guys for repling and educating me on the bad of the trucks.

Meh, don't worry about me. I'm just cranky here lately because I can't walk for another month. Plus I think this is a first, and I'm absolutely shocked. I've seen so many threads that look this way over several forums, and it seems you've actually chosen to take the majority's advice.:shock:

 

[Mr.Slave]

I can't believe how many people tell you problems of it...yet you insist on buying it.

Range Rovers are only a name...for $6500 you can find a much better vehicle that will last longer, be easier to fix, and more readily accessible parts; both stock and aftermarket.

No kidding.

for 6500 you could get a decent 4 runner or pathfinder..

 

[Nylintjunkie]

thanks guys matter fact i just saw a really nice 4-runner thats loaded rear dvd and all
"thumbsup"

 

[8onick]

funny, i used to work at Mudrak's Custom Cruisers in Sonoma Ca. i have had too many cruisers to count, currently own 4 and one is a '91. i had a '93 with the cloth interior and have to agree on the leather seats being totally uncomfortable. i have found the 3FE to be a pain to work on. my '93 i felt was way easier to work on. the '91 is really bad on gas. it seems to always get 10mpg. no matter what, loaded, unloaded whatever. the '93 with the 6" lift and 37's got better mileage. i know a rancher here in Sonoma that has over 500K miles on a '93 80 series. the rig is hammered but still runs pretty darn good. in the end it is hard to beat a Toyota Land Cruiser!

The FZJ-80 (93-97) is a great truck, but people don't give the FJ-80 (91-92) it's due. They're plenty reliable, a touch underpowered but still great trucks. Matter of fact, I find the 91-92 models more comfortable, the seats in FZJs mess with my knees. I wouldn't ever say a Toyota was easy to work on, but they're better than english cars.

All that aside, land cruisers leak almost as bad as land rovers, just from different spots:lol: Land rovers are really bad about rear main seals, but Toyota 3FE's (88-92) are real bad about oil pans, 1FZ-FE's (93-97) are moderately bad about P/S pumps. The 2UZ-FE (98-07) doesn't really leak much that I've seen. None of them get good gas millage though.

I used to work at TLC Land Cruisers and we stuck a supercharger on a 93 at about 180k miles. The last time I saw that truck it had 365k miles on it, and it was smoking. I did a compression test and it still had 150 PSI of compression! The smoking was coming from bad valve seals, so I replaced them, adjusted the valve clearance and sent it down the road. To the best of my knowledge it's still on the road, original engine and all. They've been known to blow head gaskets, but they're really not all that bad about it.

 

[Nylintjunkie]

thanks guys ill be going with a cruiser or 4 runnner i think"thumbsup"