I'm looking at replacing our current baby 4×4 (Mitsi Shogin Pinin) with something a big bigger.

The Pinin is pretty capable with hi/lo ratio transfer box and central diff lock, and I'd want more or less the same capability on any replacement. It's not going to be used as a long-distance machine so road manners are second to practicality.

Looking at perhaps a Discovery TD5 or a TDI Defender – for those with experience, what are these like for reliability? What sort of mileage would you start to be be wary of one? What about an older Shogun/Pajero or Isuzu Trooper?

Any other suggestions/advice for an approx £6-7k, capable and reliable off-roader.

Got a 300tdi defender 90
Unless u have good mechanical skills or lots of cash steer clear this would also apply to a disco. I have replaced the turbo , engine, clutch, front axle,gauges, clutch , radiator etc. Since January 2010
They really are a money pit. But I luv it !!

Do you need the serious off road ability of a LR? If not it might be best to get something more reliable. LRs are brilliant – when they work. Inlaws had a few from new (Defenders) and all broke down all the time.

Best option is the 300TDI. The newer engines are worse. Td5 is fairly decent though if you want something newer. Current Transit sourced diesel is a bit pants.

Worth looking at a Trooper – nice bits of kit. Wife's grandparents one lasted ages and was great for towing.

Older Shoguns are for Brummies with caravans…

Troopers are a pretty ancient design.

What about a full size Mitsu **** (Pajero)?

Old isuzu trooper. get the 3.1TD. I had one. it fits the bill perfectly.

The Pajero would probably be the most appropriate. 😉

Don't forget the Terrano 6K will buy a late mint 3.0 model 110% reliable I have had one for the last 5 Years only had Fuel and one service a year if you want off road capability a SWB is best

Regards Keith

Subaru forester

If you want reliable don't even bother looking at the L200.

TD5 disco is the worst car you could think of.
I was on first name terms with all staff at Conwy Land Rover as I was there virtually every flippin week due to it breaking down, developing a new leak, decided to fry the electrics, had a new prop etc. Never again.

Terrano is pretty useless off road.

Look at pickup based trucks if you can. Mitsubishi L200, nissan navara, toyota hilux, ford ranger, isuzu rodeo

Don't get navara d40. Poor off road, high running costs and bad reliability.

Patrol? Shogun SWB? Cheerokee?

Fiat Panda 4×4

Landies are brilliant, I love them, however reliable is not a term that I would apply to them.

Diahatsu Fourtraks are pretty damn good if you get one of the later coil sprung ones, but they are getting a bit long in the tooth.

Just looking at 4.0l straight six Cherokees as well as a friend has one and I'm really quite impressed with what a laugh it is to drive off and on road.

i have a ex-mil landrover 110, in 6yrs i have only had a few issues, clutch exploded requiring a strip of the transfer box-gearbox assembly and a annoying electrical problem that left me without tail lights in mid winter( quickly worked out i could make it the 20 miles home using the the rear fogs as rear lights, slightly illegal but didn't seem to get noticed by other motorist who probably thought i was on manoeuvres :wink:)

it's been parked up since christmas but my wife moved it a few weeks back and it started first turn of the key.

apart from that, cant think of anything else, i am going to buy another more modern 110 defender as soon as i get the cash,

hired a terrano for 2 weeks in cyprus this year and that was pretty good if a bit flimsy, wouldn't buy one myself but worth a look,

used a disco 300tdi for 3 yrs towing ski boats, good workhorse fairly fast and comfortable but from new it had 3 gearboxes, two transmissions and several turbo's, make your own opinion on that one.

If you want reliable don't even bother looking at the L200.

Mine has been perfectly reliable.

For what you're after though, I'd go with a Shogun/Pajero. Just a bigger version of what you have now after all.

If it is primarily for practicality get something you can hose out. Like a Landy 110 or 90. Manual gearbox and 300TDI or earlier engine should be good for about 200,000 miles. The pleasant purr of the V8 if you can find one is good for 300,000 before a re-build. They only got unreliable after Ford got involved. 🙄

If you want reliability buy japanese but be prepared to throw it away when it breaks. Otherwise, buy a Landrover because then every journey is an adventure.

3.1 Isuzu has a rep as a handgrenade. Some survive of course. 1 big Isuzu dealer even made a second living out of replacing them with new 2.8's which are bombproof and also in Vauxhalls. 2.8 a prime transplant to LR before cheap rusted out Discos became common. The falling apart LR is not a bad as painted to be. There were issues with early TD5's, now sorted and many regard it as the best engine used by LR. Lots of tuning choices. 300TDI is bombproof. All Landrovers except Freelanders, Disco 3 and new stuff are easy to fix. Cheap as well comapred to Jap stuff. Bear in mind that a 90 or 110 isn't meant to be a motorway vehicle. Its a farmer truck with a few bits stuck on to amke the 20 mile journey to market less uncomfortable. If you are feeling rich the lastest Ford engined ones with 6 speed box are ace. Go like stink. Yeah a Mondeo will be quicker to 60 but thats irrelevant unless you are a pillock and ditto top speed unless you want to go to germany. try a 110 then decide .

What's all this about Land Rovers being unreliable ?
My 110's done 300 000 km in 20 years and been towed home once due to a failed petrol pump. And that's only because I ran out of LPG.

Discovery TD5 or a TDI Defender

Reliable?

Subaru Forester. Even though I had a driveshaft fail and cv boot/droplinks it was mint. I liked it soo much that after my Legacy I will be going back to one. Rough enough for any weather etc but more importantly you can drive it from one end of the country to another without being deafened or worn out.

