RE: Range Rover 5.0 Autobiography: PH Fleet
Discussion
EdJ said:
Nervously reading this thread - I've had my 08 RR Vogue since new, it's now done 60k miles and hasn't skipped a beat. I normally change my cars way more frequently than this, but just cannot fault the RR. I've been extending the warranty for the last 2 years, but this time around decided against it, as I just feel I've got a good'n.
I'd never heard of the rust issue though, and am itching to get back home and check the boot. I'm sure I would have seen something if there was any rust but hearing that the paint warranty is 6 years, and my car is now 6 years and 5 days old makes me worry.
Like others on here, I absolutely love the car. And when I do sell, I am very likely to get another Range Rover. However, they have to upgrade the sat nav system (which I understand they are doing for MY 2015).
Morning EdJ,I'd never heard of the rust issue though, and am itching to get back home and check the boot. I'm sure I would have seen something if there was any rust but hearing that the paint warranty is 6 years, and my car is now 6 years and 5 days old makes me worry.
Like others on here, I absolutely love the car. And when I do sell, I am very likely to get another Range Rover. However, they have to upgrade the sat nav system (which I understand they are doing for MY 2015).
The place to check is on the boot lid (the part with the glass) under the ridge where the RANGE ROVER letters are. On either side there is a little square hole (presumably water drain holes) and the rust starts there and spreads both ways towards the outside edges of the car and towards the middle under the plastic number plate light housing and handle trim.
It's a common area to be missed when washing/polishing the car and over the years, dirt and salt build up. When you see the square holes, you'll see that its not difficult to imagine salty road grime entering the holes and just sitting there until it rusts through.
Also worth checking is the tailgate itself. On mine, where the two boot sections meet it rubs. On the nearside, the boot lid has rubbed through the paint on the tailgate and it's rusty and bubbling badly there. On the offside, its minor but will only get worse with time.
It would be lovely to be able to say we'd all had a great experience with LR customer service and that as you're only 5 days out of warranty they'd cover it as a gesture of goodwill...sadly I don't have confidence that will happen. Hopefully yours isn't rusty/bubbling and you have got a good one.
My car's first owner lived by the sea - I wonder if that's had a bearing on this rust and whether or not cars in the Midlands are fine? Either way, it's not acceptable.
smileymikey said:
Mr Mastodon Farm said:
Chris Harris said:
"Done!" I beamed, heartily shaking his hand. After all, what's a £700 loss in the context of an audience with such sublime valuation skills?
Is it just me or does this seem a little hostile? I've gotten the sense that Chris is becoming jaded writing for PH as a result of all the flak he receives regarding his personal finances.I wouldn't hold it against him if he was and I don't think I'd handle it as well as he has. Readers seem far too concerned with finance lately, despite this being an automotive forum. I hope I'm wrong, because I really enjoy Chris' articles.
Plus, I bet Range Rover rust is better than 'normal' rust.
FastRich said:
Morning EdJ,
The place to check is on the boot lid (the part with the glass) under the ridge where the RANGE ROVER letters are. On either side there is a little square hole (presumably water drain holes) and the rust starts there and spreads both ways towards the outside edges of the car and towards the middle under the plastic number plate light housing and handle trim.
It's a common area to be missed when washing/polishing the car and over the years, dirt and salt build up. When you see the square holes, you'll see that its not difficult to imagine salty road grime entering the holes and just sitting there until it rusts through.
Also worth checking is the tailgate itself. On mine, where the two boot sections meet it rubs. On the nearside, the boot lid has rubbed through the paint on the tailgate and it's rusty and bubbling badly there. On the offside, its minor but will only get worse with time.
It would be lovely to be able to say we'd all had a great experience with LR customer service and that as you're only 5 days out of warranty they'd cover it as a gesture of goodwill...sadly I don't have confidence that will happen. Hopefully yours isn't rusty/bubbling and you have got a good one.
My car's first owner lived by the sea - I wonder if that's had a bearing on this rust and whether or not cars in the Midlands are fine? Either way, it's not acceptable.
