Disco or Prado

that's hysterical, a properly driven Td5 Disco is far more capable off-road than any form of Pajero - live axles, coil springs, excellent wheel articulation and low-range gearing does that. I can only assume that your FIL isn't driving it properly, doesn't have the CDL engaged/hooked up (need to get this connected on earlier Td5s) and/or is running incorrect tyre pressures.

Contrary to what you say, performance on or offroad isn't the issue - as it's excellent. Also pretty crazy to say that economy gets blown when offroad - mine averaged 11l/100km in a weekend of highway/firetrail work in Vic high country a few weeks ago.

If anything, and once again contrary to what you say, the issue is about reliability. You need to know how to maintain Land Rovers and which things to look out for/pre-emptively fix. Fortunately in oz we have an excellent information resource to help with this: www.aulro.com . Toyotas are far more forgiving of poor maintenance, and my head would tell me to buy one of them. However, for pleasure of driving on and offroad, it's Land Rover for me - they're a bargain second hand and will sh*t on anything apart from Cruisers/Patrols (which they equal due to similar suspension configuration in older models) offroad. They are superior to Cruisers/Patrols on road in terms of handling and economy and general comfort/'ambience'.

"mine averaged 11l/100km" Yeah , they are good on the juice.

Simpson west to east. Onadatta fill up and through. I bettered the TD5 in my 2.5td ( same capacity less one cylinder ) by 15 litres.

The FIL has done HUGE off road k's with full military training on how to do so.

"You need to know how to maintain Land Rovers" All well and fine. Find a roag bit of metal out on the track that does your power steering line in and you will be waiting , waiiting for a spare to be freighted to you via Sydney.

This issue would stop most 4WDs but anything non Disco can be repaired and under way.

"it's Land Rover for me " Hey , your an enthusiast , fair enough. I am talking as a Pajero fan. I am also talking about what I see on the tracks . Disco's fail.

'Find a rogue (or 'roag' if you prefer) bit of metal...and Disco - but no other 4WD model - will be stranded...'

yep, you're right, places like William Creek stock the FULL range of spares for ALL 4WD models, but they make a point of not stocking Disco parts...

And no offence to your FIL, but regardless of his experience, if he can't beat a Pajero off-road (particularly in the High Country) in a Disco, then he needs some re-training...

Broken Hill ? Arkaroola? Onadatta? recon you would be able to find a power steering hose ? You know that one that hangs low on the motor and rather exposed ? No is the answer. Found out the hard way. Ordered the part via VKS737, disconnected the belt ( NEVER try this on a Disco!), drove it slowly into Broken Hill and sat down for 2 days waiting for delivery. I recon Broken Hill is a rather major rural center. We had a hell of a time there trying to get someone to fit the thing.

One of my Tough Dog struts finally let go there as well. Took me two calls and I was under way.

Traction control in the sand is what killed him. That and standard rims and tyres.

I offered to wire in the kit to turn it off on demand but ( and I agree with him ) he politely said "when do you realise the limit of a lemon ?".

So the original post was to get rid of his rather nice lux with a limit of $25k . I still do and will never agree that a Disco represents the same value for money as a lux no matter what year. It is a no brainer. Disco's are and will stay Toorak Tractors.

Hell if they were any good I would be in one. They are beyond cheep now. One on ebay is $3k ! My year Pajero is worth more than it now!!

sigh... my point was that it's ridiculous to suggest that you could find a power steering hose in remote places for every other model apart from a Disco.

I suspected traction control might have been the problem with your FIL on sand - hence he needs to have his CDL connected...with this simple mod, no probs. I've been through the Simpson in a Disco with 60 Series Cruiser, two Troopies and a 75-Series ute. My Disco and the 60 Series did things the easiest and were the only two vehicles without issues...having a correctly prepared/modded vehicle with a driver who knows what they're doing is just as important as the original vehicle choice.

I agree that our friend should keep his Hilux, and said as much below. I've owned and driven about 20 different 4WDs and I can be big enough to agree that Jap vehicles are generally more reliable and require less maintenance than European vehicles. However, you're really stretching the limits of credibility by suggesting that a Pajero is superior to a Disco in off-road ability - I haven't come across any other person or magazine that would agree with you...happy to prove this to you any time...perhaps around Mt Gibbo in the Vic High Country or on the sandstone steps of the Watagans...

