Best way to try out a Full Fat RR / Disco

[ingelow]

I'm looking for a bigger / better car for long journeys at the moment (will likely be a Jan 2012 purchase, given it's nearly Christmas now). Current car is killing my back on long trips, so comfort is paramount to the new purchase.

I've got a shortlist, basically M-Class Merc (for another forum, but if anyone has any input on how these stack up or any alternatives (volvo maybe?), that would be great), Full Fat Rangie, or a Disco (Sport / Freelander aren't roomy enough I'm afraid). Will likely be second hand, looking at around 2 or 3 years old, preferably with some warranty etc.

I live in London, and I'd really like to try each of these cars out for an extended period (parking, getting around, motorway ) - possibly half a day, or at least a couple of hours. Size wise, they'll be a big step up from the current motor, and I really want to know that if I drive for 2 hours say whether my back is still in good nick.

So the question is, what's the best way to do this - is there anyway to do it via a LR dealer (like an extended test drive - maybe leaving my car as security?), maybe a couple of hours back to back to work out the difference between the Disco and the Rangie (to be honest, I think I'm going to struggle with talking myself out of the FFRR - they're just too good ). Has anyone heard of anything like this / done anything like this before? (wouldn't mind paying if that's even an option?).

The other alternative is maybe a hire from Avis Prestige or the like (not for the Disco), or perhaps an experience day (which I'd love to do, but time wise would be hard to fit in before March which is unfortunate).

Also, the supercharged petrol... crazy right?

I'll call the dealer in the morning as well, but just thought I'd see what other people's experiences had been.

Thanks

[phib]

No idea about where you could try one, but owning both a full fat Vogue and a 730d Sport bmw if you really want comfort and ability to do long journeys I would suggest a top of the range saloon over the Range rover, I love both of us but for doing long journeys the BMW wins hands down.

Phib

[benjj]

Land Rover experience day? I know LR dealers give these away to try and close a sale. Could be worth visiting local dealer, explain you want to try out both on a number of different terrains and see what they say. No need to mention you are looking at used models though

Also re above comment, I find my FFRR to be the best long distance cruiser I've ever owned. For me it is a combination of seats/comfort and being raised above other traffic: as you can see over other cars it makes stop/start motorway driving a doddle. Agree that the driving dynamics of a large saloon are better though on road but not enough to tempt me back into one.

Next purchase for me is the all new 2012/2013 FFRR. Can't farking wait.

[phib]

benjj said:

Land Rover experience day? I know LR dealers give these away to try and close a sale. Could be worth visiting local dealer, explain you want to try out both on a number of different terrains and see what they say. No need to mention you are looking at used models though

Also re above comment, I find my FFRR to be the best long distance cruiser I've ever owned. For me it is a combination of seats/comfort and being raised above other traffic: as you can see over other cars it makes stop/start motorway driving a doddle. Agree that the driving dynamics of a large saloon are better though on road but not enough to tempt me back into one.

Next purchase for me is the all new 2012/2013 FFRR. Can't farking wait.

That was much better put than my effort, it's only the dynamics that put me off using mine more but if I didn't have to do the miles 30k a year then I wouldn't bother with the bm

Phib

[ingelow]

phib said:

No idea about where you could try one, but owning both a full fat Vogue and a 730d Sport bmw if you really want comfort and ability to do long journeys I would suggest a top of the range saloon over the Range rover, I love both of us but for doing long journeys the BMW wins hands down.

Phib

That's interesting - hadn't really considered a saloon thus far. One thing I struggle with is the headliner / top of windscreen in my car being in my eye-line (6'4, but long bodied), so I find I hunch, and have the seat on the floor which gives me a really folded up posture (seat could go farther back, but the headliner problem becomes even worse then), so sore hips, numb feet etc. One of the biggest draws of the Rangie is the sit up posture with plenty of headspace / headroom. Improved visibility is also great.

Appreciate the driving dynamics would be better with the saloon and there are more to choose from though - but not aware of any which get around the headliner problem / knees up round the steering wheel problem - anyone got any suggestions on that while we're at it (perhaps for a different forum)?

[ingelow]

phib said:

That was much better put than my effort, it's only the dynamics that put me off using mine more but if I didn't have to do the miles 30k a year then I wouldn't bother with the bm

Phib

Ahh - that's good to know, thanks I only do about 6 - 8k miles a year so sounds like the RR is the way forward. Having never been on the inside of a new Disco, am I kidding myself that I would have one over the FFRR? One thing I have noticed is that second hand, the values are much closer than I'd have thought.

Is it worth trying to find a Vogue SE (does it make a real difference in terms of day to day liveability / resale), or is that just a nice to have and a standard Vogue would do do you think?

Will definitely ask about the experience day - happy to pay for it if required, if it helps make the right decision in the long run, it'll be worth it (and it looks like a lot of fun ).

[Midnight Bear]

Worth trying a BMW X5 too IMO; great long-distance runner and pretty sure Avis Prestige runs them too. Had a couple over the years and couldn't fault them for comfort and driveability.

[phib]

Without doubt if I had to do 6k per year it would be a 4.2 or 5.0 supercharged rr, we had defenders for years hauling all sorts of trailers, junk etc etc then thought we would like a bit more comfort and thought so decided on a discovery 3 drove a couple then a couple of rrs's and the a full fat which was the same money and that was it

Phib

[ingelow]

Midnight Bear said:

Worth trying a BMW X5 too IMO; great long-distance runner and pretty sure Avis Prestige runs them too. Had a couple over the years and couldn't fault them for comfort and driveability.

