Good Ideas?

[dew1911]

Bit of Background first, I'm 16, 17 In November and am looking for my first car to aquire in around July/Aug this year, to allow time to do any work that may need doing before I learn.

To start with, I was just looking at a C Reg Defender 110 19J, Nice Car, Painted a bad colour but other than that very nice, asking £2000, which is right at the top end of my budget.

Now, Browsing Autotrader this morning I found Early 3dr 200TDi Disco's can be had for around £1300-£1500, which seems to make more sense to me.

What I'm asking is, does a Disco make good sense as a first car or Should I avoid at all costs? I know insurance may be an issue, but I have a couple of methods that could help that a little.

[v8kenny]

Insurance will be your biggest issue at your age - get a couple of quotes for a disco and a 90/110 and see the difference
Also at your age do you really want to be seen driving a "girly" car - defenders are soooo much cooler

[dew1911]

Yes a Very Large part of me does want a Defender, but a good part also sees the sense in spending £500 less on a Nice Discovery and doing it up instead.

Also, The Disco would be better on road (where it would be about 85% of the time) and probobly a lot less likley to go boom on me.

At the end I'm at a divide here, and I was just looking for a little guidence.

[v8kenny]

I agree the disco would be better on the road but they are capable of going "boom" just as much (if not more) than a defender and will probably be dearer to fix when they do
Defenders are easier to work on yourself and new/second hand parts are easier to get and cheaper - something worth considering if you have a limited budget
As for price - take your time and shop around and remember with 90/110's condition is far more important than age (come to think of it that applies to discos too) - I just picked up a cracking 110 truck cab pick up with new canvas for £1450 so they are out there

[TimM]

It might be an idea to get yourself out to a meetup of some kind, be it Mud-Club, GLASS or any other 4x4 club, nad see if you can get a few rides in different vehicles.

You will find that Discos can handle just about as much off road as a Defender, and you will do it in far more comfort in the process  :lol:

Mine is used daily and I have heat in the winter, air-con for the summer, no leaks, less noise, leather seats etc........

But off road, you'd expect it to suffer, but it doesn't seem too  

I'd say go for the Disco, it's the thinking mans defender (steps back and awaits abuse), but you must make your own descision, and I think you can only get that through spending some time around them.

 :D

[hingmy]

Discvery? The thinking mans defender?

Hmm well they may be more comfy but they do have a legendary capacity for rotting out in odd places. Financially upfront the disco makes more sense but having checked out the insurance difference get someone with a bit of mechanical knowhow to have a look at your intended purchase. From a DIY repair point of view i'm afraid to say that the nut and bolt construction of the defender may prove to be more user friendly.

[v8kenny]

Thinking man's defender - I like that Tim
I prefer to call it the drinking man's disco  :D

[dew1911]

Yeah I know about the harder maintanecne of a Disco, but luckily I got access to 2 professional mechanics in my family, plus I'm always willing to learn.

As for the thinking mans Defender, I wouldn't go that far. I love the Defenders to Pieces, I always have and always will do, but It's coming to the stage where owning one just doesn't add up.

As I see it they all wear the Green Oval (No Offence to non-LR owners) which is a good thing, but at the end of the day it's a case of sometimes you have to take the sensible option and wait till your conditions change.

Any I look at I will check over, I had a real good poke at everything on the 110 I looked at with a screwdriver, and will take the same principle to any Landie.

Cheers for all the help, and keep it coming. :)

[hingmy]

No problems - whereabouts in cumbria are you? Is the owl pick from Muncaster?

[dew1911]

Right down on the Lancashire Border between Kendal and Lancaster, little village.

As for the owl no idea, I found it on the net and didn't have anything better.

[drum]

I suspect the insurance will decide it for you. It's easy to find out, Ring a few insurance companies tell them you've just past your test and add a year to your age. Then when you've done report back here. I guarantte two things will happen. 1. It will influence your decscion, and 2. The rest of us will feel alot better about what we pay. :)

[dew1911]

lol I might just do that, although I feel it may be a time to put it through under my dads name with me as the named driver. Not the best way I know, but I'm doing my hardest to avoid a Fiesta/Nova/Corsa/Other Hatchback Crap.


Also, would you Disco owners be willing to accept me? *puppy dog eyes* :lol:

[drum]

I'd still try it, or get your dad too, I think you'll still be surprised.

Personally I still wouldn't do it. Because you won't be building up any no claims, and it doesn't half miff your Dad when you right a car off on his insurance. (Okay I was young once, and it was actually my Mums not mine) :oops:

[defenderdan]

I thought it was obligatory to buy a Citroen Saxo when you're 17, then go for a trolley-dash around halfords, then wheel spin away from every junction you come to!
  Seriously though, your budget won't buy you a  "really good" 90/110 and certainly won't get you a tdi. A disco on the other hand offers really good value for money, more comfort, and electric gadgets. Insurance has to be deerer on a disco than a 90/110 though.


In response to "discovery is the thinking mans defender" i personally think that the discovery is just a defender minus the character, and before i get my head bitten off my drive has one of each parked on it.

[dew1911]

Of course I can't promise not to crash it, I'm not saying I definatly will, but I'll try my hardest not too.

I'll give all sides a go and see how the sums add up, I'm sure I'll work something that'll make Everybody happy.

