Question: Is there an alternative to a Range Rover
Discussion
I am on my 4th Range Rover and until now haven't really thought of any other car as an alternative. However, my latest tdv8 is out of warranty and keeps braking down. Not huge issues but the service from LR dealers infuriates me. Before Christmas the alternator broke down and i had to wait 3.5 weeks for a new one. The car has been back for 2 days and now the servo reservoir has cracked spilling hydraulic oil on my garage floor and it is back with the dealers again. My wife by now knows the number of Landrover Assist by heart.
I also have a Disco 4 (at my 2nd home) which considering it is almost 30 k cheaper is probably a better (more modern) car. What have RR owners been considering before stepping into RRs again - is there a serious alternative out there that doesn't brake down.
I also have a Disco 4 (at my 2nd home) which considering it is almost 30 k cheaper is probably a better (more modern) car. What have RR owners been considering before stepping into RRs again - is there a serious alternative out there that doesn't brake down.
Not had one myself but the horror stories of range rover ownership put me off. Personally I'd only ever consider a landcruiser if in the market for that type of vehicle. My mate has never had any probs with any of his hilux invincible pickups over the last few years or any other of the ones he had before nor his lads hi ace works vans. The same cant be said for the people I know who have or have had range rovers and disco's, never ending tales of woe along the lines of the OP.
I'm on my third Range Rover with no problems at all. I looked at the options before buying the one I have now (this was a few months ago) but nothing really compared. I wasn't impressed by the new Cayenne, the Landcruiser wasn't in the same league IMHO and nothing else really matched it. Driving a 4.4 tdv8 was the clincher for me, much better than my previous 3.6 which itself was pretty good.
As for dealers, they do seem to vary, but my local one in Chesterfield has been great for me, not that they've had anything very challenging to sort out
As for dealers, they do seem to vary, but my local one in Chesterfield has been great for me, not that they've had anything very challenging to sort out
I am comming to the same conclusion, but with my present RR being with Guy Salmon for 4 of the last 5 weeks waiting for spare parts at the time of year where you need a 4x4 most is downright unacceptable. Don't fancy the Cayenne, the Lancruiser is too utilitarian, maybe a Disco - but I have one of them already and that has not been bullitproof either with a number of flat batteries to begin with before the software upgrade rectified this - maybe a G-Wagon?
The fact of the matter is, that there is not a lot of choice if you want a luxury 4x4.
The fact of the matter is, that there is not a lot of choice if you want a luxury 4x4.
clorenzen said:
I am comming to the same conclusion, but with my present RR being with Guy Salmon for 4 of the last 5 weeks waiting for spare parts at the time of year where you need a 4x4 most is downright unacceptable. Don't fancy the Cayenne, the Lancruiser is too utilitarian, maybe a Disco - but I have one of them already and that has not been bullitproof either with a number of flat batteries to begin with before the software upgrade rectified this - maybe a G-Wagon?
The fact of the matter is, that there is not a lot of choice if you want a luxury 4x4.
Did they not give you a replacement/curtesy 4x4 to keep you going during the wait?The fact of the matter is, that there is not a lot of choice if you want a luxury 4x4.
There is a lot of choice in luxury 4x4s, but not many that are that good when you need them to be a 4x4
dulcinea said:
What do people think of the Q7 and X5?
We used to have an X5 and it was great but I don't have experience of the new version. We are looking to change to a 4x4 again in a few months and considering RR, RRS, X5 and Q7.
Q7s go through tires in 15minutes and when I took a random browse at the audi site the other day (*guilty blush*) the V12 one is like 500 squillion quid. WhoTF would pay that? Someone who thinks Audis are very impressive. Each to their own natch.We used to have an X5 and it was great but I don't have experience of the new version. We are looking to change to a 4x4 again in a few months and considering RR, RRS, X5 and Q7.
X5 don't work on anything but smooth, dry tarmac. (this is not based on my own experience - more arguments I've read on the interweb
).I'm a RRS TDV8 owner myself and would, if buying new, only look at the new RR 4.4 TDV8. I say that....but I do love the 'car like' drive of the sport compared to the wafty wibbly drive of the FFRR, so dunno really.
