AuthorTopic: Disco vs Frontera  (Read 12946 times)

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Offline Coddy

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Disco vs Frontera
« on: January 20, 2009, 19:04:16 »
Hi all, newbie here with a shed load of questions..

I own a Series 3 Land Rover, was looking at changing it for a Disco, but they are all rotton!! So plan B is a Frontera, want a 2.5 TD not sure whats best for laning, and some more adventurous stuff SWB or LWB?? What tyre sizes can I go to on normal rims, without mods to the body etc..

What do I look out for on a Fronny, such as main areas of rot etc. Have been told they dont like water, is this for the elictrics on the engine? (I want the diesel)


Anyone on here from North Wales, just moved up here, jonny no mates and want to do some laning, im near Mold, so there MUST be some good areas about.

Regards
Simon


Offline muddycarl

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2009, 22:39:15 »
frontera's don't rot away like disco's do ...

to be honest the frontera is just a re-shelled isuzu trooper

think i'd stay away from the 2.5tds tho ..as everything is fly by wire  (electronic)  ..

it uses the VM41 engine (same one found in some range rovers ..and Jeeps) it has 4 separate heads and needs a high maintenance routine

the main thing that lets frontera's down is the IFS on the front
Carl...2.8TDI

Offline 666

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2009, 17:54:43 »
So plan B is a Frontera, want a 2.5 TD



2.5 is a great engine when its running right but once it starts having issues it becomes a right pain! The 2.8TD is probably the best version to get, a fair bit of torque and probably one of the most economical ;)

Offline william127

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2009, 17:59:14 »
mix it all together and buy a range rover with the 2,8td and all the rust already repaired- thats what i did :dance: :lol: :D
« Last Edit: January 26, 2009, 18:00:57 by william127 »
1990 defender 127 flatbed 200tdi mud tyres stripdown started 14/03, now striped, ned to start the expensive bit
1992 rrc vogue se izuzu 2.8td running well so it got sold,
2003 110 td5 hardtop,ex mod, arived 25/04, bfg a/ts, ply lined, k and n filter, honda sport seats, rear demountable 2000lb winch, security grills,high lift with winching kit, mountney small steering wheel, momo gear knob, front spots, airhorns, hd steering, diff guard, ex army  center towpin bumper replaced with winch bumper, rear mounted bottle opener, cheaquer plate, neon underbody light, ex police map light,1000 watt inverter, reversing camera
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Offline SSteve

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2009, 07:15:56 »
I've got both a disco (2.5TDi I think) and a Frontera Sport 2.8TDi

The disco rolls more.

I find the seating position in the Frontera more comfy than the disco ..
no centre console to batter the elbow !!
but I do like the high position for the handbrake
« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 16:14:14 by SSteve »

Vx Frontera - A Frequently Underestimated 4x4

Offline jonny ramrod

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2009, 15:59:18 »
i have had modded and standard fronty's(lwb and swb) and disco's.. As standard, a disco will walk all over a fronty when the going gets tough.. Once modded, well its not worth talking about because peoples ideas and the mods they do are different. and then they are no longer fronty's or disco's, just a modded 4x4. (if that makes sense)

If i had the money i would search out a rot free disco, they are out there. But they are also going up in price. As it is, i have just bought a standard 2.5 lwb fronty. A lot more car for your money.  You pays your money ...etc etc..

btw... i'm not far from you, in cheshire, next to delamere forest, so if you fancy getting out and doing some lanes, let me know..plenty of good un's near by in north wales.

Oh, i have a series 3 as well.. ;)
give me mud or give me death........

Drift

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2009, 21:17:05 »
Yer but Jon... dont you like the heat  :lol:

Good to see ya again bud  :D

Offline jonny ramrod

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2009, 13:52:09 »
ow-doo mr drift sir....

i'm going back to a landy...anyone want to buy a nice fronty... 8-[
give me mud or give me death........

Offline phil c

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2009, 23:46:26 »
the only thing about the fronty is that if ur tall its quite easy to hit ur head getting in and out of them as they have quite a low roof, other than that a think there quite nice vehicals
3.1 isuzu trooper commercial

Offline 666

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2009, 19:10:41 »
the only thing about the fronty is that if ur tall its quite easy to hit ur head getting in and out of them as they have quite a low roof,

Would agree with that! I have belted my head more times than i can remember when trying to get in when the truck has been sitting in ruts  :roll: :roll: :roll:

Offline Glynparry25

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2009, 17:11:38 »
If i had the money i would search out a rot free disco, they are out there. But they are also going up in price. As it is, i have just bought a standard 2.5 lwb fronty. A lot more car for your money.  You pays your money ...etc etc..

