Disco as first vehicle..??

[Token]

My daughter will be turning 16 pretty soon and I've been car shopping a bit.. What she wants is a Jeep TJ, but so far all of them I've found are outta budget, beat to hell or pushing 200K miles..

I stumbled across a 2001 Disco SE w/ 89K on the ticker.. I didn't have time to look inside, much less look it over well so I can't say anything of its mecahnical condition.. It looked to be in good cosmetic shape, like it had never seen as much as a gravel road though.. The guy is only asking $3900..

Deal..?? Rip Off..?? Would a Disco be a good first vehicle for a teen..?? How's insurance compare to other stuff out there..??

Don't know much about Rovers in general either other than hearing they can be a money pit in maintenance.. Of course that's rumors I've heard.. Thoughts..??

 

[Scott Brady]

If you can do your own work, it is probably a great car for her. Super safe with good ABS and impact protection.

Just keep up on the service work and they are fine.

 

[salve7]

I think it would be a great vehicle for a teen. They are slow, safe, and look good. However, keeping the maintance up to date is critical and there are always little gremlins that creep in and need fixing. If you are mechanical it shouldn't be to hard to figure everything out and there are great forums (this one included) that can help you figure everything out. Read over this list before you decide to buy it though http://landroverforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21328

 

[BKCowGod]

I loved my '95 - my mom's hand-me-down when I was 16 (2000), it carried me and all my friends everywhere, was stable and slow, and saved my life when I slammed it into a F150 at 50mph.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I don't think a Rover is a good idea for anybody looking to save money. Sure, the purchase price might be low, but everything else about it is expensive. They use a lot of gas, parts are hard to find and pricey, and not just any mechanic has the experience to fix them so you end up paying for specialists.

Furthermore, they crash test horribly, and I find the ABS is not very good compared to so many other cars. It's a large vehicle so it's hard to park. And they have a high CG so are prone to rolling over.

I think a midsize sedan would make a lot more sense. If she just HAS to have a truck, and isn't actually intending to do serious much off-road, something like a 2002+ Explorer would make a lot more sense. They are easier to maintain, should get a little better milage, the CG is much lower, the ABS is better, and if you get one with AdvanceTrac it will be a really safe truck.

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=122

(Notice the collapse of the passenger compartment, that is NOT a good result).

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=144

 

[Token]

They use a lot of gas,

I drive a Hummer.. Define LOTS of gas..

And they have a high CG so are prone to rolling over.

That worries me.. But they can't be more tippy than a Jeep TJ w/ a 2 or 3" lift can they.. Or even the H3 sitting on 35's..

I think a midsize sedan would make a lot more sense. If she just HAS to have a truck, and isn't actually intending to do serious much off-road,

Offroad is why she wants a 4x4.. She's drove the H3 around Superlift in Hot Springs AR and on some of the trails in Colorado with me.. Some of the milder stuff anyway.. She seems at least temporarily hooked..

Repair costs would be the biggest issue.. I'm not totally useless with a wrench, but when it comes to tearing into the internal moving gizmos or figuring out the electrical portion of what makes a vehicle run, I feel like I wouldn't know which end of the screwdriver to grab hold of..

 

[bomar]

find a 93 to 97 fzj80 series land cruiser.

great fit

 

[BKCowGod]

Repair costs would be the biggest issue.. I'm not totally useless with a wrench, but when it comes to tearing into the internal moving gizmos or figuring out the electrical portion of what makes a vehicle run, I feel like I wouldn't know which end of the screwdriver to grab hold of..

I can promise you they are actually quite stable. I used to get mine into some pretty awesome 4 wheel drifts, spun it a full 180 in an off-camber turn once, and regularly got it on some seriously crooked trails offroad. I averaged about 14mpg on regular gas for 25k of the 160k total miles with no problems.

I dunno about where you live, but a Toyota shop charges $140/hr here - my mom's Jaguar shop is $150/hr. Change your own oil (or better yet, teach her to do so) and maintain the brakes religiously! Keep up with it and it will be very reliable.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I drive a Hummer.. Define LOTS of gas..

I believe you're talking H3? This is probably worse. 15-18 mpg.

That worries me.. But they can't be more tippy than a Jeep TJ w/ a 2 or 3" lift can they.. Or even the H3 sitting on 35's..

Maybe not the Jeep, probably higher than the H3 if it's not lifted. I dunno what the measurements are on those. When somebody here posted the measured CG height of a Disco, I asked an engineer at Ford. His quote: "Sweet f'in' cripes that's high." He said it's substantially higher than any other SUV they currently make, and the only thing that compares anymore would be a high-roof Sprinter.

Offroad is why she wants a 4x4.. She's drove the H3 around Superlift in Hot Springs AR and on some of the trails in Colorado with me.. Some of the milder stuff anyway.. She seems at least temporarily hooked..

I'd really look at what she's wanting to do with it. There are SOoOO many trucks that can do mild off-roading well. I wouldn't try an Explorer on much more than a rough dirt road. But maybe that's all she needs? You also get into the Japanese mid-size pickups, etc.

