1 year update - Closing the loop.
So with old trucks, you win some, you lose some. I've definitely won in the past- this Discovery experiment will be remembered as my loss.
I've owned a lot of old trucks - I once bought a 3rd generation 4runner with 169k on the clock, drove it for another 110k doing nothing but oil and tires, and still got something on the trade-in 8 years later. That was a win. I bought a used Subaru Outback for $13k, drove it 4 years, and sold it for $10k cash, to a mechanic, who pointed out to me that it was going to need new front axles, but it would be easier for him to fix than me - that was a win.
I've never seen a car fall apart as fast, or as completely as this Rover. Which is killing me, as I love to drive it. There is zero rust, zero scratches, zero tears in the upholstery - the engine pulls strong with none of the dreaded slipped-liner ticking.... absolutely one of my favorite cars to drive, and we've put over 12k miles on it in the last year. But we have reached the point in the journey where the work is over my head, and beyond my checkbook.
A year ago, this was a truck with no visible leaks - today we are leaking coolant from all 4 corners of the head gaskets, from the timing cover, leaking oil from the timing cover, and leaking steering fluid from the power steering pump.
So that's about $7k to get it back on the road - which I might actually consider, but the 3-amigos came back this week, after many months of silence (thought I fixed that) - and it's $7k into an engine that already has 140k miles on it.
I wish I hadn't put new tires on it - would love to have that money back about now.
So I'm thinking this pristine body and interior Discovery II is headed for the crusher. For $7k I can get a much more reliable SUV for the kids to drive, and not have the 3 amigos, or whatever else the next punishment will be, hanging over my head. Sometimes you have to know when you're beat.
Anybody interested in a beautiful Discovery II body and interior let me know, I'll give you a great deal.....
-Matt