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Land Rover Discovery and Discovery II

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  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    First Drive: 2002 Land Rover Freelander

    Steve
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  • jkbankjkbank Member Posts: 1
    I am looking at buying a used 98 discovery..there are many on the dealer lot most with 36,000-45,000 miles..is there anything anyone can tell me about the 98's thats is problematic and what to look out for.? thank you
  • jtthjtth Member Posts: 1
    I am considering a 94 Disco with 45k miles. It runs and drives very well and seems to only have a few cosmetic blemishes. One of which is a curling dashboard. Is this expensive to fix? What can be done? Also, what should I watch out for mechanically? I read one post where you mentioned that a 97 was a much better vehicle than a 94. Why? Thank you for your quick response.
  • mrtoad3mrtoad3 Member Posts: 68
    Well, I finally did it! After many months of reading and researching and heartache, I leased an '01 SE7 with the works. I live in the Sierra Nevada and thought it would be the perfect replacement for my aging Audi sedan(250,000 mi.) Thanks for all the positive comments about the Disco in previous posts. They really helped in my decision. I have read many posts about other SUV's, but none have had so many positive responses vs. negatives as those about LR's. My silver/lightstone SE7 will arrive in another week. After break-in I plan to use Mobil-1 to prolong engine life and hopefully improve mileage a bit. Any thoughts on Syth vs. Dino oil for LR's would be appreciated. Thanks
  • shap1shap1 Member Posts: 77
    mrtoad3: I'm getting ready to lease a '01 SE7. Would you be willing to share the details of your lease deal? I'm in Florida, but it would be interesting to see what I may be looking at pricewise.

    Thanks.
  • mrtoad3mrtoad3 Member Posts: 68
    Shap1: The dealers are slow at this time so LR is offering some incentives to lease on all models. In my particular situation, they took $2000 off the top to start. After checking with edmunds.com and comparing prices for my area, I figured they came down about $3000 from MSRP of $44000. They used a money factor of .003 and 49% residual after 3 years. I got 15,000 miles/yr. as a mileage allowance as well rather than 10 or 12,000. I was offered 12,000 miles with a $20 per month decrease but I declined. My deal ended with $700/month for FULLY loaded SE7 with ACE.
    I was also offered SD and LE for between $585 and $624 but unable to find 7 seat pkg. I am getting mine directly from the port in Los Angeles where they have 500 cars ready for shipping to wherever needed. I hope this helps. Good luck.
  • eagle63eagle63 Member Posts: 599
    Does anyone know where I can get more info on the LandRover Defender??
    I was at my local hardware store yesterday, and sitting outside was the coolest looking rig I've ever seen. I went out to check it out, and it turns out it was a Defender. Bright red, black top. I called my LR dealer and he said that Defender's were no longer made after 1996. This thing looked very new, however. I don't see how it could have been 5 years old. Could have been an import from England or something?
  • gpvsgpvs Member Posts: 214
    Landrover Defender

    I think they stop selling it here in the US after 1997. (They were still selling it when I got my '97 Disco on 8/97) I believe they still sell those outside the US. So, maybe, you can import them?
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    Land Rover Defenders are still made in the U.K., but do not meet DOT safety requirements, so importing them is difficult to say the least. 1997 was the last year they were sold in the U.S., and all 97 models had automatic transmissions. When LRNA sold the 97 model it was announced that it would be the last year that it would be sold here, so most owners have been very attentive to the care and appearance of their vehicles. Sales of the 97 model were 1499 Soft tops and 1300 Station Wagons (metal Hard top).
  • shap1shap1 Member Posts: 77
    mrtoad3:
    Thanks for the info. Boy, things ain't cheap on the West Coast! In any case, I appreciate your sharing your deal. I'm going to check into that port thing (since I'm about 15 min. from the Port of Miami).
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    Ports...

