Range Rover - 3 months on
Discussion
For many years I've longed for a Range Rover with no rational reasoning behind this. This is complicated by my work mileage making ownership of such a beast impractical. In May I finally found a way round this, and the wife now drives a Range Rover 
The car that I bought was a 2005 Facelift, Full Fat Range Rover, 3.0 Diesel Vogue. This means that it brings lots of toys, and slightly improved fuel consumption. More on that later. Unusual toys of note include the Venture Cam, and very effective Heated Seats with electric controls adjusting the headrest forward and back as well as up and down.
First impressions were that the car is bloody big and rather slow. Time has not really changed that, although my perception has changed. People who are not used to the car talk about the engine noise, and it's true while accelerating it is vocal, but in an impressive, thunderous way that makes cyclists tremble. Friends talk about the feeling of speed as the car squats, and are then surprised to find we are doing only 40 miles per hour.
I've done a number of long trips, including the slog back from Le Mans, and the car is truly impressive soaking up the miles. Once up to speed the engine note quietens considerably.
I mentioned Le Mans didn't I? 1,100 miles round trip, with a 22 foot caravan behind. Bit of mud (unusual y less so than normal). 19 mpg - not bad I felt, although the mate who was car sharing was shocked at just how much juice it can swallow in one go. I keep the cost of a tank down to £115 by filling up at 1/4! Whils't on Le Mans - Mad Friday! Obviously no burn off's from me, but the crowd were very appreciative and positive comments all round on the car. It appears to win fans amonst petrolheads..
What have I had to spend? The rear fuel pump packed up early on and cost me £280. I'd expected it at some point. Fuel consumption is worse that I'd hoped, 21 mpg in it's school run role, 20 mpg towing, and never anywhere near the 30 mpg that I'd hoped for. I've learnt not to look.
No serious off-roading yet, although we did have a very capable foray into a field in search of a mobile phone mast. The car also proved itself to be much quicker than expected when a swift return journey was needed to meet school pick-up times.
And today - we've been to London and back to collect a car for the step-lad. I think I've finally found the ultimate car. Full Fat Range Rover, the car that can do it all.
The car that I bought was a 2005 Facelift, Full Fat Range Rover, 3.0 Diesel Vogue. This means that it brings lots of toys, and slightly improved fuel consumption. More on that later. Unusual toys of note include the Venture Cam, and very effective Heated Seats with electric controls adjusting the headrest forward and back as well as up and down.
First impressions were that the car is bloody big and rather slow. Time has not really changed that, although my perception has changed. People who are not used to the car talk about the engine noise, and it's true while accelerating it is vocal, but in an impressive, thunderous way that makes cyclists tremble. Friends talk about the feeling of speed as the car squats, and are then surprised to find we are doing only 40 miles per hour.
I've done a number of long trips, including the slog back from Le Mans, and the car is truly impressive soaking up the miles. Once up to speed the engine note quietens considerably.
I mentioned Le Mans didn't I? 1,100 miles round trip, with a 22 foot caravan behind. Bit of mud (unusual y less so than normal). 19 mpg - not bad I felt, although the mate who was car sharing was shocked at just how much juice it can swallow in one go. I keep the cost of a tank down to £115 by filling up at 1/4! Whils't on Le Mans - Mad Friday! Obviously no burn off's from me, but the crowd were very appreciative and positive comments all round on the car. It appears to win fans amonst petrolheads..
What have I had to spend? The rear fuel pump packed up early on and cost me £280. I'd expected it at some point. Fuel consumption is worse that I'd hoped, 21 mpg in it's school run role, 20 mpg towing, and never anywhere near the 30 mpg that I'd hoped for. I've learnt not to look.
No serious off-roading yet, although we did have a very capable foray into a field in search of a mobile phone mast. The car also proved itself to be much quicker than expected when a swift return journey was needed to meet school pick-up times.
And today - we've been to London and back to collect a car for the step-lad. I think I've finally found the ultimate car. Full Fat Range Rover, the car that can do it all.
Nice Car - congrats.
2 Months ago we purchased a 2003 3.0 diesel Full Fat Range Rover - ours has the same wheels as yours and is in black with the biscuit coloured leather. Obviously ours isnt the facelift version either, and has the previous bmw-esque satnav.
Ref the MPG you are getting - that seems low to me. Our is doing about 26 at the moment, and has only been doing very short local trips. I can see 28-29 on a lonng run. We're heading down to the south of france in august and I was hoping to see 29.
Fanastic car though - very comfortable and capable cruiser when you need it to be.
2 Months ago we purchased a 2003 3.0 diesel Full Fat Range Rover - ours has the same wheels as yours and is in black with the biscuit coloured leather. Obviously ours isnt the facelift version either, and has the previous bmw-esque satnav.
Ref the MPG you are getting - that seems low to me. Our is doing about 26 at the moment, and has only been doing very short local trips. I can see 28-29 on a lonng run. We're heading down to the south of france in august and I was hoping to see 29.
Fanastic car though - very comfortable and capable cruiser when you need it to be.
NeilyWheelie said:
Nice Car - congrats.
2 Months ago we purchased a 2003 3.0 diesel Full Fat Range Rover - ours has the same wheels as yours and is in black with the biscuit coloured leather. Obviously ours isnt the facelift version either, and has the previous bmw-esque satnav.
Ref the MPG you are getting - that seems low to me. Our is doing about 26 at the moment, and has only been doing very short local trips. I can see 28-29 on a lonng run. We're heading down to the south of france in august and I was hoping to see 29.
