I found this nice looking 2004 Disco SE with a V8 at the local Chevy dealer today. They're asking $4400. I don't know anything about older LRs but I've worked on alot of vehicles just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on whether this is a good price. The truck has 138k miles and the body is rust free and the interior is excellent. Carfax shows 2 owners with the original owning for over 16 years. She's got nice BFG tires as well. Any major concerns with the drivetrain on these? Thanks for any input provided.

 

That's not a bad price for an '04. You get the center differential lock with that model year, which makes them desireable. Cons are the engine. Last year for the old Rover V8, so slipped liners and headgasket jobs are in your future. Sunroofs are known to leak, so be mindful of that, too. Have a pre-purchase inspection and compression test done. If they check out, it's not a bad gamble if you're wanting a D2.

 

the roof rack is worth between $700 and $1,000.

i'd jump on it assuming the engine is decent shape, ie, no coolant leaks, head gasket issues, slipped liner.

pop the hood and take a look over the coolant system.

take it for a test drive and plug in an aftermarket OBD2 reader so you can monitor the engine temps.

these engines are pretty easy to work on and this forum has a good amount of experience and knowledge to share.

 

Start the engine....if no ticking sound, buy it

 

My brother worked selling cars for a short stint. He says dealers always ask $1 - 2k more than they are willing to accept. Maybe make an offer. Especially at the end of the month when the salesman is trying to hit his quota.

 

There is no simple answer. As others said there is 2-3k worth of lift, tires, wheels, and racks on it. It's also a high probability that it was traded in due to a potential issue. I'd say buy it if you want it, not because it may or may not be a good deal. Are you willing to put the money into the engine if it needs rebuild or new head gaskets? It's hard to find a clean example these days so when you do it's worth a premium IF you are an enthusiast and mechanically inclined.

 

They all had V8s, and the body is aluminum so it can't rust. You want to look at the frame rails between the rear axle and the bumper. Make sure there is no appreciable rust there. The giant "AS-IS" on the windshield is not a great sign if you're not mechanically inclined. As others have said, the cooling system is a major concern in these trucks. I'd take a look at the expansion tank, see what color the coolant is and what the level is. Tell the dealer you want to take if for an hour or so and drive it around on some errands. If they won't let you do that there's a good chance they know something is up. The temp needle won't tell you anything useful but if you have an OBD scanner you can monitor the coolant temps. anything over 220 is likely a problem brewing. Run the AC, the electric fan in the radiator should come on. Check for a stained headliner indicating leaks. Try the heated seats to make sure they work. The passenger tail light is full of water which means it's cracked. This is common, put it on the list of why you're offering less, along with the fact that it's missing the alloy wheels (which isn't really a big deal but you can say it is to you).

 

It's not a bad price even if you need to replace the engine. Also do the mods which improve reliability and serviceability. These trucks are easy to work on.

 

Good catch on the tail light w/ water. I missed that!

 

FWIW, This rover started out life in northern, NJ. I recognize the dealer name plate next to the LR plate. Check that frame really well because in NJ salt was and is the preferred method of deicing the roads. I grew up in northern NJ and remember the winters and slushy, salt filled snow in my wheel wells.