Lead and Build

[PhantomPH]

This is more of a curiosity thread than anything, so hopefully someone here will have an insight into LR a little bit.

As clear on my other thread about insurance, I have ordered a new RRS. I've been quoted a delivery date towards the end of January. Just made me wonder about the process as it's pretty new for me (always bought cars that were sitting in the showroom or sitting in the dealers' 'stock' queue). With most things, I tend to start to think about the process that gets a product to me as it's really interesting.

I'm right in thinking the RRS is built in the UK, yes?

Do LR operate out of one plant or with their expanding product lines are they building overseas these days?

Does anyone know how long it takes to actually build a Range Rover Sport to a customer spec? I remember watching the James May program where a Mini was followed along the production line and that went from start to finish in a matter of hours. Was fascinating!

On a slightly off-topic question (and having had LR products before), has the build quality improved in recent years? (heard some horror stories from Evoque and Disco Sport owners and had a hilarious number of visits to the dealer with my F2)

P~

[hilly10]

RRS is built at Solihull Birmingham

[seany87]

JLR have 3 factories in UK. Theres also a couple more dotted around the world now but they generally speaking are for the local market. They are there to ease the pressure on the UK plants who are at full capacity, hence the long lead times for cars and also eventually expand product lines.

The vast majority of cars produced are coming from the UK plants, and despite what people believe the cars are designed and engineered in the UK.

You could always do a factory tour and see the cars being built or even how they are designed? I am positive you will find the process fascinating. Google LR experience.

[PhantomPH]

seany87 said:

You could always do a factory tour and see the cars being built or even how they are designed? I am positive you will find the process fascinating. Google LR experience.

well I didn't know you could do that! Thanks!

Edited by PhantomPH on Thursday 17th November 09:32

[Triple7]

http://www.landrover.co.uk/experience-landrover/be...

Your dealer may be able to get you in to see your car being built....if not get LR to organise direct...

[PhantomPH]

That's really cool (I know - sad, aren't I?!). I think I will see about booking a tour. Will do it through the dealer. If by some quirk of timing I could do it at the same time as my car was going through some of the process, that would be awesome.

[seany87]

PhantomPH said:

That's really cool (I know - sad, aren't I?!). I think I will see about booking a tour. Will do it through the dealer. If by some quirk of timing I could do it at the same time as my car was going through some of the process, that would be awesome.

Dont bother going through dealer - they literally dont know thier arse from elbow. You need to speak with LR Experience direct. They have the contacts in the relevant factories.

[PhantomPH]

seany87 said:

PhantomPH said:

That's really cool (I know - sad, aren't I?!). I think I will see about booking a tour. Will do it through the dealer. If by some quirk of timing I could do it at the same time as my car was going through some of the process, that would be awesome.

Dont bother going through dealer - they literally dont know thier arse from elbow. You need to speak with LR Experience direct. They have the contacts in the relevant factories.

Noted. Will be speaking to them this week.

[damianke]

Hi

I specced my RRS in early September for mid-late December delivery, and it arrived, completely unexpectedly, yesterday at the dealer. Which was good. My wife's Evoque convertible (I know, but she likes it...) was ordered a bit earlier than mine, supposed to be 5 December delivery, is now in build and should be mid December. Hope this helps.

Mine's a 5.0 S/C Autobiography, not an SVR, which was just too lairy.

[PhantomPH]

Interesting it was early for you. I am ready for mine now - it's only been a few weeks, but already longer than I've ever waited for a car (always from stock - this is my first factory build). Mine is due late Jan. My boss has had an SVR since launch and I hardly ever see him in it. I think it's his wife's vehicle. They had a Kahn 600hp version of the RRS previously, so she is obviously used to the bat-st acceleration of these big monsters.

Whisper it, but I like the Evoque cabrio. I know I shouldn't and I know it's just not cool to admit it, but something about it really works for me. I think it looks good and (dare I say it) is just the right side of 'why on earth?' to make me appreciate the concept. So fair play to her for getting one! (back seats are hilariously useless for such a big car).

[damianke]

My wife was definitely going for a normal Evoque to replace her current one (13 reg Prestige 2.2SD, which she loves) until we saw the cabriolet at Goodwood FOS, when she just said, 'that's the one for me', and that was it. Hugely impractical, and a bit on the silly money side, tbh, but there you go. We've gone for a petrol this time though, as I'm fed up with the morning taxi rattle.

We live in Wilmslow, where I can guarantee that by next summer every other car will be an Evoque with the top down, driven by a blonde in shades. Step forward Mrs Damianke....

[RobXjcoupe]

PhantomPH said:

This is more of a curiosity thread than anything, so hopefully someone here will have an insight into LR a little bit.

As clear on my other thread about insurance, I have ordered a new RRS. I've been quoted a delivery date towards the end of January. Just made me wonder about the process as it's pretty new for me (always bought cars that were sitting in the showroom or sitting in the dealers' 'stock' queue). With most things, I tend to start to think about the process that gets a product to me as it's really interesting.

I'm right in thinking the RRS is built in the UK, yes?

Do LR operate out of one plant or with their expanding product lines are they building overseas these days?

Does anyone know how long it takes to actually build a Range Rover Sport to a customer spec? I remember watching the James May program where a Mini was followed along the production line and that went from start to finish in a matter of hours. Was fascinating!

On a slightly off-topic question (and having had LR products before), has the build quality improved in recent years? (heard some horror stories from Evoque and Disco Sport owners and had a hilarious number of visits to the dealer with my F2)

P~

I worked a while back in the Solihull factory on the original rrs and we had a factory record of 50 cars built in a day just prior to job 1. Put that into perspective to the Dagenham built cars of 1 car every 60 secs but was as quick as 1 car per 45 secs off the production line. That was 2002.

[PhantomPH]

damianke said:

My wife was definitely going for a normal Evoque to replace her current one (13 reg Prestige 2.2SD, which she loves) until we saw the cabriolet at Goodwood FOS, when she just said, 'that's the one for me', and that was it. Hugely impractical, and a bit on the silly money side, tbh, but there you go. We've gone for a petrol this time though, as I'm fed up with the morning taxi rattle.

We live in Wilmslow, where I can guarantee that by next summer every other car will be an Evoque with the top down, driven by a blonde in shades. Step forward Mrs Damianke....

Well good for her - get what you want and enjoy it. I have genuinely stressed about 'what people will think', but been told by my other half many times, "bks to what anyone else thinks".

As for the above on build - I'd be happy if my car took a week to build, if it was done properly. Heard good things about the current RRS build quality, so I'm optimistic.