I second that- last year I bought a 91 Disco V8 for £900 with just a little rot on the sills, and my dad also bought a 93 Disco Tdi without a spot of rust on it- previous owner had it waxoiled from new, and he paid £2000. They are out there- just have to shop around.

Glyn

Offline discowoman

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2009, 11:03:03 »
Fronty is a good all rounder, disco is better ..
Fronty has smaller rot issues
I prefer the low maintenance of the 2.3 fronty - old school engineering , slow but reliable
MPG in both (inc the 2.8 fronty) is mid to high 20's 30+ on a run
2.5 doesnt like bio diesel, disco and 2.3 and 2.8 fronty do.
Disco has diff locks - fronty doesnt
I found the fronty had more room for passengers, and also luggage
Nicer driving position in the fronty - but Disco has advantage of a higher position
more bolt on goodies available for the disco - off the shelf!
Fronty has a more DIY approach to bolt on goodies


ie - its what you want it to do!!!

Offline dxmedia

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #12 on: May 03, 2009, 18:02:41 »
Fronty is a good all rounder, disco is better ..
Fronty has smaller rot issues
I prefer the low maintenance of the 2.3 fronty - old school engineering , slow but reliable
MPG in both (inc the 2.8 fronty) is mid to high 20's 30+ on a run
2.5 doesnt like bio diesel, disco and 2.3 and 2.8 fronty do.
Disco has diff locks - fronty doesnt
I found the fronty had more room for passengers, and also luggage
Nicer driving position in the fronty - but Disco has advantage of a higher position
more bolt on goodies available for the disco - off the shelf!
Fronty has a more DIY approach to bolt on goodies


ie - its what you want it to do!!!


Disco's don't have difflocks ;) - Only one on the centre diff, which the frontera technically also has.
1959 Unimog 404 DoKa i6
1996 Jeep ZG i6with 6" suspension lift
1999 2.5 v6 Omega autobahn stormer
2001 1.4 Polo

marjan

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2009, 18:42:34 »
I got sick of Landys and bought a Gassed 3.0 V6 SWB Shogun, only suffers from lowish ground clearance but this can be cured with a body lift and 33" tyres. Loads of comfort and toys and goes like the clappers  :) :) :) (and it has a rear air locker as standard)
« Last Edit: May 03, 2009, 18:44:22 by mkzshogun »

Offline dickycaz

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2009, 19:43:03 »
i have been running 2.3 fronteras for a few years now .no electronics to go wrong and very easy to sort mechanical .as for being slow if you change the turbo pipes for after market ones then they have plenty power. i run 33" tyres and still it pulls away with out any problems
Full time land rover mechanic part time drunk.
+4" lift ,33" special tracks.husky super winch custom front and rear bumpers .jackabil sills.sumo bars QT radius arms, cranked trailing arms.

Drift

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #15 on: May 07, 2009, 21:34:42 »
Dicky and the evolution of a new beasty  :lol: :cool:

Offline jonny ramrod

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #16 on: July 29, 2009, 12:23:35 »
i still have my 2.5 lwb fronty....although its having some maintenance at the mo...(up on axel stands... :roll:)

have found that vx dont do some of the water hoses anymore for them, so am having to try and source some others. Trying to match them up with silicon hoses..

Its also waiting now for its basic 2 inch lift and new wheels and tyres. Although finding a snorkle is hard, and i refuse to go down the drainpipe route..(sorry guys, just think it looks awful..). Also going to fabricate my own sliders and winch bumper.

So far have found the 2.5 pretty reliable, once i had found out how to start it in the cold weather.

As to the original question...fronty or disco..??? If i could afford a real nice, sorted disco i would have that, for now, i will stick with the poor mans landy.. :lol: :lol:
« Last Edit: July 29, 2009, 15:44:17 by jonny ramrod »
give me mud or give me death........

Offline dxmedia

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #17 on: July 29, 2009, 12:33:08 »
If i wasted my money on a hunk of [!Expletive Deleted!] rot box I'd be gutted, but for a fraction of the money I can get a frontera which will go anywhere a landrover will with the eqivilent amount of money spend on mods...