    Land Rover has Port prep facilities in Brunswick Ga, Baltimore Md, Oxnard Ca. and Halifax N.S. There are no port facilities for Land Rovers in Miami, I'm afraid.
  • neo5neo5 Member Posts: 12
    Eagle63, I know EXACTLY what you mean.
    I have been shopping for a Defender for last month or so (after the purchase of a DiscoII for my wife).
    The Defenders that you occasionally see out on the road, and certainly the ones on sales, all seem to be in excellent condition. And not surprisingly, they are quite pricy!!! The '96-'97 Defenders with 30-50K miles in good conditions will cost you about 35-40K $. (Ouch!!!).
    Good luck and Happy Rovering!
  • eagle63eagle63 Member Posts: 599
    neo5:
    yep, I've run into the same problem - expensive! Do you know if landrover plans on brining the Defender back to north america anytime soon?
  • waskowasko Member Posts: 103
    Defenders, Series III, Freelanders...


    Earliest indication is 2004, but that's just when LR is planning on re-introducing a new Defender model - like the Freelander it may take a few years (5?) to get into North America. That is unless LR is learning from Ford and will launch in NA at the same time as Europe :)


    I'm in the same situation - have been longing to buy a Defender since I bought my D1 a couple years ago. But they are very expensive and will probably remain so until re-introduced. To make matters worse - a neighbor down the street from me has a pristine 97 Willow with roof rack. They let their highschool son drive it around. DOH!! I'm **SURE** I could appreciate the vehilce more :)


    I'm appeasing the urge by purchasing a 1973 Series III (see them on LRX also) for less than half the price of a Defender. Very unique looking Rover and a lot of fun.


    If you're serious about getting one, the best place to see a lot of them is at http://www.lrx.com - there are usually quite a few listed there to choose from.


    Good luck to all. My wife is getting real close to putting down the deposit to hold her Freelander. Tincup - any updates? Dealers are telling all that they're due in the showrooms in October.


    Thanks - wasko

  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    The Defender sales were stopped in 1997 because that's when dual airbags were required by law. Rather than install airbags in the vehicle, Land Rover decided to stop offering it in North America altogether.

    I seem to remember reading somewhere that it might return for '02?


    Drew
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  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    Wasko,
    Everything points to the vehicle being on schedule, due to go on sale in Oct.-Nov. If I hear any changes I will let you know.
    The Defenders are actually selling for more than they did when new, they were always a slow seller when they were available. No definite word on timeframe on reintroduction, but it is something LRNA wants to happen.
  • bwally6bwally6 Member Posts: 5
    Does anyone have any experience with New Country Motors - Land Rover dealer in Hartford, Ct? I'm awaiting delivery of an `01 Disco SD7 and am curious about what to expect from the service department there in the years to come.

    Also, "shap1" , I agree things seem expensive on the west coast. Check out the SD7s if you can. My 36 mos./12K mile lease deal has a money factor of .00247 and residual of 60% (2% higher than normal for being considered a low mileage lease).
  • shap1shap1 Member Posts: 77
    I wish I could find an SD7 here in Miami. According to the dealership, they rarely, if ever get any. Apparently, everyone here wants the SE7. Sounds like you got a good deal, though. Thanks for sharing.
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    There are two in Miami, Land Rover North Dade and South Dade, there is also a dealer in Naples.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    2002 Land Rover Discovery Series II Kalahari at the New York Autoshow.

    Steve
    Host
    Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765

    For six Grovers you could take a standard Disco and fit some SERIOUS hardware. Not just brush bars and lights, but locking diffs, ARB bar and winch, racks galore and hard-core suspension. Then your truck wouldn't scream "LOOK AT ME" but it would certainly walk away from nearly anything offroad. Of course it's a personal opinion but beauty is found in subtlety. A well worked over 4x4 will be subtly improved in every area, and give the aura of capability while not really trying to. That means a lot more than a paint job and stickers (Bob is now ducking and putting on his Nomex).
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    I certainly agree that an individual could take a standard vehicle and do just what you were suggesting. It's a little more complicated for a manufacturer. Crash certifying the components for sale on a new vehicle is one aspect that would add cost, along with warranty and liability issues. Given that 90% of SUV's don't have any need for air lockers or heavy duty suspension and this is a special edition of 150, the costs would raise the price much higher than $6000.00.
  • shap1shap1 Member Posts: 77
    Tincup47:

