Hi. I'm new here and new to Rovers. I am contemplating a purchase of a 2004 Disco with about 48k miles. I am moving from a Lexus. I need a real 4x4 and have always loved the Land Rovers from afar. (I almost bought a Disco in 1997 but did not.)

However, I hear they require "a lot" of upkeep and they cost a lot to repair. Can anyone speak to this? I understand all cars require upkeep, but suffice to say I'm used to my 2000 Lexus RX costing on average about $500/year for maintenance exclusive of new tires. My current vehicle has 150k miles.

So, I'm asking you all as the community of Land Rover lovers what I might be in for if I go ahead and purchase this lovely 2004 Disco.

Lastly, and Los Angeles-area mechanics that you all LOVE?

Thanks in advance for the info and discussion.

 

I have had mine for 6 months and have easily spent that on maintenance. More like 700. But with that being said, my Disco is also a 96 and has had a lot of aftermarket modifications. I may be wrong, but I think the general consensus would be more then 500 a year.

 

Your initial maintenance investment is going to depend on the level of service the vehicle received under the previous owner(s).

I'm 9 months in, and I'm at about the $800 mark in maintenance at this point. Probably be at $1000 by the 1 year mark. But that's because the previous owner let a bunch of things slide. I expect my maintenance over the next year consist of brake pads and a bunch of oil changes, probably around the $500 mark, if not less.

 

Simple answer- NO! Detailed answer- HELL NO!

 

I would assume I'd be spending some money on an initial maintenance (or as another poster put it, the 60,000 mile service) but after that what would I be looking at, generally speaking? $1000/year? $2000? I would be using it mostly in the city and doing weekend excursions to the desert / mountains. Not driving more that 10,000/year.

I'm quite sure someone has a Discovery II that can relate cost of ownership.

Thanks!

 

Find you a nice used Toyota Landcruiser. It will cost more at first but will definantly pay for itself in the long run and hold a decent resale value.

I truly believe the 2004 Discos have the worst motors of all time. I love my 99 with the 4.0, but would never buy another 04. I've owned mine 8 months and its spent almost half the time broke down.

Something sounds very wrong with it only having 48k miles on it, could be a lemon. Depending on your price range though you may find a nice LR3 if your heart is set on a land rover.

And my maintenance cost for this year is pushing $4k.

 

Newtorovers --

Properly-maintained, Discoverys can be reliable. However, their maintenance requirements are much higher than what you're probably used to with your Lexus. In addition, most of the people on this forum do their own service. So, when people say they've spent $500-800 this year, that's likely just parts and fluids. Labor can run $80-120/hr, which means you can easily be in the $1-2K/year range if you're going to a mechanic. Plus, unless you're really lucky you'll probably have to sink $1-2K into the vehicle just to get everything sorted right after you drive it off the lot (see Disco Mike's 60K maintenance thread).

Have you considered a used Lexus GX470? It's very, very similar to the Discovery (almost looks like they ripped-off the Discovery design), but has reliability characteristics much closer to what you're probably used to with your current Lexus.

Hope this helps!
RedAustinIX (Ed)

 

100% agree based on initial posters criteria. Stick with the Lexus , discos require money and care far more than most.

If you need a rover buy a newer model, a used disco will eat you alive unless you love to work on cars. I do, and it still kicks my ***

 

Thank you all for your honesty. I really don't want to service this myself. I do want a capable off roader, but not if it's gonna cost me an arm and a leg in the long run.

 

I agree with the comments that you don't sound like the right kind of prospective owner, or it doesn't sound like this is the car you're looking for or would enjoy.

The Discovery, or any older Land Rover is ideal for people who want to work on their own cars, and who expect to pay several thousand dollars in maintenance and parts replacement per year. It not unusual at all to get a one-time $5000 bill from the mechanic on these. I bought mine from someone to whom that happened and their wife said it has to go. If you do the work yourself, you can often do it for half as much but parts can still add up and it takes your time. Therefore it is attractive as a hobby car, not to someone who wants carefree ownership. For that, get a new one with a full warranty, or another Toyota.

For offroad, all you really need is 4wd and tall profile tires you can air-down. After that you need to put a lot into recovery equipment and driver experience. The extra bit a Land Rover adds is very little. What would make a bigger difference than having a Land Rover is not having costly bodywork in the way, steel bumpers and rocker panels (sliders), and lockers, all of which can be done to any 4x4 for the same or less than doing it to a Discovery 2 and the end result will require a lot less of your attention and money if you begin with the right vehicle. By beginning with a Land Rover, you end up with a passionate love/hate relationship, something that keeps you up some nights, and a new avocation that fills your free time.