Help me choose a 4x4
Discussion
Hi,
I am looking to buy a 4x4 within the next 12 weeks and my current thinking puts the Discovery D2 Td5 in favourite position (I think!)
I’ll give you a bit of background as I am looking for some advice…
A bit of a mid-life crisis thing, over Christmas I got to thinking I wanted to buy a 2 seater convertible this year. I’m early 40’s, 2 kids, good job, mortgage, usual stuff and just fancy an addition to my modern eurobox (5 series BMW). Only issue is that if I get a 2 seater I know I’ll drive too fast and that’s not where I want to be. So I’ve now had a think about it and think a 4x4 and a bit of green laning/pay and play could be the answer. I’ve always wanted to do it and I think now I’ll get permission from the wife (I know my place)
Anyway, this will be a third car, my wife and I have our own cars, so if it breaks down it isn’t the end of the world. It can sit on the drive until I get round to fixing it. I have basic mechanical knowledge. In my early days of motoring, if my car went wrong I had to fix it as I couldn’t afford the garage fees to fix it for me. I have changed engines, gearboxes, clutches, head gaskets and the like BUT on basic old cars like chevettes, capris, rover SD1’s and the like. No electrics and no fuel injection. It must be said though that I haven’t really done anything on cars for about 15 years. My car is a company car and fully maintained, my wife’s car gets an annual service down the garage and that’s about it. When I have more time I do want to build a kit car so getting my hands dirty again could be good practice for that. (I am already expecting a Land Rover to be a constant mechanical pit!!!!)
I have NEVER welded….
So I have looked at 4x4’s and my list includes:
D1 Discovery 300Tdi
D2 Discovery Td5
Shogun/Pajero
Shogun Sport
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Land Cruiser
Nissan Terrano
All the above would be diesel even though I guess my annual mileage would be under 5k per annum. As stated above, the car would be used for pay and play, green laning, dog transport, tip duty and car to take camping.
Budget of about £3k to spend.
My ideal would probably be the Land Cruiser but at £3k, I know I won’t get much…
Of the others, I am open to advice but Disco’s are my favourites. I have asked on aLR forum about a D1/D2 and most recommended a D1 for about £1500. They said they rust like hell but once the rust has been replaced, they are easy to work on. The objection to the D2 was around modern electrics, complications to work on and rusting chassis’s. I know nothing about either model so I am listening to all comments.
However I much prefer the look of the D2.
Anyway, any advice on buying a D2 Td5 much appreciated, any essential mods and any comments on the D1 vs D2 or anything on the other cars on my list most welcome.
Thanks
I am looking to buy a 4x4 within the next 12 weeks and my current thinking puts the Discovery D2 Td5 in favourite position (I think!)
I’ll give you a bit of background as I am looking for some advice…
A bit of a mid-life crisis thing, over Christmas I got to thinking I wanted to buy a 2 seater convertible this year. I’m early 40’s, 2 kids, good job, mortgage, usual stuff and just fancy an addition to my modern eurobox (5 series BMW). Only issue is that if I get a 2 seater I know I’ll drive too fast and that’s not where I want to be. So I’ve now had a think about it and think a 4x4 and a bit of green laning/pay and play could be the answer. I’ve always wanted to do it and I think now I’ll get permission from the wife (I know my place)
Anyway, this will be a third car, my wife and I have our own cars, so if it breaks down it isn’t the end of the world. It can sit on the drive until I get round to fixing it. I have basic mechanical knowledge. In my early days of motoring, if my car went wrong I had to fix it as I couldn’t afford the garage fees to fix it for me. I have changed engines, gearboxes, clutches, head gaskets and the like BUT on basic old cars like chevettes, capris, rover SD1’s and the like. No electrics and no fuel injection. It must be said though that I haven’t really done anything on cars for about 15 years. My car is a company car and fully maintained, my wife’s car gets an annual service down the garage and that’s about it. When I have more time I do want to build a kit car so getting my hands dirty again could be good practice for that. (I am already expecting a Land Rover to be a constant mechanical pit!!!!)