There you go, fixed that for you.
1959 Unimog 404 DoKa i6
1996 Jeep ZG i6with 6" suspension lift
1999 2.5 v6 Omega autobahn stormer
2001 1.4 Polo

Offline jonny ramrod

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #18 on: July 29, 2009, 12:50:27 »
 :grin: :grin: :grin:

but, as i have said before, once you start modding something, it is no longer a fronty, landy or whatever you started with...so a totally modded fronty should go where a landy can. Having owned and driven loads of 4x4's, i still can't see why there is such a problem with people saying 'my suzi/fronty/jeep/ is just as good as a landy'. Seems like some sort of reversed snobbery. In my humble opinion, any 4x4, with a mild lift and good tyres will go to places that 99% of similar vehicles will.

Anyway, basic 2 inch lift and 33x12.5x15 m/t's.....reckon i will have any rubbing issues on my fronty.?
give me mud or give me death........

Offline dxmedia

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #19 on: July 29, 2009, 13:26:03 »
Yes.


To fit 33x11.5x15's on mine I needed frontera 'a' offset rims with 30mm wheel spacers.

2 3/4 inch lift
2" body lift
and a lump hammer at the bottom corner of the 'a' pillar, oh and remove the valance from the front bumper.
1959 Unimog 404 DoKa i6
1996 Jeep ZG i6with 6" suspension lift
1999 2.5 v6 Omega autobahn stormer
2001 1.4 Polo

Offline dxmedia

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #20 on: July 29, 2009, 13:28:04 »
Oh and I'd prefer a stock isuzu 4x4 over a landrover. Reliability lack of rust, on road cumfort, internal toys, towing ability and style all mean a little more to me than getting something overpriced.  Which is why I own a jeep  :lol:
1959 Unimog 404 DoKa i6
1996 Jeep ZG i6with 6" suspension lift
1999 2.5 v6 Omega autobahn stormer
2001 1.4 Polo

Offline jonny ramrod

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #21 on: July 29, 2009, 13:47:53 »
lump hammer...i like the sound of that... :D :D  Im going down the route of making a one off front bumper, so thats not a problem. Not so keen on a body lift.  Using modular wheels, so that should be ok. Could go to a 2 3/4 or 3 inch lift, just the problems you start having with the ifs...

My last 2.3 lwb had a lift and 31 inch tyres on, just thought they looked a little lost in there. At least i didnt have to cut any of the rear arch away to run 31's, not like on my disco. That had a 2 inch lift and i still had to cut a good bit away at the rear so they didnt catch on full articulation...

If i had the money, a jeep rubicon would be on my wish list, or a land cruiser....
give me mud or give me death........

Offline Manicminer

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #22 on: July 29, 2009, 20:24:15 »
I sold my 3.1TD Isuzu 18 months ago and bought a Landcruiser Colorado 3.0TD. Loads better offroad, but I miss the intercooler and the oomph when towing.
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

Offline jonny ramrod

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #23 on: October 08, 2009, 21:17:44 »
have sold my fronty now and bought a jeep cherokee..... :D
give me mud or give me death........

Offline muddymoon

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #24 on: November 24, 2009, 19:43:09 »
i have been running 2.3 fronteras for a few years now .no electronics to go wrong and very easy to sort mechanical .as for being slow if you change the turbo pipes for after market ones then they have plenty power. i run 33" tyres and still it pulls away with out any problems

I also have a 2.3 td and it has given me nothin but greif great when running well but when it turrns pete tong its a sod never do another engine chainge on it  lol :)
Daihatsu Fourtrack ( dead )
Frontera 2.4 (dead)
Frontera 2.3 td 2" lift ( dying )

Offline dxmedia

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #25 on: November 24, 2009, 19:48:13 »
Going by your sig muddymoon, you don't have much luck with trucks though.
1959 Unimog 404 DoKa i6
1996 Jeep ZG i6with 6" suspension lift
1999 2.5 v6 Omega autobahn stormer
2001 1.4 Polo

Offline muddymoon

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Re: Disco vs Frontera
« Reply #26 on: November 24, 2009, 20:00:41 »
wel daihatsu dyed while my brother was borrowing it the 2.4 head gasket went and for the 2.3 well just look in the vauhall tech posts on the n4x4oc site lol but think its geti sorted now done cam tensioners headgasket and now just need to do manifold gasket and i think pump timeing might need a bit of a tinker as i was smokeing a little bit on way home from work so little things let lol
Daihatsu Fourtrack ( dead )
Frontera 2.4 (dead)
Frontera 2.3 td 2" lift ( dying )

 






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