Hello from Newberry, SC
Hello from Newberry, SC
Posted several times, but never got around to introducing myself...
I came close to purchasing a "SALTY" Discovery back in the early 2000's. Instead a 2003 Trailblazer was too cheap to pass up. The Trailblazer served me well unto around 2006 when gas prices pushed me into buying a Toyota Prius for my 50 mile round trip drive to work each day.
The Trailblazer was limited only to towing and for my parents to use as they needed. In 2010 the Trailblazer was in an accident leading to it being totaled. There were no injuries, but it left me without a method to tow my trailer. Then it bit me again....
In mid-2011 I started looking for a Discovery. My search took me through a few different places, but every time there was some reason not to go forward with the purchase. Losing hope I ran upon a few on ebay. My first two bids were outbid by others. Eventually I ran upon "Fancy" in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
My bid for $2500 won her and the current owner assured me she would make the drive back to Newberry, SC. In picking her up we immediately had our doubts that she would make the drive back. She was whistling from the engine, having a hard time shifting gears, turn signals weren't working, and the brakes weren't working well. Still, we set out on the drive home on the Interstate with the Prius as the chase car.
After a very long drive we finally made it home. Needless to say my fear that caused me to back out before was realized in front of me. Still, she has character and that is what got her the name "Fancy". Not that she is fancy, but this was her last chance and don't let us down. She didn't on the way home so we decided to start the long process of getting her right.
My first mechanic replaced the plugs, wires, and the oxygen sensors. The second mechanic noticed that the serpentine belt was losing chunks of it when the pulley was locking up. We replaced that. Third mechanic was the Land Rover dealer that discovered the rear shaft was barely hanging on. We then discovered that the brake job that was done last didn't include changing the rotors. This process kept going on and on.
At this point I know my purchase was a mistake. The price of the repairs and the original purchase price far exceeded the cost of buying a Discovery II or LR3 in much better shape. At this point I am in for the long-haul. We have yet to reach 2000 miles on her since we drove her back from Kentucky, but finally "Fancy" is stable.
I hope not to bother too many people working through the remaining issues on the vehicle and look forward to the next few years learning to know the love that so many on this website have for their own "Fancy".
I came close to purchasing a "SALTY" Discovery back in the early 2000's. Instead a 2003 Trailblazer was too cheap to pass up. The Trailblazer served me well unto around 2006 when gas prices pushed me into buying a Toyota Prius for my 50 mile round trip drive to work each day.
The Trailblazer was limited only to towing and for my parents to use as they needed. In 2010 the Trailblazer was in an accident leading to it being totaled. There were no injuries, but it left me without a method to tow my trailer. Then it bit me again....
In mid-2011 I started looking for a Discovery. My search took me through a few different places, but every time there was some reason not to go forward with the purchase. Losing hope I ran upon a few on ebay. My first two bids were outbid by others. Eventually I ran upon "Fancy" in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
My bid for $2500 won her and the current owner assured me she would make the drive back to Newberry, SC. In picking her up we immediately had our doubts that she would make the drive back. She was whistling from the engine, having a hard time shifting gears, turn signals weren't working, and the brakes weren't working well. Still, we set out on the drive home on the Interstate with the Prius as the chase car.
After a very long drive we finally made it home. Needless to say my fear that caused me to back out before was realized in front of me. Still, she has character and that is what got her the name "Fancy". Not that she is fancy, but this was her last chance and don't let us down. She didn't on the way home so we decided to start the long process of getting her right.
My first mechanic replaced the plugs, wires, and the oxygen sensors. The second mechanic noticed that the serpentine belt was losing chunks of it when the pulley was locking up. We replaced that. Third mechanic was the Land Rover dealer that discovered the rear shaft was barely hanging on. We then discovered that the brake job that was done last didn't include changing the rotors. This process kept going on and on.
At this point I know my purchase was a mistake. The price of the repairs and the original purchase price far exceeded the cost of buying a Discovery II or LR3 in much better shape. At this point I am in for the long-haul. We have yet to reach 2000 miles on her since we drove her back from Kentucky, but finally "Fancy" is stable.
I hope not to bother too many people working through the remaining issues on the vehicle and look forward to the next few years learning to know the love that so many on this website have for their own "Fancy".
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