Hey Everyone,

My Trooper failed inspection three weeks ago and instead of putting more money into it I would like to replace it with a Land Rover Discovery (it would be my first!). I've been reading what everyone has posted on new discovery purchases and what to look for over the past couple of weeks and was wondering if you guys could help me out with my decision.

I've test rode 5 and narrowed it down to these two choices:

2000 Disco SD $5800 98K miles
-carfax checks out
-good service records
-head gasket replaced around 48K
-new front drive shaft installed
-pretty much new coolant system installed
- new crank shaft assembly
-new blistein shocks

OR

2004 Disco SE $8800 99K miles
-carfax checks out
-1 owner and dealer says they kept up with service (though no records came with the vehicle)
-test rode very well
-new tires

I know both have high miles but compared to some other ones I've looked at they are in the best condition mechanically and superficially. I had a jeep before the trooper which was fun and easy to work on (even though i am mechanically challenged) but am looking forward to being a discovery owner. Any thoughts/comments would be much appreciated!

nhRover31

 

I would question "new crank shaft assembly" on the 2000 Disco II. Normally, this would indicate a more complicated problem, and ... other parts had to be replaced with it.

To me, the 2004 looks like a better deal, assuming it's somewhat negotiable.

 

04 hands down.
Ask to come down on the price a little.
The 2004 is the best year of the disco and thats a pretty good price. Plus it has the CDL (Center diff. lock) feature, which is great if you plan to off road.
It sounds like you may have done this already, but have a mechanic look over it before you buy, just to be safe.

Good luck, Welcome to the forum.

 

04. That's an easy one. Even with the high miles it' worth that much but still try to get it lower. Never trust car dealers. They'll tell you what you want to hear to sell you a car.

The 2000 has a lot of new parts but with under 100k it's almost too many new parts. Vehicles that start having problems early in life tend to continue to have problems. Head gaskets should have been replaced around 100k, not 48k.

Check both to make sure the front driveshaft has been rebuilt.

 

good luck with your new rover, and i hope you lover her as much as the rest of us love ours

 

It is very common to see a crank sensor fail before 100,000 from normal wear, not from any under lying issues.

 

04' def can negotiate that price down.

 

Mike, I may be not aware of it, but could faulty crank position sensor warrant replacement of entire crankshaft? That is what nhRover31 listed as replaced item.

 

There's no reason to replace the crankshaft because of a bad crank position sensor. The sensor actually reads the crank position off teeth on the flex plate, not the crank itself. I just helped swap out an engine that had dropped a liner and I actually got to see the crank and position sensor.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. I went with the 2004 and will keep you posted to what happens next!