    Been to South Dade to test drive and check out the interior. I won't be ready to do anything until October, so we'll see what the situation is then. I am planning to contact North and South Dade, Naples and Orlando. I wonder if these dealerships are competitive, particularly Land Rover North and South.
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    are owned by the same company, so I doubt they will cutthroat each other.
  • jtc8jtc8 Member Posts: 2
    I am going to purchase a 2001 discovery SE with cold climate in the very near future. I have access to the -plan pricing which should be about $35,300 (this includes the new $400 price increase)plus tax. That's about $1500 over invoice. Is this a good deal or can I do better?
    Also, is the ACE package worth the extra $2900? Is there that much body roll on the Discovery without ACE?

    Finally, will the dealerships throw in accessories (i.. floor mats, ski rack,etc.) instead if negotiating on the price?
  • illini84illini84 Member Posts: 1
    Just bought a 2001 DII SE7. Took it offroad this weekend for the 1st time. Through driver error, I put a hole in the sidewall of my Goodyear Wrangler HP (255/65R16) front tire and wrecked the rear tire (driveable until I got back onroad and to a "tire store" -- a place in the middle of the Calif. dessert). Other friends on the trip also lamented about their sidewall problems with GY's. My last SUV had factory installed Yokies -- flat tire offroad. Then I installed BFG All-Terrain T/A's -- no problems. Most of the group we offroad with buy only BFG's. I just talked to a tire dealer and he was telling me about the new BFG AT T/A KO's (255/70R16, 8-ply), which are adequate handle the 3-ton DII.

    Since I now have to replace 2 of the 5 tires, I'm thinking about whether to get 2 more Wranglers or get new BFG's. While the money tree out back is not over abundant with fruit, the discomfort of having offroad problems outweighs that issue.

    Aside from "keep your eyes on the road", any advice or experience with either tire?
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    You might want to try asking your question in the Tires, Tires, Tires discussion topic in the Aftermarket & Accessories message board. Someone may be able to help you there as well. From what I've read, seen, and heard though, the BFG T/A KO tires are a bit pricey, but excellent.


    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    Take a look at the Discoweb:

      http://www.discoweb.org/index2.html

    for advice about sizing and such. Here in Alaska lots of people run Trac-Edge tires, they seem to bite the rocks and mud (and snow) pretty well.


    Good luck, -Bob

  • gbraswellgbraswell Member Posts: 1
    I am considering a new or slightly used Disco II to replace my '94 Passport. Unlike so many LR owners that I see in metro Atlanta, my needs from this truck will include off-road use. I would appreciate advice from existing 99-01 Disco II owners regarding on-road reliability of these trucks.

    I travel 20,000+ miles annually throughout the Southeastern US on business trips of 100-400 miles, often times very late at night. I am concerned about some of the problems areas such as blown head gaskets, engine management failures and other disabling problems. The "normal" LR issues such as oil leaks and other typical British issues I think I can live with.

    Some of the local owners I have spoken with suggest staying with dealer service. The local LR dealers have an excellent service reputation, which does factor into this decision.

    Thanks in advance
  • kemmonskemmons Member Posts: 29
    Hi Bob-

    My Rover is doing great. I named her Lizzie; short for Elizabeth; as in Queen E. That and she just looked like a Lizzie to me.

    What does your name mean? It's really interesting!
  • neo5neo5 Member Posts: 12
    Gbraswell,

    Go for the new DiscoII. So far so good with our '01 SD7 now at 3500 miles mostly on day-to-day commuting by my wife and weekend short-trips and off-roading by myself.
    "Best car I ever owned" according to my wife whose last three cars were Lexus GS series, BMW 5 series, and VW Cabriolet. I must agree.

