I want the opinions of Disco I owners.

I am currently looking at a 1998 Disco I, it has 144 K miles, and a blown head gasket.

its in really nice condition, everything else appears to be in good working condition.

My questions are these:
Is it worth $1200?
How difficult is it to replace the head gaskets, any special tools needed, and are there any decent guides? I am a diy'er and have done lots of work on american cars and my previous truck witch was a Mitsubishi . My main limitations are lack of special tools and i don't have a garage, and oh since I live in the U.P. of michigan it is really cold out right now.
I am a college student, and although i fair better then a lot of college students, if I do work myself, is it terribly expensive to maintain these vehicles?

I already have a working car, but I really want something that can get around better in the snow, and for offroading in the summer, so this would be a secondary vehicle.

 

Unless it is SUPEr clean, $1200 is too much. I would plan for it being a blown motor, and if it is just gaskets, you won't be too upset. These engines are an old Buick 215 Modded up. Pretty basic for the head gaskets, but keep in mind they are aluminum. they tend to drop a liner if they are overheated, and a new engine is the only option. You can have it re-sleeved, but buying a short block is cheaper.

I would keep an extra $1000 for things that come up. They can be fixed on a budget, but they are quirky sometimes. I would not suggest one like that to a college student. I got lucky with mine and she has been great, but they can bleed you dry fast..

The negatives aside, you will fall in love with the way it drives. Slow and poor mileage aside, you can go anywhere...

 

Well, your real problem as far as I can read in your post is the lack of garage, if you solve that, go for it. We will help you here, and there will be someone closer with tools.

 

blown head gasket... 144k... 600 bucks tops. Unless it has special options like the roof rack etc... then add a few hundred more.

 

Okay thanks for the advice, i have poked around a bit and still am undecided. I really like owning unique vehicles, and added capability of being able to go anywhere. I already am aware of the low gas mileage, but this is mainly going to be my winter vehicle to get me back and forth the 4 miles to campus, and then also my summer play toy.

Since I can't find another mits montero (my previous toy vehicle) , i figured i would try my luck with a land rover, but have been having a hard time finding any under $4000.

I will know in a week or so whether I am going to buy it. If I do I am sure you guys will see me around the forums a lot!

Thanks for the help!

 

I think a Montero Limited (not sport) would cost you less in the long run and be more fuel efficient. Plus I think they have better interior ergonomics. I don't know what side of the UP you live on, but check out the Twin Cities Craigslist for Monteros or Discos. Working on a L/R is pretty easy. Once you get the bugs worked out, you should be ok. The Buick engine isn't really a drawback, it's a bonus to me. Traditional layout. A lot of engines can trace their 'fundamental' roots back many years. The Jeep 4.0 that was discontinued a couple years ago went back to the 50's. But the original engine was a lot different. It really doesn't mean anything other than LR has had lots of years to refine them and produce a long-lasting engine. Buying one with a bad head gasket isn't necessarily a bad thing IMO. It's common for them to go at about this many mi. You could buy a different 98 for $3500 with 125k mi on it and the head gasket might go after 6 mo. At least this way, you've got the H/G out of the way. Offer the guy $800.

 

Yeah, I got my '96 Disco with 117k for $1550, running with known minor engine performance issues and a PS leak. I've fixed it up a bit since then. I think $800 for a non-runner would be okay, but $1200 seems steep.

 

Bschoole, did you my signature? I also got a Mitsubishi Montero. Really like them both, but they are VERY different, so much, that I had to have both

 

@Mark G, Discovering that the L/R's engine is based off an old buick design eased my mind little bit as far as work goes. I live up in Houghton, 40 miles south of copper harbor, going to Michigan Tech. The craigslist isn't utilized a ton up here (although its gotten better since I moved here), and I have had a really hard time finding any montero's, they are about as rare as land rovers in this area. I actually would prefer the montero since I am familiar with the vehicle and also considering my montero which had the 3.0 in it had 270,000 miles on it with original engine, trans, t-case, differentials, and the only reason i got rid of it is cause the suspension was dying and it needed lots of small things. But this l/r i am looking at reminds me in some ways of it.

My hope is that the heads didn't warp and its just going to be a "simple" replacement, and if I got if for $800 or so I think it could be worth it.

@Leadfoot, I think they both the L/R and Montero are very unique vehicles. I loved my monty, out of the 7 vehicles i have owned in the last 4 years, its been the best by far, i got if for $700 and drove it for a year and half with minimalistic repairs, unlike the 2000 bonneville i bought to replace it which has been a nightmare.

 

I bought a 94 D1 with 110k on the clock with known mech issues for a grand. The only reason I went that high on price was no rust of any kind on body. If I had o do it over again I would probably go for the D2 with all the little extras.