New wagon

[Nasher]

So after 8 years and 140K miles the faithful Shogun has to go.......

It now needs it’s 3rd clutch and flywheel in 4K miles after doing 140K miles on the first one, and the garage is fed up with putting them in Free of Charge at £2800 a pop.

They have said that something else must be wrong, and will investigate. My own investigations with Mitsubishi technical have confirmed that engine problems, specifically crankshaft, on some higher mileage examples have caused Duel mass flywheels to let go after a few thousand miles.
I'm looking at a £5K bill on a £3.5K car – Bugger

Anyway it’s a good excuse for a shiny new(to me anyway) car.

I’ve narrowed it down to what I really want, a 4.2TD Toyota Amazon, or what I’m more likely to find at the right price, a 2.7TD Discovery 3 HSE.

I need 7 seats, a large boot, decent 4x4 ability and a good everyday family car.
And this will be another keeper, so it’ll need to be good for a few years/miles.

Trouble is my £17k budget will not stretch to a post 04 Amazon in a dark colour with less than 120K on the clock, but I can find 05 to 06 Disco 3 HSEs(with all the toys) with under 80K miles. I’d end up with a slightly older Amazon with more miles.

I like both cars, and have driven both, my heart says the Amazon mainly because of the engine, but my head says the Disco is a more sensible buy as it’s cheaper to run and is physically the same size as the Shogun. It’s also better thought out for everyday use.

Has anyone experienced or lived with both and can offer any advise?

Ta

Nasher.

[Tim M]

Purely from an aesthetic point of view, and because I think they are very very cool its got to be a Disco 3

[mdt]

I would say go for a disco 3. drove one of these last year (2.7D) was very impressed with it. interior is a nice place to be. and it went ok too.

[willk]

At least there is no risk of unstoppable acceleration in the Discofairy ;-)

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Trouble is my £17k budget will not stretch to a post 04 Amazon in a dark colour with less than 120K on the clock,

Whaaaaaaat .. 17k for something with 120k on the clock .. Have to say I think you Disco mentalists are in Fairy land .. you really are .. I priced a commercial lately and a used one was thirty grand .. for what ? I couldnt even fit in the bloody drivers seat ... competitors are selling new motors of different marks with 5 year warranties for half of that stroll on

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Whaaaaaaat .. 17k for something with 120k on the clock ..

Yep, I know, but that's how much a high milage Amazon goes for, and thats looking hard.
The more normal price is more like £19-20K

Nasher.

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Yep, I know, but that's how much a high milage Amazon goes for.

nasher.

Blimey .. I must get out more .. and in a recession proof area too

[Kernow Buoy]

Well despite dire warnings of reliability problems I bought a new Disco 3 in November 04 one of the very first off the line, five years later would have to say I certainly don't regret it, no breakdowns, about 3 warranty repairs of fairly minor issues (heated windscreen, coolant sensor, handbrake switch) 1 out of warranty repair (suspension compressor went bang). Add in its on road manners, the seven seats (six rugby players with kit & me) and its towing capability and overall I'm hugely impressed. I'm not a LR 'fan' it's just a car, my needs have now changed so will probably look elsewhere next, possibly an X5 if its a better on road car.

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Yep, I know, but that's how much a high milage Amazon goes for, and thats looking hard.
The more normal price is more like £19-20K

Nasher.

Hey Nasher, sorryto hear of the Shogun issues...I decided against the one we discussed....was just too high miles for me....the GCherry lives on!

Just my two penneths worth....does it have to be Amazon? If I could stretch to it at the moment, I would go Toyota Lc3 /Lc4 trim....but one of these. Still a big old beast!

I know this is older at 03, but as an example, http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1500?logcode=p

Average miles, 7 seats....they look good too IMO. My cousin has one and loves it! Just my personal preference on a big 4wd, but auto would also be on my list....

£4k left over for RIB toys too!

Dan

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by Kernow

my needs have now changed so will probably look elsewhere next.....

I guess the rig's a lot lighter with that shiney new Ali trailer Kernow!

[biffer]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Yep, I know, but that's how much a high milage Amazon goes for, and thats looking hard.
The more normal price is more like £19-20K

Nasher.

gets my vote, just cos it say's 19-20k don't mean they'll get it, bid em, anyway buy one you could alway put the engine in a boat, same as yamaha and yanmar

[Kernow Buoy]

Originally Posted by Dan Worth

I guess the rig's a lot lighter with that shiney new Ali trailer Kernow!

Hadn't thought of that Actually I use an old 200tdi Disco for the boat most of the time, usual slip is only 2 miles away and all 3 of my boys now have cars so I don't seem to use the 7 seats much these days. Downside is it looks the a NCP outside my place

[Nasher]

Hey Dan

the smaller Landcruiser does appeal, but the towing capacity is much lower at 2800kgs.

Biff

I've been trying to get the Landcruiser sellers down a bit, but there are several dealers buying up all the used late model Amazons at the moment and exporting them, they are paying top money for them.

Nasher

[jwalker]

Jeez Nasher, I'm with Bigmuz £17k for 120kmiles is nuts, even for 80k miles it's nuts. Must be a scottish thing not wanting to throw money away...

[Razorbill RIBs]

The smaller Landcruiser does appeal, but the towing capacity is much lower at 2800kgs.[/QUOTE]

That's really surprised me....thought it would be higher than that

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Dan Worth

The smaller Landcruiser does appeal, but the towing capacity is much lower at 2800kgs.

That's really surprised me....thought it would be higher than that [/QUOTE]

Yep, it surprised me too.

Nasher

[Knot Yet]

Thats a pain Nasher - Caffyns in Lewes have a very nice Discovery for sale

DISCOVERY 2.5 TD5 LANDMARK £12,995
2004 (04)DIESEL MAN 55K HELSINKI BLUE LEATHER
18" alloy wheels 7 seat configuration Ultrasonic alarm system GS-7 Option PackAlloy wheels Anti-lock braking systemCD autochanger Driver & passenger airbags Electric heated door mirrors Electronic Brake-Force...Electronic Traction Control...


J

[Nasher]

Well I’ve been and done it.
Drove all the way to Honiton today and after a test drive put a deposit on a 55plate Silver Disco 3 HSE.

Hopefully picking it up next weekend.

The disco won out over the Amazon in the end as I was able to pick up a newer car with less miles, plus it’s more like the Shogun size wise for parking in town etc. It is also very well thought out inside and being the HSE has all the toys.

What particularly attracted me to this car was the fact that although it has 87K miles on the clock, the engine, turbo and radiator were all replaced in July 07 at 39K miles under warrantee, so have only done 48K miles.

No pictures yet I’m afraid, but I now have to avoid being infected with Landrovius Bigotosis.

All other 4x4s are rubbish............Bugger, to late I’m infected.

Nasher.

EDIT - Found the images below from the advert.

[Knot Yet]

Very nice Nasher - and very exciting - did you get that from Blackdown 4x4? - if you did they seem to have a good reputation

Have lots of fun in it and be proud of your Landrovius Bigotosis

Jxx

[BLACKSTORM]

Yes that does look very nice indeed