Might be buying a Disco I as a project car. However, I'd be learning on it so my mechanical abilities are subpar at the moment.

The one I'm looking at is a 1996 with 155k miles and a 5 speed. They're asking $3200.

Am I in over my head for a first-timers project? I'm not too concerned with luxuries since it won't be a daily driver. Here's the listing. I'll be seeing it in person soon, what should I look for?

 

I'd offer him 2,500. I gave 3k for mine with 168k. 1998 LSE with a lift, some off road gear, NAV touch screen sound system and a TON of extra parts.

As far as mechanical go it is very easy to work on. Only real problem is parts...super expensive to get it fast from local dealer or really cheap/affordable and about a 4-5 day shipping from Lincoln at Rover Bones and/or Paul Grant on here. (both great to deal with)

I'm still a pretty new owner, only about 5 months and it's a constant love/hate relationship but always end up with a smile on my face. I've had to replace a couple things here and there that were a pain in the butt but if you know what you're doing you can take care of most items yourself.

It's almost boring to offroad. Haha It handles everything, which hasn't been extreme yet, with such ease and luxury it's almost a joke. You'll pass by super lifted hummers and trucks spinning and throwing mud and trying to get traction on rocks with your heated seats and leather not even skipping a beat. It get's a lot of looks. It's a great looking truck. Pulled up to a Whataburger and a kid yelled "thats the crocodile hunters car!". I'll probably get flamed on here for this but it's pretty much Jeep. Just one that the XX most interesting guy would drive. Much better looking, fancier truck that seats 7. Just as easy to work on it and can do everything a jeep can do.

...bottom line. Get it.

 

I got mine '96 SE7 for $1500 with 107k miles on it. And that was here in California....It was cheap, but it wasn't (still isn't) perfect.

If you are looking for a project, the priority needs to be spent making sure the drive train and engine has been well kept, need records. The other stuff, you can figure it out....

 

i only paid 2k for my 1999 D1 sd with 132k so you may want try and get it down to around 2k, kbb is putting it between 1760 and 2600 in excellent condition. in the ad it states RUST, moonroof MOTOR needs repair. so consider these things

 

Paid $1,550 for my '96 with 117k miles. Had some issues, still has a few issues. But even if I fixed the issues I doubt I could get $3200 for it, nor would I sell it for that. This one sounds like a $2000 dollar truck to me unless he has tons of repair records and legitimately knows his stuff. 155k is not low miles on these. Minor rust just means he hasn't found all of the rust...

 

All Disco I's are porjects, some more so than others.

In my opinion that is a hell of a lot of money for a 96 with that kind of miles on it and with issues. A lot of people on here would be happy to sell theirs for that IF they were inclined to sell.

Never jump on the first one you see. Go drive it but do not even consider buying on first look at asking price. Thank him and walk away with your money. Look at several. Drive them hard. If they overheat at all figure on thousands to repair.

Look at Eric's threads on his purchase, he paid a similar price only to find it needed head gaskets and much more and he is still trying to get it correct.

Basically most every Discovery out there has the "luzury" that he seems to think is so great. And very few aftermarket sound systems are worth anywhere near a grand, so tell him to just keep it and offer about half of what he is asking for the Disco MAX. Leave him hanging and see how desparate he is to sell.

Very few owners with a good one even care to sell it ater they fix all the issues, which he clearly has not. He wants you to pay for his upgrade to a nicer vehicle.

I know of a Pristine 2001 with only 114,000 miles on it that would be cheaper than buying his and correcting the items it probably needs. It belongs to a local guy I met who saw me working on mine in my driveway and just stopped in. He is buying a cherry RR LSE from another guy and asked me if I knew of anyone who may be interested in his.

Ask him for receipts on everything he has had done to it and all maintenance records for it. They are a good vehicles in several aspects and horrible in others. They only get about 12mpg when they are running good and require premium fuel which is over 4 bucks a gallon. Parts are becoming scarce and are not cheap. They are made to be maintained so they are a lot easier to work on than most of today's vehicles.

And you want to use it for a daily driver? Hope your distances are short and you have another form of transportation or you have a lot of flexibility in whether or not you need to be somewhere on a daily basis.

He is right about having plenty of room in them. You can carry a bicycle or small trailbike in the back for when it leaves you stranded.

I know others will say I am being harsh, I just consider it being direct.

Look at several others before you jump on the first one you see just because it is a Land Rover does not mean it is the wonderful vehicle that so many think it is.

Again $3200 is a high price for a 96 with that kind of miles on it. I would want full maintenance records and very few issues. Have fun.

 

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought, is there any other way to own a Disco?

 

Price is a little high. I paid 3200 for a 98 D1 LE non 7 pass with 108k. No rust, 1 owner with some records.

 

Thanks for your replies, but I've decided to go another route and investigate other vehicles.

Someone else feel free to ****** it up

 

Your truck is CLEAN, I paid a little more than that for mine and it was babied as well.