|| Hello there, still searching for a secondhand Disco. || I was keen on a late model Series I diesel but have had no || luck, part of the problem is SWMBO insists that it must have || dual airbags or at least one on the passenger side. Any argument || against this requirement=divorce. || || So know I'm looking at the Series II with Td5 (MY 2000, YA)and the || associated extra expense. What should be on the look out for? I have || heard of problems with the fly-by-wire throttle not being to || everyone's liking and poor performance problems due to oil leaks || into the ECU loom. || || Also I believe the centre diff is still there but cannot be activated || from the cabin, is this true? It would look like a serious handicap, || practically speaking is this so? I have heard there are aftermarket || kits to fix this, is it worth it? || || Thanks for your time. || || Tim in OZ.
As Paul says, check gooogle for previous rants from me on this. Briefly:
- Early ECUs gave a hole in the torque curve between 800 and 2000 rpm - right where you need it off-road or when towing. Later models (2002 on?) had this rectified, or so I'm told. The fly-by-wire throttle is very light and precise (I liked this) but after a year I was still stalling it in traffic so I gave up. Once it was up to speed (2500 rpm and up) it was a stormer.
- The turning circle is absolutely HUGE. Parking in tight spots was a nightmare. Test drive in a supermarket car park essential.
- Chassis weakness around the steering box. I complained of a groaning noise when I reversed out of the drive, and the dealer made a modification involving extra welding around this point. The ease with which he suggested this solution made me think it was a common problem, but I've not heard of it from anyone else. Worrying, though.
- Never convinced the traction control did very much. I got stopped regularly where my previous LRs (90, RRC) romped through, with TC whirring and wheels spinning madly. Again, others have found it brilliant. I longed for the difflock, though. Some can be retro-fitted, others cannot - technical folks will tell you which.
Overall, the Disco was 90% brilliant, but the 10% that wasn't, I couldn't live with. If the P38A hadn't turned up when it did, I was going to sell it and get a late Series I Disco with V8 and spend the difference on LPG. By comparison, the Rangie is a) awesomely good at towing, b) awesomely good off-road, c) like an 80" trialler with fiddle brakes in car parks* and I have never regretted making the change. I'm not advocating you get a RR (although it has the flippin' airbags), just pointing out some issues I had with the Disco.
Just one person's view, and YMMV etc.
- I exaggerate, but the comparison is true.
HTH