Hey Rovers,
I currently own a 2000 Disco 2 and I'm considering going and picking up a RR Classic.
My disco is very good off road, super comfortable really like it, but I might sell it to make room (I have a car "problem" it seems).

I'm considering a Classic to make a bit more trail ready rig. The Classics feel lighter and more nimble off road. The Disco feel very capable but also heavy.
My point is this: I'm a. bit concerned that the older trucks don't have quite the aftermarket support that the discos have. Is it pretty easy and straightforward to put a lift, potentially limited slip rear, differential, lockers, and the like on a classic? Should I pull the trigger and use a classic as my light commuter/trail rig?

I NEVER see RRs/LRs out and about where I'm going (Sierras, Death Valley, Reno) unless it's the local club.

Thanks!

 

Having both D2s and a LWB classic the classic is so so so smooth off-road. There is more support than D2s as the D1 and defenders all share parts. Lockers are the same however pending year of classic will need to find 24spline shafts and hubs as no one makes 10 spline lockers. The D2 is much smoother power/trans wise and makes more. The classics aren't exactly light once built up but they don't have quite as high a roof line (significantly less head room, ie if you're over 6' probably stick with a disco..).

My classic isn't exactly a typical build as it's got 4-5" of lift and 35s so highway is a little bit of an adventure but I can keep up bombing easy portions of trails with my other classic buddies who I wheel with when in my d2 I never stood a chance (I don't mean anything crazy just the rough run outs on trails when you want to be done with it all at the end of the day type pushing).

The guys I wheel with have all gone from D2s to classics if that tells you anythings...I will say that if you enjoy camping the d2 is a far better platform imo, also why I have two relatively built rovers. I wheel the classic and camp with my white D2 (more space, far better on pavement, and well safer with the dogs and family). So obviously my vote is both if you can swing it haha.

 

 

LOL this is the problem!

 

just too different to choose having both imo.

 

Well, dang. THIS happened.
LWB with 4 corner airbags. (sale pending)

 

Very nice! And my advice would be to keep the Air Suspension. You’ll likely need to repair some leaks and replace the bags but there’s a good reason why LR has continued to use EAS for over 25 years.

 

The EAS is the whole reason I want to buy this one.

The bad news is it just failed the smog test, so the deal may fall apart.

 

It can’t be an insurmountable problem. RRC’s are such sought after vehicles.

 

Yep, but this monster has 345K miles on the clock, and living in California, the difference between "passes smog" and "fails smog" is like 90% of the value of the vehicle.
I mean a $10K car suddenly becomes a parts vehicle.
Would you invest in repairing such a high mileage vehicle?