DI vs DII: aka GET THE NEWB

Hey

I was referred to you guys by one of my longtime racing buddies. He says this is where the cool kids hang out.

I'm not yet a Rover owner, but my mind is made up. As the saying goes, I'd rather push a Rover than drive a Jeep. I know this topic is beat to death on the other boards, my apologies in advance for asking it again. It always seems that the answers revolve around off-road capability and then it quickly degenerates into a denigrating chest thumping contest. So before I flounder face first into the fecal matter of these fine foreign motor carriages, I figured I would defer to current owners for some firsthand fisting. At least you guys might use lube.

Background: I have been turning wrenches for about 16 years. I have done everything mechanical except head gaskets and timing jazz while the block is still in the car. I have successfully torn down and rebuilt motors out of the car. I am not very good at electrical diag. I can usually figure stupid stuff out, as in diagnose why power windows are not working. I have plenty of help for anything else though, as I work part-time at a shop.

Further: I am a returning full-time student. I have about 18 months left. I work part-time and have a spare vehicle to drive should my future Rover break down. As I am paying my bills myself, I am quite dedicated to my academics. I don't have a lot of time to spend wrenching on my cars. They get their regular maintenance and any repairs. When I do have free time, I enjoy mobbing my friends into my vehicle to go to the city, or snowboarding, camping, and the beach. I've never been off-roading, and I'm not particularly interested in it currently, but that may change. I am set on a Discovery because everything else in their price range is TOTAL CRAP (20+ years old, dirty interior, awful paint) and/or has 2-3 times the mileage. Being in South East PA affords me the ability to swoop some rather clean and well maintained Rovers for quite cheap.

I have a budget of $6000, and would like to be around $2000 for the purchase price, so I have a large cushion for when I need to perform repairs. Now that you have some background on me, I really only have one question:

Given my situation, would you recommend a DI or DII? To reiterate, I am not particularly interested in the extreme off-road capacity that many of you are using yours for. Fuel econ is only a minor concern, as I have a short commute. I am also planning to move within a few blocks of campus so I will just walk everywhere. In the summer, it will only be driven to the grocery store, in rain, or on trips. My main concerns are part cost and availability, repair intervals, frequency of issues, recurring issues, etc. In a word: down-time. I have done quite a bit of reading on here and other LR specific boards over the past several months, I understand the quirks, the typical issues, etc, etc, etc. I am just seeking some direction given my particular situation. "DI > DII BECAUSE blah" or "DII > DI because blahblah". I haven't read about any special service tool requirements other than computer diag. bits for the newer model, or seen anything which can really solidify an argument to sway me one way or another. Only that the II has a lot more electrical which COULD go wrong. Personally, I like the idea of the II more; newer, cleaner, etc. Reality, I just want something which is going to get me from A to B reliably without looking like I pulled it from the bottom of the Schuylkill river.

Thanks!

I would look for a well maintained d2 and spend some extra $$. You're going to get more bells and whistles. Rovers are going to break down it's just a matter of how the truck was maintained. Head gaskets will need to be changed eventually so if you can find one that has had it done by a pro thats always a good thing. With all of that said I have a D1 but am mostly interested in off roading. I would probably buy a Range Rover Classic for a daily driver if I had to. They are fairly reliable and you dont see a ton of them and they look awesome.

There was a really nice, very well maintained RRC LWB in the parking lot at my buddy's doctor's office in Bryn Mawr. It looks rather stately and debonair, and I like it...A LOT. But I really want to get something newer.

The bells and whistles don't always do it for me. I am into spartan creature comforts. I have only owned Japanese cars for the past 12 years. I like being able to adjust my heat and radio without looking at it. Switching into my father's Cadillac on occasion is always nice. It only mildly irks me that several of his electronic do-dads (heated seats, rear air ride, some others) don't work, or don't work well. But then again, it's not my car.

One of my regular customers, after owning both a DI and DII also recommended the DII. And while I highly value his opinion, he is into wheeling. I don't know how much that played into his recommendation.

EDIT: Spartan creature comforts..well, spartan controls... and I like the idea of driving around in a fine English leather glove.

http://landroverforums.com/forum/discovery-ii-18/side-side-look-discovery-i-ii-28599/

I would take some of that extra $$ and look for a 2004 d2 with a 4.6. It's going to be nice, new, has CDL .. If I had to get a d2 for a daily driver I would go that route. Obviously the 4.6 gets less MPG but if you're not going to put bigger tires on it and you're not heavy on the gas pedal the difference will be marginal. The nice part is more get up and go.

