Looking for some advice on finding a good Discovery II in northern California... my budget is up to $7000 and for that I was hoping to get a nice 2004 with low mileage and maintenance history. So far this is eluding me.

I don't expect the car to be 100% reliable, I've just spent a year restoring a Triumph TR8, and a Jaguar XJS V12 before that, so I'm happy to get my hands dirty and do preventative maintenance. I just want to start with the best example I can!

What I'd really like is a car owned by an enthusiast, who knows how to maintain a Land Rover.

I've found a lot of vehicles that have had many, many owners, being passed on every 6 to 9 months. Also lots with little or no evidence of proper maintenance. I know enough about Land Rovers to know that a trip to Jiffy Lube every year is not going to cut it...

So are my expectations realistic, including my budget? There's a 2004 for sale with 77K miles, and the seller won't shift from $6800. Edmunds TMV says $5500 at the most. Is that generally accurate?

Thanks everyone in advance for any advice (or even if you have a Landy for sale)

 

MarkSF, check your email...

 

You will either have to expand beyond N-CA or be patient...more likely, a mix of both. It took me 4 months to find a low mileage (50K or less) 04 nation-wide. Granted, mine had to be a 7-seater and not black interior, so that cut 75% of my options. If you're less picky, you should have better luck.

Regarding $6800, seems a tad high, but not by much. Have the head gaskets been done? Good Carfax? Is it a 7-seater (that drives the price up)? Any tasteful mods? There's too much we don't know that could make that price a real bargain. Either way, don't rush. Patience is probably the most important factor, and don't cheap out on hiring someone to inspect the vehicle if you're not a Rover expert!

 

The prices are pushing closer to 10k on this side of the eastern divide. If I dont find an 06 LR3, I would like an 04 bonnatti grey with black interior. 7 seater would be nice, only for the air suspension. I found a few 03s.

 

Thanks guys, I've been going off the Edmunds TMV price, if that is a little on the low side that is useful information. The $6800 one has no documented service history, is 5 seats, and has no mods apart from LR3 wheels. Carfax is good, no head gasket work.

 

In my area, that's not a steal, but what condition it's in makes all the difference in the world. I would budget for HGs in the next 20K miles on that one (give/take).

 

Noted.... I assume that's $3K worth of work, if I don't do it myself!

 

I guess it all depends. I picked up a 2002 Kalahari edition that has 107k miles on it. It was a 2 owner car that the 2nd owner picked up with 30k miles as a CPO car. He had all the paper work on every nut a bot ever replaced. Its super clean and runs and drives great. I paid than what KBB and the other books said it was worth but to me the history and repairs that were done made it worth while for me.

 

2004 Land Rover Discovery SE7 2004 - Not my favorite color, but from Placerville this one looks good.

2004 Land Rover Discovery ONLY 103,085 Miles. 4x4. Moon Roof. Smog. 2004

2004 Land Rover Discovery 4x4 2004

land rover Salvage Title 2001

EDIT: MORE:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/4283457362.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/ctd/4302842269.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4305125086.html - Neat Fixer - OOPS! This is going to start something...

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/4276889063.html - Look at THIS GEM! 62K Miles

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4286020624.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4310625769.html - Cheap Cheap

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/4283479213.html - High Miles, but looks Fun!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/4308356471.html - Older, but already modded

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/4308715873.html

 

Sent you a reply... did you get it? My yahoo mail has been very flaky recently.