Advice on a jeep

MyStubbleItches

Hi folks,

Looking for a bit of advice if ye can help? My circumstances have changed, was stuck in the building game and have a 06 landcruiser lwb commercial and a 02 bmw 318 that i used as a weekend car (could carry passengers and didnt have a mucky floorwell so girlfriend couldn't complain!). I'm now seeking a regular job, but if I'm lucky enough to get one I'll probably be travelling c.50 miles a day, say 300 miles a week.

I'm also building a house though so need a trailer, thus I'm looking for a passenger jeep to fill the roles of the other two. For road tax purposes, I don't want a 3 litre yolk, 2.5 would be more like it.

I have it narrowed down (unless there's one I haven't thought of) to a pajero swb or a disco. Both would be roughly 00 - 03. I saw a 00 pajero advertised with 109k miles for E3250 and was very tempted but decided to ask you guys before impulse buying!

Given the circumstances and my requirements;

- passenger

- sub E1000 annual tax

- towing ability

can you guys offer any advice?

Lex Luthor

look no further...this one looks immaculate

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=715815&r=s.php%3Fm%3D83%26o%3D696%26g%3D0

E39MSport

Stay away from the old 2.5l Paj

MyStubbleItches

Hey lads, on a mobile so can't quote.

The Subaru is interesting. I would be a bit concerned about mpg though when I'm doing 300+ miles a week. Also, I had been hoping to pay less than 5k, although I certainly won't rule it out as a possibility.

What goes wrong with the old 2.5 pajero? I presume that's the 00 model I mentioned? Is it something I could keep going with a bit of diesel mechanical ability or do major breakdowns happen?

I should add that I only plan on keeping it for 18-24 months until the house is built so I don't need to get too much out of it.

si_guru

I would be surprises if you would ever see more than 30mpg from a Pajero or Discovery in mixed driving (at normal speeds).

snowman707

if going for the pajero try to get a 2.8

2.5 literally drink diesel,

E39MSport

snowman707 wrote: »

if going for the pajero try to get a 2.8

2.5 literally drink diesel,

+ cracked heads

Anan1

Lex Luthor wrote: »

look no further...this one looks immaculate

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=715815&r=s.php%3Fm%3D83%26o%3D696%26g%3D0

That's a sports car that looks vaguely like a jeep.:)

E39MSport

Anan1 wrote: »

That's a sports car that looks vaguely like a jeep.:)

Looks general purpose enough for me

cadaliac

When you say "need a trailer" do you mean a Ifor Williams type trailer or will you be lugging a mini digger on a tri Axel?
This will have a Major bearing on the type of vehicle you need. Or, do you just want/need a Jeep?

Lex Luthor

Anan1 wrote: »

That's a sports car that looks vaguely like a jeep.:)

cant deny its a well kept specimen and I'd love to have a look at it

O.A.P

Lex Luthor wrote: »

look no further...this one looks immaculate

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=715815&r=s.php%3Fm%3D83%26o%3D696%26g%3D0

Yeah thats what I would like to get in the new year, that or a td5 disco.
I'd imagine the disco would be a little cheaper to run though.

Big Nasty

Lex Luthor wrote: »

look no further...this one looks immaculate

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=715815&r=s.php%3Fm%3D83%26o%3D696%26g%3D0

That's probably the best car ad I've ever seen in terms of info and pictures. All it's missing is a pic of service book and nct cert.

Has no tow-bar (yet) though!

MyStubbleItches

I have a 12x6'6" M&E trailer which I'd hang onto, I wouldn't be pulling it every day but it would be very handy while building. Maybe it's a bit big for a 2.5?

Comments appreciated re. Pajeros, looks like they're a no-go anyway. Should i take the lack of opinion on the disco to be a good sign?

E39MSport

O.A.P wrote: »

Yeah thats what I would like to get in the new year, that or a td5 disco.
I'd imagine the disco would be a little cheaper to run though.

Ha - wait til you drop it in for a service, or if air suspension goes etc ..

101sean

Service on a Td5 Disco is simple and airbags are cheap and easy to replace. Most problems are down to previous owner ignorance and lack of maintenance which unfortunately means the majority here will be a liability :rolleyes:

O.A.P

E39MSport wrote: »

Ha - wait til you drop it in for a service, or if air suspension goes etc ..

I would be the man doing the service. The suspension is only a maintance issue (if the air bags are let go enough then the compressor starts giving trouble) and as for the ect bit, I have a td5 defender that I keep in tip top order (engine and transmision anyway, its for work not photos) which I will be keeping so I'm confident enough that if I take enough care when shopping I wont end up with a money pit.
The subaru would be all new to me however and the fact that its petrol only unless I buy new or nearly new makes it that bit more expensive to run .
O.P the td5 engine will pull your trailer no bother unless you tie it to a house. The disco is higher geared than a defender but it still should pull as good or better than competion.

