Getting Sick of the Rover...

[Green96D1]

I agree with revor (Keith) about reliability. The rover can be very reliable. I can't honestly say that the Land Rover is unreliable my Discovery has 120K on the clock and she has never really giving me many probs other than a old fuel pump and broken axles due to me "grin". I've had her for almost 4 years now with hard offroad miles and she still runs very good. Like many have said they require attention however Land Rover at least to me is the easiest vehicle to repair and usually once fixed stay fixed.:victory:

But I love toyota's

 

[kellymoe]

I said before that I wouldn't take my disco out in the middle of beyond because I didn't trust it. To be honest most of the issues I have had with it have been because I have neglected a bunch in the last 4 years. I have owned it for 13 years and have driven the snot out of it without issue and it has only been since I bought my Defender that I have started to have issues. My attention turned to the Defender and the disco has suffered from gross neglect.

Like all who have posted above, take care of it and it will take care of you.

 

[MattScott]

You think you do. But you don't.

Just let it go, file for divorce and find yourself a new one.

How have you liked your 2004 Discovery?

There are a few of them selling in Illinois for under 12k with around 40-60k, I could even get certified for 15k.

I test drove a Tacoma today, 2008, double cab, short bed. I never realized I could probally get a 2008 LR3 down the street for the same price.

 

[AndrewP]

If you think you are unhappy now, that feeling will just get worse as time goes on. Not debating Toyota vs Land Rover, but one is acknowledged as the most reliable (but of course, not perfect) transport option and the other is at the bottom of everyone's list in that regard. Just sayin'.

If you do your own work, and like doing your own work, then you can be happy with any older vehicle that will go where you want, including your Disco. If you are spending $300 per month on your Rover, though, it is time for it to go down the road to somewne else. I don't spend $300 per month on 4 LCs with at least 2 of them daily drivers at any given time.

I think I would avoid a Disco II due to it's more complex electronics, and electronic systems. There are better choices in that price range. It's a fine luxury SUV, but it isn't really a serious offroader in USA trim.

I think that a modestly built Tacoma would do what you want, or, keep the Disco as your hobby/project car and buy a small efficient commuter for everything else. A 4Runner, too, would be a great choice for the reasons mentioned, and not a bad commuter either. I don't follow prices, but I'm not sure it would fit in your price range.

Someone mentioned an 80 series Land Cruiser. It won't get 15 mpg (if modded, 12 is good), but mine has been in the shop one time for a $300 repair in the 10 years (and 80k) I've owned it, and it hasn't been babied either. Not a bad choice, but any older vehicle will require upkeep including any Toyota you might buy. For $20k you could buy an 80 seires Land Cruiser AND a nice commuter ride. The prices on these have come way down, but they are still awesome vehicles and in many ways the best real "SUV" ever sold in the USA.

In the end, I would look around and see what your 4wheeling friends are driving. If they all have Rovers, I'd stick with the Rover. If they all have Toyotas, I'd stick with that. If you go by yourself, I'd definitely get a Toyota.

 

[MattScott]

The 80 sounds like an awesome rig, but I'm trying to get something newer than 2000, for asthetic purposes. I'm only 18, so I need to make wise choices when it comes to buying a vehicle. I just started a Vinyl Graphics company, to try and foot the bill for my interests, hopefully it works out, and maybe I can get myself some more mods.

I would love to have Scott's DI, or Sinuhe's I've seen them on EE plenty of times, more than enough to get jealous.

 

[RonL]

Matt, you said "and it still needs all new ball joints, rotoflex, brakes, the list goes on."

From your list, everything you listed are repairs you can do.
-"Ball joints"? do you mean tie rod ends? $25 each.
-Brakes pads $30-$70(depending on brand)
-Brake rotors $75-$150 if needed.
-Rotoflex, repair with ujoint style driveshaft, ebay $100-$150. Yes this is more than replacing the rotoflex, but it solves the problem of the rotoflex.

What are some of the other things on your list that need fixing?
What things have been replace so far? What did the last $300 repair.

