Hi, I’m looking at a 2000 Discovery ll with the following description from the seller.
2000 Land Rover Discovery 2 great vehicle and it needs to go. NOT interested in trades and serious inquires required. It has new tires less than 20 miles on them. New Brakes and an excellent runner. I've replaced the front axle, new upper and lower ball joints front and back, fuel pump, radiator and upper and lower hoses. The engine was replaced with a new engine at 140, 000 miles with previous owner. The odometer reads 202,000 miles Looks good in and out no rips in the leather and heated seats, sun roofs. $3000 OBO serious offers only. Read Less

What should I be looking for when test driving and going over the vehicle? We are moving from California to NY and will be driving it there as well.

 

Hi and welcome to the forum! The ad for this D2 is a little worrisome not just for a D2 but for any used vehicle with this kind of description. The real question you have to find the answer for is this: Why is the vehicle being sold after so much money has already been put in to it? New tires, new brakes, and an engine with only 60k on it, not to mention all of the other stuff. Not gonna lie, it kind of sounds like this owner knows about more work the truck needs and wants out. Not that that in and of itself is a deal breaker, if you can find out the answer to your satisfaction it seems like an good deal, but almost too good in my opinion. How long until you move to NY? That's a long drive for a 21 year old vehicle and you will want to make sure you have a good "shake down" period with the truck before you drive it that far to uncover any problems.

 

well he sold it anyways before I got there what a jerk I drove 2 hours and 3 minutes before I arrive he says someone stopped buy and bought it. An obvious sign to me that it wasn’t meant to be. Dude knew I was in the way too I’m pissed but again.. whatever. He was probably scamming like you said. With all that money put into it what was wrong, the transmission I suspect.

 

$3k OBO new engine with just 60k miles on it sounds too good to believe.

 

I would want to know why they're selling it as well. Also, if you're not one of the first people to look at it then there's likely a reason it's still available, so ask if you are. Many people who buy Discos have an inkling of what they're looking for/at so if it's been for sale for a few weeks that's a bad sign. Ask if there is paperwork supporting all the work. Ideally you'll want a code reader to plug into it while you test drive it so you can monitor the temps however that may be a little advanced for a first time Disco buyer. Let it idle for as long as the owner can stand it while you're looking it over. If it's prone to overheating that will be an issue for them. Ask that type of coolant is in it, orange DexCool or green "stuff". Check the level on the expansion tank and try to determine if the engine bay smells of coolant.

Driving an 21yo unfamiliar vehicle across the country is a risky proposition at best, doing it in a Disco 2 that you haven't personally baselined ahead of time is asking for trouble in my opinion. It would probably cost you about $1200 to ship it, versus at least half of that in fuel, plus hotel rooms, etc to drive so cost-wise it's probably a wash. I would advise against driving it. If you're not mechanically inclined then one problem that leaves you on the side of the road will put you well over the cost for shipping the truck. Potentially by a LOT

I admire your sense of adventure, both in wanting to buy a Disco as well as considering making the cross country trek in it as soon as you buy it. Unfortunately the chances are better than not that one of those endeavors will not end well, one way or the other.

Edit: Well, sorry to hear he stiffed you however you may have dodged a bullet, who knows. All this still applies should you find another, or a different vehicle for that matter.

 

Wow, you're driving over to see it and he knows you're on the way...and sells it.

Go to the vehicles for sale section of this forum, because, well maintained Dll's come up every so often.

 

You might just have dodged a bullet there.

 

I was interested in a very nice 04 several years back in Waco, TX for 5K. I contacted the seller (small dealership) told them I was interested and that I would be there before noon the next day to look at it. Guy said okay sounds great & I'll see you tomorrow (he knew I was driving 5hr just to come get it). I was never told to put a down payment on it or anything. I get up super early, and in-route I even reserved a U-Haul dolly so I could tow my vehicle back with the D2. I get there like I told the guy and there is no D2 anywhere to be seen................ I said is Victor around, and the guy says oh I'm Victor. I said hi I'm Tad we spoke on the phone about the 04 D2. He just looked at me and said oh man a woman just took it for a test drive maybe 30min ago and she's having a shop look it over with a pre purchase inspection.... I looked at him and said ummm I told you over the phone yesterday I was coming to buy it. He said well she beat you to it.... He then in a smart *** manor said oh if you really wanted it you should have put 500.00 down over the phone. I glared at him and said umm you said I was good to go and that you'd see me tomorrow!!! About that time the D2 pulled up, and he walked out and talked to her. Whatever he said she looked right at me smiled, then came inside handed the dude 2 checks, and filled out the paperwork right in front of me. When she walked out to make a call I said 2 checks for $4,000.00 huh (as I'd overheard the entire deal)? He said yep, and I waved the full asking price of $5,000.00 in cash right in his face, got up and walked out. I at least got the satisfaction of seeing the look in his face when he realized he just lost $1,000.00 over being an idiot....

I had to go by U-Haul and get a refund, then head back empty handed. 1.5hr into my 5hr drive back my phone rang and it was the woman that bought the D2, she got my # from Victor & said she didn't like the brush guard or winch and I could have it for $250.00. I said well that's fine, but I'll have to come back another time. She explained it was a wedding gift for her soon to be husband and he was a "Jeep" guy. I said well that's not a Jeep, it's a Land Rover, and she was silent. 1 year later she calls me saying she's been abused, beat up, and she's getting a divorce and I could have it for $3,200.00. She said it's never really been driven as he hated it and it just sat there. She said it was at her dad's just sitting there while the divorce was being finalized. I got the $3,200.00 together, and set up a time/date that I would go by her dads and get it. He was very nice on the phone and wished me a safe trip. I got up the next morning fueled up, had a friend going with me to drive my truck back, and 1hr into the drive my phone rings. It was the dad and he said the deal is off, and that the soon to be ex husband blew a gasket it was being sold, then he came over and took it..... So that was now the 2nd time that D2 was slipping thru my fingers. I was truly pissed off and said F it!!!!! 2 months after that it popped up online on FB Marketplace for nearly 8K, I laughed and within a day it was listed as sold. Sometimes things truly aren't meant to be, but there are some SUPER shady and just plain evil people out there who apparently have nothing else better to do that just mess with people's time & money.

Another D1/D2 will come along and if it's meant to be the deal will go smoothly without any BS. I also love the adventure of buying a vehicle site unseen and hitting the road RoadKill style. I've done it with several Land Rover's now, and they all made it home without issues. But I had a ton of spare parts, and I knew exactly what I was getting. I personally go for mechanically sound LR's with maybe some interior/exterior work needed vs one that looks flawless, but mechanically it's a disaster on wheels!

 

@Best4x4 , that was one wild ride of a story. Be sure to put that one in your memoirs!

 

I’m not sure I would buy any that have been up north. With all the snow and salt, the frames can be very rusted. They are dirt cheap here in Florida though. Just take a look on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace.