Originally Posted by
Mike C
Absolute nonsense!
I've had three Shoguns (two 3.0's and a 3.5) and a Landcruiser and now I've got a Discovery and the Discovery is in a totally different league.
The Landcruiser was awful, had no off-road ability to speak of, engine was gutless and the electrics were a joke. Nothing worked on it and it was rotten. Was awful on-road too.
The Shoguns were better, but the engines couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding and were noisy as hell, interiors were thrown together and usually falling apart, full of electrical gremlins, although nothing as serious as what is common on the Toyota. And to drive they were like a glorified tractor. Only had three because I live in the countryside and life is much easier with a 4x4 in the winter, plus I really need one for towing my speedboat. Shoguns and cheap and plentiful, just put the awful drive down to being a nasty old 4x4 and something I'd have to live with.
Then I got a Discovery. 1997 3.9 V8i and it's unbelieveable. 90,000 miles with full main dealer history. Not a speck of rust on the body or undeneath. Interior is put together beautifully, looks like it's never been sat in. So well-appointed, cubby holes everywhere. The engine is a joy. Lovely, low V8 burble, quiet as a mouse under normal circumstances. Enough torque to pull up a tree. Apart from an inevitable bit of roll it drives just like a car, has a very decent turn of pace for something over two tonnes. 7 seats. And the construction of the thing makes it SO easy to work on. Only downside is the fuel consumption, but that doesn't worry me. Off Road ability is in a different league to anything else other than a Defender. Looks purposeful and commanding too. The Discovery was based heavily on the Classic Range Rover and there's a reason why that remained in production for 25 years without major changes and why it was still such a highly sought-after vehicle when production did cease. There's also a reason why Land Rovers are known as the best 4x4xFar...
Sure there are rough ones out there, but just don't buy one of them!
Oh and nice Skoda, should fly at that price, very nice these!
Well you've had some odd luck then cos shoguns/pajeros are top bits of kit,can't say about the petrols as the 2.8 is a turbo diesel and an awesome truck and really good value second hand.
If we're talking pure offroad then I'm with you on how good a disco is but you can't surely tell me a 97 disco v8 drives like a car?the one I had drove like a tanker in a storm!!!!
And the rangey did run for 25 years granted but regularly got voted the most unreliable car of all time so not a brilliant ad really.
Funny how the majority of older ones had their engines ripped out and jap ones fitted instead.
Also the thread put up above gives you a well balanced view of pros and cons for the landy,as said in the thread the green one looked mint before being stripped for spares.
Scary.