Thanks Richard. That's very helpful - I'll check when I get home tonight. The place to check is on the boot lid (the part with the glass) under the ridge where the RANGE ROVER letters are. On either side there is a little square hole (presumably water drain holes) and the rust starts there and spreads both ways towards the outside edges of the car and towards the middle under the plastic number plate light housing and handle trim.
It's a common area to be missed when washing/polishing the car and over the years, dirt and salt build up. When you see the square holes, you'll see that its not difficult to imagine salty road grime entering the holes and just sitting there until it rusts through.
Also worth checking is the tailgate itself. On mine, where the two boot sections meet it rubs. On the nearside, the boot lid has rubbed through the paint on the tailgate and it's rusty and bubbling badly there. On the offside, its minor but will only get worse with time.
It would be lovely to be able to say we'd all had a great experience with LR customer service and that as you're only 5 days out of warranty they'd cover it as a gesture of goodwill...sadly I don't have confidence that will happen. Hopefully yours isn't rusty/bubbling and you have got a good one.
My car's first owner lived by the sea - I wonder if that's had a bearing on this rust and whether or not cars in the Midlands are fine? Either way, it's not acceptable.
If this is a known problem, I'd like to think that dealers would check cars when doing a service. Surely that is preferable to letting the problem develop and only become noticable when it's hugely expensive to repair.
My experience with Guy Salmon in Thames Ditton has been very good - from purchase to all five annual services, so if there is an issue, I'm cautiously confident they would sort it out. If they didn't, it's the sort of thing that I imagine would tempt me away from Land Rover for my next car.
I know there are a few US dealers on this forum - would be interesting to hear their perspective, and whether it's a problem over there. Also, the fact that someone with an '03 car hasn't got any rust could indicate it's a problem with more recent cars?
EdJ said:
FastRich said:
Morning EdJ,
The place to check is on the boot lid (the part with the glass) under the ridge where the RANGE ROVER letters are. On either side there is a little square hole (presumably water drain holes) and the rust starts there and spreads both ways towards the outside edges of the car and towards the middle under the plastic number plate light housing and handle trim.
It's a common area to be missed when washing/polishing the car and over the years, dirt and salt build up. When you see the square holes, you'll see that its not difficult to imagine salty road grime entering the holes and just sitting there until it rusts through.
Also worth checking is the tailgate itself. On mine, where the two boot sections meet it rubs. On the nearside, the boot lid has rubbed through the paint on the tailgate and it's rusty and bubbling badly there. On the offside, its minor but will only get worse with time.
It would be lovely to be able to say we'd all had a great experience with LR customer service and that as you're only 5 days out of warranty they'd cover it as a gesture of goodwill...sadly I don't have confidence that will happen. Hopefully yours isn't rusty/bubbling and you have got a good one.
My car's first owner lived by the sea - I wonder if that's had a bearing on this rust and whether or not cars in the Midlands are fine? Either way, it's not acceptable.
Thanks Richard. That's very helpful - I'll check when I get home tonight. The place to check is on the boot lid (the part with the glass) under the ridge where the RANGE ROVER letters are. On either side there is a little square hole (presumably water drain holes) and the rust starts there and spreads both ways towards the outside edges of the car and towards the middle under the plastic number plate light housing and handle trim.
It's a common area to be missed when washing/polishing the car and over the years, dirt and salt build up. When you see the square holes, you'll see that its not difficult to imagine salty road grime entering the holes and just sitting there until it rusts through.
Also worth checking is the tailgate itself. On mine, where the two boot sections meet it rubs. On the nearside, the boot lid has rubbed through the paint on the tailgate and it's rusty and bubbling badly there. On the offside, its minor but will only get worse with time.
It would be lovely to be able to say we'd all had a great experience with LR customer service and that as you're only 5 days out of warranty they'd cover it as a gesture of goodwill...sadly I don't have confidence that will happen. Hopefully yours isn't rusty/bubbling and you have got a good one.
My car's first owner lived by the sea - I wonder if that's had a bearing on this rust and whether or not cars in the Midlands are fine? Either way, it's not acceptable.