Fanastic car though - very comfortable and capable cruiser when you need it to be.
Ours is mid-facelift. Touchscreen stereo, but not the new dash and 4wd selection. Mostly this means no ipod connectivity options.2 Months ago we purchased a 2003 3.0 diesel Full Fat Range Rover - ours has the same wheels as yours and is in black with the biscuit coloured leather. Obviously ours isnt the facelift version either, and has the previous bmw-esque satnav.
Ref the MPG you are getting - that seems low to me. Our is doing about 26 at the moment, and has only been doing very short local trips. I can see 28-29 on a lonng run. We're heading down to the south of france in august and I was hoping to see 29.
Fanastic car though - very comfortable and capable cruiser when you need it to be.
My dad always gets 30mpg out of his 4.4tdv8. I can get 30mpg out of my tdv8 RRS but I think that's boring. It's currently sat at 27 average with mixture of motorway and local town driving. I think mine is remapped which may help things. Anyway, stunning car and who cares about a few mpg.
Fattyfat said:
Love these having driven a couple a few years back. What's the major faults to look for?
Everything....From what I can work out if you keep on top of things and have a good (and cheap) indy it's fine. It's when you let them build up. Gearboxes do seem to go if their oil is not changed. Mine has been done.0llie said:
Great looking car, good to see you're enjoying it I think we saw your rig a few times around the Le Mans weekend, in the PH Friday service and on the péage.
Do the facelift cars still run the GM gearbox?
It's very possible! 3.0 td6 facelift on GM. The V8 was not and had a slightly updated dash. Sadly pushed the budget too far for a good one. I think we saw your rig a few times around the Le Mans weekend, in the PH Friday service and on the péage.Do the facelift cars still run the GM gearbox?
bakerstreet said:
Great looking cars. How the heck did you ever think it was going to be capable of 30mpg!!
Mad momentB17NNS said:
Lovely thing. I have absolutely no use whatsoever for one but every time I see a L322 I know I'm going to have to own one day.
I'm the same about an earl Discovery 3. However with a baby on the way and a pet Greyhound, I'm getting close to justifying it because I need a big boot 
They can do 30 but only if it's sitting on the motorway for a considerable distance.
Taking mine to work involves lots of stop start miles and a rather predictable 23 / 25 mpg but on a 500 mile round trip last week (all motorway at legal speeds) it did an average of 32. The same trip last year in my A4 quattro 2.0 tdi averaged 41 so not that much worse, I know what one the family were happier in.
Taking mine to work involves lots of stop start miles and a rather predictable 23 / 25 mpg but on a 500 mile round trip last week (all motorway at legal speeds) it did an average of 32. The same trip last year in my A4 quattro 2.0 tdi averaged 41 so not that much worse, I know what one the family were happier in.
It does depend on the vintage and the engine. In 2006 the 3.6 TDV8 improved performance massively, it really transformed it, and then the 4.4 a little later made it even better, particularly the fuel consumption. So >30mpg is easy today but a bit of a dream in a 2005 model unless you are very, very careful.
I was looking at the TD6 late last year and was told its probably better off to get an LPG V8 instead. There appears to be little real world difference between the petrol and diesel in standard form and the diesels obviously have the higher purchase price.
Couldn't find the one I wanted at the time, so will resume the search in a few months time for the next search.
Bookmarked this as very interested to hear about running costs
Couldn't find the one I wanted at the time, so will resume the search in a few months time for the next search.
Bookmarked this as very interested to hear about running costs
I think that this is a car that I am going to have to keep up with.
Currently two problems
1. Passenger cup holder demolished by my daughter. £85 quid for a new one so I need to find time to remove to see if it's an easy repair.
2. Rear view camera packed up. Seems a common fault. £400 for a new one. £360 for the updated one, or there's a guy on ebay who will update with a Sony CMOS for £100. As the original one is rubbish I'll not be spending £400 on it.
Currently two problems
1. Passenger cup holder demolished by my daughter. £85 quid for a new one so I need to find time to remove to see if it's an easy repair.
2. Rear view camera packed up. Seems a common fault. £400 for a new one. £360 for the updated one, or there's a guy on ebay who will update with a Sony CMOS for £100. As the original one is rubbish I'll not be spending £400 on it.
So now a further 6 months on.
the car has not needed a garage in that time - although it did need a battery for Winter. Turned that someone had put a very lowspec one in so just as well that I changed it early.
It's getting ready for new discs on the front I think. Passenger seat has stopped working - I'm assuming it's the fuse as there is no way even in RR land that all movement would stop... I keep forgetting to investigate.
It's made a rare work journey with me today as I suspect I'd be traversing some fields - a job which in even muddy conditions it did well....
the car has not needed a garage in that time - although it did need a battery for Winter. Turned that someone had put a very lowspec one in so just as well that I changed it early.
It's getting ready for new discs on the front I think. Passenger seat has stopped working - I'm assuming it's the fuse as there is no way even in RR land that all movement would stop... I keep forgetting to investigate.
It's made a rare work journey with me today as I suspect I'd be traversing some fields - a job which in even muddy conditions it did well....
Nice to hear that your still enjoying the car OP massive fan of the FFRR. Have you considered getting it remapped? We had an early TD6 for a few months last year I put a tuning box on it and blanked off the EGR valve which resulted in more power, more responsiveness and better fuel economy. Had we kept it any longer it probably would have been remapped.
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