I just can't decide - Range Rover or X5!
Discussion
OK, I'm really stuck and I'm after some impartial advice, please.
I've narrowed my car choice down to two cars - a late model, high spec Range Rover P38a, likely a 4.6 HSE on LPG, or an early BMW X5, ideally a 3.0D but perhaps a 4.4i V8 on LPG, and I'm really torn between the two. Budget is anywhere from £5k to around £10k for this vehicle - I could spend a bit more, but I don't want to and don't see the need to!
The 3.0D X5 Sport makes the most sense to me - a newer design and newer car means it is probably the better road car, I guess better built and should hold its value better. However, I am buying at the bottom end of the spectrum, so could end up with a lower spec and less well looked after car, particularly as they attract shall we say 'more chavvy' buyers. Innit.
The Range Rover on the other hand wins the class war (for me, at least), and there's just something about a well equipped P38a - almost regal. Swathes of wood and leather, I imagine it will actually be the comfier road car, if not handle as well as the X5. However, buying a 'last of the line' means I could end up paying a premium and then lose more in depreciation, and I am concerned about reliability issues. But for some reason, they really appeal in top of the line 4.6 HSE or Autobiography spec!!
To add to the mix, at the upper end of my budget I could get an early L322 Range Rover instead, but I know nothing about them so please advise if this is a feasible option.
So, which would you choose? My daily commute is a 20 mile round trip through towns and country lanes, but they are generally poor surfaced roads so ride quality is important. IF it snows again this year I guess the Range Rover will perform massively better. I also would like to tow the motorbike to trackdays, but both will do this admirably. Oh, and I currently don't venture offroad ever, but I guess if I had a suitable vehicle I would be tempted to give it a try - even in an X5!!
So, thoughts and advice please!
I've narrowed my car choice down to two cars - a late model, high spec Range Rover P38a, likely a 4.6 HSE on LPG, or an early BMW X5, ideally a 3.0D but perhaps a 4.4i V8 on LPG, and I'm really torn between the two. Budget is anywhere from £5k to around £10k for this vehicle - I could spend a bit more, but I don't want to and don't see the need to!
The 3.0D X5 Sport makes the most sense to me - a newer design and newer car means it is probably the better road car, I guess better built and should hold its value better. However, I am buying at the bottom end of the spectrum, so could end up with a lower spec and less well looked after car, particularly as they attract shall we say 'more chavvy' buyers. Innit.
The Range Rover on the other hand wins the class war (for me, at least), and there's just something about a well equipped P38a - almost regal. Swathes of wood and leather, I imagine it will actually be the comfier road car, if not handle as well as the X5. However, buying a 'last of the line' means I could end up paying a premium and then lose more in depreciation, and I am concerned about reliability issues. But for some reason, they really appeal in top of the line 4.6 HSE or Autobiography spec!!
To add to the mix, at the upper end of my budget I could get an early L322 Range Rover instead, but I know nothing about them so please advise if this is a feasible option.
So, which would you choose? My daily commute is a 20 mile round trip through towns and country lanes, but they are generally poor surfaced roads so ride quality is important. IF it snows again this year I guess the Range Rover will perform massively better. I also would like to tow the motorbike to trackdays, but both will do this admirably. Oh, and I currently don't venture offroad ever, but I guess if I had a suitable vehicle I would be tempted to give it a try - even in an X5!!
So, thoughts and advice please!
Edited by Mike_C on Tuesday 5th October 23:05
The ranger will be more comfy, the x5 will be more reliable.
The ranger has class on it's side- the early x5- for me at least, has none.
There was a lovely p38 je engineering in the classifieds the other day, sensible mileage and LPG converted.
I had a few issues with my 38- most often the air suspension.
I did the sensible thing and got a ranger classic!
The ranger has class on it's side- the early x5- for me at least, has none.
There was a lovely p38 je engineering in the classifieds the other day, sensible mileage and LPG converted.
