RE: SOTW: Range Rover LSE
Discussion
Who cares if in purely objective terms more modern cars go around corners more quickly or whatever? You might as well complain that your shiny new VW Polo can't tow a loaded tri-axle Ifor Williams across a muddy field.
It's still a good-looking, comfortable and refined car which is great off-road and tows well. Seems clear to me why they are still desirable.
It's still a good-looking, comfortable and refined car which is great off-road and tows well. Seems clear to me why they are still desirable.
GranCab said:
An "elk avoidance manoeuvre " in one of these will kill you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjnBpruer8g
Bob Payton then owner of Stapleford Country Park died on the M1 in such a manoeuvre.
I'm not a hater - I had one for 2 years in the early 90's - a Brown Vogue regn. G*** NEC
If you tried that in a van it would probably do the same thing. The driver was very jerky/violent with the manoeuver.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjnBpruer8g
Bob Payton then owner of Stapleford Country Park died on the M1 in such a manoeuvre.
I'm not a hater - I had one for 2 years in the early 90's - a Brown Vogue regn. G*** NEC
Edited by GranCab on Monday 1st October 14:24
Edited by GranCab on Monday 1st October 14:45
St John Smythe said:
If you tried that in a van it would probably do the same thing. The driver was very jerky/violent with the manoeuver.
Depends on the size of the van, what load it was carrying e.t.c. RR's have a higher centre of gravity that most vans due to the better ground clearance. Bottom line is - those of you who think these are crap/s
t/unreliable/thirsty/dangerous etc etc don't have to buy one! Stop grizzling and stick to your nice safe A4* and leave the useless lumps of pig iron and oxidised aluminium to those of us who appreciate them!
(*Yes, ok, YOU personally don't drive an A4, you have the most exciting, dynamic, capable vehicle, capable of a 6 second Nordschleife lap AND towing a 4-wheel Ifor Williams with an MX5 on top across a muddy field, uphill, on road tyres, but I was generalising....)
t/unreliable/thirsty/dangerous etc etc don't have to buy one! Stop grizzling and stick to your nice safe A4* and leave the useless lumps of pig iron and oxidised aluminium to those of us who appreciate them!(*Yes, ok, YOU personally don't drive an A4, you have the most exciting, dynamic, capable vehicle, capable of a 6 second Nordschleife lap AND towing a 4-wheel Ifor Williams with an MX5 on top across a muddy field, uphill, on road tyres, but I was generalising....)
GranCab said:
"... but bombing around the B/C roads and even out on to the dual carriageways they are more than capable of keeping up or exceeding the majority of vehicles on the roads."
And maybe just as likely in many of todays tall hatches, mpvs and vans. Oh why not try the same manoeuvre on a motorbike, reckon that might no fair well either.
splitpin said:
Mate, if I had a race car going spare, I'd be arranging the earliest possible test with a view to signing you up!
Was it the Annual Hairdresser Owners MX5 Championship Cup?
I think your love of old RRs is similar to my love of small cigars; we enjoy respectively, but it doesn't make sense as a general principle and it is bad for the wallet and/or health. But irrespective, we carry on; and however illogical, because it would be a boring old world if we all did the same, This Is Good.
This was the event, mostly it was hatchbacks and amateur rally/enthusiasts but there where a few BMW's and MX-5's competing, can't remember exact numbers 50+ entrants though. We picked up an early penalty so didn't fair well overall, but our stage times where solid mid table, not bad for what was a standard Cherokee on normal road tyres.Was it the Annual Hairdresser Owners MX5 Championship Cup?
I think your love of old RRs is similar to my love of small cigars; we enjoy respectively, but it doesn't make sense as a general principle and it is bad for the wallet and/or health. But irrespective, we carry on; and however illogical, because it would be a boring old world if we all did the same, This Is Good.
GranCab said:
The point is .... old RRs are not reliable and well built 4x4s that can outgun sports cars while towing a boat - as some on here would have you believe !
What isn't reliable about them? Have you actually run them for any sort of extended period? They are simple robust workhorses that will rarely not get you home. Cheap parts and very easy to work on.GranCab said:
I bought one from Merlin Nottingham when it was 3 months old - owned it for 2 years had multiple problems with it even when it was that young. I also knew of one that lost all its engine oil at one day old !
Missing sump plug?As I posted earlier with had 6 or so RRC's plus family who have owned more. We've also had 4 or 5 Disco's too (basically an RR under the body) and a couple of p38a's. None were or have been trouble.
Then we nust agree to disagree - a shed is a shed and at 35-40p per mile in petrol for starters there will be plenty of these sheds around ...
Just found this within a dealer's ad for one - hmmm I think he's seen one or two in his time !
"Although there are no obvious signs of the devastating electrolytic corrosion normally associated with Range Rovers of this vintage, there are inevitably a few small marks here and there as it was painted twelve or thirteen years ago, not just last week. However, these are very minor and are really confined to to a couple of small marks on the rear edge of the bonnet and the odd blemish which is to be expected. All door tops and bottoms and panel edges are lovely even though the vulnerable inner rear wheelarches have been replaced and finished in a more utilitarian black rather than body colour.
Extensively waxoyled throughout and structurally very strong, the classic Range Rover drives very sharply indeed with the benefit of polybushed suspension and the fitment of a handling kit which reduces pitch and roll considerably. Its simple yet strong 3.5 litre alloy V8 is uncomplicated by modern standards and this Classic has no sunroof to leak, no electric seats to fail and no complex and troublesome air suspension to cause potentially expensive headaches."
