Looking at Discovery 2's...what should I be prepared for??

[Jamooche]

Just do it...yeah they're unreliable and quirky, but they are still my favorite truck out there. My first wheeling truck was a 1999 DII that I modified with 4" lift and 33s. I then had a Series IIA on 33s and traded the DII for a new JK first on 32s, then 34s, then 37s. Sold the Jeep and bought my friend's Monster Tacoma on 35s. After 8 years I got tired of working on the Series in my free time and sold it. Didn't like having a big monster Taco pickup, so I traded it back to the same friend for a well cared for stock 2004 DII that was previously owned by yet another friend of mine. Part of the deal was modifying the DII.

I couldn't be happier and am in love with this new truck. I am going small this time. 235/85/16s with 2" lift, some protection, winch, and eventually lockers, and HD axles. I've come full circle, but without owning and wheeling all those other vehicles, I wouldn't have come to the understanding I have now. This truck also is good to use for the 99% of the time I am not out wheeling.

Picked it up from Red Barn Engineering yesterday in Upstate NY. Drove my Ford Fusion up and for $60 U-Haul rental dollied it home with the Disco. Here's a couple pics of the new truck:

 

[David Harris]

actually, no

Canadian spec is different from US spec. In Canada, you can get a diesel discovery. For that very reason, you can convert a gas D2 to a diesel, 5 speed D2 and not run afoul of the Feds or most states (California and NY excepted). Name just one Fed who can tell the difference between a d1 and a d2. Or even better, name anyone outside of Roverland who can tell the difference between a TD5, 200 TDI or 300 TDI. We do "get away" with having Diesel D2s on the road because we can demonstrate compliance - it's as simple as them. What's slightly ironic is that you couldn't import them to Canada (even though, it's Canadian regulations which allow a 2000 Land Rover Discovery diesel to be smog exempt here in the States).

If someone thinks it's easy, then neither you nor I can protect them from themselves. I post the other stuff I do in my signature (which, a simple google search will find) - if that doesn't give them the idea that I'm both pretty smart and pretty good at this auto modification stuff; then there's even less I can do for them. However, most seem to think if I can do it, it's easy because I make it look easy - those, I laugh at.... a lot.

As for monkeys.... there's nothing I can do for them, they've utterly convinced themselves it's impossible.

You've got your facts wrong I'm afraid. Roverandom is right and if you'll notice he is Canadian. Also, by the way, swapping a Land Rover diesel into a Discovery or Range Rover is not EPA approved under U.S. regulations. You can get states to pass them, but they will still be non-compliant in the eyes of the federal government. The ones that have been brought into this country were listed on customs as off-road use only. Starting this year 200 Tdi's will be eligible for entry, but only for use in the vehicle they were originally installed into. They are still not EPA approved for later vehicles, just exempt because they are in their original 25 year old vehicle.

 

[ZG]

Td5s never came to North America, and the Td5 was the only diesel D2 engine.

*follow up of Oryx's post

 

[4Rescue]

Then you answered your own question and you're still not convinced so anything I say from here on out is pretty much falling on deaf ears. The D2 has the same suspension as the numbered Land Rovers, but is more posh - thus, you can buy a D2, put a numbered body on that frame and be dollars ahead (and able to register it). Also, it's easy to add lightness - making the D2 as functionally simple as the numbered LRs really isn't as hard as you might imagine... after all, if I can do it, monkeys can do it.

I answered my own question??? I wasn't asking a question of you (and I dare say I won't ever make that mistake), I was asking it of the OP as to what specifically makes him want the DII over another chassis/vehicle. I can fully understand the "I just like them" answer if that's the case, but I was trying to show him that if he's not set on a Disco specifically that there are, IMO, better options... D@'s are cool, iconic vehicles and I understand their apeal on the surface, but when it comes down to it, I simply think that they're not as good a value overall as other chassis. Are you confused or just trying to be as argumentative and incorrect in your statements as possible???? A) An LC100 is NOT "10x more expensive" then a good D2 (unless he looking to buy a 'problem truck" with the hopes of swapping the engine and re-doing a bunch of stuff on his own). It's more expensive up front sure, but in the long run will likely prove to be less expensive to own. Neither chassis are "cheap" to repair, but the LC will likely have less in need of repair and less failure over it's life time ...which is what I was saying to the OP B) what does putting up a pic of an ExMOD sell-off 110/109/Hi-Cap (not sure what model that is) and an unexplained price of "$25,000" have to do with a discussion about buying a Disco II??? It's certainly a neat truck, but not really relevant to the OP's question...

In case you missed it: A question was posed by the OP as to what he might be getting into with purchasing a DII here in N. America and since then you've rattled off a heap of bad information and in general not added anything to the discussion... My point being if you have the money to fix it up/eliminate problem areas and known issues and possibly do an engine (Diesel) swap that's one thing (although it's an expensive option and doesn;t net you a truck that you can buy and drive in the same month or maybe even the same year depending on what all you plan to do to said truck), otherwise, the 100-series Cruiser is going to be a more reliable platform going down the road, cost you far less in the long run in terms of ownership/maint. cost and only give up a very slight bit of capability in the dirt with it's IFS set-up. Although I'd also argue that the 100's rear locker is more advantageous to the average user then the Disco's SFA (which isn't a terribly strong axle to begin with) unless you're getting into building a real trail monster/crawler which it doesn't sound like the OP is looking for and plenty of folks have shown that the LC100 is more then capable of handling heavy trail work w/o an SAS done to it.

 

[KyleT]

Holy crap there is a ton of mis information here....

 

[Jwestpro]

I should be able to do 75% of the maintenance work on the vehicle. I restore classics and hot rods from the ground up, so my tool inventory should allow me to tackle most projects. Anyone in the tri state area recommend a rover specialties if I do land one?

Have you found a British specialist yet? I know there's a good one up there but can't recall the name just now. I use Flying Circus English Cars in Durham, NC. They may be a good connection for buying a used one too though. It's only a day drive to Durham down I95-I85. Some southern vehicles will have been exposed to less winter road salt. I think it's worth it to fly to the west coast too or have one shipped if it's clean and specs you want. $1500 ish for cross country car shipping.