Pete69

Why not look for a clean passenger Landcruiser, better machine all round than either the Pajero or Discovery, there is telecoms company than has run a large fleet of 4x4's for over 15 years now, and they have tried Toyota, Landrover, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, and are now going back to the Toyota, as its proved the most economical, capable, and reliable, of the lot.

What about a VW Touareg, or an Audi A4 / A6 quattro.

JJJJNR

man that scooby is tempting !

MyStubbleItches

Pete69 wrote: »

Why not look for a clean passenger Landcruiser, better machine all round than either the Pajero or Discovery,
What about a VW Touareg, or an Audi A4 / A6 quattro.

I'd get a cruiser in a heartbeat, the commercial one I have never gave an ounce of trouble, lovely to drive etc., BUT it's a 3-litre and the tax on a passenger model is prohibitive.

I looked at touaregs too but the asking prices are out of my range, if I were to increase my budget (which I don't want to do as I need to buy blocks too!!), I would give them a second look. Would prefer the ground clearance of a jeep so that rules out the audi and probably the subaru too.

Its looking more like a disco at the moment, when do they start needing major work, mileage wise? If I were to put 30k miles on it over the next 18 months would i be safe enough to buy one with c. 120/130k miles?

O.A.P

The turbo can fail after 80000 miles so try do get one that has already been done. It would be better get from 03 on because before this they had plastic locating dowls in the head which caused a lot of grief.
Apart from that get the one with the best service history you can find ,a well minded one can do huge mileage. It might pay you to take someone that knows discoverys well with you when your looking.

MyStubbleItches

Thanks O.A.P., I think thats good advice, take someone along who knows them, any suggestions of someone in Cork who'd know them and might come along some saturday in the next few weeks?

The ones from 03 on are a bit expensive for me, they are a lovely looking machine though. I've seen a few nice ones around 00 or 01 that are selling for c. 5k, good straight, clean looking ones, whatever they're like underneath.

MyStubbleItches

Question, what are automatics like?

YouTookMyName

2.5 Hilux Double Cab import from the UK?

O.A.P

MyStubbleItches wrote: »

The ones from 03 on are a bit expensive for me, they are a lovely looking machine though. I've seen a few nice ones around 00 or 01 that are selling for c. 5k, good straight, clean looking ones, whatever they're like underneath.

They changed in 02 so by saying 03 is just making sure. If you get an older one the chances are this will have been repaired anyway (new head gasket and metal dowls)
I dont know anything about the automatic ones, they would not interest me anyway but I have never heard anything bad about them, just dont like automatics in general.

101sean

There were a number of changes for post 02 facelifted ones, different EGR, better fuel pressure regulator, cure for oil in injector loom (still happens though :rolleyes:) and flashable ECU so is easier to tune

Head gaskets on earlier ones are an exception rather than the rule, my 00 engine has 145k miles on it.

The only problem I've heard with autos is the xyz switch in aircon models, in a typical piece of LR thinking, the drain for the aircon discharges over it. Easily modified but it shouldn't have happened in the first place :rolleyes:

gb153

OP If I was in your shoes I would reconsider ruling out a 3 litre and go for a passenger landcruiser. They're so bullet proof I think anything else would negate the cheaper tax due to inferior reliability. I presume you've had no issues to date with your commercial landcruiser?

E39MSport

Not as bullet proof as they used to be. D4D's are blowing up fue to oil pickup issues (leaking injector seals messing up the oil) and Mr. T hasn't fully acknowledged it yet.
.... or something like that - been a while.

My next cruiser flurry will be an 80 series Amazon.



proper bulletproof

cadaliac

E39MSport wrote: »

My next cruiser flurry will be an 80 series Amazon.



proper bulletproof

Only if you keep an eye on the oil level. Work colleague had an engine seize on him a few years ago due to no oil - moreover not checking the levels often enough.
Engine fubar.

Big Nasty

E39MSport wrote: »

My next cruiser flurry will be an 80 series Amazon.

Cracking looking wagon!

101sean

Proper big Land Cruiser, shame you don't get proper big engines here

E39MSport

The 80 comes with the 4.0l V8 petrol afaik or the 1HD 4.2TD

MyStubbleItches

Thanks for all the suggestions lads, going to go with the disco id say, seems to fit the bill for what im looking for. I have to say i like the look of them too. (So does my girlfriend so thats kind of making my mind up for me!!). I'll hopefully get around to looking at a few in a couple of weeks time. In the meantime I have to shift the other yokes.

Any ideas how much their worth so I don't turn people off when I advertise them? I'm not given to haggling, I'd rather have a fair price that I can stick fairly closely to (couple of hundred quid is fine) and if someone is messing around I can confidently tell them politely to f off without being worried that I'm overpriced.

