- Joined
- Feb 17, 2006
- Messages
- 17,860
- Car(s)
- '12 MX-5 PRHT, '02 Freelander, '90 Disco 1 Bobtail
Originally planned to keep this a secret until I had a proof pic tomorrow but I can't manage it. Even MWF doesn't know about this, I wonder what his reaction will be. 
Around a month ago I was considering the options with Keely my 1994 Disco 1 with regards to Ringmeet and Roadtrip, with the general opinion that I had to do something to try and make her comfortable to drive. I made a list that included a possible engine transplant, gearbox swap, suspension upgrade and, oh yes, arm rests. It soon became apparent that none of that work was economically viable on an off-roader and that anything nice would soon get ruined with mud and water. So I went one step further and decided to get another one, strictly for road use. The strict rules were: Leather, V8 and automatic. Also not red or pale blue... or silver if a facelift model. With this in mind I trawled the internet for the very few vehicles that fitted my bill.
Anyway, more of that later. Today I went up to Glossop in the north of UKania where it rains a lot to pick up my Discovery 2 V8 with a cunning plan that would see me detour through Penistone and get a photo with a sign of the towns name. That fell through as the business I found on Google Streetview has gone, so I had to make do with something I found nearby. Everyone, meet Bugsy and Cheese Bottom.
So, you may be asking as you pick your jaw up off the floor, what are the differences from the Disco you already have? Well...
The list goes on, they really are like chalk and cheese. Keely is great as an off road toy, and not relying on her for the road allows me to get rid of the nasty headlining and take out the grubby carpets. Sadly though, this means she won't be coming to the Ringmeet. Bugsy will be doing that and will stop myself or MWF from going insane due to the slowness, vibration and rattles. Bugsy has very little rust underneath, unlike the first one I went to see that was at a similar price but rotten underneath. He's just had rustproofing done too to keep it that way, in to the purchase price.
No doubt you're still wondering why I went for a V8 instead of the very good Td5, but why not? I won't be using it off road so there's no risk of drowning or straining the V8. I can afford the fuel costs at the moment, and the soundtrack is lovely. It's no muscle car sound, but lovely nonetheless.
You're also asking why I didn't just buy a normal car. Well, I didn't set out looking for an alternative to a Discovery, I think they're great and I like the high driving position, I just set out to find an alternative to Keely for road use. Boy, have I found it.
More photos!
No more twiddly knobs. Electronic HVAC controls.
Sudden seats. I couldn't be bothered to pop them up completely.
Rear passengers get AC too, didn't even know this was a thing when I first started looking for one.
Original toolkit.
So many lights! Fortunately they all go out again.
Around a month ago I was considering the options with Keely my 1994 Disco 1 with regards to Ringmeet and Roadtrip, with the general opinion that I had to do something to try and make her comfortable to drive. I made a list that included a possible engine transplant, gearbox swap, suspension upgrade and, oh yes, arm rests. It soon became apparent that none of that work was economically viable on an off-roader and that anything nice would soon get ruined with mud and water. So I went one step further and decided to get another one, strictly for road use. The strict rules were: Leather, V8 and automatic. Also not red or pale blue... or silver if a facelift model. With this in mind I trawled the internet for the very few vehicles that fitted my bill.
Anyway, more of that later. Today I went up to Glossop in the north of UKania where it rains a lot to pick up my Discovery 2 V8 with a cunning plan that would see me detour through Penistone and get a photo with a sign of the towns name. That fell through as the business I found on Google Streetview has gone, so I had to make do with something I found nearby. Everyone, meet Bugsy and Cheese Bottom.
So, you may be asking as you pick your jaw up off the floor, what are the differences from the Disco you already have? Well...
- Keely is a diesel, Bugsy is a smooth 4.0 V8 petrol.
- Keely is manual, Bugsy has a 4 speed ZF automatic..
- Keely has covered an undetermined 200k+ miles on 2 engines, Bugsy has only covered 68k miles.
- Keely has coil springs all round, Bugsy has air suspension on the rear.
- Keely has no anti-roll bars, Bugsy has active hydraulic ride control.
- Keely has no A/C, Bugsy has brilliant climate control for all 3 rows.
- Keely has no cruise control, Bugsy does.
- Keely's interior is worn and rattly, Bugsy's is not.
- Keely is loud inside, Bugsy is not.
- Keely shakes above 60mph, Bugsy does not.
- keely doesn't have arm rests, Bugsy does.
The list goes on, they really are like chalk and cheese. Keely is great as an off road toy, and not relying on her for the road allows me to get rid of the nasty headlining and take out the grubby carpets. Sadly though, this means she won't be coming to the Ringmeet. Bugsy will be doing that and will stop myself or MWF from going insane due to the slowness, vibration and rattles. Bugsy has very little rust underneath, unlike the first one I went to see that was at a similar price but rotten underneath. He's just had rustproofing done too to keep it that way, in to the purchase price.
No doubt you're still wondering why I went for a V8 instead of the very good Td5, but why not? I won't be using it off road so there's no risk of drowning or straining the V8. I can afford the fuel costs at the moment, and the soundtrack is lovely. It's no muscle car sound, but lovely nonetheless.
You're also asking why I didn't just buy a normal car. Well, I didn't set out looking for an alternative to a Discovery, I think they're great and I like the high driving position, I just set out to find an alternative to Keely for road use. Boy, have I found it.
More photos!
No more twiddly knobs. Electronic HVAC controls.
Sudden seats. I couldn't be bothered to pop them up completely.
Rear passengers get AC too, didn't even know this was a thing when I first started looking for one.
Original toolkit.
So many lights! Fortunately they all go out again.
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