D1's are going to have similar style interior to the 95 RRC, less bells and whistles, but less electrical shit. All D1's have CDL and 99-01 has CDL also but doesnt have the shifter for it - just for future reference if you're gonna take it off roading eventually.. Also helps in the snow.

If youre friend told you to get a Rover he's really not your friend.

I was in your place this time last year. To me at the time it came down to creature comforts and looks I went with a '01 D2 its looks a little fresher than a D1. I'd go with a 2000-01 Disco it has the option of the CDL Like Jake the CDL is good for the snow I used it last week and never spun or slid and if you ever want to get in wheeling you have the option.
My 2 ¢

jveen wrote:

I was in your place this time last year. To me at the time it came down to creature comforts and looks I went with a '01 D2 its looks a little fresher than a D1. I'd go with a 2000-01 Disco it has the option of the CDL Like Jake the CDL is good for the snow I used it last week and never spun or slid and if you ever want to get in wheeling you have the option.
My 2 ¢

My D1 is fresher than your D2

I actually went to Stan looking to get talked out of being interested in a Rover. He didn't help. I kicked myself after talking to him. Twice.

I've been through that thread on landroverforums a dozen times; it still didn't help. I guess what I'm looking for would be this: Given that two trucks, a DI and DII were properly maintained before and during my ownership, does one tend to be more reliable than the other? Does one tend to cost less to maintain than the other? Does one lend itself better (read: has more aftermarket support) to possible future modifications, even if just a rear coil spring conversion or a lift? Or even just getting replacement parts...Again, MOST LIKELY I won't be on the crazy trails I've seen videos of you animals on. At least not til after I graduate and get settled. MAYBE. There will be no fording of Lake Christie for me. I may go ford the puddle in the parking lot at school.

What I am hearing is the DII's fit and finish, newness, bells and whistles, and better on-road characteristics are worth the premium...correct? I totally agree that the subtle differences really did a decent visual update to the chassis. The D1's I have seen tend to have pretty whooped paint. I would really like heated seats. There's a strong likelihood that I would be getting an '04 DII from the first or second owner. Other than the oil pump of death, what sucks about the 03's?

I guess that leads me in another direction...I can deal with a choppy, truck-ish ride. I've been driving cars with coilovers on the street for the past 8 years. Trucks, while squishy, tend to not offer a superior ride anyway, but i can guarantee it will be better than coilovers. Jake, you alluded to the interior of the DI being a little, for lack of a better word, old. Are the seats, tracks, sliders, mounts, electronics, whatever...backwards compatible? I wouldn't be opposed to putting DII interior into a DI. Then again, I'm not trying to get myself into a situation where I have to part a vehicle out to get my money back from it...AGAIN. Talk about frustrating.

D2 interior could be made work but it wouldnt be easy.... D1's dont have bad interior and some even have heated seats and bells and whistles look at the LE and LSE editions if you like that.
D1's vs D2's are going to be a matter of how the truck has been treated. Obviously a 04 D2 VS a 95 D1 you have a 9 years worth of driving difference.

My advice - go and test drive some, see what you think and make your choice from there.

dont listen to stan.

go test drive this. offer him $4k cash.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/ctd/2813767430.html

we can walk you thru all the preventitive maitnenance with your last $2k and it will be nearly bulletproof. and by bulletproof i mean you will have a full yr of worry free driving.

devildog01 wrote:

If youre friend told you to get a Rover he's really not your friend.

And if he sent you here he's REALLY not your friend.

You guys are kittens. And very helpful. My forum eats newbs for lunch. I'll do my best to avoid cluttering your space with any more stupid re-re-re-re-posts at least until I get my Discovery. Thanks for the help!

I don't know where you're located, but I would recommend an 04 D2. Bigger engine, built in cdl. You can find decent ones for cheap if you look. And you are more likely to find a lesser mile one. Its worth it just for the 4.6l vs the 4.0 engine. Stay away from 2003's unless you can get it for ridiculously cheap, and have the funds on hand to drop a new engine in it.

http://cnj.craigslist.org/ctd/2817057184.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/ctd/2822923974.html

And after buying one, be sure to money to fix shit. Immediately rebuild or replace the driveshaft. Rovers need constant mainenance, letting shit wait will only get exponentially worse.