I'm not saying the Disco is horribly unsafe. In 1999 it was pretty decent for a truck. In 2000, there were many cars that were better (in car-to-barrier testing). By 2002+, it started to be outclassed in safety by recently redesigned trucks. The advancements in crash protection in the last 10 years has been incredible. And the insurance industry has said electronic stability programs have reduced single vehicle collisions by 50% or more.

 

[ryandavenport]

Have you thought about an Xterra, I drive one, so it may just be me being biased but the 1st and 2nd gen ones are nice, and they tend to be pretty reliable. With the price range you are looking at you could get her into a 1st gen maybe, Landy's are nice too. Just get what you think will be best for her, as far as junk being bad on gas, once you get under 16 or 17 mpg it just doesnt matter anymore lol.

 

[justfred]

I've enjoyed my Discos, and the one you're talking about doesn't seem too bad for the money. Problem is, 89K is about half it's realistic service life, and some major/expensive parts may be ready for service at that point.

Is the daughter going to pay for her own service? (I can't imagine she's going to do her own service - not because she's female, but more because most 16-year-olds don't know the business end of a wrench.)

Seems safe enough. Big enough to haul around four other friends (or six, if there are back seats). If she drives like an idjit, a smaller car would be better for those around her.

Does she drive in snow, or bad weather? They're really fine inclement weather vehicles.

Does she have any reason to haul around lots of stuff? Horses? They're good at towing trailers and carrying junk and/or camping gear - in fact a teenager can probably fit to sleep in the back if she's into camping.

Insurance for the vehicle (assuming you get liability only) should not be much different than other vehicles, it's the driver that will be the expensive part.

All in all, I'd choose a similar-age Subaru instead.

 

[Token]

I believe you're talking H3? This is probably worse. 15-18 mpg.
I typically get 12 on the freeway running 70.. In the class of vehicles we're looking at I don't think there's anything that does better than mid-upper teens though..


Maybe not the Jeep, probably higher than the H3 if it's not lifted. I dunno what the measurements are on those.
The H3 is pretty stable.. I've seen 33-35 on the clinometer.. That was a bit beyond our typical offroading trip..

I'd really look at what she's wanting to do with it. There are SOoOO many trucks that can do mild off-roading well. I wouldn't try an Explorer on much more than a rough dirt road.

Explorer would have issues getting to the trails we typically play on in the first place.. She basically wants to be able to follow me around.. Of course I've drug the H3 to the top of Holy Cross in Colorado.. Once again though, that wasn't a typical offroading trip.. She's wanting a rock crawler.. The expense of of broken parts there though is way over the expenses of a Rover I'd imagine.. I've tried to prove the H3 can be a rock crawler.. While I've proved my point, I've also would have racked up close to $15,000 in repairs in the past 3 1/2 years if it weren't for warranty.. I've since decided it's a much better Expo rig than a rock crawler..

Will be taking this all into account.. It may not be worth much more effort.. Told the wife what I'd found and she wasn't very impressed for some reason.. Seems she'd rather spend twice as much on a Jeep that's twice as old with twice as many miles on it for some reason..

 

[Token]

Is the daughter going to pay for her own service? (I can't imagine she's going to do her own service - not because she's female, but more because most 16-year-olds don't know the business end of a wrench.)

She WILL BE LEARNING... At 16 I was doing my own oil changes in my truck.. Of course I was also doing it at 10 on my first motorcycle.. My 11th birthday present was a tool set..

Seems safe enough. Big enough to haul around four other friends (or six, if there are back seats). If she drives like an idjit, a smaller car would be better for those around her.

Safe.. Hard to say.. This will be a 16th B-day present for her.. She's been driving a bit on road and off and does well enough that I've felt comfortable taking a nap with her driving.. She'll be going to get her permit in a week.. 16 is still 6 months off though..

Does she have any reason to haul around lots of stuff? Horses? They're good at towing trailers and carrying junk and/or camping gear - in fact a teenager can probably fit to sleep in the back if she's into camping.

Trailers no.. Camping some I'm sure.. Mostly it'll be a 10 mile a day vehicle to get her to and from school..

Insurance for the vehicle (assuming you get liability only) should not be much different than other vehicles, it's the driver that will be the expensive part.

All in all, I'd choose a similar-age Subaru instead.

Subaru in the drive with the Hummer..?? That's sacrilege..

 

[Token]

Have you thought about an Xterra,

They are one of the rigs on my consideration list...

Ok.. That just changed.. There's not one showing up on Autotrader within 200 miles of here that's under $6900.. WAY outta budget.. I'm hoping to stay under $5000 for the vehicle and first year of insurance..

 

[Antichrist]

I generally don't suggest an SUV as a first car for kids, for all the obvious reasons. But if she wants to go off-roading, that's pretty much her choice.
If you are serious about a Land Rover for her, I'd suggest a D1 (referably with no sun roofs). They are cheaper/easier to repair than the DII's, and that's something she should learn to do if she's going to off-road. IMO, a person needs to know how to fix things if they are going to off-road, unless they always travel with others who know how to repair their car, or have gobs of money to pay a 4WD tow truck.
With a few not too expensive modifications a D1 can be nearly just as capable (the longer departure angle makes it a little less) as a Defender 90. Also, D1's don't have any electronic traction gizmos which is very good for someone new to off-roading, it forces them to learn to drive.