Disco TDi 300

Chris · 21 January 2010, 22:46

I am thinking of ditching the Touareg and getting a cheap 4x4 for my wife to do the school run in and for me to tow the boat.

Love the Touareg but need the cash to put into a new property.

I was considering a series 2 rangerover 4.6HSE but then soemone reminded me of the 12MPG Fuel consumption and I agreed to give that a miss

I spoke to Tim Fry at Tim Fry landrovers in Cheltenham and he recommended for cheap & hassle free then avoid all the electronics and go for a 300TDi Series 1 Disco.

30MPG all day long and £500 a year to keep on the road were his words.

Having only had a couple of TD5's I am not familiar with the older discos. Anyone care to share their thoughts?

Jono Garton · 21 January 2010, 22:53

TDI 300

Much better than TD5

Just watch out for rotten boots

Chris · 21 January 2010, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

TDI 300

Much better than TD5

Just watch out for rotten boots

I'm guessing by rotten boots we're talking CV joints Jono?

Jono Garton · 21 January 2010, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I'm guessing by rotten boots we're talking CV joints Jono?

no rusty base to the boot, pull the carpet up and have a look, also look out for leaky sun roofs.

J

Chris · 21 January 2010, 23:18

Ta.

Mollers · 22 January 2010, 07:50

The guy I work with has a 300 which followed a 200 and we have a pal with a TD5. We have a Disco 3, our neighbours also have a 200 and a 300. My point? Discos are pretty popular around these parts. The 300 is possibly the pick of the pre D3, some don't rate the TD5. The 300 should give reasonable economy and decent-ish reliabilty. 30mpg is very optimistic, you may just get that tootling about on decent roads. 25/27 would be more realistic. Expect a bit of water ingress via the sunroofs and rear rooflights which can then rot the boot floors.

Mollers · 22 January 2010, 11:07

Double checked with my work buddy. 'I've never f'ng heard of anyone getting 30mpg out of one' were his words. He also reckoned that the sills rot, heads go quite regularly, rads are weak and the revised cam-belt tensioner should be fitted.

Chris · 22 January 2010, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Double checked with my work buddy. 'I've never f'ng heard of anyone getting 30mpg out of one' were his words. He also reckoned that the sills rot, heads go quite regularly, rads are weak and the revised cam-belt tensioner should be fitted.

I popped over to Tim Frys today and test drove one.

As much as I love Landrovers... I think the Touareg will be staying. I can't face getting back into a vehicle that old

chewy · 22 January 2010, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I popped over to Tim Frys today and test drove one.

As much as I love Landrovers... I think the Touareg will be staying. I can't face getting back into a vehicle that old

I wonder which will last the longest.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Double checked with my work buddy. 'I've never f'ng heard of anyone getting 30mpg out of one' were his words. He also reckoned that the sills rot, heads go quite regularly, rads are weak and the revised cam-belt tensioner should be fitted.

How often is regularly?
I've got a 200tdi and its returning around 30mpg, it doesn't get driven hard though.

Mollers · 22 January 2010, 23:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

I wonder which will last the longest.....

How often is regularly?
I've got a 200tdi and its returning around 30mpg, it doesn't get driven hard though.

The 200 is better on fuel than the 300, but less refined. Do you guys drive like grannies or live in Holland? No proper 4x4 down will do 30mpg locally.

BruceB · 22 January 2010, 23:52

I average 30-32mpg but then again I don't have a landrover but a 115,000 mile old Cherokee. This is on average around town and normal journeys, on a long run I can top 34mpg if I drive under 65mph.
The old and original type and it is a "proper 4x4" as well

Mollers · 23 January 2010, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I think the Touareg will be staying. I can't face getting back into a vehicle that old

A Disco 1/2 would feel a bit of a shed after owning a Toerag.

Searider · 24 January 2010, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Double checked with my work buddy. 'I've never f'ng heard of anyone getting 30mpg out of one' were his words. He also reckoned that the sills rot, heads go quite regularly, rads are weak and the revised cam-belt tensioner should be fitted.

I used to have one. 1995/N

Will do 30mpg on a run - if you keep the speed down to about 65.
Sills were ok
Head was fine (with 320000 miles)
Rad did leak (about 100000 miles before I got it - no damage caused other than a new rad needed.)
Revised Cam belt tensioner got fitted ages before I got it.

Got rid due to a rusty boot floor which was going to cost £700 to fix for MOT.
Rear sunroof used to leak.

Agree that it's a bit of an old feeling thing to drive in comparison with a modern car.

chewy · 24 January 2010, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

The 200 is better on fuel than the 300, but less refined. Do you guys drive like grannies or live in Holland? No proper 4x4 down will do 30mpg locally.

Horses for courses, I don't rag the Disco as it doesn't do fast anyway.
The 200 is a tad noisey compared to the 300.

Chris · 29 January 2011, 12:57

As a postscript to this thread I did end up buying a Disco although decided to go down the TD5 route again and picked up a fairly clean ES for 6k with 89k on the clock.

So far....

- New Shocks all round (not really necessary more of a comfort item)
- 1 Airspring
- Exaust manifold leak meant new manifold and major job to change it.

So the repair bill for the last 6 months stands at about £1500 and I have just been told the head gasket needs doing as I am having to top up the water all the time

Landrover, you gotta love em (...no you REALLY do have to love them)

Hightower · 29 January 2011, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

As a postscript to this thread I did end up buying a Disco although decided to go down the TD5 route again and picked up a fairly clean ES for 6k with 89k on the clock.

So far....

- New Shocks all round (not really necessary more of a comfort item)
- 1 Airspring
- Exaust manifold leak meant new manifold and major job to change it.

So the repair bill for the last 6 months stands at about £1500 and I have just been told the head gasket needs doing as I am having to top up the water all the time

Landrover, you gotta love em (...no you REALLY do have to love them)

So the start of a very happy Love, Hate, relationship

Lets go boating · 24 March 2011, 23:27

300tdi disco are megga, nuf said

Or even 300tdi defender now ur talking