I am again thinking about trying a Discovery a discovery again. I got tired of fixning things on my 2002 (I bought an an immaculate one owner 2002 with 68000 miles and a huge stack of maintenance records in 2008, indicating that all the routine services had been completed and synthetic lubes had been used in the engine((leaked a lot until I changed back to dino lube)) and went back to driving my good old reliable 95 Montero......

I still would like a Disco if I could find a reliable one. Having fixed all the window regulators on my 2002, I am up to speed on how to repair that (but would rather not)......and know the headliner will fall down if it hasnt already, but beyond that,..............Is there a particular model year probably 2004 and older that has shown to be consistently more trouble free??

I am most concerned about everything under the hood being rock solid. I was constantly chasing check engine lights on my 2002, O2 sensors, ignition wires, air flow sensor(mass meter?) and the like......and spent a huge amount of time on various forums trying to sort it out.

I think I would prefer a disco II, but, will consider either series and any year if there is a significant improvement in reliability.

Brian in Austin

 

def not. you want reliable ride a one speed bike.

Disco 1's have less electronics than D2's might help some.

 

get a super low mileage '04 and buy an extended warranty.

 

I don't think there is a reliable year. It's like owning a top fuel dragster. You love havin it and driving it but you've got to rebuild it everytime you take it out.

Welcome to the disco drags.

 

From my experience they are pretty reliable up to 90k and then after you fix everything that breaks (which is alot) then they are reliable again. I actually lent my truck to my step father to take for the weekend on a fishing trip (he could not fit his buddies in his pickup). Just told him make sure it gets premium and I was not even worried anything would happen. Mind you this after a couple grand in parts and days of work on my part.

 

Buy the best maintained/upgraded/refitted DI you can find. Or buy one cheap enough to walk away from. If your Montero was that great get another one of them.

You have to do what makes you happy. Any of them are going to eventually need a lot, but it seems the newer ones are fancier, if that floats your boat, but the simpler the better from a reliability viewpoint.

 

X2. An extended warranty can get you through the early problems.
I personally think Disco are more reliable after 100,000 . At least mine has been... But everyone has had a different experience.

 

I thought a 6 year old D2 with only 68K and records...WAS a low mileage example. I bought my 95 Montero back in 2000 with 150 K on it.......virtually NO unexpected repairs to it yet other than a crankshaft pully that came loose and took out the timing belt cover with it....so new tensioner, water pump etc.

I did just have to replace the ignition/steering colum lock at 232,000 miles. still a daily driver,...but it only gets 14-15 mpg (regular) and I'm ready for something else even though it still looks nearly new.....Oh....valve cover gaskets leak and it burns some oil (common problems.....Valve stem seals crack)

Brian

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Only buy discos with extensive maintenance records.

 

My 98 Disco one was actually pretty rock solid. It was the last model year of the DiscoI, and it would be my first choice if I were going back to a Disco.