I have NEVER welded….
So I have looked at 4x4’s and my list includes:
D1 Discovery 300Tdi
D2 Discovery Td5
Shogun/Pajero
Shogun Sport
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Land Cruiser
Nissan Terrano
All the above would be diesel even though I guess my annual mileage would be under 5k per annum. As stated above, the car would be used for pay and play, green laning, dog transport, tip duty and car to take camping.
Budget of about £3k to spend.
My ideal would probably be the Land Cruiser but at £3k, I know I won’t get much…
Of the others, I am open to advice but Disco’s are my favourites. I have asked on aLR forum about a D1/D2 and most recommended a D1 for about £1500. They said they rust like hell but once the rust has been replaced, they are easy to work on. The objection to the D2 was around modern electrics, complications to work on and rusting chassis’s. I know nothing about either model so I am listening to all comments.
However I much prefer the look of the D2.
Anyway, any advice on buying a D2 Td5 much appreciated, any essential mods and any comments on the D1 vs D2 or anything on the other cars on my list most welcome.
Thanks
Ignore the luddites and don't worry about the electrical side of things... Like mechanical knowledge, it's another useful skill to learn, especially as all cars these days rely on electronic systems (and it's not going away either!!).
In my experience, a £3k Landy is just going to be a world of pain. Previous owners would have 'Improved' the car with cheap parts & bling while ignoring essentials such as servicing & cleaning the underneath (which helps the rot set in!). There are obviously exceptions to this rule but you have to know your way around the cars to find them.
As it'll be a 3rd & if you fancy a punt... Why not see what you can get at auction??
As for others, have a look at some of these:
M
In my experience, a £3k Landy is just going to be a world of pain. Previous owners would have 'Improved' the car with cheap parts & bling while ignoring essentials such as servicing & cleaning the underneath (which helps the rot set in!). There are obviously exceptions to this rule but you have to know your way around the cars to find them.
As it'll be a 3rd & if you fancy a punt... Why not see what you can get at auction??
As for others, have a look at some of these:
- Jeep Cherokee (XJ) - You can pick up a decent example for circa £1k.
- Jimny - Very small but very capable. Just make sure it is one with a diff lock & low range.
- Freelander - Don't knock them, they're pretty handy off-road. For off-road, you need an auto though as they don't have low range.
M
WJ model Grand Cherokees are fantastic value at the moment, I bought a 2002 V8 in 2011 for less than your budget!
Fantastic bit of kit and plenty of online help should you need to fix/repair anything! Ive had to fix the climate control, common issue, and get a new radiator but that's it...and it sounds great
Fantastic bit of kit and plenty of online help should you need to fix/repair anything! Ive had to fix the climate control, common issue, and get a new radiator but that's it...and it sounds great
The 80 series Landcruiser is the daddy of 4x4s, it is on a whole different level of indestructibility and ability to the others you list but you will certainly struggle to get a working one for £3000, particularly at this time of year. I would look at 100 series Landcruiser prados on that budget, should be reliable and provide all the ability that one could really need.
Grand Cherokees are nice things (my brother has one) but the diesel engines are underpowered and of dubious reliability and the petrols are reputedly very thirsty.
Grand Cherokees are nice things (my brother has one) but the diesel engines are underpowered and of dubious reliability and the petrols are reputedly very thirsty.
In many ways a Disco I might be better than the Disco II. The TD5 engine in the II is probably better than the earlier model (waits for the arguments to start!), but there are quite a few things on a TD5 which are expensive to sort if they go wrong:
ACS stability control (instead of anti-roll bars). Check the pipes running along the drivers-side chassis. THey'll run to a block about half-way along. The pipes run from the pump on the motor, along the front of the car, through the wheel arch and to the block. If they're corroded they'll start to leak? The pump CANNOT run dry or it's f
ked. Pipes are expensive to buy, a complete buggeration to replace, and the cheap ones from places like e-bay don't seal properly 
Air suspension - also a bugger if it goes haywire, but can be replaced by old-fashioned springs.
