jh.
ambitiose sed ineptum
I picked up my Disco II today and drove it 300 miles home. Incredibly happy with it as a platform for my next project. It's replacing my pickup as a toy hauler and filling the void left when I sold my TJ about 5 years ago. Been wanting a Rover since the day I turned 16 - although a 110 was always the dream.
Impressions:
- Being used to Jeeps (TJ, XJ, and WJ), I was expecting a similar ride on the highway. I was wrong. Much more comfortable and tight in the Disco. Also...I actually appreciated being under 6' and there was little to no appreciable fatigue.
- It won't beat much off the line, but it pulls hard (drove up and over 9600' feet in snow without an issue). Dumb question but pressing the "Mode" button adds an "S" to my dash panel - this can't actually mean "Sport," can it?!
- The low beams are just awful. But the high beams may be the best stock lighting I've ever had on the road.
Surprises:
- I knew going into this purchase that the Disco throws a 1412 and 1415 code but it ran very well, leading me to believe everything I've read about the 1412 and 1415 codes are true. The SAI fix should be easy and it really didn't affect the drive home.
- Wasn't expecting to see 18" rims - which means I'm now in the market for 16" steelies. What size/offset am I looking for? (plan is to add a OME suspension after I do all 100k mile preventive maintenance (plus drive shaft work) - should probably also ask: heavy or medium duty? Roof rack, flooring, front bumper, winch, tow bar, lots of lighting, and interior storage plus fridge will all be added...assuming heavy.)
- I appear to have some electrical gremlins but nothing too bad yet. The green trailer light began flashing with my right turn signal at one point. The woman I bought this from told me the horn didn't work and she included the part (which I haven't looked at yet), but because NOTHING on the wheel works, I'm wondering if it's something easier - fuse? The cruise control didn't work (which was annoying on the long ride) and the radio controls didn't either (although with the aftermarket stereo that doesn't surprise me). The speedo also didn't match up with my Garmin. It's new too, so I really don't know who was at fault - but the Garmin did work pretty dead on with my Subaru.
- Brakes demand a heavier foot than I was expecting. Nothing terrible, but I may end up working on these. The Disco grew up in New York so there is visible rust on the rotors.
That's it for now....hopefully the bulk of the project is done by summer. :Mechanic:
Thanks for letting me lurk before making this purchase sight unseen. Wouldn't have done it without this site.