I always tell people that ask about owning a D2 to plan on $2k per year maintenance budget if you don't do any of your own work. There will be years you don't spend that much and there will be years you exceed it. Doing some of your own work will lower that cost significantly as labor rates on the west coast are over $100 per hour at most decent indy LR exclusive shops.

 

Jeesh, OK. Alex_M your plan about being patient and waiting for the right D2 is in line with my initial thoughts. ArmyRover, thanks for the LR3 input, too. My thought, for either model, was that I would be buying one that's had needed big maintenance done pre-purchase, but maybe 20K into it's 60K lifespan (be it head gaskets, or some other parts). Then I would be looking more at the constant, but smaller, upkeep to maintain the car.

All of the above from you guys is great and hopefully will be useful to someone else looking at a D2 or LR3 also. My plan now has shifted a little to being patient for the car AND until I move out of this apartment complex and to a house, with a driveway, where I can learn to turn a wrench.

 

I would get a cheap LR3 or LR4.
Or even a used Mercedes SUV like GLK250 or 350.
Those are 4 wheel drive for the snow too.

But you can't take the Mercedes over a stream or a bog.
For that you will need a Discovery 2

 

Patience is key, and I wouldn't trust that someone did the full maintenence. Even if it's advertised I would do the full thing again within the first 2-3k miles of owning the vehicle. That takes up a significant portion of the initially required maintenence.

Sounds like you've got a good plan. Best of luck!

 

You are right. Unless you are buying a car that has been refurbished/restored by a shop with all receipts, you are buying someone else's project that may not be up to your standards. So you have two choices: buy a cheap car and re-do everything yourself or buy a car restored by a trusted source. Both will cost you more than $10K.

 

I know you can find a few with a laundry list of maintenance done, but that doesn't always mean it was done well or with quality parts. Or even if it was done properly with quality bits that other things aren't just around the corner.

Both of my LR3's have had their lower steering shaft wear out. Part alone is around $300. Labor? no idea I do my own work. Then I managed to do about 13k on mine since i got it and managed to wear out control arm bushings and a driveshaft carrier bearing surround. Then you start thinking I wonder when this fluid was changed or a check engine comes on for a coil pack....

Any 2 of those repairs will eat your entire 2-3k 3 year maintenance budget if you are paying shop to do the deed.

Granted my LR3 takes a bit more of a beating then some out there. With all the highway driving so I can wheel it for a weekend than back. Not to mention I daily drive it to work etc...



For example just today I saw a guy advertising a fresh rebuilt motor in the frozen north that is being ran with 20w50 oil. With the temps up there it could be damaging that motor. I would be skeptical of running 15w40 with the temps you see there let alone 20w50 So how good is all that maintenance.

 

Remember people mainly come to these forums because they have a problem. Don’t base your decision on reading these threads but do take note of what to look for when shopping and what can go wrong. you’ll see a similar pattern on nearly any vehicle forum you look at, just different problems.

 

 

If not willing and able to do most all of the work $2,000 to $3,300 cost per year to purchase and own a drivable LR or most other vehicle is unrealistic in 2018.
......

 

Out of curiosity, how 9n Earth are you guys spending 2-3k per year? I think I've only spent $3500-4000 on repairs since I got my truck 4 years ago, including labor during the first year with one $2500 job.