    Now only if I can get myself a Defender..... (Wasko, the lrx site was awesome!!! I am still GREEN with envy - how does someone own a car like Defender for 3 years and put only 5000 miles on it???).

    Rovero ergo sum
    Neo
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    I like your choice! You can nickname her QE2 when she's loaded to the gunwales with gear, or when (not "if") she drips a little oil.

    I named mine "Anuqa". It's Yupiq Eskimo for "wind" and she's silver, and all my sports seem to involve lots of wind. Then I can shorten the name to "Anuq" if she REALLY aggravates me... it's another Yupiq word that I can't repeat in public. But bears do it in the woods. ;)

    Regards, -Bob
  • cole45cole45 Member Posts: 1
    nanuq and trc2 were kind enough to respond to my bike rack question last summer, but I wonder if anyone has an update (nanuq wasn't sure if his particular style would work with my 2000 Disco II). So, any bike rack recommendations for a 2000 Disco II?

    As a side note, I am *extremely* happy with my Disco II. I love the vehicle, but I also have to say that I've had fantastic dealings with Land Rover of Darien (CT). From sales to service, these people are awesome! The times I've taken the truck into the service department (routine maint, questions, etc), it's almost been as if they were happy to see me. I was told initially by various Land Rover dealerships to buy the truck at the dealership where I'd likely have it serviced, so if you are in the market and are anywhere even close to Darien, CT, talk to these guys. You will not be disappointed.
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    Land Rover has a swing away rack, part# LRNAPBR4 that works well on the Discovery II. It goes into the trailer hitch receiver and will hold up to 4 bikes.
  • erikjerikj Member Posts: 14
    Haven't posted an update in a while. My '99 D-II (ACE, Sunroofs, Lightstone Pkg, Java Black) has 32K miles (2K overdue for the 30K service). I took delivery two years ago this Monday (you can read the post here in the archive).

    We still love the truck. We've been in the snow, climbed over creek bed rocks, traveled across the Arizona desert (108 degrees at cruising speed according to the on-board readout), and towed a loaded trailer (U-Haul) from Texas to California with two small kids).

    The D-II (I guess it really needs a name) impressed some desert rat friends of mine out at the CA State Ocotilla Wells ORV patch. The truck powered its way through the flood washes and kept up with the lifted Chevys and what not. It should be noted that overlooking the "Tread Lightly" mantra is state sanctioned at Ocotilla.

    The only significant problems have been a broken pin on the ECU connector and (gasp) a replacement transmission at 24K miles. The transmission started slipping and LRNA, within a day, authorized a replacement. Obviously, gas mileage is awful especially So. Cal city driving.

    Oddly, both front tires are extremely worn on the inside edges. That stinks because the 255/55 R18 size is not cheap. The only other complaint would be the low lifetime of the brake pads, which depends on driving style.

    Despite, those kinks, the D-II has been great. You can sail it through the mud and sand without much worry about getting stranded. The D-II then cleans up nicely for going out later. Cheers,