The cruiser is 06, six speed, c. 140k. Silver with a company logo on the rear passenger window panels (would it be worth it to have them removed?). Jeep is in fairly god nick all round, it was used for pulling a trailer and a bowser but not very often and not abused. A neighbour whos a toyota mechanic services it but no service log.

BMW 318 has 110k miles, silver, perfect condition, '02. Full service by Brian Powell in Cork last year. Cloth interior, climate control, cd player. Will be sorry to see it go, really liked driving it but needs must and all. Thats besides the point of course!!

Any suggestions for a fair price would be appreciated.

E39MSport

Best bet for a price on the BMW is to check out similar on donedeal and then price it based on how fast you want it to shift.

Most of the sale is done in the add. Nice pics, good description, clean the car up for the pics and detail the service history.

MyStubbleItches

E39MSport wrote: »

Best bet for a price on the BMW is to check out similar on donedeal and then price it based on how fast you want it to shift.

BAck again. Shifted the beamer handily enough. Buyer got a good bargain but i priced it for a quick sale and happy enough, gl to the new owner.

So, now I need to get my disco before I can shift the cruiser. I have it narrowed down to two which I'm going to see over the weekend. Took on board a lot of the advice you guys gave me and both machines are 03.

This one has 120 000 miles. Owner says he got it with 30 000 three years ago. Turbo, water pump and T.B. haven't been done. Suspension airbags have been done. Sweet looking machine though.

This one has the same mileage, is being sold by a dealer. Couldn't really get much info from him on the phone, came across as being sick of people ringing about it!

Any opinions from the informed and experienced Defender heads here? What kind of things should I be asking?

All opinions gratefully received.

O.A.P

MyStubbleItches wrote: »

BAck again. Shifted the beamer handily enough. Buyer got a good bargain but i priced it for a quick sale and happy enough, gl to the new owner.

So, now I need to get my disco before I can shift the cruiser. I have it narrowed down to two which I'm going to see over the weekend. Took on board a lot of the advice you guys gave me and both machines are 03.

This one has 120 000 miles. Owner says he got it with 30 000 three years ago. Turbo, water pump and T.B. haven't been done. Suspension airbags have been done. Sweet looking machine though.

This one has the same mileage, is being sold by a dealer. Couldn't really get much info from him on the phone, came across as being sick of people ringing about it!

Any opinions from the informed and experienced Defender heads here? What kind of things should I be asking?

All opinions gratefully received.

I like the first one, and there is no timing belt (T.B) they have a chain which should last the life of the engine if the oil is changed regularly. The water pump is not a known weak point anyway. The turbo might last thousands more miles, mine ( A DEFENDER TD5) has 103000 miles done I always let the engine run for a minute before I switch it off this insures the turbo is not starved of oil.. I have been told to expect it to play up after 80000 though we will see.
Its hard to comment on the other one only it looks to be lower spec cloth seats probably. Give them both a good test drive in every gear both low and high box and try the diff lock (on grass not tarmac) Bring somoneone who knows them with you if you can.
Best of luck.

MyStubbleItches

Thanks OAP.

Yeah the first one is a beauty alright! Unfortunately I won't be able to bring someone with me this time around anyway. Travelling to Limerick from Cork for the rugby saturday and onto Galway to see it on sunday. Unless anyone knows of a LR mechanic in Limerick/Galway?

My mechanical ability stops at basic servicing and no real knowledge of anything more advanced than plant engines so, if you don't mind my asking, what should I be looking out for when I engage the diff?

MyStubbleItches

Also is the turbo expensive to do or is it something I could do myself?

O.A.P

MyStubbleItches wrote: »

Also is the turbo expensive to do or is it something I could do myself?

Turbo costs about 500 maybe a bit less and thankfully I dont know how difficult a job it is to fit.
I soppose you know that if you wait until spring you should pick one up a lot cheaper

MyStubbleItches

O.A.P wrote: »

Turbo costs about 500 maybe a bit less and thankfully I dont know how difficult a job it is to fit.
I soppose you know that if you wait until spring you should pick one up a lot cheaper

Didn't know that the price of turbos was linked to the seasons;)

Only messing, yeah you're right but I kind of need to buy now, plus its not that often that this calibre of one comes up for sale as far as I can see. I wonder how much cheaper they'd actually be after. I'll save about 500 in insurance as its only going to cost about 100 on top of the existing car insurance plus I'll have a healthy rebate from the commercial once I shift it. For me personally its kind of swings and roundabouts and I have that itch now too where I just want the change that I've been building towards!!

MyStubbleItches

Update.

Went to see the second one above, very grubby, seller had made no effort to have it ready for sale. Uninterested at the money.

First one, arranged to see it last Sunday, rang numerous times, texted, etc., no answer. Don't know what the story is. Would love to see it and it's what I'm looking for but if I can't contact the guy, I don't know what else to do!

The 03 facelift ones like it are hard enough to come by, one or two out there looking for crazy money. Anyone know of any for sale of the same calibre as the above?