[colintandy]

:D first of all i dont know why there is this myth that defenders are easier to maintain i agree they have cheaper parts available and some if not most are of inferior quality to oem parts where the difference is minimul ....i would if me get a defender keep it break it learn break learn the defender is much better offroad than any vehicle out there it has much better approach ,breakover and departure angles than a disco for a start has a better lower engine braking in low box than the disco has less comfort less heat but in my oppinon is ideal for learning offroad driving look for a 200/300 tdi there some out there ....as far as being your age i dont think that there would be anyone complaine lol welcome to the club and good luck

[spy]

I remember getting quotes on discos when I was your age (im 23 now) and I would be willing to bet you can buy a good 200tdi disco for less money than you can insure one tpft!  

As for the disco / defender descision, I am trying to sell my series 3 to buy a disco.  Main reason for disco over defender is because I feel i will get a better car for my £1500!

[wing nut]

if iwere you id get an old suzuki sj 410 and run around in that untill you get some no claims behind you ,good little off roaders  :lol:  :lol:

[johnniep]

im 16 atm too and 17 in november, asked for a quote to drive fathers rangie 3.5 tdi nissan and they said no way, the v8 bobtail, no way, so what ever you do dont go for a rangie!!! im soo cheesed off now!! damn insurance, btw, i did get quote but they where sooo stupid i chose 2 forget them!

[Colin 009]

How about starting out with one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lada-Niva-4x4-Hussar-Not-Suzuki-SJ-Landrover_W0QQitemZ4606180298QQcategoryZ116507QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Rich_P]

Insurance will cost approx £1,500 on my 2A, with an agreed value of £1,500.  However, if my father puts his no claims discount onto it (by putting his merc on NFU too), the cost is down to £500, which is a fair deal.  While his Merc will have a special deal of 40% off discount.  :D

Would of prefered a 110, but NFU said that the Series 2A is the best one to go for, because the insurance on the other vehicles shoot sky high.  A lot is down to your postcode, because I know someone who has a RRC and 110, at about £500 each vehicle being insured with NFU, and he's only 17.  :shock:

[LandRoger]

Defender=Mans car thinking or not,

 Disco= womans school run car and general Girly thingy,

 If you need heaters air con leather check your nails lovee and get a Paj,

[dew1911]

Ok thanks people, apart from the last post  :!:

I had a go at a couple of Insurers last night using an Ebay Disco as an example and the quotes weren't as bad as I thought they were going to be actually, and not a lot more then I'd been quoted for a Defender.
All Quotes:


As for the SJ, Hmmm, as I think I outlined earlier it's Landie or Bust for me...


Landrodger, you calling Several members of this Forum girls? why don't you go and post this idea in the Discovery Section and see what's said there?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lada-Niva-4x4-Hussar-Not-Suzuki-SJ-Landrover_W0QQitemZ4606180298QQcategoryZ116507QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

*Shudders*

[v8kenny]

Between 2-3 grand to insure any landrover worth less than the premium is nuts !   :shock:
Stick with your idea of getting your dad to insure with you as a named driver. NFU charged me £80 extra on a less than £200 policy (fully comp.,protected NCB and business use ) to let my 17 year old drive a 3.9 V8 110 with winch,lift etc .
I think it's very unfair that the saxo boys bump up every youngsters insurance - after all you don't buy a landrover for horsing around the town in
My son is now 20 and still on my policy with no claims ( yet !) and will start his own next year when he is 21 and costs are a bit cheaper
I now have 4 landrovers insured with NFU - range rover classic , 200 tdi 90, V8 110 crew cab pick up and a series lla off roader - each one added to the policy gets a 60% introductory discount (with a bit of haggling ) so saves a fortune for me and my son
Hope this helps

[TimM]

My son is now 20 and still on my policy with no claims ( yet !)

There is an advert on TV at the moment saying something along the lines of..... we will give an equivalent discount to those who have been named drivers

Unfortunatley I can't remember who it is/was  :oops:

Yours faithfully,

Disco driver
(NOT A GIRL!   )

[dew1911]

My son is now 20 and still on my policy with no claims ( yet !)

There is an advert on TV at the moment saying something along the lines of..... we will give an equivalent discount to those who have been named drivers

Unfortunatley I can't remember who it is/was  :oops:

Direct Line that was.

And I know £2k is a lot, but I was quoted something like £1900 for a 1.3 Mitsubishi Colt so It's not as extreme as I thought.

And by the time I've had my way with it it'd be worth more than £3000 hehe

[v8kenny]

Thanks Tim - I'm sure your not that girly - but you started it !....................................

[dew1911]

Ok under my dads name for a Similiar Disco (Same one had gone, but everythings identical) and the cheapest one was £2500!!! Something fishy there, everythings identical.

[snezza69]

Like you David, I always wanted a Defender.  I finally went out and got an early (A) 110 on Eblag.  I did have the luxury of using it as a second vehicle.  The 110 was won for £1200 and needed a little work.  I would recommend looking at this angle especially if you have family and friends who could help you out.  I would ask as many questions of a vehicle as you can, that way if it is not as described you can walk away.  Defenders are so easy to work on.

[dew1911]

Defender for £1200, that was lucky.

tbh I'm doing more and more sums and the Disco is winning more and more battles. I'm sure I'll change my mind several other times before November, but for now it's game, set and match to the Discovery.


Thanks for all the advice everyone
David.