| Author |
Message |
Andrew H (Stokpro)
Member
Username: Stokpro
Post Number: 271
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 12:56 pm: | |
Lots of known problems with the Discovery model. You'll end up paying over $7k to keep the damn thing running. I own a Land Rover D90 and thankfully (knocking on wood) I've never had a problem except minor rust which was fixed at no charge by LRNA and a broken bearings. Other than that, it's been very reliable. Land Rovers in general are different beasts, not your typicl fru-fru SUV grocery, they will climb anything. |
Kds (Kds)
Member
Username: Kds
Post Number: 353
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 12:15 pm: | |
Funny story that I just have to add here.....back in 2001 we had an owner come in with his 2001 Disco.....now, this was during the trying times with BMW/LR and staff moral was terrible.
With 2km on his car we had to open the engine to find out why he had problems.....we found a few nuts and bolts in the crankcase...heh...obviously thrown in by a grumpy assembler at the plant.
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John (Cohiba_man)
Member
Username: Cohiba_man
Post Number: 332
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 12:05 pm: | |
Okay, so thats a definite no. Thanks guys! |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Advanced Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 2738
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 10:58 am: | |
I nearly bought a 95 Discovery until I read the long term report on it from Car and Driver. From a reliability standpoint, they rated it the worst car they'd ever done a long term test on. I bought a Tahoe instead. |
1987 Jerry (Slag_328gts)
Member
Username: Slag_328gts
Post Number: 267
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 10:47 am: | |
My wife drives a 2001 discovery. I absolutely love it - Very, very comfortable. |
Howie (Brokerofexotics)
Member
Username: Brokerofexotics
Post Number: 461
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 10:27 am: | |
Well, perhaps my 1994 Discovery is an exception to the rule. She has 90,000 miles and still going strong. It has treated me well; always dependable and reliable. True, the gas mileage is below fair (I'm getting 14 mpg).
The engine is very easy to work on for the DIY mechanic. Besided normal maintenance, the only items I needed to replace were the 02 sensors and catalytic converter.
You are better off with the 3.9 engine (1994-95) with regard to reliability.
Good luck! |
Jim Muise (Writerguy)
Junior Member
Username: Writerguy
Post Number: 235
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 10:00 am: | |
At the time Land Rover was taken over by BMW I was sitting in the Bow and Arrow (great little pub in mid toronto) with one of Land Rover's main TECK troubleshooters. He told me a story that will pretty much sum it up.
The German Engineers were giving a talk to the "boys about how well crafted and consistent quaity BMW had achieved. One of the Germans said in somewhat halting english "Ve vill sometimes test a car to see if everything is sealing right by closing it up with a cat inside over zee weekend. If ve come back on monday and zee cat is dead we have built a good car.
One of our Brit Friends piped up "We do sumtin like dat here too. We take one of our cars and leave a cat inside over the weekend too. If we come back and the cat is still inside then we have built a good one.
Fit and finish has improved The vehicles are strong and able but I would not touch one prior to 2001. During the process of building the cars Land Rover stored their engine blocks out doors causing all manner of forign invasion which results in "Perforated Blocks" Now the factory has been upgraded and that process no longer happens.
2001+ yes with hesitation
2000 and before Put on your running shoes |
Kds (Kds)
Member
Username: Kds
Post Number: 351
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 8:26 am: | |
Run....do not walk.....RUN.
I was the sales manager for 2 years at a franchised LR store. These Disco's from that generation you refer to are the biggest P.O.S. that were ever foisted upon mankind.
Sure.....they do the job well......but are notoriously unreliable and expensive.
gas guzzlers extraordinaire....
head gaskets go at 25km....$1,500 CAD
Pads and rotors at 25-30km....$1,500 CAD
Tires at 30km.....$1,300 CAD
$500 CAD water pumps.....$1,000 CAD alternators....$800 CAD windshields.....oil leaks like there is no tomorrow....never ending oil leaks.
I specifically requested a transfer back to our MB a store where I came from to get away from this product...in good faith I could not represent it to any of my long term customers. I left in 2002. |
S. Brent Cardani (Brentc)
Junior Member
Username: Brentc
Post Number: 83
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 8:06 am: | |
I second what is being said here. I had a '99 Disco and it had all kinds of nagging little problems. Fortunately, it didn't have any major catastrophes, but it was a pain, nonetheless. Really soured me on the brand.
Overall, I would say the drivetrain is excellent for serious off-roading, but the fit & finish is deplorable. |
David Perini (Oppie20)
New member
Username: Oppie20
Post Number: 11
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 7:51 am: | |
Range Rovers are one of those cars where you answer the phone listen to your SO explain why she is sitting along the road thumbin' a ride and the first thing you say back is....
What do you mean is just went BOOOM?
Unreliable. Overpriced. Poor ride quality. gas sucker
Nice interior. Status symbol. Good looks.
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Mike B (Srt_mike)
Member
Username: Srt_mike
Post Number: 408
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 3:16 am: | |
I have heard the Range Rover is a different beast. I also hear the late model Discovery is better (like '00+). I actually despise riding his car. The biggest problem is lack of lateral seat support, and very slippery seats that are "high up". I slide around everywhere and I despise the car.
But I've also helped him work on it, and as a statistical matter they are not as reliable as other brands. They are also very custom - so there isnt much interchangeable parts, hence they are $$$ to fix. Usually cars with bad reliability have high depreciation - just like you said. |
Omar (Auraraptor)
Intermediate Member
Username: Auraraptor
Post Number: 1119
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 12:57 am: | |
Mike had a great 98 Range, and just got a 03 Range now to replace it. The first was great, the new one we have yet to see really. |
John (Cohiba_man)
Member
Username: Cohiba_man
Post Number: 331
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:28 pm: | |
Jeez, nice... so thats probably why they're so cheap, because normally a 95 Luxury (ostensibly) car is about 15-20K, not 7 |
Mike B (Srt_mike)
Member
Username: Srt_mike
Post Number: 407
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:24 pm: | |
Land Rover reliability is an oxymoron.
My brother has a 96... problems:
1) It sucks down gas like there is no tomorrow. 10mpg on a good day, and premium always
2) Most uncomfortable SOB EVER! Slide around on the seats and its bouncy and NOT luxurious and nice inside
3) He had a few major problems - rear diff blew out and needed replaced (about $2k or so), brakes are $$, routine parts are $$$. He hasn't had many major problems, but there seems to *always* be something acting up, whether it be the check engine light, or a weird noise, or something. Always something going on.
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John (Cohiba_man)
Member
Username: Cohiba_man
Post Number: 330
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:21 pm: | |
BTW, these are even more attractive because the bodies are aluminum, no rust since I leave it parked outside all year. |
John (Cohiba_man)
Member
Username: Cohiba_man
Post Number: 329
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:17 pm: | |
Hi, a guy up at my cottage in Muskoka is offering me a 1995 Discovery for pretty cheap ($7,000), and I was thinking of buying it to replace my current run around vehicle (90 4Runner) which I just use to go get wood and drive around the dirt roads up there since I don't want to drive my BMW or Vette (I never take my Italians up North, but these are still nice, low sports cars) on pitted backroads...anyway, I know these are nice cars and very good offroad and the price is very good but are these decent cars reliability wise? I don't want to think about it, just sheduled mainentence and put gas in it, I'll drive it at most 10,000KM a year...and if something goes I know it will be expensive (new engine costs more than the car, new auto transmission half as much) so will it hold up? How is the ride? Any normal problems?
Thanks |