Im needing a winter vehicle here in Indiana this year and will also serve as a daily driver so my car can stay parked and not rack up mileage. Im looking at the Discovery's but want to make sure I make a smart purchase. I dont want a project thatI have to work on, justsomething relaible for myshort drive to work everyday. I know some of these trucks have there issues (as do other manufactures) but is there one year that is better then the other? The ones that I have been looking at are either the 99 discovery II or a 99 discovery SD. not sure what the difference's are or if this is even the right year to be looking at. Any help is apprieated!

Thanks in advance,
Tyler

 

Usually its the other way, you get a car to keep the miles off your Land Rover.
The Disco II is better on road the Disco I is better off road( both can be made great off road).

From what I have seen the traction control ABS and hill descent the three lights most Disco II
owners have issues with.

The Disco I is older and harder to find one that is in good order, most older LR's are sold
when the repairs will cost more than the owners want to spend.

So the best bet is to find what you like and have it checked by a LR specialist.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I think im wanting the disco I more then the II model. No matter what I get I will be getting a extended warrenty on it. How do the Disco I do on gas mileage? Also do the discovery I's have the 3 amigo's problem that I have been reading about also?

 

Disco 1's only have ABS, none of the other to go wrong. I have an SD and like not having sunroofs and extra's to go wrong. With either one, look for 13-15 MPG. Less if it is all in town. The D2's are a little bigger, probably have a better re-sale with the tail lights being high and looking later-model. You can modify the T-case to lock like the D1, if you want to go offroad...

Look for leaks, both oil and coolant. See if the head gaskets have been done, they are weak. Check the U-joints especially on the front driveshaft, if they don't have grease zerks, they will have to be re-built.

My buddy has a 2000(white) and I have a 97 (Black). They both drive and feel the same to me. I like mine better, but I am partial.....Kinda funny; his girlfriend refers to his as a storm trooper and mine as Darth Vader. We both gripe about things we need to fix, but wouldn't trade for anything else. Good luck on your purchase

 

Mine is a 2000 series II SD7 with all the options except ACE and I really like it a lot. It performed flawlessly during the ice storm we had here in Kentucky last February, gets me all over my niece's farm in the mud, and ifI don't drive over 65 I get a little over 16 mpg. Also I understand the 2000 4.0 L V8 is preferred over the 3.9 L V8 but I have no experience with the latter.
BUT if I were to do it over I'd buy a later model for what seems to be the obvious reasons of having less wear and tear, lower miles etc (assuming it wouldn't be a beater or mis-treated). Buy the best and you'll rarely be disappointed.

 

You can't go wrong with a Disco I not as fancy as the Disco II.
I have worked on both and the Disco I is better for a DIY person.
Right now with gas going up you can get LR's cheap.

I just filled up to day and got ........... 11.5 mpg in town with AC,
and the nasty 10% ethanol, Hwy with 10% ethanol 14.5mpg

You can 16% citybetter mpg and 14% mpg better hwyif you don't havethe fed mandate.(ethanol)

My window sticker showed the EPA of 14 mpg city and 16 mph hwy.

The first year of OBDII was 1996 this helps, you just plug in and
you find out what it needs. Most of the time.

NoDisco I'sdon't have the amigo's.