Hi guys,

I was looking at possibly buying this Disco VVV and I'm debating whether it's a good idea at this point or if the thing is somewhat of a lost cause.

2001 Land Rover Discovery SE SUV - Moncton Cars For Sale - Kijiji Moncton Canada.

I emailed the owner and he said this:
"well i no it needs work on brakes and heater core and the driver side power window has a broken bracket .and before it was parked it started percfect and now it wont start.so ?????? one freind told me the starter is rusted stuck and im pretty sure it should have a new battery.and it needs new tires. as for rust i think under is just surface rust and the body is prety solid interior looks realy good . if your still interested email me your # and i will call saturday . im sorry im so late getting back with reply's i was away for work the last three weeks ."

Thanks Experts!

 

well seems to be priced quite a bit high for me,
hasnt run in 4-years, needs brakes, heatercore, starter battery, power window motor, tires.
then it has 100000 miles on it so you can be looking for headgaskets, rebuilt drive shaft, all new hoses and belts probably exhaust from sitting.
Nope; I fear you will end up putting more into it than you paid for it.

 

If you are real mechanical and can do the repairs with a little guidance, then it might be a good deal for $1500

 

That phrase alone should throw up red flags, that normally means there is something horribly wrong with the vehicle. If you are looking for a project car I'd say offer him $1000.

 

Offer $800 in $100 bills.
It will need to be towed. That will be $200 at least.
You should try to use your AAA membership to tow it - if you buy it.
$1,000 max.

You will have OLD gas in the tank. You need to get that out.
You need then to flush the fuel system too.
It should self flush with new fuel.

You will need new antifreeze pronto.
Oil must be changed before you try to start it.

I would also make sure the engine cranks.

There is an issue when the D2 is out of power for months - battery removed - it will not start unless EKA is keyed in?????
I don't remember..

Plus it probably stinks inside and has mold all over.
Make sure there are no mouse or wood rat nests in it.
If there are any nests, then the wiring may be chewed thru.

 

Looks nice.
BUT
Not running. May have been parked due to head gaskets..
There is a reason it was parked.
not worth more than $1,000 period.

If you buy it -
Change the oil on site there.
get it started.
Drive it home.
I bet it needs head gaskets and has misfire codes.

You are in a pickle.
As if you get it started, it is worth MORE and the guy will get more for it.
So, you need to buy it as not working.

But, not starting you can't evaluate it.
It COULD HAVE a slipped liner and be total junk.

You may pay $1,000 for a pile of junk.

I bought a running 2001 Rover with a misfire on #1 and it was fixed by changing the head gaskets.

and I had to change an O2 sensor.

and I changed the transmission fluid.

And, lubed the drive shafts for a trip.

I got lucky, I guess.

 

Its going to be a project, I'd buy it for $800, suck the old gas out, put in new with a bottle of Seafoam.
Beat the starter with a hammer to free it up, a new battery and fire that thing up, drive the bejesus out of it and then when it blows in 10 years crush it.

 

$800, no more.

 

If you buy, and its worth parts, i'll take the brushguard.

 

My truck sat for 2 years before I drove it again, and I've already pumped over $4k getting it to pass inspection after sitting for so long. I was very methodical about my maintenance and took excellent care of the truck before it was garaged, and I still had (have) to do an outrageous amount of work to get/keep it running again. Based on your location, which weather-wise is worse than mine, after sitting 4 years, the brakes have rotted and the calipers are likely frozen. The frame probably has rot, O2 sensors are probably rusted into place and may need to be drilled out. Various sensors will have rotted and failed, grease and grease fittings dried up, and I would place a 500:1 futures bet that the A/C does not work. I'd also bank on water being in all the fluids, which will also have to be replaced, and the heater fan and condenser fan have probably seized. After struggling to get my truck going, I would highly advise against buying this one, unless you don't need it immediately and can work on it slowly over the course of several months. Even then, $800 would be the limit. I would look at it as nothing more than a parts car, and only pay parts car prices. This isn't the desert where cars can sit for years. In the coastal Northeast, parked cars last only a year or two before being destroyed by the weather and salt. Case in point- my brother bought a 2-year old Acura TL 4 years ago. He lost his job 3 months later, and the car sat for 4 years until very recently. He took it down to get it inspected, and instead the car got condemned due to corrosion and rot. It had 30k miles on it and was only 6 years old.