Purchase opinion????

[6cuda6]

Hay guy´s need your opinion...as you know were looking to buy, here`s what come up to concider...

97 Disco 1, 115000 kilo´s(not miles)....i think it´s a base model has A/C,Auto/ AM/FMCassette, heated seats etc but no leather ..it does have a roof rack/ tow hitch/bush bar/fog lights/taillight protectors and the hood decal.....Yellow in color/tan interior with black aluminium wheels

1- was this a special package??
2- last known dealer service (at original sales dealer) was 40k(kilo´s) but no major waranty issues or waranty claims
3-last know history by a Rover dealer (unless they don´t imput into a Rover site after the waranty runs out) was at 109000 kilo´s in january 06 for "no start"

As you all have said, maintanence is key...being a mechanic i´m not affraid to repair things but the vehicle is for sale at a USED CAR lot which does worry me a bit ....( i know what happens at them sometimes....being a mech has it´s down sides too)

Opinions on the deal??? don´t be affraid to voice an opinion....i would rather hear it know (keep in mind i have not seen the vehicle in person...friday is the day but it´s a 2 hr drive)

Thanks, Dean

[rmuller]

1997 AA Yellow Discovery w/ Roof Rack & Hood Blackout is an 'XD' model .. only a few thousand of these were released... there should be some special vehicle badges on it.. and something under the hood perhaps.

I'd be a bit weary since there was no documentated service since 40k ... check in the glovebox and see if the previous owner left receipts.. other than that, i'd just check all the fluids to see if it looks like it was maintained properly.. see if it shifts from high to low gear, engage CDL, etc..

[Bene]

if that's an XD (sounds like it is) i would go for it. what's the price on it?

[6cuda6]

I´m not exactly sure at this point...under 10000 cdn (sorry i´ve looked a quite a few and just don´t have the paperwork in front of me). What is the going rate for one???? thanks, Dean

[Disco Mike]

XD's are more in demand and should retain a much better valve. If you are happy with the color and options, I would say go for it.
Send us some pictures if you buy it.
Mike

[pavel]

6cuda6: as a mechanic I'm sure you've seen it all but here are a few things to look for:
• Look for rust below the C pillar when you open the rear doors
• Is this one of the fuel tank recall trucks?
• How's the front edge of the dash board near the windshield - delaminating?
• Check for water under the rear rubber mat - may have to pull up a bit
• Probably doesn't have a sunroof (sunroofs can leak)
• Check for rust under battery box
• Check that she will shift smoothly into low range and engage the center difflock properly

Does this model have a factory winch or other good useful accessories like locking front/rear diffs? This colour scheme (yellow with black wheels) may be a turnoff for some buyers if you try to sell it again.
I've seen prices ranging from a couple of thousand to 12 grand for these mid 90s Discos. Get the price down really low and expect to do some work on her. My impression is that these trucks will become very cheap soon and will be excellent value for anyone who can do their own work...Best of luck. BTW the May 2006 Four Wheeler mag has a nicely done up 96 Disco.

[6cuda6]

Thanks for the tips Pavel....i haven´t seen the truck in person (friday is the day) so i can´t comment on the actual vehicle. My big concerns are more the high dollar items like converters, trans etc....as i live in Ontario the truck has to pass emision testing when i buy it.

Both dealers who ran the serial # for me (one was the selling dealer) said there were no outstanding recalls....has the tank been changed or was not part of the recall, who knows???

The pictures show me that it has front fogs and no winch..the rest appears to be as it came from the factory.

Anyone want to add to Pavel´s list of things to check.....the more info i have the better i can check the truck over....

Thanks guy´s...here hoping...later,Dean

[texasrover]

You know, aside from all that was posted... Open the hood and check and see if the base idle caps have been tampered with.

I dont know why but that bothers me to death. Those things are put on because no adjustment is required and if they are removed someone was attempting to correct a problem with idle issues which could run into many different reason not being a base idle screw being out of adjustment.

I like the tip on trasfer diff shifting.

Dont forget you are dealing with a spawn of Lucus... just double check those electrical parts out.

I double the rust inspect...

[6cuda6]

Is there anything audible or noticible to verify that the diff-lock is working properly??? Any other common rust area´s that a used car dealer would not be able to touch up ( anything outer body is easily spotted and re-painted)...thanks guy´s, i may be a mechanic but i sure don´t know these trucks like you folks!!! later, Dean

[6cuda6]

Pavel, you say rear rubber mat...i´m going to assume this is in the rear area behing the seat (storage area-trunk) and is it liftable without removing panels???thanks again....

[pavel]

The quick way to tell if there is a lake under the rear carpet/mat is to press down hard with your palm just inside/below where the tail light access plastic panels are - you might hear a squishing sound.... The best way is to remove the aluminum strip (Philips screws) that protects the carpet/mat just inside the rear door. Once you have this strip off, you can get your hand under the carpet/sound deadening mat and feel for water. If there is water in there, take off another $1000 due to all the possible places for leaks - finding and fixing is a bugger of a game!

Concerning water in the back of the truck, check out two of my posts on the subject of rust: on 10-15-2005 (Rust in Cargo Area) I showed photos of where the water can creep in between badly sealed steel floor panels - I still haven't fully solved this problem fully. On 08-06-2005 (Wet 'trunk') I included a little video of another notorious place where rust begins - take a look.

[Ray Wiley]

Hi, Pavel

Talk further about the rust at the base of the C pillar - what causes that?? What is the deal to repair and to prevent again??

My car (1998) is in top nick with less than 70 ks on it, but I see a bubbling at the base of the C pillar at the top of the wheel arch inside the door frame.

Hey 76cuda6 - the XD sounds a goer - not sure if any made it to Australia, but would love one!!


Ray

[pavel]

Ray Wiley: after almost 35 years playing with old cars (originally old Hillmans, Austin Healeys, Triumphs, Volvos) and Landies I can tell you that any panel that has a hole in it (factory or otherwise), is/was damaged in any way, or was not properly dipped at the factory will rust quickly. At the base of the Disco 1's C pillar you'll see a lap joint where two pieces of the body are spot welded together. My guess is that moisture can collect between these layers causing the rust. The dealer repaired this spot (cosmetically) for me in the last month of my warranty (back in 2000) and I covered the underside with "Blue Steel" antirust paint which seems to be holding OK 6 years later.
To repair, you need to lightly grind off the rusty spots, treat with "Navel Jelly' or some other rust killer; etch or prime with a zinc phosphate undercoat and then paint with the topcoat. One hell of alot of work with no guarantee that it won't come back. If available, find some kind of antirust oil to spray on the entire underbody and inside all enclosed body/frame sections - in Canada, this $150 yearly treatment is known as "RustCheck".

[6cuda6]

Well we went and we saw....As a mechanic i didn´t expect much from a used car dealer but man that is gotta be one of the worst pieces of sh#t i´ve seen in a long time, a real shame too cause it is an "XD". they were asking 8995.00cdn and it was probably worth, at the most, 5000cdn. Repainted, over spray on the carpet around the C pillars, rear floor soaking wet (thanks Pavel for the info) so bad that the side window seals had rust stains. The e brake didn´t work, brake pulsation, slight shudder in the trans from 1st to 2nd......yada yada yada, you get the picture. It would have been a restoration!!!!

OH well, have a line on another 97, a 99 and a 01, just need to sit down with the wife and decide how much $$$ we want to outlay at the front end....

Thanks for all the tips guy´s, we´ll keep looking and keep you posted....later, Dean