Help buying a '97 300TDi advice (over a Freelander)

[Greenlanekit]

Dear All

Mrs wants a Landy, I'm working on a disco, as I think they are better for us, as we have one 2 yr old and one on the way plus some greenlanes but she has seen a diesel freelander,.

Is there anything specific I should be looking for? its a Manual, 87,000 miles, Manual, 7 seater, electric windows, Goodrich All Terrain tyres, alloys, twin sunroofs, spotlights with guards, side steps, MOT July 2007, power steering.

Ive heard about cam belt upgrades and 18 official recals on the discos, and a whole load of problems with 1999 Freelanders

Cheers

Kit
( see you at Sibbertoft this sunday)

[Range Rover Blues]

Toylander, they are rubbish.  Not just my opinion, I asked around.  I Have a friend who worked at a large ex-lease car sales place and they had no end of problems.  The things rumble for no apparent reason, sitting in the back is worst, plus all the stuff you hear about IRD units and leaky head gaskets, they aren't even that car-like to drive.  Julie wanted one as she hates driving Blue so we tried one, well I'd hate to be loosing that much money that quickly on something that bad.

For one year's worth of depreciation I bought a soft dash TDi RRC for her from a mate, Julie didn't like the idea at first but when she drove it the car sold itself, I can't get the keys back off her now.  Go Disco.  At that mileage watch the gearbox more than the engine, check for backlash in the transmission (obvious when yolu drive) clunks from the CV joints, all the usual.  If it leaks a bit of oil you know there some in there, dried up leaky bits are the worst.

[Greenlanekit]

hmm cool , Ive been reading about the freelanders the last two days, sounds like they did have loads of probs. Our budget is about £4k, the freelander is a bit smaller so shes leaning that way for parking etc, but I know if you look after the 300 they very good , disco is what I'd love really, just wondering what to look for, so its the usual, incl wheel arches, sills, boot floor, leaks and running gear

[Thrasher]

<cough>

1997 ES for sale here .. £5500. Specs at http://www.pigletsplace.com

[Range Rover Blues]

And you don't get much toylander for that sort of money.  I wouldn't say they were easier to drive either

[Greenlanekit]

I recon I could have some fun with a disco, jack it up, etc, lets hope this disco is a good un, I know Series, Rangies and Defenders well,  having rebuilt all of them. Guessing really transmission and the usual then

[Thrasher]

Not interested in Piglet then?

[Greenlanekit]

whats piglet?

[Thrasher]

http://www.pigletsplace.com

£5500 - 12months MOT from day of purchase + 6 months tax

[Greenlanekit]

If it was my money :) yeah baby lets have it !! looks sweet and lots of fun.

But...... not to practical for the Mrs, one 2.5 yr old and our new born when he/she arrives.

 I hate to have to say this, and dont tell anyone I have, but this ones for the winter school run, shopping wagon and for Daddy when he can nick the keys and go light greenlaning..the next £4k is either for a Harley or to add to the CBR Firblade bike collection or a Series 1 ;-)

Maybe see you at Sibbertoft this sunday.

[Range Rover Blues]

All of which are good reasons for the Disco.  Exfept maybe the school run which should be done on foot anyway

[petergalileo]

My wife has a freelander, 1.8 on a V reg.  I wont be recommending one to anybody.  Ours is reliable and is nice to drive.  But the constant expectation of the head gasket going is too much every slight knock and rattle you expect open wallet surgery.  Its mot is up within a couple of weeks, it misfires when hot which I hope is an engine sensor.  But as soon as I have that MOT its going.

Stick with a Disco, at least everyone knows their weaknesses and they are easily and more often than not cheap to fix.

[Greenlanekit]

Yeah I know about the school run thing, the good thing is the main school when Jess is 5 is across the road, the bad thing is nursary is about 8 miles away, we live in a pretty rural place, any way there we go, diesel over a petrol anyday for these reasons,

[vtrdaz]

Well in defence of the Freelander- we've had 4 over the years - 1 petrol - which was , as everyone else say's abosolute C**P.
But the other 3 were TD4's -which is a fantastic little motor , very reliable and respnsive ( well it is a BMW motor).
I remember the first diesel freelanders being absolute dogs as well as the petrol so try not to go for one of these - TD4 all the way.
So apart from the interior rattles windscreen misting problems...... - i like em! :lol:
But i'd guess for 4K you'd be hard pushed to find a decent  TD4 and with 1 kiddy and another on the way they aren't actually all that big - so i'd say go for a disco too.

Daz

[freeagent]

don't go near a 4K freelander, it'll haemorrhage money from your bank account like nothing else.

for 4K you'll get a good 300tdi disco, (1996-1997) with under 100K on the clock, don't go for a blingy ES model, the basic models were still quite plush (lecky windows, remote central locking, electric mirrors, etc) and are better value than the posher ones.

unless you want to pay a cheating lowlife £1k to paint the tyres black and furnish you with a slightly dodgy MOT, don't buy from a dealer....

i bought a 100K 1996 300Tdi disco in april this year, private sale, full service history for £2200... there are loads out there, so be picky.

the main things to look for are rust in boot floor and body mountings, dodgy transmission and bodged repairs. don't buy one without some service records, or at least proof of mileage... you've got a reasonable lump to spend, and will find a sound disco for that money.

unless you want one... don't buy a V8.... they cost omre to run, and the engines are a bit tempremental.

hope this helps, if you want any other advice, just ask.

[Skibum346]

unless you want one... don't buy a V8.... they cost omre to run, and the engines are a bit tempremental.

V8... unreliable...?!  One of the best motors out there!

Yeah... so you need to be related to a sheik... but LPG can help that...

and the sound....MMMmmmmmm!!!!!!   :lol:

[freeagent]

i didn't say unreliable.... i said tempremental... need to keep a close eye on cooling system and change the oil regularly.....

can you be sure its previous owner will have done this...?

[Skibum346]

i didn't say unreliable.... i said tempremental... need to keep a close eye on cooling system and change the oil regularly.....

can you be sure its previous owner will have done this...?

Yeah... ok... you have a point...   :oops:

[blueboar]

Hello

I have just sold my '95 300tdi S Auto. It was such a beautifull vehicle to drive, insurance was quiet reasonable as well. It was not as thursty, as I was lead to believe. Doing 60mph I was getting 39 mpg. I would have got another one, but I was offered a TD5.  

Things to look out for:

full service history or some history at least, especially the cam-belt
rustysills, rust in boot, and Innerwheel arches, brakes etc, .

There was a ting in one of the landrover mags a couple of months ago, about things to look for an discoverys in the buyers guide.

Disco far better than Freelander