Is RR unreliability just an urban myth?

[alanm_3]

Hello all, as a potential buyer of a RR 4.4 petrol around the 54/05 vintage, every time I mention this to my friends and colleagues, I always get the same reaction - "Phew! Lovely car, but they're just so unreliable and cost a fortune to fix". This seems to have been supported by the owner of WarrantyDirect commenting that RR's have more claims than any other brand.

So, as a long time BMW driver, and currently running a 545i sport, I know all about fuel consumption and relatively expensive repairs (albeit, not that very often), can anyone deny or confirm this is just a misconception based on previous incarnations of the RR, or is it based in fact? I alway feel real life experiences say more than any other "official" source.

Thanks in advance

Alan

[cptsideways]

Next time your driving any distance on the motorway pay attention to what cars you see on the hard shoulder or on recovery trucks


I got flamed a few weeks for pointing out some facts from various recovery/surveys etc. Will the best 4x4 really get you there?

[Jem0911]

I have a '54 Plate L322 and have had a P38 4.6 previously.
I have had the pain before but nothing compares to the ownership proposition for me.

So if (and when)it breaks I will be prepared for it both mentally and financially, but it can't be as bad as my P38 so thats a plus.

Edited by Jem0911 on Friday 2nd April 14:03

[BLUETHUNDER]

Its not a myth. But fact. Thats why i no longer have Range Rovers. Defenders i will have all day long. A friend in work recently part-exed his diesel Vogue. Just before he did. The sat-nav, steering wheel,and one of the ballast boxes for the headlights all went south.

A very good friend of mine owns and runs an independant specialist. And makes a very good living from them. Infact the workshop is always well stocked with ones being repaired.

[agent006]

They're still no Lanrcruiser in terms of reliabilty but far better than the P38 RangerRover.

The trouble with quoting breakdown surveys is that they (or the poster) rarely post the definition of a breakdown. One man's creaky dashboard will increase the numbers by the same amount as another's blown engine.

[ruaricoles]

Remember that for every person who moans there are hundreds who don't.... I wouldn't be surprised if RR issues are more likely than on some other cars, but there are plenty of people who have owned them for years without any problems, and the known weak spots are unlikely to leave you stranded. The original front diff issue would have, but they have all been upgraded now (or LR will do it if you find one which has been missed).

We've got a very early 2002 4.4, and it's not been perfect but issues have been things like the heated steering wheel not working properly, some windnoise from the bonnet seal, sat nav unit in boot causing a current drain, and recently the rad has started leaking slightly (again, a fairly common fault on early L322s). When we bought the car it needed a new lambda sensor but they're not expensive.

But they're all just little niggles, and every time you drive it you enjoy the experience so much you forgive it everything.

[cayman-black]

My 04 vogue has been more reliable than the landcruiser i had before it. In fact i like it so much that i still havent changed it.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Those "niggles" are enough to piss me off. Why when you pay the backend of £80,000 for some of these models should you be made to suffer these sorts of "niggles". I have seen some customers leave my mates premises with some hefty bills. To the part you can almost see the tears in there eyes. And his labour rates are pretty cheap compared to the main agents.

Granted the Range Rover is still king of the hill. But you have to pay a kings ransom to own one.

[Tyre Smoke]

It's a subjective view of the uneducated.

Skoda? Joke cars, why? Because of perceived Eastern European austerity cars made for the capitalist West. Actually a damned fine product if they bothered to look.

Range Rovers are a damned fine product, slated by those who have no idea what they are talking about. Armchair experts.

TVRs - Just don't go there. Why would you buy anything built of plastic and using parts from every parts bin that breaks down every hundred yards?

Fact is all cars break down from time to time.

I've owned a 4.6 P38 (which I traded in for my Sport)that had 130k on it. Change the oil regularly and don't neglect it and it'll be fine. Sure I had to do the air suspension which took me a couple of hours. The blend motors went tits up and only one heated seat worked, but it was a 1995 4x4 which had worked hard.

My Sport has been brilliant. No problems at all except for a HRW relay going wrong and flattening the battery. Hardly a drama.

My two Tivs have been faultless except for my Chim stranding me a mile from home when the big fuse went. My Cerb went to the 'Ring last summer in the company of a new Renault R26R and a Cosworth Mercedes. I didn't even consider it might be risky reliability-wise. The R26R ended up being relayed from Dover with two failed injectors.

All makes and models have their 'Friday night' jobs, but for me, the best 4x4 is still a product from the West Midlands.

I bet most people who slate a model for unreliability have never owned that particular model or perhaps more commonly, couldn't afford one and there is an inverted snobbery about them.

[agent006]

Tyre Smoke said:

I bet most people who slate a model for unreliability have never owned that particular model or perhaps more commonly, couldn't afford one and there is an inverted snobbery about them.

I think I've just used up a whole month's worth of cringing.

[Tyre Smoke]

agent006 said:

Tyre Smoke said:

I bet most people who slate a model for unreliability have never owned that particular model or perhaps more commonly, couldn't afford one and there is an inverted snobbery about them.

I think I've just used up a whole month's worth of cringing.

Yes, I know I put that very badly didn't I?

What I should have said was they probably drive a 4 year old Mondeo/Vectra. Which would have been a bit less crass.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Well i can consider myself one of the educated. Having owned driven and tested plenty of Range Rovers in my time including the latest offerings. Like everything. They are great when they are working. And all the electrics are ok. But when they go wrong. Which they do. On a regular basis,then they are ridiculosly expensive to fix and maintain.

I like that remark from tyre smoke about not having enough money to buy one. The girl that works in the cafe where i work just took delivery of a 2006 Sport. It seems they really have become a car for the people.

Edited by BLUETHUNDER on Friday 2nd April 20:13

[Jem0911]

The Audi A6 I had two years ago was the worst car for my ownership in terms of breakdowns.
It's probably a good car but I slate the model and make to anyone I can.

[amir_j]

http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

Above average unreliablity score of 141 compared to average of 112
average repair cost: £494

Edited by amir_j on Friday 2nd April 22:06

[HowMuchLonger]

From experience I found my 55plate Disco a pile of junk. The 09 Disco had no issues, but the 10 Range Rover........what a car!

[RedLeicester]

HowMuchLonger said:

From experience I found my 55plate Disco a pile of junk. The 09 Disco had no issues, but the 10 Range Rover........what a car!

My 05 plate Disco would appear to currently be having a VERY bad day. However the L322 Rangie that preceded it managed 50k without a single hiccough, so personally, I'd go for the Rangie and enjoy one of the best cars in the world.

[psychoR1]

What about the P38's and V8 Disco2's are they as unreliable as people make out? I am thinking about one against at V8 Jeep GChery?
Anyone had both and able to compare? You certainly get a newer Jeep for your cash....

[Jem0911]

My P38 was an expensive car to keep in good working condition.
Cruise intermittent.
Air con troublesome.
EAS a very expensive nightmare. Changed to springs in the end.
Water pump failed.
Which lead to alternator issues.
Remotes failed on same day.

Still loved it.

[BLUETHUNDER]

psychoR1 said:

What about the P38's and V8 Disco2's are they as unreliable as people make out? I am thinking about one against at V8 Jeep GChery?
Anyone had both and able to compare? You certainly get a newer Jeep for your cash....

Another P38 owner here of 9 years. Suffered all of the known problems with these during my 9 years ownership.

The biggest issue with the Jeep GC is the dealer support. Its ste.

[siscar]

I've had an 07 and a 58 plate, done about 100k miles in the two of them, mainly motorway stuff. No problems to report at all, not even a slight niggle, both of them have been 100%.