ADVICE Please! looking at a 1997 Land Rover Discovery XD edition

[fast_suv]

SO guys and gals I'm in need of some advice.
I am looking at getting this 1997 Land Rover Discovery XD edition that is loaded up for my girlfriend.
I'm a Jeep guy myself; have had 2 XJs, 1 TJ, and currently a 2013 JKU. I have owned one '00 Land Rover Range Rover and loved it other than the grounding issues and the trans had been dogged before i got it.

I digress....

This is the Disco i'm looking at (asking $4,900.00):












add-ons listed:

- Warn Winch with remote
- CB Radio
- Mud Terrain Tires
- Auxiliary Lights
- Rack
- ARB Bumper
- Fender Guards
- Light Guards
- Skid Plates
- Snorkel

So, as a no LR guy.. what do you think? worth the asking price? would i be buying a time bomb? things to ask him? things to look at/for?


As I said, i have a JKU and i pull an expo trailer when i go out so would be more of a toy and second off road vehicle for us. I also like the idea of her having one so when i want to go out she can come along so we are never wheeling alone, always have a partner rig..


thanks!

 

[abrooks]

I spoke with the seller a few weeks ago, if I remember correctly it hasn't been inspected or serviced in some time, has a check engine light on and has a relatively unknown history. Seller bought it as such, has wheeled it occasionally and didn't seem to have done any preventative maintenance. I was a little afraid of what I'd find when I started removing stickers, but I'm risk averse. It might be worth a trip up on the train to see what it was actually like.
good luck!

 

[Beagle Bones]

They're pretty robust trucks if taken care of. The main concern I would have is the CEL, and when if ever have the head gaskets been replaced. HG failures are pretty common, and can get costly if you don't catch them quick and are afraid of a wrench. The ad-ons are basic at best - the roof rack is nice. Tires don't match, and the carpet has been removed. I'd guess there was a moisture issue in the past. My buggy (my avatar) is based on a similar Disco and my engine bay is cleaner than the one shown.

I'd bring a code scanner w/me and drive the truck. Clearly make sure the CDL works, windows, etc...

 

[hurstjd]

I had a '97 with 180,000 miles on it when I sold it. Motor and transmission were fantastic. All the problems I experienced were stupid stuff like seat motors, window motors and door locks.

 

[Mack73]

Rust. You can see it here in the door jam. A common point for you salt belt people

 

[fast_suv]

Thanks guys.. Gonna keep searching... Found an 02 that need a sleeve job. But it's super chean and lots of upgrades but he still wants 4k

 

[ukoffroad]

Thanks guys.. Gonna keep searching... Found an 02 that need a sleeve job. But it's super chean and lots of upgrades but he still wants 4k

Slipped sleeve truck is $1000 at best. I paid 3500 for an 01 runner with just niggling issues.

 

[LR Max]

Yeah you can pay $4k for a truck that already has a re-worked engine in it. I'd pay $2k IF it was decked out with all the off road goodies.

 

[oscar the grouch]

have you drive a disco? I too am a jeep guy and when i sat in the disco the first time I was aggravated by the layout. maybe its cause im tall but i could not get comfortable in a disco. the windshield bothered me a lot

 

[99Discovery]

have you drive a disco? I too am a jeep guy and when i sat in the disco the first time I was aggravated by the layout. maybe its cause im tall but i could not get comfortable in a disco. the windshield bothered me a lot

I'm 6'-1" and know what you mean about the seat layout. I have good seating posture, so in the D2 I'm always looking slightly downwards (straight puts my line-of-sight right at the map pockets above the rear visors). That said, I've been a Jeep guy my whole life and actually loved the Disco. Wheelbase coupled with the interior are awesome. It's almost like they took the comforts of a Grand Cherokee, spruced it up, and stuffed it on a TJ frame. I've enjoyed mine so much, it's going to be tough to go back to Jeep (especially anything that's not a TJ/JK)

Back to the OP, no way in hades would I pay $4k for a slipped sleeve (which could also mean cracked block). I bought mine for slightly more than $5k, and I overpaid. That said, it was a '99 (with CDL), 94k on the clock, full maintenance records, factory installed OME 2" lift, and all of the maintenance records from either the $tealer or the reputable Great Basin Rovers in SLC. I've put a $330 front drive shaft on her and the $150 D1 CDL shifter, and $800 for 32" Cooper tires.

With your "clean" $4k truck you will find out you are $4k into a new motor (or rebuild), then you have everything else on top of that. And at the end of the day you will have a $9k Disco 2 WITHOUT the center-locking portion of the T-case.

No, that D2 is best served as a parts car for $500~1000 max.

Good luck on your search! Keep looking and buy a good one. They are awesome to drive and cheap to own (other than gas) if you keep up on maintenance. Buy a neglected one, and you could be $5~$10k into your $4500 SUV waaaay too fast...

 

[fast_suv]

Thanks for all the insight..
I think i will pass on the one needing the repair... I like teh idea of picking out the items i want and installing them.
I'm 6'2" myself and have not yet sat in one; however with this being primarily be my girlfriends rig it may be good due to her being pretty short.
I'll stay a Jeep guy myself..
I mean "Super jeep" won the Alaska race... (Defiantly just kidding)

The Disco will primarily be my girlfriends rig. She has wanted one and also wants to learn more about working on them so I link getting one that needs some of the upgrades will be a good teaching/learning experience.