 

[jatibb]

love the 80s, couple of friends have em, love my rovers, on my second one now. over 200miles on both. i totally understand what your goin through. i love my rovers but am reluctant to go very far of the beaten path, especially alone, but.. a 80 series is not a whole lot different in design. loads of eletronics, auto this, auto that... whos working on your truck? you or a mechanic.if you are subbing this stuff out, it aint gonna be any better with a 80. in fact, looking underneath my rover and underneath my friends 80s, at least on a rover you can see the most of the bolts...the rovers are pretty simple in design and repair, im sure youve searched the net for repair info. (400$fuel pump?) i replaced the motor in my pump fo $40. do your homework..if i were going to get out of my rover there are 2 possible paths. go old and simple like a fj60 or old series rover, or newer (smaller) taco or have been tempted with a amigo sport (v6-5spd hardtop, 4500lb tow rating) or there are always jeeps by the dozens...

 

[MattScott]

What are some of the other things on your list that need fixing?
What things have been replace so far? What did the last $300 repair.

Last $300 repair was a alternator, first one i bought, was a reman... ended up buying a genuine to replace it after 3 remans failed(warranty, yes i got my money back)

I think you're right, I'm over exagerating, but the underlying point is that there are so many things, that can go wrong.

 

[Scott Brady]

You buy a Toyota because it is the best possible tool for the job, no question.

You buy a Land Rover for the "love", and just like anything else where love is involved, there will be some attention and maintenance required.

For everyone on this forum, cars are not just a means of transportation. That is why some guys love Mustangs and others love Corvettes.

When I bought my DII, I purchased the wrong truck. Now I have the right "one"... :archaeolo

 

[kellymoe]

Scott is exactly right, although love may be a little strong
I have owned 9 Land Rovers over the past 13 years, I owned a single Toyota 4runner prior to that that was perfect, it never had a single problem in it's 220k mile life. I sold it to pay for my Land Rover addiction. Land Rovers are far from perfect but there is just something about them that appeals to me, probably the their representation of adventure. I tell my wife at least 3 times a week how much I enjoy driving my 130. Our Honda Pilot is a great car but it's not fun to drive. I enjoy working on my Defender and don't mind the routine maintenance that is required to keep and older truck on the road, it's just part of owning a Rover.

If you don't look forward to hopping in the drivers seat every morning then you are driving the wrong truck.

 

[RonL]

I could not agree more, I love driving my 1997 with 133,000 miles on it. It is my daily driver, I was driving 400 miles a week to work and school, and never minded it. It never let me down.

I have done some maintenance, like water pump, hoses, brakes, wheel bearings and alternator, but there are things that need to be checked/replaced when you get over 100K.

 

[FourByLand]

I'm getting sick of my rover. It's costing me 300 a month in parts to keep it running, and it still needs all new ball joints, rotoflex, brakes, the list goes on.

No one said this was a cheap hobby... gotta pay to play.Quit lusting after others peoples trucks and breaking yourself trying to get more mods and just use it... it's not a race, the more you take it out the more you will realize what you need and what you don't and then go from there.There is nothing more special about Scott or Sinuhe's D1 than yours.Good luck.

 

[hochung]

How have you liked your 2004 Discovery?

There are a few of them selling in Illinois for under 12k with around 40-60k, I could even get certified for 15k.

Doesn't matter. You are done. Get the taco.

 

[TroutBear]

"The 80 sounds like an awesome rig, but I'm trying to get something newer than 2000, for asthetic purposes."

Oh, an IFS guy - never mind... leave the 80's available for those who believe

 

[MattScott]

"The 80 sounds like an awesome rig, but I'm trying to get something newer than 2000, for asthetic purposes."

Oh, an IFS guy - never mind... leave the 80's available for those who believe

IFS... I don't think it would bother me.

Would it be bad to say I was looking at a lotus elise? It has 4cu/ft of storage. I have this huge ambition to drive a small sports car across the country. I've always wanted to take my alfa romeo across the country, and drive down highway 1 from seattle to la and then back. I think it would be so much fun in a sports car.

Has anyone on here ever used an Audi Avant, Subaru Outback, Audi All-Road, or anything of the such as a long distance travel vehicle?