Current Range Rover

[robm3]

What I don't understand is the wiring loom and electrical layout is basically the same in all JLR products. The interior layout of my F-type was basically the same as my L405, as was the replacement Freelander and Evoque I drove a lot.

Basically screen at top, surrounded by buttons, two temp controls, fan in centre etc etc.. all the same.

So seeing as they're churning out these standard electrical fittings it's just shocking they can't get it right.

And that must mean that all other JLR products are suffering similar electrical gremlins. My F-type is one year old now but only 3K miles, that has only needed an new switchable exhaust. And only then because it was buzzing constantly.

As for two motors going to ZF, that's a bit of an urban myth I suspect. The V8 diesel in the L405 is a Ford motor and durable, most other motors have Ford heritage and pretty reliable.

Two dealers I dealt with have been very good trying to resolve my L405 problems so can't fault the dealers.

One last note, our local Land Rover Indie reckons a large amount of spares and components are now being built in India. They had four rotary couplers (links the steering wheel buttons to loom) fail one by one. All from India. Perhaps this is where the problem lies??

[Sheepshanks]

alock said:

Speaking to an employee of JLR, he said they are the only company that have to send two entire engines to ZF for drive-train testing because a single engine doesn't last the entire test. All other major manufactures only send a single engine.

I've been unable to corroborate this so it might not be true but I have no reason to think this person would lie.

I've never heard that before but would be surprised if they'd be testing on a single test rig anyway.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Tuesday 31st March 09:05

[EdJ]

NomduJour said:

L405 definitely a better car, as you'd expect with over a decade between them.

Sorry, I should have been clear, I mean in terms of reliability. Obviously the newer car is "better", reliability (possibly) aside.

[whoami]

EdJ said:

NomduJour said:

L405 definitely a better car, as you'd expect with over a decade between them.

Sorry, I should have been clear, I mean in terms of reliability. Obviously the newer car is "better", reliability (possibly) aside.

It's "better" in some ways, worse in others and just (slightly) different in many more.

[orbtar]

P

swisstoni said:

Right, we've got a RR and RRS test drive booked for Tuesday and a Cayenne with a proper suspension for Thursday next week.
I thought we'd give the RRS a go for due diligence. Didn't like previous incarnations of the RRS but this one seems ok. Now has same towing cap as the RR too.

Had a bit of fun reading the forums - seems like RR drivers look down their noses at RRS drivers.

Good idea to try both RR and RRS. I have had both and never thought I would like the Sport but have run one (V8 diesel A/B) for the last four months and absolutely love it. It was always agreed that I would swap it back in to the dealer in March and I have waited until tomorrow (31st March) to hand it back and collect a new big RR. It's nice to have a proper gear lever in the Sport and it handles way better than its big brother. They are both fantastic cars, most are reliable, the only major let downs are the useless screen which has graphics suited to a 1980's video game, the mapping display is appalling, you have to prod at the screen several times for a simple operation such as turning heated seats on - why aren't these left as a switch on the dashboard like every other manufacturer? Instead, LR decide that you need a terrain control system visible at all times even though it is something that you will probably never use.
Also worth mentioning, the residuals are fantastic across most LR products at the moment. There are very few cars you can drive at this price point and not lose a fortune as soon as you drive out of the showroom. Buy one with a discount and you can nearly get your money back every six months.

[swisstoni]

Our current 'plan' is to keep it for a couple of years while residuals are still ok and then bale out before it nosedives. What could possibly go wrong !

[Fun Bus]

grand cherokee said:

if you want to read a real horror story of a brand new RR have a look on the 'fullfat' forum and the US owner!

I've had a look and can't find it - any pointers, please?

ETA: Found it and, bloody hell!

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic30459.html

Edited by Fun Bus on Tuesday 31st March 22:21

[swisstoni]

Fun Bus said:

grand cherokee said:

if you want to read a real horror story of a brand new RR have a look on the 'fullfat' forum and the US owner!

I've had a look and can't find it - any pointers, please?

If that's the one about the 'rattle' it seems like the US dealership was a bit hopeless. Virtually took the interior apart only to find that the 'rattle' was generated by a fault with the infotainment system and was coming from a speaker.

[swisstoni]

I thought I'd round this thread off with a picture of my new truck. Thanks for all who contributed. I await the first signs of bork but as for now it's behaving itself. Fit and finish perfect.

[robm3]

Looks great Toni, those wheels are so much nicer than the 'turbine' look, fingers crossed you've got a good one...

[EdJ]

swisstoni said:

I thought I'd round this thread off with a picture of my new truck. Thanks for all who contributed. I await the first signs of bork but as for now it's behaving itself. Fit and finish perfect.

Looks fantastic! And how refreshing to see one without the ubiquitous blacked out rear windows. Must admit I'm tempted to go for one like this next time. Can you spec rear window blinds like you get on Audis / Mercs?

