Need advice...

My primary car is an 2013 Corvette GS and with all the rain we have had over the last year and the strange cold snaps here in NC I am having to rely on my wife to take me to work and then I bug a co-worker to take me home. This is no fun for anyone and that started me thinking to get a "beater" to drive on rainy days and during any other inclement weather. I have always had an eye for the Discovery body style and I have been looking around my area and also browsing this forum.

I may of found one but it may be overly priced...it's a 2004 Discovery II SE with only 56k miles on it. I have not seen it in person but have contacted my sales rep that I use to purchase my Corvettes and have asked him to review it for me. The pictures show a bad headliner in the driver area around the sunroof. I could easily repair that myself but the rear cargo area looks like it was used in construction type work. They are asking 9k...what say you guys? Also, with looking around the area most of these trucks are 95k to 150k...do you think something is fishy with the odometer?

 

Highping:

My first piece of advise is that if you're looking for a 'beater', buy a Toyota. A D2 is one of the best at what it does, but it requires attention.

Second; Unless your sales rep is a competent mechanic, I'd skip him and go straight to an independent shop that can prove to you that they know something about Land Rovers and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection. There are no surprises quite like Land Rover surprises.

And last but not least, get yourself a Carfax account and do a quick VIN search.

Good luck.

 

9k may be a good # if the truck has no problems, and it is low mileage. but, with leaks and headliner issues and prolly more.....way too high.

 

Keep in mind any Disco with low miles will have a $2000+ head gasket job in its not too distant future.

If you have a garage and lots of tools and like tinkering go for it.

If not but you have an excess of hundred dollar bills laying around and don't mind paying an expert to keep it in order go for it.

Possible a large dog habitated the rear cargo area... I wouldn't pay top dollar for that.

As mentioned above, get an expert opinion from an indy LR specific specialist not an import/foreign car shop...

Then make a much lower offer if you still like what you see.

 

Thanks for the replies!

I am fully interested in bringing in the Disco to the stable and taking care of it and I can surely turn a wrench! I have been doing more research and the off-road aspect could be fun as well. I do have the funds to do this right but I want to ensure that I start off with a good solid base to begin with.

I am waiting on the sales person to call back for a time I can go drive and take it to a good mechanic that knows these trucks.

 

Wouldn't go with an 04 for "occasional inclement weather" use. Agree with Steve517...get a Yota. If you're set on a Disco, don't get an 03-04 as they're more expensive to buy and maintain.

 

Some people prefer the styling of the 03-04. That is purely a matter of opinion.

There is nothing so much more expensive if you have the money, the tools, the skills, and like the vehicle.

Personally I wouldn't buy anything but an 03 or 04.

 

If I ever buy another, it will be an '04, just to get the Locking CDL. I LOVE the style of mine.

Here are some local examples with higher mileage for comparison:
Some of these are actually California Cars, and I cannot tell you how much difference that makes. (Rust, Smog, Maint, etc)

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/4303390120.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/4271590819.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/4292440276.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4297354843.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4299489352.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/4308004657.html

And, for a couple more dollars, there's this:
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/4291218533.html

 

Well, this one is a no go and that is coming from my salesperson! He said not to bother as it was used very hard!

I will continue to look and maybe even think about a used FJ!

 

They all look very clean apart from #5 which has been messed about - possible boy racer. The RR even looks VG for it's age.