Are Range Rovers in fact rubbish?
Discussion
jezzaaa said:
I live in the middle east and, unlike most large 4x4 buyers in the UK, people here often go into the desert with their cars and thrash them about.
I've only ever seen a couple of JLR product in the desert...some defenders plus a friend of mine had a Discovery 3 V8. It was good off road too, except it's air suspension kept automatically lowering the car when making progress on the sand (they do off-roading a bit different to the slow/steady approach that's taught in Europe).
It does say something that almost everyone who lives here chooses a Japanese 4x4 for dune bashing...or sometimes an American one. But hardly ever a LR. But as well as perceived reliability (probably deserved from the 70s/80s but not so true of the newer cars) , I think it's also simpler reason; a RR is a thing of beauty which you wouldn't want to rag around in the sand and damage. Where as your Landcruiser/Patrol is, as per most Japanese things, merely a white good which is made for a purpose. If it gets damaged...who cares. The Landcruisers in particular are just so out of date with dreadful 80s interiors and bland styling, if anything a bit of damage makes them more interesting! But the locals buy them in their thousands. Every other car is a white Landcruiser or Prado here.
Interesting post, but I think the reasoning behind them being popular is far more to do with them being legendary durable and reliable than the 'Jap cars are white goods' tangent you went on. I've only ever seen a couple of JLR product in the desert...some defenders plus a friend of mine had a Discovery 3 V8. It was good off road too, except it's air suspension kept automatically lowering the car when making progress on the sand (they do off-roading a bit different to the slow/steady approach that's taught in Europe).
It does say something that almost everyone who lives here chooses a Japanese 4x4 for dune bashing...or sometimes an American one. But hardly ever a LR. But as well as perceived reliability (probably deserved from the 70s/80s but not so true of the newer cars) , I think it's also simpler reason; a RR is a thing of beauty which you wouldn't want to rag around in the sand and damage. Where as your Landcruiser/Patrol is, as per most Japanese things, merely a white good which is made for a purpose. If it gets damaged...who cares. The Landcruisers in particular are just so out of date with dreadful 80s interiors and bland styling, if anything a bit of damage makes them more interesting! But the locals buy them in their thousands. Every other car is a white Landcruiser or Prado here.
Reminds me of when I was speaking to a customer from the UAE in the underground car park of his waterfront Chelsea apartment, next to his bright Yellow C63 Black and Black 458 Italia. His Favourite car? His 90s Land Cruiser back home. The guy's eyes lit up when I showed interest in that rather than the "flash" cars in front of them and he ended up showing me pics of his extensive $50,000 rebuild he'd just had done on it and talked with the passion that you only get from a true enthusiast that loves their vehicle.
Definitely not what I was expecting.
I'm no fan of the great big clumsy things, mainly because they offer the handling and performance of a Yaris with the running costs of an M3, but that's just my own tastes. In terms of reliability and ownership experience, I've never heard of any problems whatsoever with them - quite the opposite, people seem to rave about how well made they are and how much they love them. 
RobM77 said:
I'm no fan of the great big clumsy things, mainly because they offer the handling and performance of a Yaris with the running costs of an M3, but that's just my own tastes. In terms of reliability and ownership experience, I've never heard of any problems whatsoever with them - quite the opposite, people seem to rave about how well made they are and how much they love them.
Ah yes, I experienced that. When I didn't own one, the friends who did swore theirs were faultless. When I bought my first one and it was problematic they confided in me about all the problems they had. Ownership of a Range Rover is a bit like Fight Club.
13m said:
RobM77 said:
I'm no fan of the great big clumsy things, mainly because they offer the handling and performance of a Yaris with the running costs of an M3, but that's just my own tastes. In terms of reliability and ownership experience, I've never heard of any problems whatsoever with them - quite the opposite, people seem to rave about how well made they are and how much they love them.
Ah yes, I experienced that. When I didn't own one, the friends who did swore theirs were faultless. When I bought my first one and it was problematic they confided in me about all the problems they had. Ownership of a Range Rover is a bit like Fight Club.
Had several P38's as my own user and a couple of L322's and quite a few which I have bought/sold...I also ran a Lancruiser 4.2 Amazon for a few months.
Lancruiser, well built, very thirsty, crap interior but a good "tool" and no doubt would go on forever.
Range rover L322 TD6 remapped...much nicer cabin, fast enough for a 4 x 4, gearbox every so often (IRO £1500).
Range Rover is a classless vehicle, driven by billionaires to the working man, Landcruiser probably cost less to maintain, but I wouldnt want one.
nct001 said:
Trader mate of mine sells loads of second hand range rovers.
What does he drive, leases a new Range Rover in his words great cars wouldn't want to own one.