[swisstoni]

EdJ said:

swisstoni said:

I thought I'd round this thread off with a picture of my new truck. Thanks for all who contributed. I await the first signs of bork but as for now it's behaving itself. Fit and finish perfect.

Looks fantastic! And how refreshing to see one without the ubiquitous blacked out rear windows. Must admit I'm tempted to go for one like this next time. Can you spec rear window blinds like you get on Audis / Mercs?

Cheers. I was never going to go for the blacked out windows because I don't like the look either. I must admit I was thinking that the blinds were standard with the pano roof but (after going over the brochure with a fine tooth comb again) it seems they are only standard on the LWB with pano roof. Bit of an oversight IMHO.

[0llie]

swisstoni said:

I thought I'd round this thread off with a picture of my new truck. Thanks for all who contributed. I await the first signs of bork but as for now it's behaving itself. Fit and finish perfect.

Wow. Stunning looking 405. I do like those wheels, shame that they're so scarce.

A friend has just purchased a 2013 L405 TDV6 Autobiography with 11k miles on it. On the test drive, he noticed there was a rumble coming from somewhere under the car. He'd buy the car if the rumble was sorted, so a deal was done, and the LR techs went off to work on the car.

They believed it would be something as simple as a worn bush, or something equally trivial. After further diagnosis, they ended up replaced the transfer box thinking this was the cause, but that didn't solve it either . They finally changed the front differential which has cured the issue (I dread to think what these works would have cost outside of warranty).

The guy has had 10 or more Range Rovers over the years and wouldn't have anything else, he's never had any major issues with them so hopefully this was a minor blip.

[Turbodiesel1976]

swisstoni said:

I thought I'd round this thread off with a picture of my new truck. Thanks for all who contributed. I await the first signs of bork but as for now it's behaving itself. Fit and finish perfect.

Beautiful car, best of luck with it

[AMDB9]

Lovely car - I do prefer the turbine wheels though...these ones are the same design as an Evoque

Enjoy in good health

[swisstoni]

Yes the snob in me wishes they weren't on the Evoque etc but, of the largest wheels available, these are the ones that appealed the most. And I'm sure that smaller wheels are better for all sorts of reasons but big wheels look so damn good and I'm a sucker for looks.

[Eleven]

EdJ said:

Looks fantastic! And how refreshing to see one without the ubiquitous blacked out rear windows.

We have rear privacy glass - essential if you have DVD in the rear.

[sealtt]

I was in a similar position, I did own a 2007 RR Sport V8 diesel and wanted a new/newer car. I went and looked at a Cayenne and did really like it. Asked the Porsche dealer to get me one for a test drive / for us to use for an afternoon, they called me the next day to say they'd arrange at the end of the week and then never got back to me. I went back there and they didn't apologise and didn't offer to fix it and re-arrange a test drive.

Well, that quickly marked Porsche off of my list for the next few years, I just won't accept that kind of terrible service when I am the customer, especially on a high value vehicle. That's Porsche bournemouth by the way just to name n shame.

Then went to have a look at the new Range Rovers, maybe a face lifted sport or even a new sport I thought, sat in the Vogue and suddenly realised there was no other option! I just took delivery of it last friday, it's a Vogue SE with the 4.4SDV8 and it is absolutely my favourite car ever! I have a Ferrari F430 Spider in the garage, but even though summer is just beginning I think the RR will be my car of choice, it's just SO good!! Even my little 7yr old daughter today didn't want to get out the car to go to school because she wanted 'a few more minutes of luxury'!

Mine has the turbine wheels which I think do look amazing, even though they make no sense in any other measurable way, but I think it's good to make the car look just as you want it because it makes the whole thing much more special.




Oh and now I've owned it for a few days, the idea of a Cayenne I think is laughable. It's not even in the same league as the Range Rover Vogue, this thing is just the ultimate luxury vehicle. Soooo good! I hope you are enjoying yours as much as I am.

Seal

[swisstoni]

I had the same experience with my 10 year old. I have a couple of TVRs that you might think he'd be interested in but, at least for now, he's not really. He likes them per se, but doesn't like the experience of actually travelling in them (what have I brought into the world ).
But I can't get him out of the RR. He even likes sitting in the back seat again. He loves the gadgets and the customisability and the height.
I suppose we have always had stone-age cars comparatively and this one appeals to the modern kid.

[Eleven]

My 11 plate Vogue is still in the dealership workshop, where it has now been for 7 weeks. I am driving a Freelander 2 courtesy car that smells like a shaggy dog died in it.

I think this is the final nail in the Land Rover coffin. I've bought their cars for years but the quality is appalling and the customer service slightly worse. My RR is due for renewal in 2 months and I cannot see me buying another one. Which makes me a bit sad to be honest.