Thread: New second hand 4wd ideas

Ever since catching the disease I've been biased towards the green oval, but for under 25k is there anything Japanese that isn't either 30 years old or rough as guts?

If I had 25k to spend I'd buy a Discovery 2, you can find low(ish) kms and today of or around 10-15k which leaves a healthy budget for repairs which you might not even need. The biggest issues you are likely to face would be the rear air suspension (which isn't actually ha unreliable and is quite handy) or ABS faults which are somewhat common but I've never run into issues. That's if you get a TD5, the V8s can have a few engine issues (mostly just head gaskets).

A Discovery 3 would be an even better vehicle comfort, family, towing wise, but they definitely have more things to go wrong and if you don't do the work yourself are a complete ripoff.
If you could find a decent V8 (petrol) one for around 15k and then spent 10k on preventative maintenance with the suspension you could have a very nice soccer mum car that also does well off road.

The D2 would be a safer bet but between my D3 and D2 the D3 is the far nicer vehicle.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Ever since catching the disease I've been biased towards the green oval, but for under 25k is there anything Japanese that isn't either 30 years old or rough as guts?

If I had 25k to spend I'd buy a Discovery 2, you can find low(ish) kms and today of or around 10-15k which leaves a healthy budget for repairs which you might not even need. The biggest issues you are likely to face would be the rear air suspension (which isn't actually ha unreliable and is quite handy) or ABS faults which are somewhat common but I've never run into issues. That's if you get a TD5, the V8s can have a few engine issues (mostly just head gaskets).

A Discovery 3 would be an even better vehicle comfort, family, towing wise, but they definitely have more things to go wrong and if you don't do the work yourself are a complete ripoff.
If you could find a decent V8 (petrol) one for around 15k and then spent 10k on preventative maintenance with the suspension you could have a very nice soccer mum car that also does well off road.

The D2 would be a safer bet but between my D3 and D2 the D3 is the far nicer vehicle.

well at least you’re honest.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

well at least you’re honest.

Honestly the Discovery 2 is a pretty awesome vehicle, which I feel hasn't aged a badly as many other 90s 4x4s.

My Discovery 3 have been pretty reliable considering the state I bought it in and the age/KMs (2006/360,000kms).
The issue with the D3 is there are more things to go wrong, the parts are expensive, and most people have no clue how to work on them.

The D2 is basically a D1 with a few more electronics and less rust.
The air suspension is the only major thing to give headaches but you can always downgrade to coils in the rear.

When compared to spending $30k plus for a 100 series LC I'd take a D3 any day of the week.
IMO the D3/D4 is the most practical SUV on the market with a few "quirks" that you need to live with.
For the money I paid (and have spent) I'm not sure what else I'd rather have for even close to the same price.

There's a nice V8 D3 on TM now, $13k with most of the major things to break having already been done.
Only thing left really is the suspension bushes which will wear out eventually and can get pricey to fix.

I think the Discos are the best value in the LR line up, Defenders are stupid expensive and even more agricultural than a 70 series LC.
The P38 RR doesn't have a great reputation for reliability, the classic are expensive and/or rusted out, the L322 and new are expensive to fix like the D3 and not as practical.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Ever since catching the disease I've been biased towards the green oval, but for under 25k is there anything Japanese that isn't either 30 years old or rough as guts?

If I had 25k to spend I'd buy a Discovery 2, you can find low(ish) kms and today of or around 10-15k which leaves a healthy budget for repairs which you might not even need. The biggest issues you are likely to face would be the rear air suspension (which isn't actually ha unreliable and is quite handy) or ABS faults which are somewhat common but I've never run into issues. That's if you get a TD5, the V8s can have a few engine issues (mostly just head gaskets).

A Discovery 3 would be an even better vehicle comfort, family, towing wise, but they definitely have more things to go wrong and if you don't do the work yourself are a complete ripoff.
If you could find a decent V8 (petrol) one for around 15k and then spent 10k on preventative maintenance with the suspension you could have a very nice soccer mum car that also does well off road.

The D2 would be a safer bet but between my D3 and D2 the D3 is the far nicer vehicle.

You sound as enthralled with Land Rovers as a former colleague of mine, He completely rebuilt his wagon with Patrol components, so I made him this badge as a pisstake but he actually loved it.