I had a few issues with my 38- most often the air suspension.
I did the sensible thing and got a ranger classic!
X5, no question. The Rangey will break down a LOT and the interior is a hideous mishmash of old ARG parts that feel and look prehistoric now. The X5 at least feels a bit old school 5 or 7 series inside which is no bad thing and in terms of build quality is in another league. It will however be crap off road, although that will be offset somewhat by the fact that the RR will have broken down en route to getting off road.
Out of the 2 I'd go X5 every time. Can you get the derv for 10k, if not, the 4.4's are a bargain.
P38's aren't meant to be that reliable and repairs aren't cheap. I think the L322 is going to end up being a dog at that price level.
On a side note the Lexus RX is available for well within budget. No driver involvement per se but decent comfort.
P38's aren't meant to be that reliable and repairs aren't cheap. I think the L322 is going to end up being a dog at that price level.
On a side note the Lexus RX is available for well within budget. No driver involvement per se but decent comfort.
Hmm, the Range Rover isn't getting many votes! I know the dash is a bit old fashioned but that doesn't bother me too much - are they really that unreliable?
X5 3.0D sport is the most sensible choice - best drive on the road, most economical, easiest to re-sell - but some people are asking some seriosuly stupid prices for them, like £12k for 100k mile examples!
X5 3.0D sport is the most sensible choice - best drive on the road, most economical, easiest to re-sell - but some people are asking some seriosuly stupid prices for them, like £12k for 100k mile examples!
Mike_C said:
Hmm, the Range Rover isn't getting many votes! I know the dash is a bit old fashioned but that doesn't bother me too much - are they really that unreliable?
X5 3.0D sport is the most sensible choice - best drive on the road, most economical, easiest to re-sell - but some people are asking some seriosuly stupid prices for them, like £12k for 100k mile examples!
P38s aren't great from my experience.X5 3.0D sport is the most sensible choice - best drive on the road, most economical, easiest to re-sell - but some people are asking some seriosuly stupid prices for them, like £12k for 100k mile examples!
You'd be better off with a coil sprung classic.
It pains me to say it, I'm a massive Rangie fan, but the 38a wasn't Land Rover's proudest moment.
Edited by al1991 on Wednesday 6th October 13:28
Mike_C said:
Hmm, the Range Rover isn't getting many votes! I know the dash is a bit old fashioned but that doesn't bother me too much - are they really that unreliable?
X5 3.0D sport is the most sensible choice - best drive on the road, most economical, easiest to re-sell - but some people are asking some seriosuly stupid prices for them, like £12k for 100k mile examples!
BMW dervs have always held their value well. Why not go for a 3.0 petrol? I shouldn't imagine fuel will be too bad on a 20mile commute.X5 3.0D sport is the most sensible choice - best drive on the road, most economical, easiest to re-sell - but some people are asking some seriosuly stupid prices for them, like £12k for 100k mile examples!
Emsman said:
The ranger will be more comfy, the x5 will be more reliable.
Take a look at the What Car reader's comments and think again. I know of two people with early X5's who've had some serious (and baffling; total electrical system failure on one, and transmission failure on a one owner car that never towed or went off road) problems. (Don't forget, they're thrown together by Merrykins.)I had a 4.6 Vogue and it was the dog's b
ks, so I'm biased, but I get tired of hearing how much more 'reliable' X5s will be when it is NOT the case.Edited by Digga on Wednesday 6th October 13:39
Digga said:
Emsman said:
The ranger will be more comfy, the x5 will be more reliable.
Take a look at the What Car reader's comments and think again. I know of two people with early X5's who've had some serious (and baffling; total electrical system failure on one, and transmission failure on a one owner car that never towed or went off road) problems. (Don't forget, they're thrown together by Merrykins.)I had a 4.6 Vogue and it was the dog's b
ks, so I'm biased, but I get tired of hearing how much more 'reliable' X5s will be when it is NOT the case.Edited by Digga on Wednesday 6th October 13:39
Emsman- land rover series 2a, and 2 p38's in the past, as well as a glorious classic (which rates as the best car I have ever owned) not a bm in sight!!!