My mate has also had new Range Rovers for the last 10-12 years, not sure how he funds them but his words were "I wouldn't have one outside of manufacturers warranty after some of the bills I have seen".What does he drive, leases a new Range Rover in his words great cars wouldn't want to own one.
Sump said:
It's also important to note that if you want to get ripped off, you will get ripped off.
For instance a new air compressor is £400 fitted. Whereas you can get a rebuild kit for £50 instead of a new one for £300.
Another example... I had the turbos replaced on my TDV8 a couple of months back:For instance a new air compressor is £400 fitted. Whereas you can get a rebuild kit for £50 instead of a new one for £300.
Turbos from Landrover - £4000+vat
Turbos from German company that make the Landrover ones - £2000+vat
Turbos off of Ebay - New £1000, refurbed £600.
Frankly, anyone taking any Landrover near a dealer for non-warranty work is mental or literally has money to burn.
2000 P38. Owned for 8 years. mainly consumables.
Now done about 150000, 60,000 by me.
It's had a set of air bags, a/c condenser and a set of HT leads and coils. Runs fine on LPG for the last 50,000 miles.
Only bork was the autobox and transfer box caused by the OH shoving it into reverse at 20mph!!
Oh, did have a new flexplate a few years ago.
Still a lovely thing to drive that gets severe use in towing duties.
Best RR I have had, apart from the CSK, which I always regret selling.....
Now done about 150000, 60,000 by me.
It's had a set of air bags, a/c condenser and a set of HT leads and coils. Runs fine on LPG for the last 50,000 miles.
Only bork was the autobox and transfer box caused by the OH shoving it into reverse at 20mph!!
Oh, did have a new flexplate a few years ago.
Still a lovely thing to drive that gets severe use in towing duties.
Best RR I have had, apart from the CSK, which I always regret selling.....
Jimmy Recard said:
RobM77 said:
I'm no fan of the great big clumsy things, mainly because they offer the handling and performance of a Yaris with the running costs of an M3, but that's just my own tastes.
I really can't imagine the thought process that leads to making that comparisonIt's not just that..... I've never walked into a Land Rover showroom thinking "Right, it's between a Range Rover, Toyota Yaris and BMW M3."
And I didn't think that people who bang on about handling and performance and feel and crap like that only existed in Autocar. Who cares when you're driving to work or the shops?
And it may not be a Range Rover, but I was very glad of having my Discovery 4 only yesterday collecting my father from the wrong side of a bog after a nasty fall.
I've just been to visit him in hospital. He's still not too well, but he would be a bit worse if we couldn't have brought him back.
(I know that that sounds like it's made up just for this, but it is something that happened only yesterday). It's the only time in my life that something like this has happened and hopefully the last!
And I didn't think that people who bang on about handling and performance and feel and crap like that only existed in Autocar. Who cares when you're driving to work or the shops?
And it may not be a Range Rover, but I was very glad of having my Discovery 4 only yesterday collecting my father from the wrong side of a bog after a nasty fall.
I've just been to visit him in hospital. He's still not too well, but he would be a bit worse if we couldn't have brought him back.
(I know that that sounds like it's made up just for this, but it is something that happened only yesterday). It's the only time in my life that something like this has happened and hopefully the last!
RobM77 said:
I'm no fan of the great big clumsy things...
Neither was my father-in-law. He hated them on sight. That was Monday. After spending a day in one yesterday it's now a different story. A begrudging acknowledgement of 'they are okay actually' turned into 'it's remarkable'.
I've made a bet with my wife that when he's finished restoring and sold his old 1950's MG, if there's nothing else he has to do spend the money on that he'll look into getting one.
ts....Jimmy Recard said:
RobM77 said:
I'm no fan of the great big clumsy things, mainly because they offer the handling and performance of a Yaris with the running costs of an M3, but that's just my own tastes.
I really can't imagine the thought process that leads to making that comparisonImpasse said:
Nor me. My daughter had a Yaris as her first car. During her ownership it needed a battery, a timing chain inc VVC unit, a radiator, an exhaust manifold, a clutch and a sump(!).
Are you all being facetious or genuinely missing the point there? He's saying it's wallowy and slow but costs a fortune, not suggesting they're all somehow comparable purchases. Jesus.luckystrike said:
Are you all being facetious or genuinely missing the point there? He's saying it's wallowy and slow but costs a fortune, not suggesting they're all somehow comparable purchases. Jesus.
But by my secondhand experience every single Yaris is a money pit requiring expensive parts to be replaced in a continuous cycle. It's just as valid, if not moreso, as the secondhand claims being made about Range Rovers on this thread. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff