2000 Disco-What Do You Think?

[kk3025]

I just bought a 2000 Discovery with 30,000 miles on it. The price was very reasonable and it's in GREAT shape. The interior, exterior, and engine all look really good. The engine sounds and seems to run flawlessly. I have gone back and forth between deciding to purchase the warranty from the dealer.

I'm wondering what problems are people having with the 2000 model and at what milage.

[Ping]

I don't know about the 2000 D2 I have a 99 D1 and have had no problems. I did buy an aftermarket warranty for a 94 jeep wrangler. The car turned out to be a lemon and there were many instances where I should have been able to use my warranty. But each time I took it to the shop with all my warranty information the warranty reps would come down, look and then say the same thing, "It was a pre-existing condition and the warranty won't cover it." I got the aftermarket powertrian plus warranty. Biggest scam ever! I have also heard from Clark Howard (consumer advocate) that you should never buy an after market warrant. One of the reasons being something like 90% of the cost of the warranty goes directly to the sales person. That means they may not be as concerned about you as they would appear. They will tell you horror stories of how people have driven off the lot and a block later the car breaks down and had they bought the additional warranty they would have been covered. It may have just been the company I dealt with but I would be very cautious. By the way if your new car has mechanical problems within the first 50 miles after you purchase it, you can take it back (at least in Oregon). So the stories they told me about cars breaking down a block later don't really apply because its was still their liability that they got out of, because of the warranty again helping them not YOU!

[kk3025]

Thanks for the advice. The dealership (Driver's Way) said that they will refund the price of the warranty if I don't want it. And if down the line I sell the car, they will refund any unused portion- the time remaining. I just found out that the original warranty is still good. The warranty extension is an option.

[Ping]

If you trust the people offering the warranty (and know who they are) and feel like it is a reasonable deal, then it would be something to consider due to the high maintenance costs of the discovery. But the miles are so low I can't imagine you having large expensive problems that typically come with higher milage vehicles.
And that powertrain plus warranty left such a bad taste in my mouth I will never consider them again.

[kk3025]

I've been trying to research and see if there is any kind of trend to the mileage and the 2000's problems. I know that typically more mileage, more problems. Therefore, if my warranty runs out at 100,000 will it do me any good?

Of course, each vehicle is different and there are bound to be problems that may or may not arise, but I'm just trying to look around and see what problems people have had and at what mileage.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to call the dealer and check on their "pre-existing" philosophy- and get some more low-down on the warranty.

[Ping]

you should call an auto shop in town that has worked on a lot of land rovers but isn't necissarily a dealer. It is an oppinion that isn 't as biased. Look for a place that does British motors or imports. You can even try a german motors place because Land Rover was owned by BMW for a while there. I don't think that the dealership always gives you the best advice. To admit that there is a cronic problem might be perceived as a reason not to buy more cars from them. They havn't been that helpful to me in anycase.