Don't even get me started on "The three Amigo's" - google it!
I've had a TD5 for 8 years now, it's brilliant when everything's working, but they're all getting to the age where even well-maintained examples (as mine is) are showing signs of wear.
They don't seem to like being used as occasional vehicles - I got a new 4x4 a couple of years back, and we hung onto the Disco because we were offered so little for it (and also 'cos I'm not very good at parting with cars). It regularly gave problems (sticking brake calipers were a favourite). It now gets regular use as one of my neighbours needed something to tow a big trailer, and it's actually better!
ACS stability control (instead of anti-roll bars). Check the pipes running along the drivers-side chassis. THey'll run to a block about half-way along. The pipes run from the pump on the motor, along the front of the car, through the wheel arch and to the block. If they're corroded they'll start to leak? The pump CANNOT run dry or it's f
ked. Pipes are expensive to buy, a complete buggeration to replace, and the cheap ones from places like e-bay don't seal properly Air suspension - also a bugger if it goes haywire, but can be replaced by old-fashioned springs.
Don't even get me started on "The three Amigo's" - google it!
I've had a TD5 for 8 years now, it's brilliant when everything's working, but they're all getting to the age where even well-maintained examples (as mine is) are showing signs of wear.
They don't seem to like being used as occasional vehicles - I got a new 4x4 a couple of years back, and we hung onto the Disco because we were offered so little for it (and also 'cos I'm not very good at parting with cars). It regularly gave problems (sticking brake calipers were a favourite). It now gets regular use as one of my neighbours needed something to tow a big trailer, and it's actually better!
Lionsden said:
I'd recommend a Shogun/Pajero or a Delica, although I am slightly biased...
Nice, always fancied one of these.I've had a mk 2 LWB 3.0 Shogun for 8 years, can't fault it other than its thirst, which I'll live with. Mk 2 was the last one with the ladder chassis and is rock steady in all conditions, this is what you need OP.
chris182 said:
Grand Cherokees are nice things (my brother has one) but the diesel engines are underpowered and of dubious reliability and the petrols are reputedly very thirsty.
I understand the older 3.1 TD's were not very good but the Mercedes Benz 2.7 CRD (in your budget?)seem to perfrom well enough and Ive not heard of any serious reliablity problems above the normal. Ive heard that the seals on the Injectors can fail over time,they only cost a few pounds but the engine has to be lowered slightly to get the 5th cylinder Injector done.4.0 IL6 and a 4.7 V8 petrol is always going to be thirsty in a 4x4, who ever makes it.
As a complete package the GC's have plenty to offer for the price they sell for. The US web sites offer technical help and parts.
I had the same sort of connundrum.
In the end I went for a very different option.
Jeep Wrangler, TJ, 4.0 straight six.
Cost a touch over three grand.
Great for roof down summer fun.
Great for off roading.
Enough power for fun without losing your licence.
It's a perfect mix of big 4x4 and small cabrio.
Huge possibilities to customise if that's your thing.
In the end I went for a very different option.
Jeep Wrangler, TJ, 4.0 straight six.
Cost a touch over three grand.
Great for roof down summer fun.
Great for off roading.
Enough power for fun without losing your licence.
It's a perfect mix of big 4x4 and small cabrio.
Huge possibilities to customise if that's your thing.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Not on your List. Sitting between the Land Rover and the Shogun IMHO is what I have.
Isuzu Trooper.
3k should see you comfortable in a 2001 type with toys.
I use it as you describe. Foul Weather, tip, Dogs, Pub car.
I second that... One of these will shortly replace my wife's Terracan runabout / camping wagon / tip run barge / green lane plaything.Isuzu Trooper.
3k should see you comfortable in a 2001 type with toys.
I use it as you describe. Foul Weather, tip, Dogs, Pub car.
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