If this is a known problem, I'd like to think that dealers would check cars when doing a service. Surely that is preferable to letting the problem develop and only become noticable when it's hugely expensive to repair.
My experience with Guy Salmon in Thames Ditton has been very good - from purchase to all five annual services, so if there is an issue, I'm cautiously confident they would sort it out. If they didn't, it's the sort of thing that I imagine would tempt me away from Land Rover for my next car.
I know there are a few US dealers on this forum - would be interesting to hear their perspective, and whether it's a problem over there. Also, the fact that someone with an '03 car hasn't got any rust could indicate it's a problem with more recent cars?
Anything more, that actually involves using some initiative? No way. Proactive during servicing? Only if you pay.
Why not just get the silly customer to pay for it when it is out of warranty? Or blame the customer when in warranty? "You've been driving it in forward gears too much, Mr Customer, which means moisture has been trapped in that area of the tailgate. Therefore, we have concluded it is not a defect with our product, and you will have to bare the full cost of repairs. Meanwhile, here is a glossy brochure for the latest model".
BlimeyCharlie said:
Don't want to sound negative, but to rely someone even doing a service properly without standing over them watching is a miracle in itself.
Anything more, that actually involves using some initiative? No way. Proactive during servicing? Only if you pay.
Why not just get the silly customer to pay for it when it is out of warranty? Or blame the customer when in warranty? "You've been driving it in forward gears too much, Mr Customer, which means moisture has been trapped in that area of the tailgate. Therefore, we have concluded it is not a defect with our product, and you will have to bare the full cost of repairs. Meanwhile, here is a glossy brochure for the latest model".
Anything more, that actually involves using some initiative? No way. Proactive during servicing? Only if you pay.
Why not just get the silly customer to pay for it when it is out of warranty? Or blame the customer when in warranty? "You've been driving it in forward gears too much, Mr Customer, which means moisture has been trapped in that area of the tailgate. Therefore, we have concluded it is not a defect with our product, and you will have to bare the full cost of repairs. Meanwhile, here is a glossy brochure for the latest model".
Although the point is amusingly made, this is unfortunately the sad, sad truth.
As much as we moan about their idiosyncrasies, the Americans never have to suffer this.
I have just five minutes ago walked past a Range Rover with a towing hook attached, as per the original article.
I cannot fathom how any sane person could part with SIX HUNDRED POUNDS for what is just a cast lump of metal that looks like a ladies best friend. It doesn't compute.
I suppose they have to charge at these levels to allow enough in the pot for all the rusty tailgate repairs.
I cannot fathom how any sane person could part with SIX HUNDRED POUNDS for what is just a cast lump of metal that looks like a ladies best friend. It doesn't compute.
I suppose they have to charge at these levels to allow enough in the pot for all the rusty tailgate repairs.
I've got the same tow bar fitted to my RR and the actual tow bar (the bit that costs £600) is under the boot floor on the right hand side, and attached when needed. Seems odd to me that it would go missing - the logical place to put it when you've finished with it is in the boot surely?
EdJ said:
I've got the same tow bar fitted to my RR and the actual tow bar (the bit that costs £600) is under the boot floor on the right hand side, and attached when needed. Seems odd to me that it would go missing - the logical place to put it when you've finished with it is in the boot surely?
Gone on Chris, i dare you to look and see if it was there all along...EdJ said:
I've got the same tow bar fitted to my RR and the actual tow bar (the bit that costs £600) is under the boot floor on the right hand side, and attached when needed. Seems odd to me that it would go missing - the logical place to put it when you've finished with it is in the boot surely?
I can confirm that mine is also in the right hand side of the spare wheel well. 
Well I've just checked the tailgate of my RR and there is - on the right side only - the very beginnings of some rust. It's nothing like as bad as Chris Harris' RR in the photo at the beginning of this thread, but it's definitely there.
There's no way I'd have noticed it without looking very closely though, so if people are struggling with dealers when it's much worse, then I'm going to get laughed at if I show them mine, I'd imagine.
There's no way I'd have noticed it without looking very closely though, so if people are struggling with dealers when it's much worse, then I'm going to get laughed at if I show them mine, I'd imagine.
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