RE: Hate SUVs, love Range Rovers: PH Blog
Discussion
I too abhorred SUVs and the like, and mostly still do. Until I drove a proper Range Rover. Now I agree fully with Dan, and consider them separately. Parking a long-wheelbase Range Rover is a real chore, and some narrow roads are a bit 'gutter or cats-eyes', but otherwise they are thoroughly enjoyable means of getting about.
I much prefer the traditional Rangie over the 'wannabe' Sport model. Having said that, I was fortunate enough to spend some time in the SVR version, and came out of it wandering if (running costs aside), you could ever need or want more from one car. Refined, comfortable, spacious, off-road capability and yet the devil's laughter can be coerced from the exhaust, whip-crack gear shifts and hilarious performance. It feels unerringly sharp and GT-like when pressing on (with dynamic mode on), with some decent control and feedback. If only it wasn't quite so shouty on the outside (a muted colour probably helps).
I much prefer the traditional Rangie over the 'wannabe' Sport model. Having said that, I was fortunate enough to spend some time in the SVR version, and came out of it wandering if (running costs aside), you could ever need or want more from one car. Refined, comfortable, spacious, off-road capability and yet the devil's laughter can be coerced from the exhaust, whip-crack gear shifts and hilarious performance. It feels unerringly sharp and GT-like when pressing on (with dynamic mode on), with some decent control and feedback. If only it wasn't quite so shouty on the outside (a muted colour probably helps).
In some circles the Range Rover is practically a metaphor for the Union Jack. Consequently it feels unsportsmanlike to say anything too critical about it -- especially for those of us who are not H.M. subjects.
Like an aircraft carrier moored outside Portsmouth, the Range Rover needs no introduction. And its presence is freighted with powerful imagery.
Yet the reliability of this brand is also becoming something of a legend.
I know, I know: if all of us chose cars by the numbers, we'd all drive rather anonymous Japanese cars. In beige.
So... Vive la difference and all that.
Just now, I'm thinking of an earnest Northern bloke who had a slightly older model. He began life living in the proverbial cardboard box, but ended up selling a mid-sized company for a not inconsiderable sum -- after working six and seven days a week for years.
Like an aircraft carrier moored outside Portsmouth, the Range Rover needs no introduction. And its presence is freighted with powerful imagery.
Yet the reliability of this brand is also becoming something of a legend.
I know, I know: if all of us chose cars by the numbers, we'd all drive rather anonymous Japanese cars. In beige.
So... Vive la difference and all that.
Just now, I'm thinking of an earnest Northern bloke who had a slightly older model. He began life living in the proverbial cardboard box, but ended up selling a mid-sized company for a not inconsiderable sum -- after working six and seven days a week for years.
Having one in Murica or another country with wide and spacious roads (Russia, eastern Europe come to mind) makes sense as you don't have to run cyclist or other cars off the road just to go by. Having one in the UK and especially the south east, in and around London is the last thing I would want to deal with on a daily basis. I also agree that they should drop the sporty aspirations all together and make it as comfortable and luxurious as they can to justify the rather high price tag.
unsprung said:
Yet the reliability of this brand is also becoming something of a legend.
That's brilliant 
A real testimony to the power of branding and image.
Devil2575 said:
unsprung said:
Yet the reliability of this brand is also becoming something of a legend.
That's brilliant A real testimony to the power of branding and image.
Momentum124 said:
Other road users cannot see round them so they limit the visibility of everyone else. Particularly annoying when at a T junction turning left when one pulls up wanting to turn right and I then have to wait because I can't see anything.
Try reversing out of a parking space in a Lotus Elise when a hulking Range Rover has parked front in next to you. Especially given the great British public's penchant for pushing on through without even a warning blast of the horn rather than wait 30 seconds to let someone who obviously can't see what's coming finish pulling out.JHBlyth said:
One of these burbled past my hosue yesterday. It sounded fantastic.My house is about 8m wide though and it probably used a tenner in fuel...
p1stonhead said:
JHBlyth said:
One of these burbled past my hosue yesterday. It sounded fantastic.My house is about 8m wide though and it probably used a tenner in fuel...
jdw1234 said:
Is the new Range Rover Sport that much different? I thought it was the same chassis? I actually struggle to tell the diffrence between them when I see them on the road.
