Im opposed to debt, if your paying cash for the disco then its a no brainier. Do you really want to be a slave to some finance company for the next 60 months? Get some cheap ride, pay cash and save your money until you can drop some big dollars on your dream car that way you owe nobody anything. Now if your even thinking about borrowing money for the discovery then your judgement is suspect.

 

Well, let's think about it.

If you buy the Nissan, because it's a Nissan, you'd have something consistently reliable, that was roughly similar on gas. But, every month, behind your back, it would be robbing you. From depreciation and monthly payments. But you'd have something that would get you down the road nicely every day.

If you buy the Disco, for FAR less, and fix what needs to be fixed, do a little bit of preventative maintenance, at this point you're still into it for much less than the new Nissan. And you'd end up with a vehicle, that while not as reliable as the Nissan, is not altogether unreliable. And whereas the Nissan is silently robbing you, the Disco will mug you occasionally.

To me, though, picking a car is not something you do with just your head. It's something you do with your heart as well. And no car quite stirs me like a Land Rover. For me, I'd think the Disco would put a bigger smile on my face more of the time.

 

If you don't like to work on your own vehicle, get the Nissan. (I had an 04 Xterra, never did anything more than change the oil occasionally.) If you're a DIY type, get the Rover.

 

Nissan, if you don't do anything to it. They are rock solid reliable. We have a '93 in the family and the only thing I had to do was regular maintenaince. It now has 173k and runs perfect, never hand ANY issues.

I thought about a lift kit, bigger wheels, etc....but looking at the drivetrain....probably break shiet easily.

 

You could keep a Discovery running for a long time and make it a very reliable vehicle for even 20k. But this is also considering that you are able to do most of the wrenching. It just depends how much work youre willing to do.

You could get an 04 Discovery that has been rebuilt and upgraded with all sorts of junk for under 15k. Or you can get an 04 with a blown head gasket for $3,500 and make the repairs yourself and still come out until 10k spent.

Dare I say you should look for a Montero?

 

Wow! Not to go OT, but I had an 87 Montero and that was quite a truck. I overheated her and kept driving because I mistook the temple gauge for the fuel gauge at quick glance, "Man, I don't remember filling up." womp womp.

 

That's a big factor for me - I'd rather have no payment or a really small one as opposed to a big one.

Money is cheap right now, so I guess it is less of an issue, but I like knowing I could pay off my car tomorrow if I wanted to, so I'd tend to lean toward a less expensive vehicle in a situation like yours...of course, we don't have kids to worry about, and reliability it probably more important to those that do.

If reliability and overall costs are the biggest concern, I'd look for something that is certified used - a lot of manufacturers throw in a decent length warranty on those, and being used you save the big depreciation hit of a new car.

 

If I cant pay cash for it I dont buy it.

 

borrower is servent to the lender...

the less money you turn over to the bankers, the better. I like the certified pre-owned route too; reliability, dealer warranty, less than new (but a little more than used).

Also, you can always just sell the Land Rover and get the Nissan in a few months if things don't work out, you don't like it, whatever. You might have to eat a grand or two, but that's what, a couple monthly payments of the newer Nissan you would have spent anyways, so no loss over the long haul.

 

All good stuff, thanks for the feedback. I dove the Nissan today, nice truck. Not committed yet. Doing some due diligence on the net and it seems the pathfinder might not carry the Nissan reliability torch after all. Evidently there is a nasty problem with the transmission coolant lines leaking coolant into the tranny killing it at a replacement cost of 5-10k. Doesn't look like Nissan is really getting behind it either. Other problems too, fuel sending unit, front suspension, etc. Hmmmm....