Assuming you don't want petrol...buy all means try the newest 3L diesel Sport. Lets us all know your thoughts and final choice.
dulcinea said:
What do people think of the Q7 and X5?
We used to have an X5 and it was great but I don't have experience of the new version. We are looking to change to a 4x4 again in a few months and considering RR, RRS, X5 and Q7.
With the Q7 you are in a 3.6 litre petrol or 3.0 diesel (from memory), the performance of both is similar and not as good as the 4.4 tdv8 in the RR. (I think there is a V12 for some big money as well). Inside it seemed very ordinary as well.We used to have an X5 and it was great but I don't have experience of the new version. We are looking to change to a 4x4 again in a few months and considering RR, RRS, X5 and Q7.
RRS was what I was originally going to get when I started with RRs but the interior was horrible compared to the RR, but the new version is a lot better. Not as good as the RR but still a nice place to be. Of course you don't get the 4.4 engine in the RRS, and that is a major reason to go RR.
X5 I didn't look at, not a car I would buy but not really for rational reasons.
clorenzen said:
Landrover Assistance only offers you a loan car for 48 hours after the brake down. This is of little use if you have to wait for 3 weeks for an alternator.
On a car of a particular type (4x4) and of this cost, that's just ridiculous. Why do owners put up with it, epsecially when you know that if you're remotely unlucky then you're likely to be without the car all too often.You can get the Q7 with a 4.2 diesel V8 - however I think the better alternative would be the Touareg V8 a 335bhp, 4.2 diesel in what's basically the same shell as the Cayenne.
Having tried one of the pre-production models at Millbrook I found it an excellent car and a bit of a suprise to be honest, the pace and handling took me back completely and I'm a bit of a convert.
Having tried one of the pre-production models at Millbrook I found it an excellent car and a bit of a suprise to be honest, the pace and handling took me back completely and I'm a bit of a convert.
Must agree with clorenzen.
One of the Brabus G-Wagen GV12 B-Turbos would do the trick.
German engineering, italian super-car performance, exclusivity (in that few people would have the balls to drive one).
I've always loved the non-standard Wagens and would go for one everyday of the week.
The 55AMG is only about £120K!
One of the Brabus G-Wagen GV12 B-Turbos would do the trick.
German engineering, italian super-car performance, exclusivity (in that few people would have the balls to drive one).
I've always loved the non-standard Wagens and would go for one everyday of the week.
The 55AMG is only about £120K!
Buying a RR is like buying a first class season ticket with British Rail, a posh upgrade for a crap service that probably won't get you there on time.
Flash but unreliable does not make a good partnership imho, I know so many people with them who frequently have new cars in their driveway, then they mention its a courtersy car as theirs is in the dealership being fixed or awaiting parts.
If you got 10% of the value of the car back every time your RR broke down then it might seem a good idea to buy one & many people would have free cars by the end of the warranty period
Me personally I regard my daily transport as essential. I laugh every time I see one on a transporter or broken down by the roadside, they are nice cars but crap transport quite frankly, flash yes, nice when they work but 80's Skoda's had a better reputation for reliability. You don't see the taliban in old Range Rovers for a reason
Hence why I travel 2nd class maybe, but never ever would I use British Rail out of choice. I've travelled some 350k miles in my last 3 Landcruisers over the past 5 or 6 years & not once, ever, I have been let down, most of those miles have been towing a 2.5 ton trailer too. Posh they might not be they are the defenition of reliable, which is more valuable to me than keeping up with the jones's.
Flash but unreliable does not make a good partnership imho, I know so many people with them who frequently have new cars in their driveway, then they mention its a courtersy car as theirs is in the dealership being fixed or awaiting parts.
If you got 10% of the value of the car back every time your RR broke down then it might seem a good idea to buy one & many people would have free cars by the end of the warranty period
Me personally I regard my daily transport as essential. I laugh every time I see one on a transporter or broken down by the roadside, they are nice cars but crap transport quite frankly, flash yes, nice when they work but 80's Skoda's had a better reputation for reliability. You don't see the taliban in old Range Rovers for a reason
Hence why I travel 2nd class maybe, but never ever would I use British Rail out of choice. I've travelled some 350k miles in my last 3 Landcruisers over the past 5 or 6 years & not once, ever, I have been let down, most of those miles have been towing a 2.5 ton trailer too. Posh they might not be they are the defenition of reliable, which is more valuable to me than keeping up with the jones's.
cptsideways said:
Buying a RR is like buying a first class season ticket with British Rail, a posh upgrade for a crap service that probably won't get you there on time.
