Why I ditched my LR Discovery for a 4Runner

[swhite832]

I had a 2000 DII. I got fed up with the thing when i couldn't pick up a thermostat at the local parts store.
I am sure they were good back in the day, but now...????? It could be a good 4x4 but instead they make it a pain in the rear to work on. Plus, it wasn't 4 wheel drive. It was all wheel drive...big difference! My father in law pulled me out of a hole with his 85 truck. I had three tires on the ground and the only one than would spin was the one in the air , and yes the traction control was working. It controlled my traction alright. I had a CDL but LR took the ability to engage it away.
Now I have a beater 86. I sold the top, put some hunting and fishing racks on it, with a few permanent ice chest thrown in and it is the best offroad vehicle I have ever owned...with no drivetrain modifications. I even pulled a full size chevy truck out of the sand last week. It isn't good for dates but as a 4 wheeler it will run circles around a 2000 DII.

 

[Shark49]

Exact same things happened on my 2003 Disco2 but many happened after the warranty went out and cant get an extended because nobody will do one on it. Problem now is I owe 16k on it and will on get 12 at best on a trade in! I really want a used landcrusier......

 

[peter78]

That is a great story about the LR. I remember how I felt when I had two British cars. It brings back a lot of memories.

My 4Runner is my first Toyota and since 2001 I have had to replace the antenna, that is it. (I have had a 30,000 tune up a 60,000 mile tune up and oil changes.) It is even on the same set of brake pads. I currently have 93,000 miles. It is not hard to figure out why Toyota is now the best selling car.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Hey Shark49. I feel your pain man!! I was lucky, and sold my 2000 Disco to a private party, paid the balance of my loan on it, and put about a grand in my pocket. I felt really lucky to have sold it last summer amid all the high gas prices hype. The guy I sold it to was the first of only 2 calls I had on the car during the several weeks I had it for sale.

IMO, you should at least give it 4-6 weeks in the classifides and online. You never know, it only takes one interested person. Alot of people will put in their add, "private party seller no sales tax". (or something to that effect)

Look at it this way, if you trade your Rover in on a Landcruiser, yes you'll take a big hit in the wallet.......but, if you keep your Rover you'll take most likely even a bigger hit on your repair bills that certainly loom in the future.

Good luck!!

 

[Shark49]

yeah. Im actually only about 3k off now so i am getting closer. I just put an add in a landrover forum so well see.

 

[BassMiesterNJ]

Update:

Incredibly, I already have almost 10k miles on my new 4runner...! All has gone well and it's a nice truck for the price.

While I love the peace of mind and reliability of driving the 4runner, it is a bit a of a let down coming from the LR..... the LR had a much more authoritative approach to the road and I miss the high and comfortable seats.

That said, the Discovery sits in my driveway awaiting either a new engine or an "as is" buyer...

As a side note, I am currently seeking legal reimbursment from LR. A few months after I bought the truck off my own lease at 65k, the truck was diagnosed by LR as needing an engine replacement at 68k because of a either a slipped sleeve (well known problem in LR circles) or a cracked block. I'm not overly optimistic about getting a new enginge or cash, but it's not as much of a long shot as you may think.... we'll see.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Hey BassMeisterNJ.......that's terrible!! What is a "slipped sleeve" anyway? Just curious.

Yeah, if you ever look thru classifieds, you rarely EVER see a LR for sale with more than 50-60K miles on it. You DO see alot that say something like "3,000 miles on new engine."

Unbeliveable

Good luck man

 

[peter78]

Hey BassMeisterNJ.......that's terrible!! What is a "slipped sleeve" anyway? Just curious.

My best guess is cylinders sometimes have a sleeve lining the hole for the piston. Usually in Aluminum engines, you have a metal sleeve so the pistons can be in contact with metal instead of the aluminum. If the sleeve is not in tight, it slips, which is very bad. Of course a crack block is not so good either.

 

[BassMiesterNJ]

Hey BassMeisterNJ.......that's terrible!! What is a "slipped sleeve" anyway? Good luck man

See below:

...."Land Rover V8 engines use aluminum blocks with pressed in steel liners. At the factory the liners were pressed in and machined off even with the top cylinder head sealing surface. In some engines the liners were not pressed in far enough, or they were not retained at the bottom. In either case, the liners begin to move up and down. When this happens there is often a hard-to-identify rap from within the motor.

With time the movement allows coolant to begin leaking from the passages that surround the liner over the top of the liner and into the cylinder. When that happens you get coolant coming out the exhaust, and exhaust gases may pressurize the cooling system excessively and cause overheating.

