What would you do??
Mudding
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 190
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio, Texas
I have an '03 and I absolutely love it man.. Sure, I don't have the CDL, but i'm not a very serious off the road type person. I have been to the beach twice this year already (South Texas), and I have had NO problems at all. I actually had to pull a lifted Dodge Ram out of the sand, great feeling.
Anywho, I have done most of the recommended prevented maintenance here on this site, including the drive shaft and the truck runs great. I am outside of the VIN range for the oil pump problems, I wouldn't have bought it if it weren't, but other than that, I guess it is personal preference. I have all of the bells and whistles on my truck, it is fully loaded! Its got the rear entertainment for the kids, heated front and back windshields, sunroofs, horrible gas mileage (had to put that one out there, lol, but I knew that getting into it), heated seats, you name it.. and I didn't pay a lot for it either.. I was looking for an '04, but when it came down to it, I got this 03, fully loaded for less than half the price and the ONLY difference to me personally was the CDL... I can add that if I really want it for pretty cheap if need be.
Just keep looking around, you'll find what you want. I got mine on eBay, I had to travel about 8-9 hours to get it. I drove it around and had it checked out and all that fun stuff before I actually handed over the money, but you get the picture.
Best of luck and keep us updated friend,
Anywho, I have done most of the recommended prevented maintenance here on this site, including the drive shaft and the truck runs great. I am outside of the VIN range for the oil pump problems, I wouldn't have bought it if it weren't, but other than that, I guess it is personal preference. I have all of the bells and whistles on my truck, it is fully loaded! Its got the rear entertainment for the kids, heated front and back windshields, sunroofs, horrible gas mileage (had to put that one out there, lol, but I knew that getting into it), heated seats, you name it.. and I didn't pay a lot for it either.. I was looking for an '04, but when it came down to it, I got this 03, fully loaded for less than half the price and the ONLY difference to me personally was the CDL... I can add that if I really want it for pretty cheap if need be.
Just keep looking around, you'll find what you want. I got mine on eBay, I had to travel about 8-9 hours to get it. I drove it around and had it checked out and all that fun stuff before I actually handed over the money, but you get the picture.
Best of luck and keep us updated friend,
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thread Starter
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Three Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
From: Westchester, NY
i am still in search of my disco....
i have also looked at 2003s but seems like most of the ones for sale fall within the "bad" vin number range.
would you consider a bad vin 03 but with the engine replaced? found one with about 70K miles with its engine replaced at 40K, if i remember the numbers correctly.
i have also looked at 2003s but seems like most of the ones for sale fall within the "bad" vin number range.
would you consider a bad vin 03 but with the engine replaced? found one with about 70K miles with its engine replaced at 40K, if i remember the numbers correctly.
TReK
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 5
From: Woodway, WA
Depends on who replaced it. But engine replacement seems to be the only proven remedy for the doomed '03's so if the papers are good and the price is right, I say why not?
Mudding
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 190
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio, Texas
The lights are different.. that was a big selling point for me, i love the lights on my truck. I didn't like the "old" headlights all that much after seeing the new ones!
Thats just me though!
Best of luck on your continued search,
Thats just me though!
Best of luck on your continued search,
Thread Starter
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Three Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
From: Westchester, NY
yep i do like the new headlights better. and i like the thicker tube roof rail on the on 04 compared to the thiner ones on 03 and older.
but when it comes to mechanics and reliability is there anything worse on the 02?
KBB value for 02 137K is about 5000 (good conditions)
but when it comes to mechanics and reliability is there anything worse on the 02?
KBB value for 02 137K is about 5000 (good conditions)
Go with the rover. Spend the $150 for a scan guage to check for trouble codes and get a car fax report and you will be good to go. If you are looking at an '03/'04 then do a forum search to check for the VIN range to avoid - oil pump (?) issues.
As for water crossings; if you spend the $ on a snorkel kit and an afternoon filling the electrical connectors with dielectric grease you will be just fine for anything you might want to ford. If you intend to do the types of stupid stuff in your rover that I do in mine then it would behoove you check out UKrovers (?) webpage - he has a fantastic write up and pics of how to relocate the breather tubes for everything so that you can be waterproofed to the max. I think I got his screen name wrong but if you search for water proofing it will come up.
The biggest thing with the '03s vs the '04s is that the '03s do NOT have the CDL installed in them. If you are only a fair weather or pavement rover guy then this is not an issue. If you drive in stupid winter weather or go play off road then you want the CDL. However, you CAN install one into an '03 for a little money and time.
As for what to pack for your trip: a simple tool kit, some duct tape, couple of zipties, and a credit card will take care of any issues you may encounter.
Before the trip make sure you do the 60k service found on the sticky and you should be good to go.
best of luck !
As for water crossings; if you spend the $ on a snorkel kit and an afternoon filling the electrical connectors with dielectric grease you will be just fine for anything you might want to ford. If you intend to do the types of stupid stuff in your rover that I do in mine then it would behoove you check out UKrovers (?) webpage - he has a fantastic write up and pics of how to relocate the breather tubes for everything so that you can be waterproofed to the max. I think I got his screen name wrong but if you search for water proofing it will come up.
The biggest thing with the '03s vs the '04s is that the '03s do NOT have the CDL installed in them. If you are only a fair weather or pavement rover guy then this is not an issue. If you drive in stupid winter weather or go play off road then you want the CDL. However, you CAN install one into an '03 for a little money and time.
As for what to pack for your trip: a simple tool kit, some duct tape, couple of zipties, and a credit card will take care of any issues you may encounter.
Before the trip make sure you do the 60k service found on the sticky and you should be good to go.
best of luck !