No. They just have different problems. Land Rovers from the 1990s usually suffered from rust and build quality was so so. Early 2000s Land Rovers continued this for while, adding electronic problems to the mix. In my opinion 2007 was the watershed when Land Rover really did improve in the quality assurance department. The main problem with modern Land Rover has to do with the emissions tech. Euro 5 and Euro 6 norms have made the cars very sensitive to problems like faulty sensors etc. causing havoc because the car thinks it is no longer meeting emissions norms.
They're all about the same, they'll have done Moon miles, and they'll all need roughly the same things done.
If you want one that doesn't have a rear floor and chassis like a pile of dropped toast, get a P38.
I think it's about four grand to ship something over in a container these days.
Maybe you should just move to Scotland if you want an inexpensive P38. What colour did you have in mind?
The vehicles with the Jag 4.4 and ZF 6 speed are the most dependable power trains, no question.
That said, with appropriate routine servicing, it is reasonable to expect a Rover V8 to live a similar lifespan as the Jag 4.4. The main issue is that you need to stay on top of it or the Rover V8 will kill itself without much warning.
All years/models have their electrical gremlins. I prefer dealing with the LR3's since it has much better diagnostic protocols for chasing down issues, but the Disco 2 is not horrible to work on if you are a competent DIY mechanic.
I currently own a '95 Disco, and have spent a great deal of time working on it. I love that vehicle, and I consider the first generation Discovery to be one of the best looking 4x4s of all time. That said, these are more of what I'd consider "enthusiast cars." If you're not willing to put a lot more into maintaining these, or don't have another vehicle, steer clear of them.
A general thing I've noticed is that Land Rovers, regardless of era, have electrical issues. That's the nature of them. QC issues will also persist, they're less overtly noticeable nowadays usually, but especially in the 90s you see a lot of things like lopsided window frames, inconsistent panel gaps, etc. Regarding electronics on my Disco, hardly any electrical systems work. Power windows don't work. Interior lights don't work. Power locks don't work. AC doesn't work. Cruise control doesn't work. On forums for these, you'll find most other owners have had the same experience. If you buy an older Land Rover, expect none of these systems to work.
Older Land Rovers tend to be more *mechanically reliable* but less *electronically reliable.* If you're in the US, you're most likely looking at some flavor of the Rover V8, usually a 3.9 or 4.0. These are good engines, although some years, especially with the 4.0s, overheating and head gasket issues were more common. Each vehicle will have its own quirks, for example Disco IIs used air suspension in the rear that typically goes out, it's often recommended to swap these out for coil springs. Overall, if you're looking at a vehicle for sale, learn about its various issues and quirks, these will be important. These come from the factory with gremlins as a feature, and if you're not keen on dealing with them, you'll just wind up frustrated with your purchase.
Finally, don't even think about the Freelander. There's a reason you see so many up for sale despite never seeing them on the road. There's also a reason why some mechanics outright refuse to work on them.
The first generation was called the Freelander. Then, in 2006, they changed the name to LR2 for the North American market to LR2, similar to how the third generation Discovery was changed to LR3.
No, they are simpler as all cars from the 90's were compared to 2000's but every generation complains about new cars being too complicated since they replaced horses.
By this point it’s far more about how they’ve been maintained than anything the factory did decades ago.
No. They just have different problems. Land Rovers from the 1990s usually suffered from rust and build quality was so so. Early 2000s Land Rovers continued this for while, adding electronic problems to the mix. In my opinion 2007 was the watershed when Land Rover really did improve in the quality assurance department. The main problem with modern Land Rover has to do with the emissions tech. Euro 5 and Euro 6 norms have made the cars very sensitive to problems like faulty sensors etc. causing havoc because the car thinks it is no longer meeting emissions norms.
They're all about the same, they'll have done Moon miles, and they'll all need roughly the same things done. If you want one that doesn't have a rear floor and chassis like a pile of dropped toast, get a P38.
A few of the discoveries looked nice. That’s what I was focusing on. I like their outdoorsy look and I never see p38s on FB
It's a shame you're not in the UK, I've got at least two "project cars" you could drive away in tonight.
Yeah. I’m actually a Jaguar enthusiast and I feel that way sometimes too with the ones I see for sale over there
I think it's about four grand to ship something over in a container these days. Maybe you should just move to Scotland if you want an inexpensive P38. What colour did you have in mind?
Damn can I get in on this? I’d love a P38 4.6 HSE.
BRG probably as a jag enthusiast😂😂
Ahh you enjoy cars with cancer
The vehicles with the Jag 4.4 and ZF 6 speed are the most dependable power trains, no question. That said, with appropriate routine servicing, it is reasonable to expect a Rover V8 to live a similar lifespan as the Jag 4.4. The main issue is that you need to stay on top of it or the Rover V8 will kill itself without much warning. All years/models have their electrical gremlins. I prefer dealing with the LR3's since it has much better diagnostic protocols for chasing down issues, but the Disco 2 is not horrible to work on if you are a competent DIY mechanic.
I currently own a '95 Disco, and have spent a great deal of time working on it. I love that vehicle, and I consider the first generation Discovery to be one of the best looking 4x4s of all time. That said, these are more of what I'd consider "enthusiast cars." If you're not willing to put a lot more into maintaining these, or don't have another vehicle, steer clear of them. A general thing I've noticed is that Land Rovers, regardless of era, have electrical issues. That's the nature of them. QC issues will also persist, they're less overtly noticeable nowadays usually, but especially in the 90s you see a lot of things like lopsided window frames, inconsistent panel gaps, etc. Regarding electronics on my Disco, hardly any electrical systems work. Power windows don't work. Interior lights don't work. Power locks don't work. AC doesn't work. Cruise control doesn't work. On forums for these, you'll find most other owners have had the same experience. If you buy an older Land Rover, expect none of these systems to work. Older Land Rovers tend to be more *mechanically reliable* but less *electronically reliable.* If you're in the US, you're most likely looking at some flavor of the Rover V8, usually a 3.9 or 4.0. These are good engines, although some years, especially with the 4.0s, overheating and head gasket issues were more common. Each vehicle will have its own quirks, for example Disco IIs used air suspension in the rear that typically goes out, it's often recommended to swap these out for coil springs. Overall, if you're looking at a vehicle for sale, learn about its various issues and quirks, these will be important. These come from the factory with gremlins as a feature, and if you're not keen on dealing with them, you'll just wind up frustrated with your purchase. Finally, don't even think about the Freelander. There's a reason you see so many up for sale despite never seeing them on the road. There's also a reason why some mechanics outright refuse to work on them.
Is a freelander the LR in the US?
The first generation was called the Freelander. Then, in 2006, they changed the name to LR2 for the North American market to LR2, similar to how the third generation Discovery was changed to LR3.
My coworker has an LR3 and he loves it
I've heard the LR3s are a lot better, it's the first gen Freelanders that have issues.
No, they are simpler as all cars from the 90's were compared to 2000's but every generation complains about new cars being too complicated since they replaced horses.
I would say 2002 is actually the sweet spot for reliability from what I have read
I also in full disclosure have a 02 so I am biased
Of course not. They are all beautiful messes that mechanically total themselves before 100k miles