Flash but unreliable does not make a good partnership imho, I know so many people with them who frequently have new cars in their driveway, then they mention its a courtersy car as theirs is in the dealership being fixed or awaiting parts.
If you got 10% of the value of the car back every time your RR broke down then it might seem a good idea to buy one & many people would have free cars by the end of the warranty period
Me personally I regard my daily transport as essential. I laugh every time I see one on a transporter or broken down by the roadside, they are nice cars but crap transport quite frankly, flash yes, nice when they work but 80's Skoda's had a better reputation for reliability. You don't see the taliban in old Range Rovers for a reason
Hence why I travel 2nd class maybe, but never ever would I use British Rail out of choice. I've travelled some 350k miles in my last 3 Landcruisers over the past 5 or 6 years & not once, ever, I have been let down, most of those miles have been towing a 2.5 ton trailer too. Posh they might not be they are the defenition of reliable, which is more valuable to me than keeping up with the jones's.
Not sure about the comparison. You don't buy the first class ticket for the superior experience, I thought you were paying extra to ensure you weren't sitting next to the obligatory Glaswegian tramp and his case of Tennents Super? Flash but unreliable does not make a good partnership imho, I know so many people with them who frequently have new cars in their driveway, then they mention its a courtersy car as theirs is in the dealership being fixed or awaiting parts.
If you got 10% of the value of the car back every time your RR broke down then it might seem a good idea to buy one & many people would have free cars by the end of the warranty period
Me personally I regard my daily transport as essential. I laugh every time I see one on a transporter or broken down by the roadside, they are nice cars but crap transport quite frankly, flash yes, nice when they work but 80's Skoda's had a better reputation for reliability. You don't see the taliban in old Range Rovers for a reason
Hence why I travel 2nd class maybe, but never ever would I use British Rail out of choice. I've travelled some 350k miles in my last 3 Landcruisers over the past 5 or 6 years & not once, ever, I have been let down, most of those miles have been towing a 2.5 ton trailer too. Posh they might not be they are the defenition of reliable, which is more valuable to me than keeping up with the jones's.
As for the Taliban, they don't drive Rangies because Ocean Finance don't have an operation in Afghanistan.
DonkeyApple said:
Not sure about the comparison. You don't buy the first class ticket for the superior experience, I thought you were paying extra to ensure you weren't sitting next to the obligatory Glaswegian tramp and his case of Tennents Super?
I would'nt call a recovery mans truck cab first class either but then again I've not been in one for at least 10 years, what are like these days Range Rover people? Do they come with heated reclining piped leather chairs, climate control & Bose stereos with DVD's in the headrests these days? Thinking about it they most probably do as most of their customers would be expecting the same level of first class travel as they get in their RR's. Home from home no doubt.Edited by cptsideways on Wednesday 5th January 18:47
cptsideways said:
DonkeyApple said:
Not sure about the comparison. You don't buy the first class ticket for the superior experience, I thought you were paying extra to ensure you weren't sitting next to the obligatory Glaswegian tramp and his case of Tennents Super?
I would'nt call a recovery mans truck cab first class either but then again I've not been in one for at least 10 years, what are like these days Range Rover people? Do they come with heated reclining piped leather chairs, climate control & Bose stereos with DVD's in the headrests these days? Thinking about it they most probably do as most of their customers would be expecting the same level of first class travel as they get in their RR's. Home from home no doubt.Edited by cptsideways on Wednesday 5th January 18:47
Both the tow trucks smelt of cabbage. They sported CLOTH :0 seats! The ride left a lot to be desired and the first one (which got me home in the dark) had a connection issue with one of it's halogen flood lights at the back.
Thanks god he unloaded me quickly lest the neighbours saw that reck!
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