    - Erik
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    93 D110 509 units sold in US, 25 in Canada
    94 D90 1943 units sold in US, 87 in Canada
    All 1994 were soft tops but 65 were sold with port installed hard tops
    95 D90 1190 Soft tops, 510 Station Wagons, all US sales
    97 D90 1499 Soft tops, 1300 Station Wagons, all US sales
  • gpvsgpvs Member Posts: 214
    Yakima also sells a swing away rack which holds about 4 bikes.
  • jbannisterjbannister Member Posts: 4
    hi there to all! I last posted a message Mar 02 but have been reading this message board and soaking up all the great info and advice from true lovers of their Discos on a constant basis.I have learned a great deal and decided to make my first step into purchasing a 2001 Oslo blue Disco II SE with Ace and light stone leather (yep I was really serious about buying this one). So I visited the dealer in New Orleans for a trade-in appraisal on my 98' BMW M3. (For the complete story goto the COUPES,CONVERTIBLES,SPORTS message board -topic BMW M3- title INSULTED M3 OWNER.)To make a long story short they offered me approx. $10,000 less than the listed trade-in value as determined by Edmunds.com. I was very shocked with this offer.I thought sales were down with Land Rover and expected them to work with me. I felt this dealership was too greedy which really turned me off so they now lost a sale. Does any one know of any decent and fair dealers near Louisiana (i live in Baton Rouge)? I just thought I'd share this experience with y'all to see what you thought.I hate having to post a negative message but at least it's not aimed at the Discoverys( it's not their fault!) Happy Rovering to Y'all! Disco ownner/driver wannabe Jim
  • mrtoad3mrtoad3 Member Posts: 68
    Jim, I believe that selling your used car by owner will always get a better price than ANY dealer would offer you. Sell it yourself to someone that really wants an M3. I just picked up my SE7 Silver/Lightstone yesterday and love it to death. What a machine!
  • kemmonskemmons Member Posts: 29
    gpvs- I have been looking into bike racks for my Disco, and am impressed w/ LR's version that holds 4 bikes. I'm not familiar w/ the Yakima bike rack-can you give me more info?

    nanuq- I love the QE2 idea. Where are you from/do you live? I ask because of the interesting names you have and because of other messages you have left. Is it Alaska?

    Does anyone know of a cheap way to get some Hellas? My brush guard just seems naked without them. Will LR install them if I purchase them from somewhere other than at the dealer?

    Thanks,
    Kim
  • gpvsgpvs Member Posts: 214
    I believe the Roc'n Gate by Yakima is similar to the one from Land Rover. It also holds 4 bikes max. (www.yakima.com) I think Thule has something similar to Yakima. I have used Yakima products and they're great. My friends Disco has the LR rack and he loves it.
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    I have the Rhode Gear bike rack, it plugs into the hitch and holds 4 bikes. If you remove the pin it folds down so you can get into the back hatch... it's a sturdy piece of work. The only problem is one bolt at the top rubs against the spare tire when the plastic cover biscuit is in place... so I removed mine (which gave me the perfect excuse to buy the fabric Land Rover Anchorage rhino cover).

    Yep, I'm here in Alaska. I'm not a "native" native but I've been here since I was knee high to an oogruk. :)

    Hey, here's another idea for a name... "Sichuk". It means "mud puddle". Not sure about the spelling though... I haven't seen many native words with the "ch" combination.

    Q'amai, -Bob
  • bdonelonbdonelon Member Posts: 7
    I have a 00 Disco II with what were 17,500 trouble free miles. I was considering myself lucky. Well today while driving the warning light for the locked diferential came on only when I applied pressure to the brake peddle. When I got home I called the dealer to schedule to bring it in. I went out move my Disco after the call and could not get the car out of park when depresing on the brake peddle. The brake lights also were not working. Called the dealer and he stated that the switch on the brake peddle that allows you to leave park must be broken. Makes sense. I am having it towed (thank god for hte warrant). Anyone else have this problem?

    When I bought the truck I told myself I would allow two mechanical breakdowns that could leave me somewhere stranded. The reason being is that I duck hunt in the middle of nowwhere sometimes and do not want to get stranded. Well, one down and two to go. The reliability of a Toyota Sequoia is looking good.
  • oceandwelleroceandweller Member Posts: 58
    My '96 Disco has a strong odor of gasoline near the RT rear wheel well.... not just after fill-ups either! I brought it to the dealer and they said they'll have to do research, because they don't know what it is!! I had the problem back in Sept. and it was a vacuum line... but now they don't believe that's the case... yet they're not sure. Any input appreciated.... other than that she's wonderful!!! at 63k!!
  • bdonelonbdonelon Member Posts: 7
    My bad. I had just washed my boat trailer off at a car wash. The water caused a short in the trailer wiring therby blowing out a fuse on the Disco for its brakelights. The weird thing is, when you blow the fuse on the Disco's brakelights, it kills the brake switch on the shifter and you can't get it out of park. A quick tow and fix at the dealer did the trick.