Okay , my Pajero , heavily modded with every after market device minus lockers kicks the FIL's Disco. I lead , the reason why is he is over the cost of his lemon. He doesn't want to spend any more on a 4wd that is loosing thousands of resale dollars a year.

I agree that he can do the CDL and that would improve things. He has done a suspension lift which helps a little.

The credibility is not stretched when I say that my Pajero beats Disco's. I leave them for dead. I ain't as quick, I ain't as pretty but
I have a range that a disco with long range tanks cannot match. I have a setup that simply beats all TD5's that I have come across.

Vic high country , yeah , done it a few times with some cousins out of Healesville. Threw some BFG muddies on and off I went. Lockers would have helped no end but I got through. I always do.

Disco's are what they are. They cost a packet after purchase, there are a limited number of mechanics that will look at them and charge accordingly. Parts are flown into you. You pay again.

I just got my rear wheel bearings changed ( oversized rear axles ) with is a nasty job on the Pajero and it cost me $400 all up! The local wrecker's mechanic was happy to take it on! One phone call.

So what all this means is that I can and do go harder on all the tracks I go on. I do what disco's can't because mine is tough as.

While you are engaging you button to go down a hill I am up and over the next one.

"I haven't come across any other person or magazine that would agree with you" ........ Mine isn't out of any magazine. A standard Pajero of my year is a weak as dish water. Put it up to a Disco and of course even the Disco will cream it.

Mine is as far removed from original as is legal in my state and a bit more.

It is real hard to take the Disco back to what a 4wd needs to be. It will always cost more, depreciate faster and break down more than most 4wd's in it's class. It was not built for Australian conditions at all, they are just sold here.

a standard Disco will hose a standard Pajero offroad

a modded Disco will hose a modded Pajero offroad (trying to compare a poorly driven standard Disco with your heavily modded Pajero is pretty pointless)

I might add that a standard Series 3 Discovery is truly amazing offroad and will hose many heavily modded machines - it even hosed my modded Series 2 Discovery. Note, I am not talking reliability here as I acknowledge that earlier S3s has issues with their air suspension - I am purely talking about ability and hopefully LR have now sorted the suspension reliability issue...

end of story...hopefully...

Yeah agreed pathfinder. Good talking with you . Time for you to pay your membership.

I'l second that.

PeterD

Third it, that's just wank

I realise I have a TD, but the 95 series Prado is near bullet proof for a mid size 4WD. Never had any major mechanical fault with the car. The V6 is still a capable and comfortable car.

Does all the hard stuff with our club and yet performs well as a town car and caravan tug.

After 5 years and over 140000 km I couldn't be happier.

Accessories, mods and parts are easy to get as well.

I looked at Discos of that vintage when I was buying the Prado. Couldn't find a mechanic that had a good thing to say about them.

If you can find one at the right price try for a VX or Grande or at least a GXL.

Personally I wouldn't be buying one older than 5 years.

Why no older than 5 years if they are so brilliant?

Hmmmm I wonder what it was that Len Beadell was using in the remotest part of Australia....

Worth a Read

.

I noticed in Len's DVD where he revisits the tracks there is an FJ55 in the background at a couple of the camps and it is loaded with gear. Maybe a camera crew car but would be quite rare to be travelling in one of those these days.

Dave

"if memory serves me well"...

the/an FJ55 was the first 4wd Len actually bought. He travelled the bush with Anne and Connie Sue aboard in that vehicle. Previously he was using a constant supply of Land Rovers. I think that 55 might still be in the family.

The land rover from 50 years ago bears little resemblance to a 1999 discovery. No hiding from the disco's problems.

How were the brakes on those series 1 landies? I suppose Len Beadell didn't have to use them much.

I would tend to agree with that. Despite my personal preference for Discos, I hired a new TD lux for the Flinders last year and they're a good thing. Transferring vehicles and rekitting/servicing them is an expensive process in itself...

or perhaps just drive each type of vehicle you like then narrow them down with the best on offer you can afford. Never discount a vehicle type because someone on the 'net' told you too. Personally, I drive my toyota for work & my disco 2 for pleasure, neither have let me down & perform well.

mmm, a '4.7 litre Disco' - now there's a new model/motor I haven't heard of...some more reliable advice from the wonderful world of the internet - it's no wonder you're with Jason who reckons that short-travel IFS is superior to long-travel live axles offroad...

Yeah , that motor is on the Jeep Cherokee Laredo Ralph.