Tough decision...

[Dion]

I am able to get my hands on a 94 Discovery V8i dual fuel with stuffed head gaskets for $500 (that's for me only, it's not for sale to others, sorry).

The pros:
What a deal!
Solid front axle
Coil suspension
Probably doesn't need much for RWC.
Head gaskets not a big problem.
On LPG.

The cons:
Aren't landy parts stupidly expensive?
It's in Queensland, would have to transport it down.
Petrol engine, yuck.
Crap fuel economy.
What the heck do I want a wagon for?
I don't want to pay two sets of rego, insurance, servicing and don't need two cars
Every dollar I spend on the Landy is a dollar the Nav wouldn't see
Too many awesome Landies on the tracks already, whereas the Nav would be one of a kind.

But for what I'd have to spend on the Navara to make it SFA and dual air lockers, I could make the Landy a weapon.

I can't:
Sell the Navara.
Resell the Landy at a profit (Or can I...?)

So, do I just ignore this opportunity? The decision seems made but I'd like your input please fellas, you guys always have some good ideas.

 

[Matt76]

sounds nice and cheap but don't discount the fact that whatever you do to it is going to cost money, $500 will soon turn to thousands.

I do love the discoveries though.

 

[Dave]

Never had anything to do with Landrover's, but have been told many are reliable as a Patrol or Landcruiser (Landcruiser is hard to say as I hate Toyota's) but many have been absolute lemon's.

Luck of the draw they say.

Only you can make the decision.

Dave.

 

[roundy]

Grab it, get it on road and use it for the stuff u don't want to put the Nav thru, no care about panel damage etc. Just my2c

 

[Dion]

Trailer queening it is an appealing concept.

 

[kitch76]

Buy it, fix it up, tidy it up, sell it and make good $$$ then put that cash back into the Nav!!

 

[felixblack]

i'm not sure if it's this particular model but i know they had probs with overheating gearboxes and head gaskets. keep researching as there is a reason they are so cheap. they are hard to sell. a mate had 2 of them cause he was sucked in by the cheap price too and sold one for a big loss and the other he gave away

 

[Jason]

I just remember the Disco's being notoriously expensive on parts.

If I bought every 'bargain' that came my way I would have a car yard out the back and no wife LOL.

 

[justdrinkbeer]

buy it, fix it cheap as possible, fill it with cheap arse ebay camping gear & sell it to backpackers for $5k. Trust me, they see our fuel as nearly free, all want a V8, don't worry about insuring it, 5 of them club together and generally want a comfortable 4x4. Oh yeah, and landrovers are british so they'll be all over it.
Might start looking myself actually

 

[filobz]

I sold my 99 Series 1 V8 Disco to buy the Nav. Built like it was supposed to last forever & lovely to drive, but the cost to run the thing, wow.
60k service alone was $900 from a non dealer. Before I put it on gas, I was getting 21-25l/100K. The best I got on a trip was around 18l/100k.

 

[Dion]

buy it, fix it cheap as possible, fill it with cheap arse ebay camping gear & sell it to backpackers for $5k. Trust me, they see our fuel as nearly free, all want a V8, don't worry about insuring it, 5 of them club together and generally want a comfortable 4x4. Oh yeah, and landrovers are british so they'll be all over it.
Might start looking myself actually

That's funny. Not a bad idea.