DI's, the body rusts off the chassis. DII's, the chassis rusts out from under the body.

From where I am, here in New England, DI's are plentiful. I guess I could say "thankfully" because I live in a state where Fred Flintstone could register his car as long as it passes emission, DI's and DII's are still pretty common. However, in states like NY, PA, NJ and MA where they actually inspect the trucks, the DII population will start to thin, just like the frames.

 

 

Gonna keep mine alive for ever!!!!

 

It was a Disco day for me today, Saw 1 at the local BP, 2 at a Delta a few towns over, 1 at a repair shop(duh), and for the topper, a D90 drove past the diner I had lunch at.

 

I'm not too far from Paul Grant and I see lots of them, at one point I suspect they could have been the runner up for the state car of CT, which is and always will be the Volvo XC wagon

 

They're really slim where I live. I guess I see one about every other week other than my own. Disco 1s are even more rare, probably one every couple or three months. I was lucky enough to find one that had just moved up from Florida and was totally rust free, so I've been working hard to keep it that way.

 

Now that gas has droppped from $4 you will see more, kids teens as party trucks

 

IMO the longevity of the D1's and D2's is as much about how many owners they've had (survived) and the way they have been treated by them. As has been voiced before, a shiny bodywork often belies a shortage of underbody cleaning (steam cleaning or jet washing) and often a disregard of fundamental maintenance. Winter road salts will kill most vehicle underbodies if not cleaned off once the winter has passed but surely that is the responsibility of the owners and ignorance of what is happening to their pride and joy vehicles. One only has to take a look at many car bodies and the maintenance ceases with a shiny body wax up on a Sunday morning and often the underside is a 'health' hazard rust bucket just waiting to disintegrate.

 

Cheaper gas prices will do two things:

1) The people who own the Discovery II will drive it more as they figure gas is 1/2 free now. The Discovery will respond by getting more miles on it and as a result of more miles will break down more as it is driven more.
It will seem like the discovery is breaking down more often but it is not.
Just getting driven more.

Headgaskets seem to go at 70,000 to 90,000 miles and can then go again at 130,000 to 150,000 miles.

2) Discoveries left for DEAD will be revived for the time because gas is cheap so revive one and drive it.

3) Once gas goes back up - revived Discoveries will be for sale again or when they break they will be left for dead again.

Where is my 2001? Don't know. Guy who bought it is hopefully happy.

Do I miss the Discovery? Yes.
Do I miss filling it with gas: NO.

Do I feel guilty driving a Discovery - YES. Too much hydrocarbon foot print.

 

In fact - it is ODD I am not driving a Discovery or a Rover.
Had a Discovery since 1997 to 2013 or so.

Had a 1997 and then bought a 2001.
We sold the 1997 in 2012 and the 2001 in 2013.

I have not yet replaced the discovery.

I am leaning toward a Mercedes R350 with Bluetec engine.
Or a Honda Crosstour

Must have Bluetooth.
And want nav.

But I still look for Discovery FINDS on Craigslist.org
and Saab's too.