I have seen some trucks with knocking and loose liners run 20-30,000 miles without coolant failure, while others fail right away. The most common liners to drop are those for the two driver-side rear cylinders. The only cure for this problem is a new short block. Land Rover has dropped the price of replacement short blocks (see my winter column) in response to increased dropped liner complaints.

Dropped liner failures are often associated with overheating incidents

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Interesting, thanks for the info about the slipped sleeve.

You would think Land Rover could figure out how to build a reliable SUV by now wouldn't you

One thing they do have is incredible stlying. I LOVED the unique look of my Disco, and IMO the Range Rover and Range Rover Sports are just beautiful SUVs. SEX ON WHEELS!!!!

Oh well, maybe they'll get it together sometime......but I won't be holding my breath waiting either

 

[Thai]

Oh well, maybe they'll get it together sometime......but I won't be holding my breath waiting either

good luck with that...see: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29604

 

[KGB4187]

Hey LandRvr, what happened to your 06 white 4Runner?

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Hey LandRvr, what happened to your 06 white 4Runner?

Hey, KGB interesting you should ask. After owning a black Jeep Wrangler for ten years and then my black LR Disco for the next 5 years, I thought I'd make a drastic change to white paint. Well, the white just did not grown on me like I thought it would. The paint just didn't have that incredible deep shine and wet look after a wash and wax/detail like the black has.

Long story short, I originally wanted the 4.7 L V8, but got such a great deal on the 6cyl, I bought it. I had just gone through a divorce, so I really was not in the best state of mind to be making a major purchase at that time. So.......I completely forgot about sattelite radio and navigation at the time of purchase, so I added a Sirius unit in the truck and a Garmin "suction cup" Navigation. I didn't like the clutter of these 2 add ons and thought how nice it would be to have both of those integrated though one central permanently installed "in dash" unit.

Anyway, I didn't want to drive a truck that I only "kinda" liked for the next 10-15 years. I wanted to LOVE it!!!!!!

I am extremely happy with my current 2007 Black Limited 4x4 V8. I love the extra power of the V8, and it sounds great to!

Regarding the black paint. It is incredibly deep and just blacker than black!!!

There you have it.

:bigok:

 

[BassMiesterNJ]

Update:

As a side note, I am currently seeking legal reimbursment from LR. A few months after I bought the truck off my own lease at 65k, the truck was diagnosed by LR as needing an engine replacement at 68k because of a either a slipped sleeve (well known problem in LR circles) or a cracked block. I'm not overly optimistic about getting a new enginge or cash, but it's not as much of a long shot as you may think.... we'll see.

Wow, never say never.

I signed a legal release so I can't disclose details...... but it pays to fight back.

 

[btaylorbarry]

My wife bought an lr3 before we got married and I have been trying to get her to sell it ever since. it just passed over the warranty mark and I am scared if we dont do something soon we're going to regret it.

 

[BassMiesterNJ]

My wife bought an lr3 before we got married and I have been trying to get her to sell it ever since. it just passed over the warranty mark and I am scared if we dont do something soon we're going to regret it.

Honestly, I would not be as concerned about an LR3. The previous Disco had issues with slipped sleeves and overheating etc. I don't think you will run into those type of catostrophic events with an LR3.

That said, you may want to think about an extended wty to cover the other stuff.

 

[btaylorbarry]

It has the typical electronic creepy-crawlies of the old lr's, and like lrconvert said, before taking it to the dealer for service I had to get out my laundry list of things for them to look at. No warranty now so an extended might not be a bad idea if I truly am unable to pry it from her hands.

My wife does say she likes the way mine drives better and would get a T4R for her next suv.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Hey, BTaylor......you're on the right track of thinking.

Sure the LR3 is supposedly an improvement over the Discovery, but just remenmber, it's still a Land Rover with the same "genes and family history."

Sure, I think in most cases I've heard of (including my own) the problems START OUT small and as just minor things that won't leave you stranded on the side of the highway........BUT they WILL get very serious and very expensive as you get into the 60K+ miles range.

I've only heard of one or two exceptions where a LR owner will drive the truck 100K+ miles with no major problems.

Good luck!

 

[btaylorbarry]

Perfect timing! My wife just called me and said her car wouldnt start at first and then when she tried it again the display said something about not all the transmission gears were available and she said it was making a funny noise when she pressed on the gas.

Isnt that the most ironic POS in the world? I jinxed it talking bad about it.

 

[btaylorbarry]

I guess Im used to toyota warranties because hers has not run out yet(thank God).

So land rover is having it towed in monday.

And my wife suggested herself we sell it.

Any takers?