You've got a zillion miles on the clock......

[davidjmiller]

.....and its still running smoothly. We've all seen the posts of people who have cars with 100k, 150k, 200K even 250K+ miles on the clock and they still seem to be running really nicely

BUT

for those of you who have one and don't fix it yourself how much is it costing per year to keep it alive.

Reason I ask is that I've just purchased a 98 ES premium 300Tdi Auto with 96,000 miles on it. How much should I budget for in a year to keep it in tip-top shape?

Could be a piece of string question??

Thanks,

David

[Yoshi]

It is a piece of string answer!

We do all the fluid changes ourselves as it costs next to nothing compared to a garage and isnt rocket science either.

All of it can be done with a basic tool kit from halfrauds or such the like.

[muddyjames]

It costs me enough to be thinking about selling up  

My main cost is fuel though. There are various grindings and knockings going on with mine at the mo but I just cant afford to get them looked at. I am just hoping nothing siezes up on me.

Through the mot this year all I got was a failure on 1 wheel bearing and no recomendations. was chuffed about that. Servicing gets done every 2 years. I save up for the parts then when that happens something breaks and money goes on parts for broken item!

So a piece of string is your best answer I'm affraid.

[lurch_917]

my old girls on just under 200, mls and apart from parts i have broken with offroad abuse its been dirt cheep there the cheepest 4x4 for parts if you dont mind patternd parts ( bancock sweet shop ) and alittle bit of welding also accessories are cheeper ie: frontera winch bumper £650 you can buy a bumper and winch and snorckel for a disco for a bit more als if you break down in a jap 4x4 its a long walk but in a landie  theres another one along in a moment (green oval) means family i broke down the other week late at night  and this lorry pulled up it was frankie boy one of the moderators of this site but i had allready aranged recovery good lad frank

[freeagent]

piece of string question really...

if you can do most of it yourself then you'll save loads of money, and most of it is pretty easy.
I change my oil every 4k, its cheap and easy maintenance..

don't buy cheap patern parts when it comes to brakes, bearings and seals.. its false economy.

the way i look at it, is my wife spends £350 per month on the finance for her new, 07 plate car, my old disco was bought and paid for long ago, so even if i spend a grand a year looking after it (which i don't) its still cheap motoring in its own funny way..

[adrian]

how bigs your wallet  :D    :D

[Mr Alford]

ur not giving this man anyfaith i rekon you should set aside around £100 per month for lifes little car problems most fixes for the disco are less than £10 and if you have a clean month then the next month u should have  alittle something spare ull enjoy having it and to be honest most of the things that go you can fix yourself just buy a haynes manual :lol:

[Ja1983]

..all depends on you toleerance threshold, personally i dont mind the rattles, knocks, etc... but when doors dont open when intended (of their own free will) and i`m putting fluid in holes other than my fuel filler, more often than the fuel filler, i will take out the hammer, WD40, and the ductape.... :lol:

[Big Rich]

I'd service (full) every 5000 miles. Checking oils every week. Then any problems are noticed very early on and normaly saves time and money later.

But the string answer is spot on.

Look after your truck and it looks after you  :D

Rich

[stuvy]

I have just brought a 200tdi Disco 1, just about to replace the pads and discs. Apart from ripping the exhaust off at devils pit on sunday its only the fuel that costs me anything, I will be servicing it 3500miles myself which saves a head ache in the long run.....now weres the mud!!!!!!!

[stuntman]

I'm on my first disco 200 tdi and loving it, I splurged abit when I first got it, buying a light bar and roof rack and some new front spots.

I've started by doing as mentioned above, I have around a £100 a month that I think is acceptable to spend on repairs. If I don't spend it then I don't carry it over to the next month, but if I have a big bill (my new floor is one of those) then I'm not to fussed about the extra cash as it hasn't cost me anything this month or last.

And once you've done most of the major stuff it should run happily without to much cost (that's my plan anyway   )

[freeagent]

I went a bit mad when i first bought my disco.. in the first 3 months it had a new clutch, new timing belt, new battery, new wheel bearings and seals all round, new brake pads all round, new water pump, new fluids everywhere, new shocks, etc..

we were preping the truck for a Morocco, it paid off as we had very little trouble on the way down, and i've had a further 15k out of it since we got back with only routine maintence since..

We are going down to the pyranees next summer, so the disco will get another going over before then, I'll probably do the swivels as the housings are losing their chrome, and might get a set of new/ recon injectors...

I do think £100 per month is sensible... but whatever you do, spend it on boring seals and bearings before you buy bling roof lights and lift kits...
you could have every accessory available but it won't do you any favors if you break down...