HDJ80 vs Disco II td5 = no contest!

[RenoHuskerDu]

I thought I'd add a Disco to the driveway so we have a spare 4x4. I drove the 80 up to Colmar to see a Disco for sale last night.

Man, what a disappointment! I thought that the 5cyl td5 in the Disco would have a bit more punch. I kept pushing on the skinny pedal and waiting, and waiting...lots of rpm and noise, but the power did not arrive. And this guy had already chipped his td5 up to about 160hp. Stock, they must be real dogs!

Talking about interior space, the Disco was pretty short on that. I'm a big guy, but the steering wheel was in my lap even with the seat all the way back. The Disco has a tiny little sunroof that hardly seems worth it. I bet I'd hit my hand just trying to wave to a buddy. And given British quality, it would probable leak in the rain.

Stepping back into the HDJ80 was a welcome relief, with its HUGE torque curve, better suspension, plus more room inside for me and the family. I may still buy a Disco, but it will be an inexpensive one to leave parked outside in winter.

 

[mickeyt]

Better off buying a spare LC b/c you will certainly turn the inexpensive Diosco into a expensive service hassle of a rig. They are a nightmare svc wise. Get an ole cheap LC instead.

 

[masterfab23]

I used to have a 2001 with the 4 liter gas motor. the thing was junk, wind and water would always pour in, not to mention if you do any work yourself on it your dash will look like a xmas tree. I traded mine with 95k miles straight up for an locked 96 80 with 215k ballsy move but the wife is still happy with my decision. shes just pissed we get 12mpg, thats ok she'll come around in the winter, when we never get stuck!

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Yeah, I've heard all the horror stories about LR products, but over here in yurrup we get 'em without all the luxobarge options. I've beat the heck out of my Range Rover V8 including trials competitions, and broken almost nothing (not counting the rollover). It took 5 years of rough use before I finally broke a front axleshaft, for example. But my Rangie had NO power anything, no AC, none of all that heavy electrical stuff that I guess must explain why US rigs s-s-suck so bad.

A Rangie classic 2dr is considered a primo platform for building a trials buggy, or even competiting as-is in ProductionLong class.

So it seems that the luxo rigs LR sent to the US are trouble, trouble, trouble, while the more basic rigs here are more reliable.

But like I said, driving back to back with my pumped HDJ80, the Disco felt like a toy.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Found another, really cheap!

It's one of the blue Foster's Beer LRs they used in commercials. They're selling about 10 of them off as a lot, so I can get the Disco for about $3k. That price will do for a yard 4x4, even if the darn thing leaks, who cares?

Unfortunately, the blonde babes in bikinis that were in the magazine ads are no longer draped on the 4x4s. Rotten luck

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Better off buying a spare LC b/c you will certainly turn the inexpensive Diosco into a expensive service hassle of a rig. They are a nightmare svc wise. Get an ole cheap LC instead.

Oh man, I wish I could do that. Back in the 90s, France in its infinite socialist wisdom decided that only 2% of the market could be japanese cars. Import quotas! So there are very few used 80s out there to buy. The market has kinda split up into a) beaters rusted halfway to spit, and b) nice 80s like mine that cost at least $20k.

We didn't get any gassers here either, all 80s in France and Germany are diesels. Switzeland got gassers, but importing swiss cars to the rest of yurrup is an administrative hassle.

 

[rove_mcanus]

I've driven with td5 discoverys and they have no trouble keeping up with an fzj80. There is something wrong with the one you looked at.

Servicing is not expensive either. There is nothing special to attend to, and it uses less oil. 6 litres of engine oil compared to 10 for a 1hd-t.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

I've driven with td5 discoverys and they have no trouble keeping up with an fzj80. There is something wrong with the one you looked at.

Servicing is not expensive either. There is nothing special to attend to, and it uses less oil. 6 litres of engine oil compared to 10 for a 1hd-t.

I can't say that I agree or disagree with you. Believe it or not, I have never driven an 80 gasser! Maybe I testdrove one in 2000, but I didn't buy it. I bought an Excursion PowerStroke instead.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

I saw my LR guy today. He builds 'em up for competition. He also installed my intercooler kit. He says that the td5 can be chipped up to about 240hp as long as you put in thicker exhaust studs and a better manifold.

240hp is starting to get interesting. Do we have a forum on here for "the other 4x4 in our life?"