Advice on Discovery, buy/fix for under 10K
 

Hi: I'm new to Rovers and I'm interested in buying a discovery. I have a 10K budget. I love the look of them, I've heard of the legendary performance but the reliability issues, pricey and hard-to-find parts, and other problems intimidate me. I would like to think of myself as handy but in reality I am a learning do-it-yourselfer who is picking up on everything as I go. I am 20, need to drive a distance to university and this would be my full time vehicle to replace my current jeep.

Can some of you guys point me in the right direction, suggestions, opinions, etc? Thank you

I wouldn't really say the parts are hard to find for a DII, there are not many NLA parts except for random accessories. I daily drive my DII(along with my s60R) and I keep up with maintenance. I've rebuilt the engine, but it runs great and is very reliable for its mileage(150K). If I were to buy another DII, I'd get an 04 with the upgraded looks and CDL.

Don't buy it from a dealer.
Buy it from a person - who is motivated to sell it.
Don't pay more than $4,000 no matter what.

The engine can go bad if you paid $4,000 or $10,000.
If you pay $4K and your engine goes bad - you have 6K to shop for an engine or get yours totally rebuilt.

You spend it all and you get a lemon - then you are out of money and feeling bad.

OR - spend 10K and don't drive it much.
Then it will last.

10K would get you a heck of a finished rig...

4K to pick one up is about right. Ask here and we can tell you what to have a mechanic check - and don't buy one without having it checked out. IMO if the seller won't let you, then walk away. The seller should be EAGER to have this done esp. if you agree to have the mechanic's report available to the seller as well, regardless of whether you buy.

If you're mechanically minded they're a bit easier to live with. Evidence or records of maintenance is, I would argue more important than a very clean condition. Many of these were family vehicles and children can be tough on a car's spit and polish. Miles are important too but not more so than proper care. This is just me but 100K (miles) would be a take if the price were right. 150 and I'd have some 2nd thoughts... anything over 175 I'd walk away from. I know there are plenty of exceptions to this is just my opinion. There are too many sub-100K LRs out there to take one with 175 unless the price is quite extraordinary.

Mileage isn't their strong suite -they're not terrible but not great.

There's a 2001 DII for $1,900 that states its a project. 160 kilometers. Sound like biting off more than I can chew?

Depending on what's wrong that could be 'add $5K in engine work' so.... You have to find out what it needs, look at what's involved and go from there. A job that takes 45 minutes on some vehicles might take 3-4 hours on the LR.

For what it's worth...
 

I paid $5500 for my '01 with 98K miles. Great cosmetically, and engine in good condition. I did all the high mileage maintenance within the 1st 500 miles, and then some. You can check my signature for everything else performed - some of it preventive and some as a result of issues or breakdown. Still, I consider the truck reliable and it is my daily driver - 25-30 miles a day and more on the weekends. Have easily spent $10K and haven't even done the cool mods...

With your budget, you shoud be able to buy something for a reasonable price, have money for preventive maintenance (helps if you can self-perform), and hold some cash in reserve for the inevitable breakdown...

That said, as a college student (I think that's what you said), take my old timer's advice (as a fossil at 53 who has blown a lot of money on vehicles in the past 35 years) - keep whatever you're driving and invest your bankroll!

Good luck!

DRW

@DonRW2007 thanks for the advice. It's so tempting to start a big project but I need to give it some thought. I think buying a LR within my price range and intentions might not work considering I am going to have to learn as I go for a lot of the stuff. I have never done anything too major mechanically, just enough to boost my man-confidence a hair :P

Have any LR inspected by a LR mechanic prior to buying, not just you local machanic someone who specializes in LR.