Disco V8

[James_5040371]

Looking at one of these as a towcar for a Bailey Senator Wyoming or a van of that weight and size. Probably an automatic, around 1997 year, 70000 miles, XS spec, for about £6000. Any comments from someone wiser than me would be appriciated. Or any comments at all really.

Cheers

James

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

We own a Disco TD5, and swear by it. It would have no problems pulling the caravan in question.... but why go for the V8! Unless its a gas conversion you will need a very fat wallet to keep it on the road. Have you considered a diesel?

 

[CliveV]

James - A truly excellent tow truck, family vehicle, long distance cruiser - IF YOU GET A GOOD ONE!

Watch out there are some that have been owned by farmers and spend most of their lives in manure - apart from the smell, the acid plays havock with the steel chassis and alluminium body. Do not be swayed by the old line that Land Rovers are made out of alluminium therefore do not rust. The chassis is steel and rusts very nicely thank you. On top of that you can get electrolytic corrossion between the alluminium and steel which manifests itself as a bubbly powderey area on the alluminium body.

Do check the boot floor and arround the rear footwell - again if any rot at all here on a c.1997 vehicle - just walk away.

That said Land Rovers are the most easily repaired vehicles on the road with more vehicles still running than probably any other make. It is just better to get one in good nick rather than be disapointed. Good one tend to be kept though!! I have had my V8 Range Rover for nearly a decade and it is over 22 years old and I am the third owner. With simple regular servicing they go on forever.

The V8 engine is pretty sound in that it is very understressed in most situations. However, some blocks go "porous" (not actually true as it is more to do with a cylinder liner coming adrift but the effect is the same - if ignorred you will need a new engine) Check for water in the oil and oil in the water. If present walk away.

Also after a run check the top hose (engine to radiator). If solid it shows the cooling system is under too much pressure and probably indicates the start of the above problems.

Oil leaks under the car mean that it has not been looked after well. Be careful! Whilst parts are cheaper than most - there can be a lot of them being 4x4.

Also - pop out and buy one of the Land Rover Magazines (Enthusiast/Monthly/World/Owner) they will give a far better breakdown of what to look for in a Discovery than probably anything you will get here.

Finally - do watch out for that large rear door. I borrow a Discovery from time to time and I do like it but the rear door fouls the raised jockey wheel on the trailer/caravan. It is a real pain.

I prefer the Range Rover in that it has the horizontaly split tailgate which is so much easier to live with.

If you do go for a petrol - you may like to consider searching out a LPG converted one. As long as it is done properly with full certification you will enjoy superb smooth power enough to tow anything on fuel that costs circa 40p per litre or less.

The V8 versions represent superb value compared to the diesel ones but with diesel getting ever more expensive an LPG'd vehicle looks very attractive.

Alternatively find a good one without LPG and negotiate a lower price. Then use the saving to get it converted.

There is a thread on LPG elswhere.

Hope this helps - You need to be careful buying any 8 year old car. A Discovery is no different. There are some excellent ones out there but equally there are toe-rags that will sell you a pile of poo whatever it is you buy.

I would be wary of buying from a non 4x4 or Land Rover specialist. These guys generaly have a reputation to protect.

 

[CliveV]

Sorry my last sentence got confused

What I suggest is that you should consider buying from a 4x4 or Land Rover specialist rather than a garage that has just taken in this 4x4 in part exchange.

Wendy makes a good point about the TD5 - super engine. However, personally I prefer the TD6 that went into the P38 Range Rover. It is a BMW engine that whilst a bit slow (what diesel isn't?) is simpler and (in my view) better built with less "electrickery" than the TD5.

Another reason to consider the Range Rover as well as the Discovery. I am not anti diesel - far from it - but once you have driven that V8 it is hard to go back to anything else.

 

[James_5040371]

To be honest, the car would only be used for the 4 mile per day school run, and for towing the van, so it is not really worth the conversion to LPG. I only get around 15 - 18 mpg towing with my current Vectra, so i doubt it would really make that much difference. That is why i would actually prefer to buy the V8 - better performance, better value secondhand, and a much better sound. Insurance is the same as my Vectra on the V8, and servicing will probably be cheaper as i will do it at an independant LR specialist, wheras I currently go to a franchised Vauxhall dealership.

I can only really afford about

 

[Lol1]

Another point that Clive touched on is when looking under the vehicle for oil drops (and checking the patch of tarmac it sits on), don't take it as a good sign that it's all clear. I did, and had an expensive bill afterwards. I found out the reason that there were no pools of oil; it was because there was no oil in the damn thing at all. The engine was ok, but both the axles and most of the running gear were bone dry. With such a car it really pays to research it properly and get a cast iron warrantee from the dealer.

 

[CliveV]

No Problem James - I am quite envious of you going out to choose one!

If you do a search on autotrader you can see what

 

[emmerson2]

I can only endorse what Clive V has said.there ain't no finer engine than a v8 for towing.accepting that it will only do short mileage, I'd still gom for LPG, cos once you've used the v8, you won't want to leave it alone! Be warned! I've run LPG range rovers for 12 years,and keep telling everyone that TOWCAR spells RANGE ROVER! There ain't no substitute for cubic centimetres! Emmerson