Tell me about RR classics

[DKL]

For some reason I really fancy one of these. No real use for one except the really icy and wet weather (roads underwater type wet) that we have seen in the last 12 months.
Done a quick search and found some interesting things.
I would prefer a manual but also an LSE but I don't think these go together.
Air suspension sounds a pain but again only option on an LSE?
V8 so there can't be too much to fear here ( not a diesel) but LPG conversion seems popular but again not the boot based ones - some of the pics look decidedly Heath Robinson!
Then there appear to be the Overfinch and LSK versions. OF a bit OTT but great and LSK - well I don't know except perhaps 3 door?
There are some daft prices about - just watched a blue one in Kent that sounded great go through Ebay for 700 notes! There were quite a few caveats in the description but my gut feeling was that someone got a great little motor.
So where to start?
Thanks

[mrmender]

I dont normaly post in this section but ive had 4 of them over the yaers! so here goes
I love driving them. A well sorted 3.9 Auto's are a joy
Injection models do go better than carb, but are very sensnative to water and can be problamatic. 3.9 is good engine but dont dissmiss the 3.5
If its feels sluggish possibly cam is worn. Can happen even on low mileage examples. I had a gen 45K example, cam was almost round on 2 cylinders
The more electric toys you have expect more trouble! Electric Seats can give a lot of grief
Air suspension is not as bad as made out but geting someone who knows about them to do repairs is! Its not that expensive to put them back to springs anyway.
RUST!!
Rear top and bottom tail gate
Rear X Member
Sills
Inner wings
Chassis main rails can and do rust especialy around rear wheels.
Personly i think the Autos are better than Manuals
Still a very capeable vehicle on or off road

[plasticpig]

In my recent experience at looking for a classic I gave up. There are plenty described as in good nick on ebay and elsewhere. I have been to see several recently and they have all turned out to need considerable work. I was looking at spending anywhere between 1-3K

Things to check:

Lift the carpets up and check the boot floor and footwells as they rot badly.

If possible remove the kick plates and check the sills. This is a majo moisture trap.

Check rear wheel arches for excessive corrosion as this is a mounting point for the rear seatbelts.

Check the inner front wings as these rot where the bolts attach the outer wing.

[DKL]

Thanks both.
What's the soft dash option - could just be the beginning of the end as models change?
Just to confirm if someone could LSE s are all auto?
Presumably a manual box could be fitted? Not a very keen auto driver as you might guess!

[tali1]

DKL said:

Thanks both.
What's the soft dash option - could just be the beginning of the end as models change?
Just to confirm if someone could LSE s are all auto?
Presumably a manual box could be fitted? Not a very keen auto driver as you might guess!

Soft dash was in 1994 asnd lasted iirc just over a year
Afaik all LSEs were autos
Manual boxes conyinued almost to very end
Bear in mind vast majority of petrol RR will be autos

[DKL]

Thanks Tali.
It certainly seems that way as per most larger cars.
I'm sure I'd get used to it but I've never had one or really the inclination!
I like the look of the LSE - it's huge! and with the combination of LPG it would give half decent running costs.
As with all things a browse of ebay throws up lots of tempting things but a bit of digging and info reveals what to have and what not too.
A 20 year old car, galvanised or not will now be starting to rust nicely - the Porsches are - so no reason why a RR should be any different.
Are there any recommended classified lists on forums etc?

[tali1]

I think you meant CSK - not LSK in OP .Yes 3dr only and only 200 made.Even rarer are last of line Anniversary -only 25 made!(although visually very difficult to tell from a stck RR)
There seem to be more availabilty in next shape of petrol manuals in 4.0 litre spec

[DKL]

Yes CSK as you say.
Wouldn't really want a 3 door.
I have to say all I hear is doom and gloom re running costs and condition!
Still when has that put me off!
I'll wait until something comes up close by and go and have a gander.
Still can't work out why I want one, I normally go for small and quick.
Maybe its a nesting instinct of some sort?

[Noogly]

DKL said:

Thanks both.
What's the soft dash option - could just be the beginning of the end as models change?
Just to confirm if someone could LSE s are all auto?
Presumably a manual box could be fitted? Not a very keen auto driver as you might guess!

The soft dash is a completely different dashboard, pretty much the later Disco dash, even has a glove box and cup holders ;-)

I've had manual and auto RRs. Generally I'm a manual box fan, however I would always go for an auto RR! There are a lot of cogs and bits in a landy drive train, the auto cusions it all and is a much nicer drive.

Andy

[CraigW]

Noogly said:

DKL said:

Thanks both.
What's the soft dash option - could just be the beginning of the end as models change?
Just to confirm if someone could LSE s are all auto?
Presumably a manual box could be fitted? Not a very keen auto driver as you might guess!

The soft dash is a completely different dashboard, pretty much the later Disco dash, even has a glove box and cup holders ;-)

I've had manual and auto RRs. Generally I'm a manual box fan, however I would always go for an auto RR! There are a lot of cogs and bits in a landy drive train, the auto cusions it all and is a much nicer drive.

Andy

where are cupholders?

[Trommel]

CraigW said:

where are cupholders?

They pop out from under the heater controls.

[CraigW]

thank the lord.

As an aside, does anyone know if all LSE's had sunroofs?

[Trommel]

CraigW said:

As an aside, does anyone know if all LSE's had sunroofs?

As far as I'm aware they had pretty much everything.

[CraigW]

yep, just found out, it has sunroof, thx v much

[Jasper Gilder]

Apparently RR changed their steel supplier in the late 80's/early 90's after the wall came down and bough Russian stuff which allegedly is more prone to rust

3.9's re very good but be careful as they can overheat causing head gasket worries ( not too bad) and cracked liners ( very bad)

I've had a 1988 3.5 auto for 10 years now and every time I think about changing it I remember all the work it's had done and just spend another five hundred or so on it. I think a vogue would be nice with the aircon etc, but others are right - the more electrics there are the more there is to go wrong and all mine work apart from one of the mirrors - marvel really...

[DKL]

Good to hear Jasper. There's a 70K manual Vogue come up for sale just down the road so I might wander down and have a look, although I do hanker after an LSE with all the electricery!

PS I don't believe your Sag has done 100K!!

[CraigW]

I just got this 67k mile LSE, brilliant car, loving it!

[thescamper]

CraigW said:

I just got this 67k mile LSE, brilliant car, loving it!

Got two identical ones no less.

[DKL]

CraigW said:

I just got this 67k mile LSE, brilliant car, loving it!

Its about time we saw some pics Craig!

[pugwash4x4]

had 9 range rover classics in a row ranging from exposed hinged earlies, to a CSK to an LSE. Rebuilt 3 of them, turned one into a competition off roader.

my dream car is a totally rebuilt one.

i now drive an 80 series landcruiser! (read into that what you will)