What LR to buy

[saxon]

OK ladies and gents, I'm looking to buy my first LR and have had a passion for the Discovery for years. It will be replacing my wife's Daihatsu Sportrak ELXI as her main commuting car (10 mile commute to work each way). Reason for buying is because we can't get all our camping and mountain biking gear in the Passat with our new baby and all her gear. Probably 10 000 miles per year.

I'm looking for a Discovery Diesel in dark green with cream hide and ES spec.

Options are to buy a 1997 ish car for around £5000-£6000 privately or to spend £10k on a 2000 model year TD5 privately or perhaps even stump up £13k for a dealer car.

We like the cosmetics of the Series 2 but I'm not sure it justifies the £5k premium over a series 1 Discovery - views? We're especially interested in the suggestion that the Series 2 is more reliable - is this true? Are the Series 1 Disco's a bit unreliable?
Petrol models obviously are about £2-3k cheaper than the diesel and having driven both are much quieter and more responsive - views on petrol v Diesel?
Where's the best place to find a private sale Discovery?

Thanks,

Saxon

>> Edited by saxon on Tuesday 9th May 14:49

[Psimpson7]

Disco 1 at that budget would be a 300tdi. Probably highish mileage, generally very reliable. Bit dated, handling isn't great. Good at towing, big inside. 111bhp. r380 gearbox, which is quite nice, 24 spline drivetrain rather than the earlier 10 spline which is stronger and more refined.

TD5 disco is a completely different car really.

Its longer, wider and higher, has the td5 diesel engine which is better in almost every way than the tdi (exceptions being electronic complication if that worries you (they have proved themselves to be generally very good) and fuel economy) more powerful - 136bhp, handling is remarkable if fitted with ACE (Active cornering enhancement)

I had a brand new at the time 54 plate disco 2 es for 8 weeks after someone ran into my defender. It really was a very nice place to be. Only gripe with the interior is that there isnt much space between the seat base and the bottom of the steering wheel.

disco 2 also has traction control, but some of them dont have the centre diff lock (actually they do but the operating lever is removed) this can be bought and fitted for a couple of hundred pounds.

My brother has a 1994 300tdi disco1 so I have used both extensively including towing and off road.

Disco 1 boot floors are prone to rusting aswell. Disco 2 would probably not be suffering atall.

I would say go for a disco 2, but then it is twice the budget....! sorry not much help!

Rgds
Peter

[cpas]

I've owned a 300TDi on an R plate for a year and a half and had no problems with reliability - although I did know the history for the previous 3 years as I bought it off a work colleague. It does seem slow compared to a standard saloon car, but I'm not sure how it compares to a TD5. Mine is a very late Series 1 and was much cheaper than an early S2 of only 1 year later! Mine is a 50th Anniversary and therefore has aircon and leather as well!!!

ps I would avoid a V8 unless you have it gas converted, do a limited mileage or really need the extra grunt - they don't seem to be that much cheaper to buy!

>> Edited by cpas on Wednesday 10th May 13:38