I have the opportunity to purchase my first Land Rover with CASH! I am not sure how many miles it has but the ad says less than 100k. here is a link: http://houston.craigslist.org/car/532119335.html

i have been searching for any information on this forum but have not found anything specific for the D1...please help since I will be returning to look at it a bit more thoroughly after 12pm(i work half a day).

btw, great forum!

 

Look for oil leaks and coolant leaks. Ask if the head gaskets have been replaced and see what service records there are. Check all of the fluids. Drive it and listen for loud whining and clunking. They clunk a little going into reverse and you get a little whine normally.

Truck looks good. Try all of the electronics out.

There is a 60K service list on here. If you get the truck, I would suggest you do the list. When you get ready to fix stuff, we can help, just shout.

Good Luck

 

thanks! I will do that. if things dont look good, i'll just continue saving and waiting. the ad that really has my attention is a guy selling his 99 RR HSE for $7700 cash!!! Lives in the nice side of town...and he states he has all maintenance records. However, i dont have that kind of cash []

 

ok, saw it again. the odo reads 135xxx, definitely not under 100k...the lower radiator hose is being replaced. the driver's seat is a little torn, the others seem just fine. it looks like one person was in it most of the time. when i can finally test drive it, what else should i look for.

btw, it looks like this shop took the vehicle from auction or the repo'ed it. not sure what that says about their character

 

Did you buy it yet?
It all comes down to condition on a vehicle of this yr/miles. I've seen some rigs with a lot more miles in GREAT shape, others were basket cases. This unit looks like it is nicely optioned out, but impossible to tell condition from a picture.

No matter what, you can bet there will be a bunch of deferred maintenance items you will need to correct to get it back in tip-top shape. Probably a handful of larger issues and a bunch of small things like oil leaks and cosmetic issues you can pick at over time. If you are mechanically inclined and have a place you can do most of the work yourself, you will be able to do the work for a reasonable amount. If not, you could (and probably will) spend a couple thousand $$ more. If you can't do the work yourself and aren't willing or can't afford to spend the money to fix the deferred maintenance issues,it might be better to look at other less maintenance intensive vehicles, like a Trooper, or Toyota. Or,take a look at newer and lower miles land rovers in a higher price bracket.That's my personal opinion.

Plus, be aware that you are only going to get about 15 mpg (+/- 2mpg) with this Land Rover. I really like my 98, It's a lot of fun and great to drive. But then it's not my main everyday vehicle.

 

i used to have an 02 tahoe with big wheels, and heavy sound system, so the mpg isnt important to me. what is disconcerting is the following comment and many more like it on another forum:

"Guy who was sitting here next to me a little while ago said the same thing. Bought a Rover for $17k. Sold it the next year non-running for $3500, it wasn't fixable for what they had into it. Air suspension, ECU failure, other electrical issues, etc. They had ~$30k into it by the time they finally gave up. Don't tell me I know nothing about Rovers. I've worked on them. I've dealt with them. I have PLENTY of friends with 1st hand experience who share the same story."

obviously the guy thought i was an idiot for even considering a D1 or LR....please change my mind. i continue to read every thread here even if the title doesnt seem to pertain to me...

 

Disco I's don't have air suspension.

The Disco Iwill have rear window problems and if the sun
roof rails are not lubed that can end up a problem.

All Disco I' and II's leak oil the Disco's I'salittle more than the II's.

The ABSon my Disco has never given me a problem 111k miles.

From what I have seen everyone has a LR story how bad
they are and the people that have had the problems
have gottheir LR from someone that never took care of
it or they did not take care of their LR.

They will never say I put offgetting the work done and then
somethingelse broke because if put off the first work.

You being able to work on your own will save alot of money
and what you don't want to do you will know what will
need to be done and not what someone will want to sell
you to get done.

In the end its about theright vehicle for you.
When I first got mine a friend told me owning aLandRover
was more about a life style, I had no idea what he was talking about but now I do.

I have always been a outdoors person and now my Disco
has help make itmore enjoyable.

 

thanks for your post...your sig says it all. Whatever I buy will be a toy, not a DD...that is what the Volvo is for