Look around here a bit and you'll see a lot of opinions.
I have a 1996. I've owned it since 2001. It came to me with 54,000 miles and now has 114,000. In that time I have:
- Replaced all brakes
- Re-replaced front pads
- Replaced stock tires with AT tires
- Replaced AT tires with MT tires in a larger size
- Replaced shocks and springs with longer versions
- Replaced fuel pump twice
- Replaced plugs
- Replaced plug wires (Magnecor)
- Replaced front passenger door
- Replaced front driver's window regulator and motor
- Replaced alternator
- Replaced water pump twice
- Replaced battery
- Replaced old rusty exhaust (cat-back) with now-rusty exhaust (cat-back)
- Replaced inertia switch
- Replaced Vehicle Speed Sensor
- Replaced brake light switch
- Replaced oil pan gasket
- Cleaned 3/4" of sludge out of oil pan
- Replaced serpentine belt
- Resoldered the rear window lift ECU
- Removed the ~54K emissions reminder
And changed the oil dozens of times, the tranny fluid, the diff fluid, and the headlight fluid
. They are relatively easy to work on, and extremely quirky when it comes to electronics. If you get one with maintenance records of any kind, you're better off. Regardless, you should swap out all fluids when you get it, and the truck will love you for every thing you do on time. They are beasts, safe in collisions, and will almost certainly get you where you're going.
Parts are easy to find via the internet for less than a dealer charges, and most engine components are bolt-on (I did the alternator in about 15 minutes, and the fuel pump is quick too). The "Classic" Discos are more directly descended from the Series, Range Rover and Defender trucks of the 50s-80s, so they are eminently more field-repairable than other makes or more recent Rovers.
Long post, but I hope this helps. Patience and a willingness to learn the truck are requirements for happy ownership, IMO...
