Member Since: 14 Feb 2011
Location: Ross-shire
Posts: 83
Help With Choosing a Disco 3
Hello. Just joined the forum. Considering buying a Disco 3. Had a Series 1 V8, then a 2002 TD5 and finally an ES Premium which took my son and I overland to Syria. However it started to cost me money, so I part exchanged it for an Isuzu Rodeo double cab It's taken me 18 months to see the error of my ways and I'm now looking at a Disco 3.
Budget is a little tight and I wonder if anyone can shed light on the following:
Would it be false economy to go for a base model (i.e. coil springs and no terrain-response)? I will be using it off-road, both in our woodland in Scotland, and on expedition.
I keep hearing "avoid 2005 or earlier". Were they really such a problem?
Any experience of commercials? Are they as refined as the cars?
I have a max budget of 17 -18k, and gut-feel tells me to go for lower mileage rather than higher spec. I'm also thinking manual, to save fuel. Is this wise, or would potential buyers "expect" an auto when I sell it on?
Any advice / opinions gratefully received.
Thanks
14th Feb 2011 5:31 pm
bambi
Member Since: 10 Apr 2009
Location: south yorkshire
Posts: 2059
Not really clued up enough to comment, i would go for an auto, with terrain response, the auto imho suits the d3,
and welcome to the pond.
14th Feb 2011 6:29 pm
wvlenthe
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
Hi V8,
Welcome to this forum and enjoy.
If I would be buying it for off-roading, TR and air suspension would be on my list...
regards,
WiljoD3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
14th Feb 2011 6:30 pm
Simons17
Member Since: 12 Aug 2010
Location: beverley north yorkshire
Posts: 233
Welcome
i would go for the air suspension and terrain response having used it in anger a quite a few time it is what gives the disco its edge on other cars, espically if you end up stuck. the two combined well to help get you out. Also your budget will get a good example in most specs apart from SE and HSE.
I have a manual and it does take a little more driving off road then the auto does but i find it not to be a problem having driven defenders and freelanders.
14th Feb 2011 7:41 pm
luv_my_v8
Member Since: 14 Feb 2011
Location: Ross-shire
Posts: 83
Thanks for the kind welcomes and useful insights. Please keep 'em coming - I need all the advice I can get!
Also, apologies for asking questions that I've now discovered are addressed elsewhere in the forums.
Heart tells me that I will have bought one in a month or so, even if the head has reservations! Looking forward to getting to know the Disco again.
V8
14th Feb 2011 9:15 pm
Discobox
Member Since: 07 Feb 2010
Location: Market Drayton
Posts: 44
If you want to save fuel...manual is the way to go ...auto is probably more capable drive off road though.
I would also rather have a basic coil spring manual D3 than a Defender.57 Stornoway XS
05 Arctic 987S
14th Feb 2011 9:47 pm
flinty99
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 2558
If our looking for one for off-roading then the only way to go is Orange with all the goodies read attached.For details on the next Kielder Safari click visit the Kielder Safari website
Sold: HSE-G4, Tangiers Orange. (one of your 5 Discoverys a day)
Member of CFT
14th Feb 2011 9:57 pm
TOMDOB
Member Since: 09 Dec 2010
Location: Midlands
Posts: 91
I recently bought mine from a LR dealer. I know you pay a bit more, but in my opinion it's worth it for the warranty. It's not the type of car you want to shell out for when it breaks!! Mine's an auto. Best car I've driven. Hope you find what you're looking for.
14th Feb 2011 10:13 pm
luv_my_v8
Member Since: 14 Feb 2011
Location: Ross-shire
Posts: 83
Cant' PM you Flinty, as I'm new. I'm sure it's going to be out of my range, but let me have the details anyway.
Regards
V8
14th Feb 2011 10:14 pm
WhiskyDisco
Member Since: 17 Jan 2011
Location: Solihull
Posts: 248
Two weeks ago I bought an '05 HSE V8 with 40k miles for £16k (from an independent dealer)
It's got all the bells and whistles and is immaculate.