I've heard a couple of horror stories about the X5 which has put me off, but you're right, worth having a test drive at least (although I think my heart is pretty much stuck at the Land Rover garage ). Avis do hire them too, and the Disco, which is good

phib said:

Without doubt if I had to do 6k per year it would be a 4.2 or 5.0 supercharged rr, we had defenders for years hauling all sorts of trailers, junk etc etc then thought we would like a bit more comfort and thought so decided on a discovery 3 drove a couple then a couple of rrs's and the a full fat which was the same money and that was it

Phib

Ahhh, I knew someone would say that - I almost don't want to testdrive the 5.0 as I know I'll love it too much, and I'm not good at compromise *goes off to the classifieds*

Is there much benefit of a main dealer purchase over an Indy with LR? Nearest LR dealer to me isn't held in the highest regard I don't think (they were pretty unhelpful the last time I was in there actually). Does anyone have any recommendations dealer wise? (also is it worth getting an independent inspection for cars like this?).

Thanks all

[phib]

Haven't bought from them but james at lookers park royal gets brave reviews

Well worth a try

Phib

[GeraldSmith]

I do 30k a year and my FFRR is unbeatable for the job, they do get significantly better with each year, my current 2011MY is brilliant, fast, 30ishmph and corners well, much better than my 2006MY was.

As for the question, why not start by talking to your local dealer?

[edo]

benjj said:

Land Rover experience day? I know LR dealers give these away to try and close a sale. Could be worth visiting local dealer, explain you want to try out both on a number of different terrains and see what they say. No need to mention you are looking at used models though

Also re above comment, I find my FFRR to be the best long distance cruiser I've ever owned. For me it is a combination of seats/comfort and being raised above other traffic: as you can see over other cars it makes stop/start motorway driving a doddle. Agree that the driving dynamics of a large saloon are better though on road but not enough to tempt me back into one.

Next purchase for me is the all new 2012/2013 FFRR. Can't farking wait.

Ding.

We did the half day in Luton (made a weekend of it and stayed at the Luton Hoo Hotel).

Had a top spec Vogue FF RR on both road and some seriously impressive off road.

Def the way to go.

[GeraldSmith]

The only problem with doing the LR Experience to try the car is that it won't be the same as one you would get that is 2 to 3 years old. The Experience ones will be 2011/2012MY with the 4.4 TDV8, so a much improved engine on the TDV8 you would get secondhand and much better on road handling. But obviously it will tell you about the size, driving position etc. Just don't be disappointed if the one you get is slower, less economical, has more turbo lag and doesn't go round corners as well - it'll still be a great car, but not as good as the new ones.

[edo]

GeraldSmith said:

The only problem with doing the LR Experience to try the car is that it won't be the same as one you would get that is 2 to 3 years old. The Experience ones will be 2011/2012MY with the 4.4 TDV8, so a much improved engine on the TDV8 you would get secondhand and much better on road handling. But obviously it will tell you about the size, driving position etc. Just don't be disappointed if the one you get is slower, less economical, has more turbo lag and doesn't go round corners as well - it'll still be a great car, but not as good as the new ones.

Fair point well made (that MY12 car was seriously impressive).

[David911RSR]

When I went to change our D3, I had a strong itch for a FFRR. I drove the FFRR and D4 back to back. As much as I tried to do the man maths, I could not justify to extra cost. We also tried an X5 but I found the ride to be dreadful and their ability in the bad weather is poor.

There is a Ph member who owns both a FFRR and D4, you may wish to look for similar threads where he has commented.

The D4 is a more practical vehicle than the FFRR with a larger load area, 7 seats and it is also a more modern design. I also found the rear passengers doors on the FFRR. From a luxury point of view, the FFRR is still a way ahead.

[David911RSR]

When I went to change our D3, I had a strong itch for a FFRR. I drove the FFRR and D4 back to back. As much as I tried to do the man maths, I could not justify to extra cost. We also tried an X5 but I found the ride to be dreadful and their ability in the bad weather is poor.

There is a Ph member who owns both a FFRR and D4, you may wish to look for similar threads where he has commented.

The D4 is a more practical vehicle than the FFRR with a larger load area, 7 seats and it is also a more modern design. I also found the rear passengers doors on the FFRR. From a luxury point of view, the FFRR is still a way ahead.

[edc]

ingelow said:

The other alternative is maybe a hire from Avis Prestige or the like (not for the Disco), or perhaps an experience day (which I'd love to do, but time wise would be hard to fit in before March which is unfortunate).

I have hired an ML and RRS from Avis previously. Found the service pretty smooth. Had the RRS a few weeks and the ML was for a long weekend and went pretty much from Surrey to Scotland and back.

[ingelow]

David911RSR said:

As much as I tried to do the man maths, I could not justify to extra cost.

To someone who's spent some quality time with the configurator on the LR website, I feel this

Thanks for the advice all - really helpful, I'll give James at Lookers a call and see what he says - think I'll also try and hire a Vogue from Avis for Christmas week - just need to check the MY to see what's what.

Every time I hit the classifieds, the MY I want seems to gets newer and the spec higher - does anyone know of a 'recommended' options list - can obviously live without the venturecam, but interested in what else is considered essential.

[HowMuchLonger]

Watch out for the MY10 as they dropped the brembos for that year. Reinstated for MY11.

[mattdaniels]

The Disco will feel a much bigger car than the RR. That sloping rear window makes a lot of difference.