15th Feb 2007, 17:11

Don't do it!! Don't buy one of these!! You may be thinking, "I'm not going to get a bad one." They're all bad.

You may think, "I know how to work on cars." Ha! So do we all, and you still have to buy the parts on ebay.

I've never met anyone who has had a good experience with Land Rover. You will not be the exception.

24th Mar 2007, 00:22

That last comment is mostly untrue. I have seen excellent products and parts for Land Rovers on-line. britishpacific.com is just one place. Take a look, and compare prices to what a local dealer or import shop might charge, and you'll see why some people like the post above waffle.

I work with people who own Discos, and love them. I have met others on journeys who own them and love them.

The folks that don't understand 4x4's and can't tinker, complain about this and probably everything else in their lives.

Will an older Rover have a leak of some kind, probably. Will it beat a Vette from the line, nope. Will it use fuel like a V8 4x4; of course.

Have someone check it before you buy it, and look for maintenance records. Test drive it a good distance and take the plunge... Cheers.

2nd Aug 2007, 18:49

I own a 1999 Disco I. I have had Rovers in and around my life since I was a child. Do your homework and be prepared for them.

I love it to death. I enjoy working on it; I know I will be working on it till it dies, then gets resurrected.

All the problems listed in other posts are readily available on the net. If a person "does their homework" and it only consisted of browsing a few sites the weekend before a Rover purchase, then it is their fault for being upset. It takes months of intense studying to be at least somewhat knowledgeable on the issues with them.

My current Rover was purchased in Feb. Since I purchased it I have done the following: new battery, radiator overflow bottle, thermostat, rewired the rear window circuit, replaced the cd cassette, brakes, right rear tail light lens assembly, complete 90k service.

I am fortunate to own tools to do my own work. But be prepared if you are not up to doing it. Seek out a Rover specialist or dealer; beware if you go to the run of the mill shop. Rovers have a few tools and wrench sizes that fall between metric and standard.

With all this, I would never disown a Rover; they go forever with TLC.

The best 4x4 by far.

23rd Sep 2008, 01:06

I agree with the above post. I am the proud new owner of a 98 Disco I with 100k miles. I live in Wichita, KS, and had to go to Oklahoma to purchase it.

I drove it back 200 miles, and the last 2 miles, the thermostat died on me, my temp rose, the steam shower began, and I barely made it home. I thought for sure, I've dropped a cylinder liner, or blew a head gasket and ruined it for good. $40 later, new thermostat and top hose, dex-cool coolant, and she runs like a top.

Drove her 90 miles today, and she purred like a kitten. No where did I spend $1000 to fix it, for the people that are thinking of getting a Land Rover, don't let these helpless people scare you, with regular maintenance and research, you can own a happy Land Rover, that makes Jeeps look like Honda Civics in the mud. I LOVE my Disco, and am quite proud of it.

23rd Mar 2009, 18:24

I agree with above. I have owned a 98 Disco since it had only 30,000 miles. I of course was not the original owner, but the warranty to 75,000 was awesome, only had to use it one time and that was the aft sunroof was not closing.

I now have over 200,000 on my baby and I drive it everyday. Yeah sure, there has been the belts, hoses and the alternator and battery, but it has been a bullet proof truck.

I am getting ready to do a roof rack and tent mod to the truck so that my son and I can go do some serious camping.

Oh, I just also changed the cooling fans in the front that went out. It took all day, but it was no hill for a stepper as they say.

I am getting ready to buy a Defender, anyone have one for sale?

4th Oct 2009, 16:04

I Love my 98 Disco LSE although I have had to spend some $$$ on it, but it's built like a tank. I just need to know what's the deal with the rear brake lights? Only the cyclops works no matter what I do. First it was just one side, then the faulty side switched, but now neither work. Anyone seen this before? If so, please help...

23rd Oct 2009, 07:20

I have a 1998 and a 1996 Discovery. My 96 Discovery had the same issue and here's how to fix it...

- You have to remove both brake lamps assemblies (very easy, all you need is a Phillips screwdriver and some needle nose pliers)

- The bulbs get so hot that they literally melt the plastic housing which holds them in place. I lucked out and after breaking off the small melted portions of plastic, I was left with enough lip to still hold the bulb sockets in and line up the metal contacts. Also your metal contacts could just be dirty or rusted (which you could lightly sand to clean and replace the bulbs). Hope this helps!

My 2 cents. I've owned everything (and I honestly mean it) with the exception of a Ferrari and other high end exotics, I've owned every brand of import vehicle you can imagine! I'm that crazy neighbor who always has 3 or 4 cars sitting around and you go to on the weekends for troubleshooting a weird noise in the dash.

Land Rover is not the best car ever made, but has the most character and practicality of any vehicle ever made. One year we had a freak snow and ice storm so bad that friends with Tahoes and jeeps had trouble driving around, but not me! =). The Landy is unmistakable and worth any and all expense. If you have the opportunity to own one... BUY IT! I actually daily drive a 1991 Mercedes Benz 560SEL (which I love too, so I won't get started on how amazing that vehicle is)... but a Discovery is the best extra or kid's first car imaginable.

29th Jan 2010, 21:30

I agree with all those good comment about Land Rovers, I've owned a '03 Disco since it WAS 42k and yes, I've spent some $$, but is so worth it. This is my daily driver, 50 miles back and forward to work, never let me down. Yes they overheat, yes they have crazy electrical problem, like "the three amigos" ABS, TC, down hill... but every car out there has these problems or worse. I'm proud of been a Land Rover owner, and I plan to pass this legacy to my daughter.

The best off-road experience ever.. even with oil leak.. if yours doesn't leak, it is probably empty..