At what point to do you give up on a D1? Can they be made reliable?

[Viggen]

owning a Toyota is like being brain dead.......................

Or is it using your brain to avoid annoying issues? I would say that my BJ60 had the "character" and "soul" you seem to profess that they lack. I loved my 95 D1 but not quite as much as I loved my BJ60. With ALL cars, PM is the way to be. If you are not monitoring and replacing before the parts completely fail, you will never be happy. I went out wheeling and on the trail a rear wheel seal went on me. I got home and spent the next day replacing the seals, along with gaskets, and rear wheel bearings- on BOTH sides. This is what you have to do with any older car.

I would say that buying a used Toyota is a riskier proposition than buying a used Rover. Rovers are cheap to buy so people buy them, then get pissed when it requires money (because it was only $1500) to keep on the road and sell it. Toyotas on the other hand, if not bought from someone who cared, can be a mess waiting to happen. You will pay more than you should (the Toyota Tax) and probably get something neglected (because hey, it is a Toyota and they never break).

 

[czenkov]

owning a Toyota is like being brain dead.......................

That's why he wants a Toyota and a Rover.

I am always proactive on my 90 (Now for sale) and my Series. Being proactive is the best policy. When something leaks, get it checked out. "Be one with your Rover". Don't just chalk up a leak to "they all do that", know where and why it is leaking. If it isn't a big deal at least you know details and keep an eye on it. Pay attention when there is a new noise. I will listen to my IPOD with headphones but pulls them every couple of minutes to make sure that all the noises are still there and there are no new ones. :smiley_drive:

I just got my first 110 and diesel powered truck so we will see with that one what happens. Have not had it long enough to discover what it needs quite yet.

And for my LC, the first thing I did was spend money on the 90k checkup cause it was due and is comprehensive enough that its basically a baseline, and what wasn't specified I had done. And as far as my LC and why I got it...well, sometimes it is just nice to just get in and drive.

 

[Ray_G]

....

Valid points, but does raise the notion that one should be careful taking advice from a man with how many Rovers?

 

[Viggen]

Valid points, but does raise the notion that one should be careful taking advice from a man with how many Rovers?

Ha, very true. Student loans eat up my truck funds. It is, however, no different than the MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healeys, Jags, etc... I worked with for over a decade. People always complain about them and get even more pissed when you ask basic questions about their maintenance. You cannot nickel and dime these things or they will nickel and dime you.

 

[Ray_G]

Ha, very true. Student loans eat up my truck funds. It is, however, no different than the MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healeys, Jags, etc... I worked with for over a decade. People always complain about them and get even more pissed when you ask basic questions about their maintenance. You cannot nickel and dime these things or they will nickel and dime you.

Also very valid points (about maintaining them). I was messing with you about the ownership...besides, you can roll over to Tony's and share in the glory of his soul-less Lexus Land Cruiser and Toyota Land Cruisers along with the 90!
r-
Ray

 

[GrahamR]

Hi,
For what it is worth I have been running Discovery, Defender and Range Rover 300 Tdi 5 Speed diesels for a long time now and have clocked hundreds of thousands of miles with them. They have all had small issues but have I been towed home only twice. Once when the cam belt broke on the Defender which was entirely my own fault. The other time was with a TD5 Disco 2 which had a clutch release bearing fail. I wonder if the reliability is improved because the lower hp of the diesels stress other parts less. That said though, I did run a V8 for about 3 years without any problems at all. I accept that with the 300 TDi I am slower than a lot of other vehicles on the road, but they still maintain a good average speed. One thing that is a serious issue with D1's and Range Rovers is rust in the firewall and surrounding areas. I have had perfectly good vehicles that when stripped back have serious corrosion. And they have all leaked oil no matter how hard I try to stop them. One day I will find the answer!! Otherwise I give them to regular fluid changes - nothing special - and treat them with a little respect. I know friends and family that drive Toyota's think I am mad, but if the truth is known they do have issues as well.

Graham
Defender 110
Disco 1 300 TDi Manual
Disco 2 TD5 Manual
Jeep KJ 2.8 CRD

 

[I Leak Oil]

Like it or not, sometimes it comes down to whether you get a good truck or a not so good truck from the factory. Genetics...

 

[Viggen]

Like it or not, sometimes it comes down to whether you get a good truck or a not so good truck from the factory. Genetics...

What was the old saying? 'Never buy a car built on a Monday or a Friday?'

 

[mattrickman]

Thanks everyone!

I think this gave me the bit of encouragement I needed. I suppose I need to get a better grasp on what a priority schedule for preventative maintenance may be. Right now I am just trying to keep my head above water with them.

Fortunately - I am going to be getting a different "Family" car (Ford Excursion probably). So I won't necessarily need the rovers to be up all-of-the-time. Which will allow me to slow down with them a little bit and do things right (or more thorough).

Cheers!

 

[proper4wd]

If you have vehicle OCD and need to have everything absolutely perfect all of the time then owning a Rover can be a real burden. You really have to work with the vehicle as much as you work on the vehicle. Its more of a relationship than an ownership.

 

[Lecoq]

Maybe they're just bored over there and secretly want a Rover. . .

:drool: That's how I feel.

I wouldn't mind having a D1 with a 5spd which is what prompted me to read this thread.

I'm on the lookout for a manual D1.

 

[Ray_G]

I'm on the lookout for a manual D1.

It is interesting how many 5 speeds seem to show up here, given their very low numbers compared to the autos.
Not that I'm biased.

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

Mazda i am really sorry for you:Wow1:

HEY! As a 3 time rotary powered Mazda owner I can say they are quite fun!

 

[mpinco]

I have two 95 Land Rover Discovery's and it seems just when I think I'm on top of them (i.e. they run normally for more than a week). Something else goes wrong.

I guess I am trying to get a sense of if I am just throwing good money at bad? Can a D1 be made reliable?

I can repair simple stuff (bolt on parts: radiator, alternator, gas tank, water pump, etc..) but anything major and I pay a shop to do it. (that is part of the problem, I don't have a decent shop up here in Northern Colorado).

Thoughts? Advice? Encouragement?

cheers
matt rickman

Agreed, Northern Colorado doesn't have a Rover shop within 75/100 miles. JC's is probably the closest. Locals could be clueless. The good thing is that there are lots of D1's/RRC's as donors. There are 4 RRC's in Denver's U-Pull-&-Pay. Typically also several D1's. Good for general parts and finding stuff that can be rebuilt and stored for future use. ...... I might need to make a trip North.

Rover's are no different than any other used car. The previous owner is a huge factor in next owner reliability. I've seen way too many cars/trucks neglected for the first 50-100K, causing many headaches. Getting back up that "power curve" is no fun. I'd say pick one of the D1's and make it your focus. Move from reactive to proactive. Pull radiator and get it taken apart and rodded for $120. New belts and hoses. Take the driveline to a shop and get U-joints replaced for <$100 per shaft. Drain and replace all fluids. Don't forget to grease the swivels. Stay away from lifts over 2" unless you have the money to sink into driveline issues. Keep the tires at 265 or less, actually 245, for altitude. The 3.9 engine is small for 4500#'s+ and 6000ft+. If not you will find yourself in 3rd gear and 3000rpm way too many times.

My reference point? A 98 with 4.0, cammed, 265's and mostly stock. It is a daily driver and well taken care of.

Oh, and have fun!

 

[mattrickman]

Thanks - Yeah, I think I am just going to bite the bullet and always take them down to JC's. I have before for big stuff (head gaskets).