Just found this within a dealer's ad for one - hmmm I think he's seen one or two in his time !
"Although there are no obvious signs of the devastating electrolytic corrosion normally associated with Range Rovers of this vintage, there are inevitably a few small marks here and there as it was painted twelve or thirteen years ago, not just last week. However, these are very minor and are really confined to to a couple of small marks on the rear edge of the bonnet and the odd blemish which is to be expected. All door tops and bottoms and panel edges are lovely even though the vulnerable inner rear wheelarches have been replaced and finished in a more utilitarian black rather than body colour.
Extensively waxoyled throughout and structurally very strong, the classic Range Rover drives very sharply indeed with the benefit of polybushed suspension and the fitment of a handling kit which reduces pitch and roll considerably. Its simple yet strong 3.5 litre alloy V8 is uncomplicated by modern standards and this Classic has no sunroof to leak, no electric seats to fail and no complex and troublesome air suspension to cause potentially expensive headaches."
Edited by GranCab on Monday 1st October 16:47
splitpin said:
Sorry, I sort of thought you were, well sort of alluding to same, Pops and the AMV8 and all that.
I am under no such illusions - like you say an old tank with a low output engine, which I'd amplify to a very heavy old tank with a desperately feeble even when new engine.
Forget the likes of an MP12 (or most everything else) ........... I reckon something as mundane and unassuming as a competently driven 140bhp LWB RWD Transit could give a CRR a seriously hard time through the twisties, give not far off three times the mpg and tow better - mind you, the RR will be better if it's a grass rather than tarmac final destination
But I'm struggling to see the point you are making though. I am under no such illusions - like you say an old tank with a low output engine, which I'd amplify to a very heavy old tank with a desperately feeble even when new engine.
Forget the likes of an MP12 (or most everything else) ........... I reckon something as mundane and unassuming as a competently driven 140bhp LWB RWD Transit could give a CRR a seriously hard time through the twisties, give not far off three times the mpg and tow better - mind you, the RR will be better if it's a grass rather than tarmac final destination
I don't think anyone looks at these as anything other than 40 odd year old design but the upside is that they can actually still cut it amongst more modern stuff while being enjoyably old school.
The fact that in their day they were far from slow is still quite impressive. Back in the 80s 20mpg was perfectly acceptable in a world where Rollers, Jags, Astons etc were doing less.
Someone mentioned the safety aspect and that again is an odd one as it doesn't look at the context of their era.
And one thing is for sure. Not a lot in life is finer than crossing a field in one with the window down on a winter's day with a good cigar.
DonkeyApple said:
You'd love my last one. That was an LSE I commuted in and averaged 4mpg 
The standard 3.5 and 3.9s would do low 20s.
When I finally finish the one I'm working on at the moment that will average low 20s with 400bhp, which should be fun.
Your new project one sounds much more like it as long as you can control your right foot!The standard 3.5 and 3.9s would do low 20s.
When I finally finish the one I'm working on at the moment that will average low 20s with 400bhp, which should be fun.
I remember my mates (they may well have been leaden footed!) at the time saying that when the Mrs was around ......... then whispering 'it's actually more like 14mpg on a good day!' when she wasn't.
splitpin said:
DonkeyApple said:
You'd love my last one. That was an LSE I commuted in and averaged 4mpg
The standard 3.5 and 3.9s would do low 20s.
When I finally finish the one I'm working on at the moment that will average low 20s with 400bhp, which should be fun.
Your new project one sounds much more like it as long as you can control your right foot!The standard 3.5 and 3.9s would do low 20s.
When I finally finish the one I'm working on at the moment that will average low 20s with 400bhp, which should be fun.
I remember my mates (they may well have been leaden footed!) at the time saying that when the Mrs was around ......... then whispering 'it's actually more like 14mpg on a good day!' when she wasn't.
But this one will be used for touring and will run modern management etc rather than the last one which was used in town and put Geoffrey Bernard to shame in the drinking stakes.
It will also run Dakar spec suspension set up and a bespoke cage, addressing the main issues of the orignal cars.
DonkeyApple said:
Right foot is always an issue
But this one will be used for touring and will run modern management etc rather than the last one which was used in town and put Geoffrey Bernard to shame in the drinking stakes.
It will also run Dakar spec suspension set up and a bespoke cage, addressing the main issues of the orignal cars.
Jabbering away as we do has just made me remember that I've actually got a mate with a 'how much!!!' Bowler amongst his many toys; I'll ask him what he's actually got in it and then, when his Mrs is out of earshot, his mpg (or more like how many gallons to the mile it does because he does empirically use it as intended).But this one will be used for touring and will run modern management etc rather than the last one which was used in town and put Geoffrey Bernard to shame in the drinking stakes.
It will also run Dakar spec suspension set up and a bespoke cage, addressing the main issues of the orignal cars.
splitpin said:
Jabbering away as we do has just made me remember that I've actually got a mate with a 'how much!!!' Bowler amongst his many toys; I'll ask him what he's actually got in it and then, when his Mrs is out of earshot, his mpg (or more like how many gallons to the mile it does because he does empirically use it as intended).
Early ones were Rover engines I believe and the Sport based ones I've always assumed use the AJ V8. Can't imagine MPG being a number my two year old daughter format know.
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