Completely new to the forum. I decided recently that my interest lies more in fixing up an SUV than a car, and I've always liked the styling of the Range Rover. I did spend well over an hour searching information on this awesome forum already today, but I decided to throw this out anyway as the situation is unique to me:

I plan to go look tomorrow at a 1998 LR Discovery, 145K, appears to be in very good condition, but with a bad auto tranny. Asking price is $1200.

This would not be a commuter vehicle, it would be a fun/secondary vehicle.

All ya' all's thoughts?
Thanks,
Mike

 

If you can change the trans yourself, it would be an excellent buy(assuming everything else is good to go)- I bought a used trans/t-case for $200 from a yard. Roverland has rebuilt ones for just over $1k.

If you were paying to have the trans fixed/replaced, it costs enough you might be able to find a Disco ready to go for same price(car+trans+labor).

 

i would offer him $800 and see if you can get a trany from a pick and pull. he is going to have a hard time moving a land rover with a busted tranny. if you don't plan on doing the work yourself then i say you best not buy a land rover cuz it will get expensive quick.

 

Thanks guys. Both fellow NYers (I'm in Dutchess County near Poughkeepsie) I do plan to at least attempt the work myself, or at most, enlist the help of a mobile mechanic from craigslist.

 

is that the Disco on C-list? I saw that ad. Looks nice enough. I was going to e-mail him and ask how he knew the tranny had gone. It may be a relatively simple fix.

 

oh yeah forget it. you are just north of me. you can get a running disco for $1500. if he doesnt take $800 hes a fool.

 

Demonlarry - yes, in Middletown. I didn't make it to see it yesterday, but considering going today or tomorrow. Its at a garage of some kind, so he probably got an estimate that he didn't like. Said his daugther drove it bone dry on tranny fluid.

 

Hilltopper, I haven't seen anything running in decent shape in the $1500 range (at least not in white, black or silver, my color preferences). You have info on anything available in the try state area at the moment?

 

I will say that a leaky head gasket, girl driving, and it failing because of a tranny issue is a huge flag to me. The engine being the biggest concern. It can look like a head gasket, but be a bad liner. It doesn't take much to kill these blocks. It may be fine, just expect the worst.. it could happen

 

thats where i grew up! haha.. i wouldnt trust anyone from that town with a land rover. (except myself of course)

what about this one? he started at $1800 and is down to $1200 after a few weeks think hes desperate.
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2120961691.html

or offer this guy $1500, its been up for a while.
http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/2047943735.html

if this guy has the HG done its well worth $1,500
http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2112696310.html

or this is quite nice cuz its a 5 spd
http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/2108340372.html