    Interestingly, the Disco II has a warning light for having a locked differential, but the dealer said there is not locking differential, which is true but I didn't think of it. It is apparently a useless warning light for that, but it is a warning light that there is something wrong with your breaklights. FYI if this happens to you.

    Oh well, Land Rover proved me wrong. I still maintain 17,500 trouble free miles.
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    Bdonelon: I'm glad you found the problem. How odd that a lack of rear taillights could disable the ability to get out of park! I wonder if that only happens when BOTH taillights are out... hopefully a rare condition? About the locking diff, I believe the DII has the same transfer case as the DI, which is indeed lockable. You just don't have the interior locking lever since the ABS system manages your wheelspin for you. I bet if you crawl under and look you'll see there is linkage for the transfer case, it's just not connected to anything.

    Ocean: I wonder if it's your fuel filter? I believe it's in that area and it (or its connections) may have sprung a leak.

    Regards, -Bob
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    The D2 has a similar (not identical) Transfer Box to the discovery. It can be diff locked from underneath the vehicle, but is difficult to do as there is no linkage. The main difference is the hole for the speed sensor drive is missing in the D2. there are also changes to the upper housing to accomidate a temp switch and shift linkage.
  • bdonelonbdonelon Member Posts: 7
    Well, one thing I did do with the service manager was have him run me through how and where he changed the fuse and he gave me some extra fuses. This is just in case this happens again while I'm 10 miles of paved roads somewhere in N.E South Dakota hunting ducks.

    Thanks for the feedback on the locking diferential. I am sure they use the same display panels in several of their vehicles to save on costs. This warning light does not even come on in the check mode during the start-up of the vehicle, but there is an explanation in the owner's manual. It may be a good warning light for your brake lights being out. I should pull a tail light bulb and then break to see if it lights up.
  • danvan2danvan2 Member Posts: 1
    I know little about the Disco but have admired them since their release. I saw a 1996 Disco SE7 for a great deal (I think) and thought it would be a good opportunity to get into one. The catch is that it has 114,000 miles!!! It looks to be in good condition and the owner says it was a great vehicle for him (of course). I love it anyway. Unlike some of the other Disco owners, I don't want to know the LR mechanic by their first name.
    Don't be afraid to tell me how it really is. It is not a great comfort reading that some owners feel proud if they can get 17K trouble free miles.
    It is the only vehicle that I can think about. Am I crazy?
  • stalnakerwstalnakerw Member Posts: 1
    I am a recent Land Rover Discovery II (2001) owner. I bought my discovery in January this year. I have had a couple of nagging problems that HBL Land Rover (Tyson's Corner, VA) has had difficulty in fixing. My latest problem is my ABS & T/C lights come on each time I drive the vehicle. When I reported the problem to HBL service, it took 5 weeks to get the truck in for service. When I contacted Land Rover of North America, there seemed to be nothing they could do to help.

    Once the truck was taken in for service, the dealer kept it 5 days, and low and behold!, the problem still exists.

    I believe the Discovery is a very well built vehicle, I have just been very disappointed with HBL of Tyson's and the quality of their service department. There are other Land Rover dealers in the Washington, D.C. area, but none are as convenient as HBL, so I am somewhat stuck.

    I have never been in a more solidly built truck, but if anyone out there is looking to buy a Land Rover and lives in the Northern Virginia area, I would "strongly" encourage you to look hard at the dealers ability to service your vehicle in a "timely" manner. 5 weeks to get a vehicle in for service is a complete outrage.

    Previously, I had problems with my inside dome lights, which took the dealer 2 visits and a total of 3 days to repair.

    I envy you people that have quality Land Rover dealerships to work with.
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