LR Disco 97 TDi review pls

I owned one for 14 years, great vehicle, the only issues that model had were
1. the panhard rod, where it connected to the diff, would flog out over time. Easy fix.
2. If they blew a hose and lost coolant they cooked real quick and usualy required new head. People used rig up an alarm on the coolant tank by installing a Range Rover cap which had a float switch.
3. Check that the timing belt was changed at 200.000k's(every 100,000k). It cost about $1k to have it done.

Apart from the above, they are a great touring 4X4, which gets consistantly 10l/100k's.
Very comfortable to sit in and drive.
As a tow vehicle they are fairly underpowered and struggle with a 16' Jayco pop top. That was the reason I sold it and bought a 3l Jeep.

G/Day mate,.. Sounds like a good thing , but a lot of care and research needs to be done before you buy, I've had a Tdi 300 1996 tray back landy for 13yrs ,Engine wise they are as good as anything else internally, some of the bolt on components are a bit ordinary,...water pump, brake vacumm pump, liftpump sometimes, but if replaced around the 100,000km then theres no worry. Because theres so many importers of landy parts these days prices and availability is better than a lot of jap stuff believe me !, So don't worry about remote travelling with a landy of that era they are easy to work on , but its a good idea to really get to know the vehicle and make sure some of the so called vunerable areas are right before you do any long distance trips, could go on for hrs about it all, but those particular models in the disco one where very good.

Would prefer the auto to manual, as they where pretty well bullet proof in those models., Good Luck

Cheers Axle

There are no real issues so I would be looking for evidence on how well it has been looked after and serviced. At the Kms it has on it you will be for maintenance costs in the future but that due to the Kms and not any basic issue.

However what you are looking at is the poverty pack version and while the Kms are average for age I think the seller is seeking top dollar and it is probably over priced by a couple of grand. Looks OK but not at that price.

Garry

Keith, My comments are as follows:

1. Visually the car looks very clean
2. The buy price is good
3. I would drive the car and have it independently tested
4. With 230k on the clock and like any European cars you can expect the running costs to be on the higher side, things start to fail if they already haven't.
5. Remember the buy price is only part one, it's the on-going running costs that are the real buy price when you buy a car with 230k on the clock.

Good Luck.

The TDi 300 is a good engine and as others have said just ensure you are aware of some of the issues, such as timing belt etc.

You haven’t mentioned what you intend this vehicle to do for you. Is it going to do remote work, down the beach, local? The more you are going to expect of it, the more you will probably need to spend on it to ensure it is “up to spec” for your use.

The advice I would offer, and it is the same for any vehicle of this age, be prepared to spend some money on it as it is 16 years old, and regardless of how it might present itself today.

Good luck...

definatly take it to a landrover specialist.
and get a check over on it.

the landrover never ever for the life of the vehicle get a premium on the better models.
they were dear new, and by far the cheapest offroad, brilliant supple suspension.
their depreciation rate is by far the worst of all vehicles, but good for a used buyer..
and the diesels are fugal on the fuel.
the engines can be tweaked to get decent power upgrades, mind you not as easy as a toyota, lots of businesses can to upgrades.
but the landrover stuff your better of sticking with a specialist aftermarket company.
as they know their stuff, get it right the first time, and cheaper in the long run.

Hi Keith

Check the moon roof windows these models with the glass held in with a rubber mould rust around the window glass, the later models are mounted differently,to cure the problem , look at the later models and you will see what i mean.
I came close to buying one ten years ago until i spotted the rust bubbling around the window, even if repaired you will still be chasing it down the track, if you check out the early 2 door models your bound to see one, rusted for sure.

Rob