NotoriousREV

As part of my current "must change vehicles" mindset (don't ask why, I just have the urge to change cars, lol) and being mightily impressed by the practicality of my Dad's Vauxhall Meriva and distinctly unimpressed by the inability of the wife's Clio to fit our new pram, I was thinking of getting a Discovery or Cherokee with LPG conversion.

I should add it's not just for carrying the baby around, although the higher seating certainly helps when fitting and removing the baby seat, I want something van-like enough for carting stuff around (household and garden rubbish, stuff from B&Q etc etc) yet car-like enough for day to day driving.

Dammit, I need a "lifestyle" vehicle

Good/Bad experiences of either? I've driven a Cherokee (which I enjoyed far more than I thought I would) but haven't been in a Disco but like the idea of a V8

EDIT: Budget is about £4k for this, BTW

Petem95

Not driven, but been in both and prefer the Disco interior - the Jeep dash looks like it was designed in the 70's -infact the Jeep looks like an old design overall, but does still have a certain appeal.

Think I would actually go for the Jeep - they look expensive, even if theyre not, and old Disco's seem to look pretty tatty and rusty.

Comper100

Driven both and although i'm a landy lover the 4.0 ltre Jeep was great on the road, quick and handled ok for a 4x4. However it drank fuel like no ones business.
I'd go for the disco however because i would. Depends on what you will be using for really i suppose.

Comper100

tonybooth

Well having had both here is my opinion.

The Cherokee is a nice thing - although the rear doors are tiny so you would struggle with getting a baby in the back whilst still in a car seat, or indeed leaning in to secure the nipper into a fixed car seat. Rust is not a mega problem and neither is the engine. However, the Jeep does have 2 achilles heels. The first is the rear axle, which is a notoriously weak part and costs a fortune to replace. The second is the gearbox which is often clunky, and again expensive to replace.

All parts for Jeeps are VERY expensive and there is a lack of pattern alternatives and independent specialists. There are also not many sat in scrap yards waiting to be broken limiting supplies of second hand parts.

The Disco on the other hand does suffer from rust - Notably on all the doors, the rear arches and the chassis. There are still good ones about for 4 grand if you bide your time and do your homework. There are hundreds of independent servicing and parts specialists as well as a superb dealer network for OEM parts. The V8 engine is an engineering legend and virtually indestructable if looked after properly.

Both vehicles run very well on gas with only a very slight loss of power. Just make sure you get all the relevant paperwork for the installation as DIY and back street conversions should be avoided at all costs.

As for MPG - You are looking at about 14 for the Disco and around 16 for the Jeep.

Residuals are also a key factor and you will lose less on the Disco for sure. Personally, I would never touch another Jeep purely down to the cost of spares.

I am currently running a TD5 Disco - and I think you would be wise to look at the diesel route. It is possible to pick up an early 300TDi (made from Feb 1994) for under 4 grand. Just make sure it has had the top of the dash changed as they all curled up in the heat and look a right mess. Land Rover did issue a recall but not all were done.

Also worth noting that the Disco automatic gearboxes are stronger than the manual ones.

If you need any more info let me know.

Cheers

TONY

NotoriousREV

Tony, I did consider the 300TDi as an option, but the performance figures looked frightening (17 seconds to 60? ). Are they as slow as all that in real life?

tonybooth

It all depends how you measure it. I have had my TD5 chipped to 165bhp, but even before I did it wasn't that slow. I sold an STi8 PPP to buy my Disco and I don't regret it. I get into the Disco and I know I am driving a Disco and so adapt my driving style accordingly. Don't make the mistake of thinking that a V8 is fast just because its a V8 as you will be disappointed.

My Disco is plenty fast enough for modern congested roads and will sit at 90 on the motorway all day long.

I still have a Type RA for the track though which the Disco tows at 70 with ease.

The V8 is a stronger engine and it is quieter and a bit faster, but you need to look at the bigger picture. A 300 TDi may just surprise you.

Cheers

TONY

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

My choice would be a Landcruiser or a Shogun

But forced with choice of a disco or Jeep and that I no longer have a lock up full of Landy spares I would go for the Cherokee.

V8 Engines good for 120K if your lucky. Gearboxes roughly the same. Autos are more reliable than the manuals...but the early ZFhp22's munch their front clutch packs during MOT fast idle tests and revving in neutral/park.

Tony- please don't say that the Rover v8 is an engineering legend - it isn't. The only thing they are good at is they somehow managing to keep running without oil pressure, camshaft lobes worn circular, dished tappets, dropped liners, cracked blocks, weeping headgaskets, and with big end/main bearings on the verge of spinning. All whilst the owner is completely unware of the impending breakdown

tonybooth

It is, it is, it is, it is

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Well, consolidation is at least they are more durable than Scooby engines

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

I used to have a Jeep Cherokee 2.5 Petrol, sold it for one reason, that everytime something went wrong on it I couldnt get the parts, also I found there wasnt much room in the boot, and as Petem95 said the dash does look cheap, but the seats are comftable and i have seen some R-reg examples going for around 3k-4k.

julian N/W wrx my93

what about karioke instead!