Full-fat Range Rover vs the Evoque - nervous about size?

[Mercutio]

Genuine help needed on this one, as am being a bit of a ditherer...

My budget is around £35,000, could be pushed a bit more maybe, and am looking at two options:

1) a FFRR Vogue, three-five years old, 30,000-40,000 on the clock, SE spec if lucky enough.

2) New Evoque, Prestige or Dynamic

The full fat Range Rover has always been the one for me due to it's size and capability. I am moving to the country in Sussex soon and wouldn't mind something that could deal with flooding, dirt, snow, the lot.

However my fear about the FFRR is just the sheer bloody size of the thing. I'm used to driving a Focus estate on work trips, and recently used a Jag X-type estate, and they're both pretty narrow in comparison.

Has anyone got experience of the FFRR around country roads - do you constantly find yourself playing chicken with traffic, is it just too big for our UK roads?

Before anyone calls me a pussy, I think it's a reasonable question as I've not owned one before.

[Grey Ghost]

One other thing to consider is if you like to have people chunder down your neck

I had a good long look at an Evoque a little while ago whilst my Freelander was in for a minor niggle. They are nicely built and have a good driving position but........sit in the back of one. Even the 4 door version was claustrophobic and I would not want to be in the back for any length of journey whatsoever. As for the 2 door..........

I am a little biased but my '57 plate Freelander TD4 HSE auto has not missed a beat since bought new and you can pick up a '61 plate HSE with all the toys for your budget.

[m44kts]

I went from a low down Maserati 3200 to a FFRR, it was a bit daunting test driving it as the guys driveway had 2 brick pillars at the entrance which were only a few inches wider than the car.

Got used to it pretty much straight away though, being up that bit higher, and being able to see the corners of the bonnet make them easy to drive. You can judge the width of them quite easy.

Try one, you'll be surprised how quick you adjust to driving them.

[Shaw Tarse]

Have you ever driven a van?
First time I drove a Transit it was similar to when I got into a Classic Rangie, it felt massive within a few miles it felt normal.
Yes the FFRR is bigger than the Classic, but I'd imagine the shape makes it easy to place on the road?

[PaulB81]

The size of the thing will shrink away very quickly over your first week of ownership

I live in a very rural area and my 2 main cars are a 7 seater LWB Pajero and an Elise. If anyone should be getting freaked out by the size of a vehicle it should be me. However, I have no issues driving the 2 cars back to back (except how vague the steering is on the paj after getting out of the elise). You wont find it an issue on narrow country roads. Often, if its a bit narrow and there is a car coming theother way you can stick two wheels on a verge or grass to make the extra space where you couldnt do in a car.

Also, look around the countryside, round here every third car is a FF 4x4 of some description or a tractor.

[edc]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I am driving a Boxster every day at the moment and then flick to the FFRR on ocassion. Of course there are times when you have to stop and give way when you wouldn't in a smaller car but you get used to it.

[Mercutio]

Thanks everyone appreciate it - sounds like I just need to get behind one and get used to it. I've heard the legendary seating position allows a better appreciation of the dimensions of the vehicle, but hey...I'll get used to it.

[ruff'n'smov]

Mercutio said:

Genuine help needed on this one, as am being a bit of a ditherer...

My budget is around £35,000, could be pushed a bit more maybe, and am looking at two options:

1) a FFRR Vogue, three-five years old, 30,000-40,000 on the clock, SE spec if lucky enough.

2) New Evoque, Prestige or Dynamic

The full fat Range Rover has always been the one for me due to it's size and capability. I am moving to the country in [b]Sussex soon and wouldn't mind something that could deal with flooding, dirt, snow, the lot.[b/]

However my fear about the FFRR is just the sheer bloody size of the thing. I'm used to driving a Focus estate on work trips, and recently used a Jag X-type estate, and they're both pretty narrow in comparison.

Has anyone got experience of the FFRR around country roads - do you constantly find yourself playing chicken with traffic, is it just too big for our UK roads?

Before anyone calls me a pussy, I think it's a reasonable question as I've not owned one before.

sussex not serengetti ffs.

its a county btw not a country

[JW911]

The FFRR shrinks as you get used to it. They can be hustled along quite smartly if they need to as well. The only problem you may find is parking if spaces are tight.

A warning though, you drive a Full Fat and you won't want anything else.

Mercutio said:

Has anyone got experience of the FFRR around country roads - do you constantly find yourself playing chicken with traffic...

Nope. They generally move over.

[Phil.]

I have both an FFRR (it's my second) and an Evoque (for the Mrs). I wouldn't swap my FF which is a 2007 TDV8 Vogue SE for her new 2012 Evoque. In fact after a couple of drives when new I don't drive the Evoque at all. The Evoque is more nimble than the FF but the ride is also far less refined. Importantly remember that the Evoque is fairly wide so down country lanes the width issue will be similar to the FF. Except in the FF you can see over the hedges and people tend to get out of the way of a FF because it is more imposing. I've had several Mercs including a new S Class in recent years and the FF is more pleasurable to drive in so many ways and just as refined. You will soon get used to the size and they are so easy to manouver in town and in car parks because it's just a big square box and therefore so easy to judge where the corners are.

[paintman]

If you can find a rental company near to you & rent one you will soon find out whether it will suit & could save you an expensive mistake.
EG: http://www.4x4vehiclehire.co.uk/range-rover-hire/