I reckon that I paid £4k less than the equivalent oil burner, if that's any help with your budget/model expectations.
At the time, there was an '05 S V8, similar miles but with no toys at all. £13.5k (private sale). However, I plumped for the model with the toys, auto (essential in my opinion), 7 seats and leather. Chuffed to bits.
There is a chap on this site selling an '08 V8 that I was also considering. He's looking for more than your budget (and mine) but I was sorely tempted.
StuPrevious cars
1988 Austin Metro 1.0
1996 Mazda MX5 1.6
1990 Toyota Celica 2.0
2001 Volkswagen Passat 1.9
2004 Lexus RX300 3.0
2005 Disco3 4.4 V8 (300bhp)
2006 Mercedes CLK350 Convertible
2010 Ford S-Max 2.0 Titanium X (240bhp)
2009 Disco3 2.7 TDi
2016 VW Caravelle Generation Six (204bhp)
14th Feb 2011 10:20 pm
bigcarpchaser
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Camberley
Posts: 2270
Depends whether you're going to want to sell it on later but I would think that auto, leather, sat nav, air suspension would make that easier. I'd try for SE spec as a minimum. Manky colours will be cheaper than silver or black
Should get a decent one for 18k I would have thought.
Service history is a must. Warranties can be purchased after, see Kam on here for example.
All the recurring faults seem to be of a similar nature, EPB, leaky sunroof, wheel bearings etc. Plenty of info on the site fir fixes etc. Not too many issues with the engine itself apart from EGR's.
Good luck Welcome "Lola"
14th Feb 2011 10:42 pm
CMG
Member Since: 12 Jul 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 956
Even the coil sprung with no TR response still has good 4WD, people think that TR is like the difference between a 2WD and 4WD, all it does is do stuff to help people that don't know how to drive properly (ie, starting off in a higher gear on ice, etc) plus I'd feel better with the coil springs. At least you wouldn't drive 600 miles to go off road and get a fault in the TR and the air suspension...which could render it undriveable if the fault is bad enough.
Just make sure it's Java Black on Alpaca, mmm kay? 17 Discovery 5 HSE Si6, Fuji White on brown | 07 LR3 SE 4.4 Java Black on Alpaca
Club V8/Club OCD
14th Feb 2011 10:47 pm
luv_my_v8
Member Since: 14 Feb 2011
Location: Ross-shire
Posts: 83
My benchmark for good offroading was my previous series 2. That had air suspension on the rear and the extra ground clearance was useful. Apart from that and the HDC, I used to drive it off road "manually" and it was great. (it had the lockable centre diff). If the coil sprung D3 could match my old D2 off road I'd be more than happy.
14th Feb 2011 10:58 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
Member Since: 08 Mar 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 2462
My opinion of order of priority for "stuff" (someone else posted the same a lil while ago too, it dont make it right though)
1. Auto Gearbox
2. Air Suspension
3. Leather
Of course if just the auto bit meets the price range then great, if you get my choices 2 and 3 then also good. Some people pass by a higher spec for a newer cleaner lower miles lower spec, some vice versa. Its hard to speculate without having a choice of D3s in front of you. D3 is not unable to do high miles though and should not make you imediately discount one as long as it has been cared for.
Finally, I would not advise going out of your way to get the satnav. The integrated screen and bongs is nice but garmin, tomtom etc etc have left it behind years ago in terms of sensible routing, tech, POIs etc. Although with a "leather" car the LR nav will probably be there anyhow so why not. If you dont get on with the LR nav, you could stick a tomgarminwhatevernav in front of it
Good luck, and welcome, its expensive in ere !!Captain Nick Medhurst would ask:
"What is the first rule when overlanding?"
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
It's taken me 18 months to see the error of my ways and I'm now looking at a Disco 3.
...auto is probably more capable drive off road though.
