Older Discovery Advice Please,

[redial]

A local garage has taken this in px it will go on an auction dealer auction site.

I could have it for a grand. 120,000 miles MOT November. Get the chance to look and drive next week. Nearly forgot L reg which I think is 25 years old.

Any advice what to look for and does the price sound right given age.

 Thanks for any advice.

 

 

 

[walshie]

Doesn't sound particularly cheap, but not an awful price if it's in good nick. Check autotrader for prices.

Check for rust. Floors, sills, chassis, bulkhead, where the back doors close. In fact everywhere. I'm sure there are other things to look out for but they are known rust buckets. (Mine was). Have a look at the MOT online to see if there are any advisories.

[Duckandswing]

For a grand I’d be asking for a fresh MOT to be put on it. A garage  selling a car could easily do that for you. With the exception of rust and for that money I’d be looking for a years motoring without spending anything else, I.e. the tyres are good, no smoke on start up, no unusual rattles or oil leaks etc.

You don’t say what engine it is, but if it’s the V8 you are talking some serious fuel costs.

[bruno22rf]

Might be worth considering asking any local Land Rover owners if there is a decent independent LR specialist local that are reasonably priced (i.e. work for cash ) and it will also save you money if you source parts yourself - this is an old model so parts do not need to be expensive. Loads of good owner forums you could search for most common problems - Landyzone for example.

[John_R]

I had an L reg ages ago. As stated rust is probably the main thing to look for, both on chassis and body.

If it has sun roofs they have probably leaked and that lets water run into front foot wells and also under the heavy sound matting in the back. This holds water for ages.

I totally rebuilt my front inner arches and welded in a new rear floorpan as a result of this and other rust. I know I did the odd chassis weld too, but forget what else now.

Mine was 200 TDi and was a doddle to service. I  sold it for a grand ten years ago so your example better be good if that's what they want now.

[Dave at kelton]

Sounds a lot for that age. Look on all the usual sites including gumtree first. They are notoriously problematic, rust oil leaks etc. Had one from new on lease and had the chance to buy at four years and declined even knowing the history.

[panoma1]

I too had an L Reg disco years ago.......after a few years rust and reliability were issues!

[Scully]

 200tdi and 300tdi are just about bullet proof but there are many issues to look out chassis wise; very prone to rust but there are good examples out there if you can find one. Take someone with you who knows their way around Discos, and I don't mean John Travolta. 

[ferguson_tom]

From the pic it looks quite tidy, as others have said check for rust particular in the boot and inner wheel arches. Generally Chassis are okay but the bodywork lets them down. Engines and mechanicals are normally relaible if its been looked after. I had a L-reg but the 300tdi (this looks like 200tdi if it is diesel) and was a good truck, i sold it 4 years ago with a rusted boot and a few failures on the MOT for £850.00.

[Vince Green]

I would say, if you have to ask the answer is probably no because you obviously don't have the grass roots knowledge. Or you could embark on a learning curve but go back and tell them its only worth £400 tops if sold as seen because its obviously got faults, car of that age and milage etc etc, otherwise they wouldn't be selling it like this and the risks are too high. They might buckle. If they do, its not necessarily a result! they might be more than happy to get a few hundred for it, confirming your worst fears.

Old cars with high mileage are worth absolutely diddly squat, even if they were a quality marque once. Dealers need the space, if that car goes to auction it will be sold to a scrapper who will sell the wheels the body panels, lights, and all the other bits on ebay. Every last nut and bolt.

It would probably realise about £3K that way for the scrapper.

Edited July 30, 2018 by Vince Green

[Walker570]

It has all been said really in the above replies.  I would offer him £500..IF you really want it ...if not don't waste your time.  At least it is of the age where you can get the parts and at a reasonable price, Paddock, Craddocks et al.  The big problem is body rust, which apart from the bulkhead/chassis on a Landie you don't get. That was the [problem with the Range Rovers right from the start ...had a few.  According to what you want to spend,  if on the off chance it is a V8 then put it on LPG...mind that will cost you close to £1500 today to instal.

I did my Landie 10yrs ago and have no intention of selling it anytime soon so the investment was sound but if you chop and change vehicles then not so.

[bruno22rf]

Ooooooh Walker570, that's the love of my life you are dissing there - my 04 4.4 looks almost new - the BMW engine one's (03 - 06?) are reputedly the best built with the thickest paint. 

[Walker570]

Hah!   I was talking about proper Range Rovers not the antsi fancy jobs made later on......no just kidding. Your right, they did start to do something about stemming the rust in the later models.  The early models became rust buckets but looked ok from the outside ... I had three of them, all two door models, one with a Nissan 3.5 lump which would pull a house down.

Had the pleasure of being loaned the development model Roger Craythorne used on the first Hill Rally to do a rally in Belgium back in '71 ....that first conception is still the best 4x4 by far.

[redial]

It went for £750 on dealer auction.

 Thanks for all your comments and advice.