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My previous LR was a Disco 2 as well! Before that was an OG Defender.
When asking a group like this "what should I buy," you will get every conceivable response, including from people that have very strong opinions about things, both pro and con. So really you should ask yourself what your needs are, and work from there.
You should also decide whether you will lease or buy for the long term, as that can change what you choose as well. If you are buying for the long-run (did you buy your D2 new?), I'd avoid the P400, air suspension and rear locking diff, as those options add unnecessary complication and additional possible problems down the road. Choose simplicity! But if leasing, knock yourself out with any or all of them that you want.
* The P400 has a turbocharger and a supercharger and a small EV-type battery - it's just too much complication and too many expensive things to go wrong after the warrantee is done. The P300 (what I have) is a very good and smooth engine that has plenty of power, and you will save about $10,000.
* Don't let people convince you that air suspension is a "must." Drive both and see for yourself. They are both very smooth, just with a different feel. I preferred the slightly firmer feel of coils over the more wallowy feel of air, and again, less expensive stuff to go wrong down the road. Most hard-core off-roaders seem to prefer coils, too.
* The locking rear diff is unnecessary due to LR's superb traction control systems. Read up on all the complaints about "clunks" from it.
* Definitely get the rear tow hitch, but you can pass on the tow package unless you actually do have something to tow.
* Don't get the snorkel or ladder or the "lunch box" hanging off the side of the car (some of these might not be available these days). They are more for looks than practicality, and they add a lot of wind noise while detracting from mileage. I'm not sure if the roof rack adds height or not, but beware that this is a tall car. I alreay hit my "shark fin" in an underground garage.
* As many here will say, go with 20" wheels over the 19's, though I think there are some good new choices in 19's now or soon. Personally, I'd skip the fake steel wheels unless you are fully in love with them. The "off road" tires are really on-road tires that look more aggressive, though they are probably better off road anyway. Unless you are going to change them to KO3's or something right away, I'd still recommend them, as they do suit the vehicle better.
* The Windsor leather is very nice and preferable, in my opinion, to the other options. I got that along with the "extended" leather, which I also recommend to reduce the amount of cheaper surfaces inside. If you go for the latter, you can skip the wood details (if still available), since you get the really nice leather in those places already.
* Personally, I think the refrigerator is too small to be useful beyond holding something like a couple of bottles of water or soda, but for some it's a necessity (I skipped it).
This remind me... Don't forget the "invisible options". One you definitely want if you're planning to go offroad is VPLEP0436. One I got for myself later was LR133503, but I skipped on the cargo mat and other niceties.
* Don't get the snorkel or ladder or the "lunch box" hanging off the side of the car (some of these might not be available these days). They are more for looks than practicality, and they add a lot of wind noise while detracting from mileage. I'm not sure if the roof rack adds height or not, but beware that this is a tall car. I alreay hit my "shark fin" in an underground garage.
Here's my $0.02:
I ordered the vehicle with the lunchbox just because it was a) cheaper as a part of the pack, b) port install. Somewhere along the way, I was informed that there's a shortage of lunchboxes so it was replaced with the ladder (which I didn't want because I knew they break). It was that, or nothing, so I reluctantly agreed. Then, literally within two weeks before the delivery, they abruptly cut the RAI because of a safety recall with no ETA and offered me a choice to get the pieces from the pack individually, at cost. I decided to leave the roof rack (which I wanted in the first place), the ladder (which there is a fix for now so I don't sweat it too much), deleted the stupid mudflaps, but left the hood decal on - which turned out to be a godsend, it becomes quite flat right away and there's absolutely no hood glare.
Do I hate the ladder? Not really, but I don't trust it either. It's useful to get into the rooftop box, though, otherwise I'd have to either install something, or carry something.
Do I miss the lunchbox? Yes, just returned from an expedition that made it obvious that if I want things orderly, I better have extra storage. I'm considering installing it at some point.
Do I miss the RAI? Don't know, my lazy *** didn't open the hood yet (I swear - I'm surprised myself, usually this is the first thing I do), though I'll probably do it this week - last expedition was... dirty
Does it add wind noise? Probably, it's still better than a Jeep.
Does it kill fuel economy? I got ~17-18mpg on a 700mi trip with a big rooftop box over the Expedition roof rack.
Count me as another who is a fan of the rack, ladder and lunchbox. I didn't "spec" it as I bought my Defender used but I'm glad mine has it. Using our Defender for long road trips, the extra capacity that the rack and lunchbox provide is essential in the 110 with its smaller cargo area. We just took an 1800 mile round trip from Maine to the NC Crystal Coast and back and the rack held my fishing rods, sand spikes and sand flea rake while the lunchbox had my tackle box, my dead-fish-stinky casting net, a quart of oil and a jug of coolant, and our flip flops. Very handy. The ladder - although it does have a flaw (which there is a solution for now in the aftermarket) - was quite handy and I've been up and down it plenty of times (6'6" 235lbs). Wind noise isn't a concern, I can still unfortunately have a conversation with the wife at 75mph just fine. You want wind/road noise - boy have I got a vehicle for you.
I know the guys love their P300's and thats awesome but to me, the P400 has barely enough power for the 110. We got 20mpg on our aforementioned trip and we didn't even have it in eco mode so its not like the P400 is drinking gas - and its proven, despite its supposed complexity, to be quite reliable. Just do your oil changes every 10k miles and not at the idiotic JLR recommended 21k miles.
My nearly loaded 2025 P400 X is for sale with under 3000 miles.
Have you considered starting an "Am I asking too much" thread about this, and then delete all your posts after arguing with all the helpful replies you get? Just a thought.
Have you considered starting an "Am I asking too much" thread about this, and then delete all your posts after arguing with all the helpful replies you get? Just a thought.
I never deleted (Xxxx) any post that wasnt a duplicate (caused by an issue with my new account) in my first thread where I asked advice about purchasing and not selling. Everyone including you said I was crazy and/or stupid to try for a discount. Sighting my inventory numbers as wrong and that I should take the $1k offer I was given at the time. Guess what? ...over $3k saved.
Wow !!! Quite a bit to absorb . I live in the state of Oregon . I've been to the Owyhee ( pillars of Rome , Leslie gulch ) in my Disco 2 . No problems on that tour . I just want to explore back roads , not into rock crawling , but water crossings are fun . My Border Collie goes where ever I go . Canping with my Kodiak Canvass tent on roof rack , Etc......Nothing too extreme .
@Tomzsix I'm another PDX guy who had a Disco 2 in the past. I've taken my Defender to the Owyhee, and other places around there a few years ago. I did 1300 miles in 4 days and this rig is the swiss army knife of all vehicles on the market today. My bum did not feel sore at all during that trip. Not sure if you are planning on buying new or used but I've had my Defender X for 3 years and I bought mine used. I decided to get the X model since it literally comes with everything and it made searching on the internet that much easier to me at that time. Depending on your budget and the advice from everyone above along with some research I'm sure you will find one. To sound like a broken record the first purchase you must do it buy a GAP tool.
