I heard this was because in Britain all the street lights are on posts so they dont need to see that high. But at the same time you would think they would take thier american market into consideration. It does block the sun sometimes though! HAHA But at 6 foot 4 I know exactly what you are talking about!

 

I really don't have awesome technical jargon to throw at you like most of the guys on here. However my previous vehicle was a 93 Ford Exploder. I owned it for 7 years. I hated it. LOL. I bought it used and it wasn't taken care of very well. I was under it more than in it. I never felt confident in it. I felt like any day it would leave me stranded somewhere.

Then I bought a 99 Disco 2 with 75k miles on it. The funny thing about it was, I didn't really like the body style when I first saw them. Then I started reading about them. Talking to other owners...then I test drove mine. I bought it that day. Man there's just something about how you feel when you're in it. It's hard to explain. Sure people perk up when you mention you drive a Land Rover. There's something elegant and yet rugged about a Rover. The history behind the brand alone is awe-inspiring. I'm happier in my Rover, more than any vehicle I've previously owned.

Is it worth it? Is it worth paying more on parts and labor? Is it worth keeping better maintenance records? Is it worth checking fluids, flushing them regularly and running premium gas in it? Yes. Everyday I say yes, triumphantly. Sure I woke up this morning and the blower went out in it. Sure today is the coldest day here in KY this winter and without my heater, it was chilly. But when I hit the apex of a dirt hill, pitching down into a gushing, crystal clear creek, I'm confident with the outcome. When I step out of the mall and I'm walking through the parking lot, I get a warm feeling in my core when I see that distinct disco frame. And finally when I'm cruising down the road and I notice another disco driving by, there's a small bond there. Sometimes it's a small wave or a nod, other times it's a simple glance. Each one assures me that I made the right decision. Each one reminds me that I own the best 4x4xfar.

-W

 

Do you guys REALLY nod and/or wave when you observe anotherDisco in your vicinity??? Like us air-cooled Volkswagen owners do? Cool! [8D]

-Justin

 

I'm a pretty friendly guy...so maybe they're waving back at me? lol. But yeah, I have had some nods.

 

I've only had my '02 DII for a little over 18 months.

For starters, Discovery II models from 2001-2003 lack a center locking differencial. While traction control is nice, it really is inferior to a locking transfer case. Most noticeable in rocky uneven terrain. In fact. It sucks not having the CDL.

I also think a stock DII is not that great off road. There's HEAPS of potential, but out of the box, a stock DII really blows offroad. To get mine up to par, I had to do the minimum of 16" wheels, 31" tires, and a 2" lift. That was an easy upgrade and not costly at all and did wonders to increase the offroad performance. Without those improvements the offroad performance was almost embarassing.

Reliability?! These things are anything but reliable unless you buy a good one and stay 2 steps ahead of looming failures. Upkeep is costly. Period. Premium fuel is a must and the mileage is what it should be for a heavy rig...poor.

Would I buy mine again? Maybe. Do I love it? Absolutely, but for very irrational reasons.

If I were to go shopping again for a similar rig, I'd look for a nice late 90s Toyota Land Cruiser or believe it or not a nice 2000ish Isuzu Trooper. I followed a stock Trooper through a brutal trail that made my slightly mod'ed Disco look pathetic. That thing was unreal. A few offroad gurus have billed the Trooper as one of the most overlooked "overland" SUVs and I would absolutely agree. You can find those for peanuts.

 

I do if they are setup for off road if not some soccer Mom
they may think I'm a nut.

O' and only if its a Karamann Ghiaor a TDI.

 

I'll toss in another bit. If I bought another Disco, it would be a D1 with low miles. My D2 cost roughly $15,000 with price of purchase and initial repairs in the first year....ouch. I should have bought a nice D1 for $8500 and dropped $6000 in repairs and modifications. That would have yeilded a true Rover envy machine.

 

Cruising around Moab and the Rockies I felt the same way about our basically stock 98 D1. The vehicle is heavy and that makes it come down hard a lot over rocks and ruts.The approach/departure angles aren'tparticularly great either.I was getting hung up on obstacles more than I thought I would. I think our 1995 Grand Cherokee out of the box is better off road just because it's lighter and seems to have more clearance. It turns in a heck of a lot tighter too. I don't want to appear to be bashing L/R, because the overall experience was fantastic.The L/R was very comfortable off road, and that was a nice bonus. It's a lot beefier in terms of the running gear and suspension/axles, etc, so I think with a few minor modifications inclusing a rear air/electric locker it has a LOT of potential and will last over the long haul when all the G/C have been crushed.

I alsoagree with the Trooper remark. You can pick these up really cheap. They might not be as beefy as a Disco, but they seem to be sleepers off-road. I haven't driven one off road but I've inspected them pretty well. All the components seem to be there to make a good off-roader. OTOH, nobody is going to OOOH andAAHHH over a Trooper. Also,there are concerns about the motor longevity on high-mile rigs.