Are older Land Rover Discoveries really that bad? How do they compare to contemporary Toyotas?

bri

Adventurer
I have and won't own a D2. Have had a few D1. Built them and beat them up. Great vehicles that are as or more capable than similar/aged straight axle vehicles and no more or less to maintain. They are a POJ compared to an LR4. Almost used rovers are going to require $5k minimum after purchase. Regardless of previous owner.
 

redneck44

Adventurer
Just saying- these pics were taken in 2009 , 2 of the 10 body mounts were intact, my defender 110 was worse
IMAG0099.jpgland rover welding (39).JPGland rover welding (32).JPG
 

ComfyVan

Member
I have to second that D1/D2s do get a bad rap and much of it is unwarranted. Yes they are quirky trucks can be annoying and *may* require more attention than our Nissan/Yota/Merc equivalent. I too have seen that so much the (I had a buddy with one and it was a POS ) yet when asked what went wrong and was it properly serviced its *crickets* plus some just jump on the bad wagon just to talk bad about anything that isn't what they drive or own or just drinking the coolaid. To be brutally honest a D1/DII is just as durable as anything out there when maintained now if majorly neglected yes they will make you wanna fire a RPG at them. I've considered it a few times in the 18 years ive been driving them (DI's) hahaha ? but then reality set in and I realize that there is truly nothing like Driving them quirks, annoyances and all.
I have leaned a lot from this thread about older disco. Thanks for sharing!
 

ComfyVan

Member
Anyone who think Scott Kilmer is a reputable is sorely mistaken. Go find a real YouTube mechanic to get advice from. Car Wizard will tell everyone to just go buy a Toyota, but he’s a huge Rover and Jag guy and has owned several.

If you want to talk cost of ownership over time, my 46k mile LR4 was $28k in 2020. A LC200 with similar mileage would have been $50k. So far I’m into my Disco for $1400 minus oil changes and a set of tires, currently a little over 76k miles. I’d need to blow the motor in my truck and pay the dealer to install a brand new one to bring the cost of ownership close to the LC. My local LR specialist does the full timing chain service replacing EVERYTHING that comes off with genuine LR parts for $6500.

I will say that if you take a similar condition D1 and LC80 side by side, and baseline them, the 80 will be more reliable for a while. The D1 will always need some care here and there… usually nothing major but it isn’t as set it and forget it as an 80 is. However, it’s more comfortable, faster, and gets better fuel mileage than an 80… and more capable if the 80 isn’t factory triple locked.
I couldn't agree more.
 

classic72

Overlander
Let me put it this way... always preferred and drove Land Rovers. I spent about $15k building out a 2014 4Runner (drove it new off the lot with 15 miles on it). I am back in a 2001 Disco 2 as my new build. Here is the thing... if you can honor and appreciate the legacy of Land Rover --- its heritage and its history, you will never drive any other 4x4. If this is just another car for you, then get something else. Its a vehicle you will have an intimate relationship with. You will become friends and at times, just like friends, you will fight one another. But that friendship will grow as you nurture the relationship. I can't say that about any other 4x4 I have driven.
 

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