Here's the situation.... I've had my 2000 DiscoII for about six five years now. She's got 180K miles and I honestly love this rig. However, she's no spring chicken and I have beat the heck out of her punching through the woods on trails meant for four wheelers. Front bumper is demolished and the paint looks like I've been dancing with Edward Scissor Hands.

I've spent a fair chunk of money in the last few years on:
OME shocks and steering stabilizer
replacing the drive shaft (Just the rear one, I think..)
Heavy duty springs to replace the air suspension
about $750 in tires that are still in great shape
Just replaced the coils and the auxillary fan (that damn thing was spendy!!)

She's running alright but with brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder, rotors that need replacing, and leaking about a quart of oil every 4,000 miles, I'm thinking it may be time to consider replacing her.

SOOOO I have just about convinced my smokin hot fiance that it makes sense to just grab a newer disco II and rob the better parts off of my current one, but to be honest, I really don't know if/what parts will even fit on an 03 or 04.

My questions are:

What would you do? My budget is about $6,000 and there's a handful of 2002, 2003, and 2004 in the area in that neighborhood.

If I do this, what parts should I consider swapping with the 2000 assuming the "new" disco will have about 100K miles on it. I would eventually sell the old rover but won't get much more than one or two grand for her.

I will get to searching for "what to look for in an 03 or 04 disco" but in the meantime I'd like to hear if you think this is a crazy idea or not.... I've got a Land Rover appetite but a lousily paid paramedic's salary...

 

A new ride will look like the old ride in short order if you continue to off road.

Snug up valve cover gaskets to slow oil leak, toss in a bottle of Bars or White Shepard oil leak fix.

Fix brakes and upgrade the rotors. Put most of that $6000 back in the fruit jar. Find a welder to fab you a bumper.

 

Buy an ATV.

 

I agree with the above advice. A newer Disco isn't the answer, but puts you further in the hole. The best bet is to bail out of Land Rover ownership for a while. It sounds like you're heading for some big changes in life and you'd be better off waiting a year or two before you invest a lot in a car. My advice is to park the Rover or sell it. Don't spend anything on it. It's a money pit. Safest thing is to sell it and drive a sensible car for a while. Let your fiancé know you're thinking about replacing it in the future, but in the meantime, drive something else you own or something with good resale value.

In a couple years you might find that Rover investment wasn't the best choice. On the other hand, if it is, you'll have saved plenty to build it right. But at least you'll have choices and a better understanding of where you're at and where you're heading with the job, wife, house, family and so on. And yeah, a pair of ATV's or a UTV is a sensible alternative to trashing a Rover that is much costlier in the long term. They rock offroad and unlike a Rover, you won't lose every dollar you put into it.

 

ready for real advice, your 180k motor has 20 to 70k left, if you forget to change or ad oil who knows, so it is time to thing about a upgrade. Do not buy an 03, bad oil pumps issue. so i would look at a 01 or 02'. look around something in the 2 to 3 thousand range. then take 2 to 3 have it checked out by a mechanic 100 to 200 bucks, finally tune it up, throw head gaskets time chain and water pump in it and you have a great unit for under 6 k

 

there is not really any parts you need be robbing off of your ride to swap to that '04 (not '03) just goodies (if you have any) armor and the like.
or you could keep the current ride so that you can beat it up on the 4-wheeler trails and get another to be garage queen