I thought it was going to be a Dacia, Hora.
Could you stop planting the seed of irresponsibility in my head please? I like them too much to resist.

Pad – I suspect this isn't helping is it?!

Nearly got a Forester after doing a 24 hour test drive of a 2.0XT. Got the cash out, drove 150 miles (hired a car to get there too!) expecting to buy one, a few things didn't add up (very uneven tyre wear, mysteriously replaced windows, rather shifty guy selling it for odd reasons, some other bits) so left it.

Great cars but fugly and like all Subarus, very thirsty indeed. Much much quicker than expected too – the 2.5XT is a proper hot hatch basher. Even the 2.0XT is rapid. Not sure what the current engines are.

The Duster is definitely very similar to the Forester in certain aspects for me- simple, mechanics, no superfluous thrills but still comfy.

The only difference is one is available now and still alot cheaper.

The Forester also has no image either way. Another plus for me. Its mysterious- not a Audibland or SkodalookatmeIbuyownbrandcornflakes.

I still see my Forester in Hebden Bridge/Heptonstall where it now lives 🙂

I have just sold my 14 year old 300Tdi Disco with 222000 on the clock.

A real meccano set, in the 160k I put on the clock only failed to make its destination once, when the clutch arm went after 180k (snapped with metal fatigue).

Spares are dirt cheap, both new and SH now, do not expect 100% reliability, but they are robust workhorses, most things can be fixed with your average tool kit.

Still popular regardless of condition, I just sold mine for far more than expected, and plenty of punters seeking one.

Watch out for rust, that is the killer, Sills, rear arch panels inside rear doors and boot floor

I certainly don't mind getting my spanners out and getting my hands dirty fixing mechanical stuff that breaks, but electronics that fail are a different matter to diagnose/fix.

I really like the idea of a 90 Defender with fold-up seats in the back, most of the time there'll be one or 2 in the vehicle with a load of gear in the back, but it'd be nice to flop out an extra seat (or 4!) if I need to carry some additional passengers. None of the less agricultural 4x4s seem to have a similar setup, as normal split/fold rear seats don't leave you with a such a truck-type rear compartment – unless anyone can think of something? Don't really want a twin-cab pick up as I'd tend to be using either the rear seats OR the flatbed which seems a bit of a waste – dual purpose makes more sense.

I've heard that Defenders are very prone to being pinched? Is that a myth, or is there anything that can be done to help deter the scum – I guess that the more agricultural it is, the less attractive it is, or perhaps it's the muddy hi-lift off-roaders that get swiped?

Scoob Forrester would be a good compromise if we only had one vehicle, but I've got another car that's used for long-distance cruising, so that capability isn't high on the list.

SWB Transit van with rear wheeldrive and different tyres?

I've heard that Defenders are very prone to being pinched?

Everyday when I wake up and see mine still on the drive I'm a little suprised. 😆

They hold their money, you can take parts off easier than lego, there's a good market and massive demand for doors, wings, engines, infact everything. They have the security of a 1950's car.

Don't know why they get nicked.

Must buy one of these

Oh and Landys are everything everybody says about them but I've had some loverly cars (Audi S4 Avant, BMW 740i, Golf TDi, Escort Cosworth, TVR, Disco3) and I like my beat old 110 the best it makes me smile when I drive it.

I'm just about to sell my Cherokee Jeep – it's a 4.0, but has an LPG conversion, so it's actually pretty economical (well, does about 20 MPG, but the fuel only costs 65p/litre, so its equivalent of doing about 40 MPG on a cost-for-cost basis, if you see what I mean!). Drives well, starts every time!

It's a 2000 X reg, done 95k miles, looking for about £2k – let me know if you're interested.

Cheers,
Nick

nick[at]nickbarnett[dot]com

Yep Defenders have hight theft ratio, they get nicked and either broken up or shipped off to some third world country!!!

Wife's Jimny was cheap, is ultra reliable, amazing off road (proper low ratio box, loads of clearance, tiny overhangs), quite well equipped compared to a Landy (airbags, electric windows and heated mirrors, etc).

Not very big but that's handy for shopping and the seats fold flat. Some minor tarting up makes them look a bit more "serious." Not good for towing though – they tow well but the max weight is weeny. Oh and long distances are a no no too.

Go for a defender.
Ive just put mine up for sale, bought a Leon Cupra R. Then realised I couldnt live without it so scrapped that advert and am now selling the Leon! Incredible bits of kit and as long as you dont expect to go anywhere fast, then you'll love it.
Mine is the TD5, and has only ever needed general wear and tear items sorted. Brilliant.

k-sugden – Member
Don't forget the Terrano 6K will buy a late mint 3.0 model 110% reliable I have had one for the last 5 Years only had Fuel and one service a year if you want off road capability a SWB is best

Regards Keith

I'd agree with Keith on this, I ran a 2.7 TDI Terrano SWB for a long while, really good off road but comfy as well, good leg room in the front & back.

The 3.0 terrano is also relatively easy on fuel, compared to other off road machines, the 2.7 much less so!

ReallyOldGit – Member
Yep Defenders have hight theft ratio, they get nicked and either broken up or shipped off to some third world country!!!

And Discoverys. Brother has had t

wo knicked, one older (M reg) second one was a Disco 300 TDI IIRC. Has had two Disco 3 since, managed to hold onto those until he PXd the first. Coppers reckoned both the earlier ones will have been broken or shipped abroad.

He still doesn't have a tracker fitted…. ❓