Why should I buy a 2004 Discovery II SE7?

[dzeyer]

I cried the day I sold mine! It was a great rig and I never regret owning it, I only regret selling it. My taste for the rocks just got too intense and I didn't want to mangle my rover on the rocks. I've had experience with every stage of off-road life from just a 3" OME lift, to a custom 6" lift running 37s with built axles and lockers. I love the fact that most people have the opinion that they are expensive to work on because that keeps the resale prices low in case I ever want to get into a rover again. Seriously though, they aren't any more demanding than my diesel truck and there are plenty of shops and mechanics that will have no problem working on them. The early DIIs were a GM block. I had mine in the shop once (water pump) out of the 6 years I owned and wheeled it. There is so much information out there about ANY rover you end up choosing and the community is exactly opposite of Pirate4x4 everyone will bend over backwards to help you out... that's because they love their rovers. I owned a 1999 DII SE7 (seven seater) I swapped out the rear airbags, hooked up the center lock (99-2001 had the nipple for center lock 2002-2003 no go, 2004 on up has them active in the t-case) It was cheap and easy to get working. Since it is a front and rear 3 link, you can lift it very easily yourself in a parking lot.... I did with mine. There are a ton of different companies who provide aftermarket parts for them now. As far as stock vs stock, there's nothing out there better. For your Toyota to compare it will HAVE to have front and rear lockers. The Land Rover 4-wheel drive system is incredible right out of the box. Bill over at Great Basin will be your best friend and will give you more information than you'd ever need. Nothing is more capable and comfortable to wheel. Spend an extra $100 bucks and get it looked at by a dealership.

NOTHING looks better than a built rover.... NOTHING.

 

[spencurai]

I am in the same boat. I have tried for years to talk myself into a rover but over and over again but every time I get into one and turn it on something is always broken. Maybe I just have bad luck but it just never works out. I absolutely fell in love with a H&H(I think) from the late 90's I think but as soon as I turned the key the sound of the motor and the broken gauges turned me off. Like has been said make a repair fund.

Nobody wants an unreliable car for the wife...especially if you are constantly turning the wrench on your own ride. Go for the Toyota/Lexus

 

[roverrocks]

I love my 97 Disco 1. I searched a long time before I bought one at Land Rover South in Denver 5 1/2 years ago. I wanted one that had been traded in on a new Disco as I figured that had to be a good one and not a lemon. If somebody had not liked it they probably would not have bought another new one. I agree that LR's are either lemons or are very good and reliable. Not much in the middle from what I've seen. I was pretty scared to buy one but it has turned out to be the best used vehicle I ever bought and one of the best vehicles overall I've owned. They still cost lots of money to keep up. Mine is great off road and I've beat it very hard though I've had to HD everything as the stock parts eventually give way. Lots of aftermarket parts available and quite a Land Rover community out there. The Disco 1's are simpler and less electronic than the newer D 2"s or other LR's. I've heard that the 04 Discos are the best built of all the Discos over the years but I wouldn't buy one without intensely searching It's history. When you buy a Disco you actually are getting married all over again and we all know what a crapshoot marriage can be. Whether you love LR's or hate them they are most certainly interesting trucks.

 

[Herzog]

dzeyer - that is a great looking DII. Post more pics when you have time.