I know the old version of the Sport was just a Discovery in a JD Sports tracksuit.
Now this is what I think is weird. Before I bought one I watched lots of reviews regarding the new sport and vogue and they all seemed to say that the Vogue and the Sport are now very equal. You are just paying for the look and bragging rights with the vogue, is what auto express (I think it was) said.I know the old version of the Sport was just a Discovery in a JD Sports tracksuit.
I went to the dealership and just by sitting in a sport (high spec £90k one) and then sitting in the vogue (SE spec) the difference was very, very clear. I don't exactly know why, not some specific feature, but the overall experience of just sitting in the vogue is far more luxurious than the sport.
I have not driven the new sport but obviously own the new vogue now, I'm sure the sport can't match it for comfort or refinement on the road either.
As for looks, well they look very similar from the front that is true, by side profile and rear view the difference is obvious. The vogue is a proper Range Rover with the tall upright styling and those tall lights, whereas the sport is slicker and more like a cayenne. Just looks exactly like a big evoque which really put me off.
Either way though, I have no doubt in saying that despite the similar design and construction that underlies the two cars, the vogue is a far more luxurious cabin to be in. And for me that made it the obvious choice given how much they both cost!
V8LM said:
Car is the same - neither have a chassis either. The Sport is the same width but considerably shorter. It also has less head-room in the back. But, as often said, probably beats the FullFat in terms of being an all-round car for the money.
And then there is the SVR!
The current sport is actually bigger than the perevious generation Full Fat RR - I know, because my neighbour parked his sport next to mine! Given that my FF sint exactly small, it makes we wonder how massive the new one is.And then there is the SVR!
Personally, I think the current RR is far too "Cheshire", in chasing after the taste-bereft new money they have lost some of the fantastically understated and regal image that all RRs used to have.
My FFRR is the last of the prefacelift, ie pre-bling, 3rd gen and in my mind this is the last of the truly tasteful models that says" landed gentry" not "rap artist". I don't think I'd ever get a newer one.
Apologies for the lack of interior pics but given the weekend involved a family of four (two-year-old, baby + associated clobber) and a weekend of climbing in and out wearing muddy clothing I have to confess it didn't take long for it to look a bit more Defender than Vogue. Hence the comment about rubber floor mats!
I did feel a bit guilty handing it back to Land Rover in such a state and wrote a grovelling apology to the press fleet manager! Mud on the outside looked cool though.
Cheers,
Dan
I did feel a bit guilty handing it back to Land Rover in such a state and wrote a grovelling apology to the press fleet manager! Mud on the outside looked cool though.
Cheers,
Dan
ChemicalChaos said:
The current sport is actually bigger than the perevious generation Full Fat RR - I know, because my neighbour parked his sport next to mine! Given that my FF sint exactly small, it makes we wonder how massive the new one is.
There is no way the new Sport is bigger than the old FF. You can instantly see the size difference on the road.A mate of mine who used to work for Clive Sutton Premiere Marques, selling all sorts of Exotica, once said to me something along the lines of "There's just something about a Range which means it's never out-classed, no matter what cars it's surrounded by"
I think he's right, and to be honest, I can't think of anything else that quite manages to pull that off.
For example, one could take a Gallardo to a function, and someone would have an Aventador / Huracan / 458.
The Gallardo would be seen as a poor relation to the others.
Turn up in a Range, worth £20K less, and somehow it's still "right" and belongs and can hold its own among anything.
As written above, they just keep on honing what they got right 40 years ago...
I think he's right, and to be honest, I can't think of anything else that quite manages to pull that off.
For example, one could take a Gallardo to a function, and someone would have an Aventador / Huracan / 458.
The Gallardo would be seen as a poor relation to the others.
Turn up in a Range, worth £20K less, and somehow it's still "right" and belongs and can hold its own among anything.
As written above, they just keep on honing what they got right 40 years ago...
Edited by Nico G on Tuesday 12th May 16:24
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