Digga said:
Emsman said:
The ranger will be more comfy, the x5 will be more reliable.
Take a look at the What Car reader's comments and think again. I know of two people with early X5's who've had some serious (and baffling; total electrical system failure on one, and transmission failure on a one owner car that never towed or went off road) problems. (Don't forget, they're thrown together by Merrykins.)I had a 4.6 Vogue and it was the dog's b
ks, so I'm biased, but I get tired of hearing how much more 'reliable' X5s will be when it is NOT the case.Edited by Digga on Wednesday 6th October 13:39
Monday Production meetings where the main topic of conversation was about the Sunday Sermons said much about the State!
al1991 said:
Trommel said:
al1991 said:
It pains me to say it, I'm a massive Rangie fan, but the 38a wasn't Land Rover's proudest moment.
They're a victim of the internet expert.Hugely better to drive than a classic.
I would make sure you have a reasonably deep slush fund for repairs on the X5. I had a 2000 model X5 4.4i for the last couple of years. Thought it was a relative bargain at the time - £11K. Had spent a quiet life in London prior to my ownership. In two years I added nearly 40K miles to the 36K miles that were on it.
In that time replaced both front drive shafts,CV joints, wishbones, ABS controller (£800 for the part alone), fuel hose (burst pouring petrol through the engine bay while I was driving),3 coils, throttle body, cam cover gasket as well as consumables (tyres £200/corner, pads and discs all round)...plus other stuff which I forget now.
Excluding regular servicing & the consumables I mentioned I must have spent £6000 in 2 years on the stuff that went wrong with it. Fortunately I had an after market warranty which paid out a BIG chunk of the costs but not everything.
The leaky sunroof despite repeated attempts I never fixed (£1000+ for the part). Drivers side window regulator broke (would jam up - less expensive to fix but fiddly).
A colleague has a 2006 model diesel and has just dropped £2K on his with another £2K to spend.
In my experience they really DO live up to their reputation of being expensive to run. Maybe if you buy a higher mileage (say 90K plus and ALL this work has been done) it might be cheaper. Or a newer one with a full BMW warranty. Sealed for life gearboxes I am told should have their ATF changed by this mileage. A failure would be another £2-£3K+ to replace if this fails.
This was without doubt the most expensive car I have had to run particularly compared to it's relatively low purchase price.
On the up side the 4.4 V8 was a peach - it's a bit worse MPG than the 3.0 but in the scheme of things not much I would argue. And sounded lovely when you pushed it. And it drove far better and far quicker than anything of its size and proportions deserves to. One summer we covered about 3000 miles in a couple of weeks crossing the Alps to the South of France in it which was a hoot. But eventually with the regular catalogue of failures (that tended to be £000's than £00's) and with every service bill a long list of extras that needed seeing to I got shot of it in the summer.
Oh...it's alright but fairly rubbish in snow - any benefit from 4WD is largely lost due to the wide & low tyres.
Someone said Landcruiser earlier. Although not perfect it would be a better ownership proposition particularly if you plan to take it off road as well.
In that time replaced both front drive shafts,CV joints, wishbones, ABS controller (£800 for the part alone), fuel hose (burst pouring petrol through the engine bay while I was driving),3 coils, throttle body, cam cover gasket as well as consumables (tyres £200/corner, pads and discs all round)...plus other stuff which I forget now.
Excluding regular servicing & the consumables I mentioned I must have spent £6000 in 2 years on the stuff that went wrong with it. Fortunately I had an after market warranty which paid out a BIG chunk of the costs but not everything.
The leaky sunroof despite repeated attempts I never fixed (£1000+ for the part). Drivers side window regulator broke (would jam up - less expensive to fix but fiddly).
A colleague has a 2006 model diesel and has just dropped £2K on his with another £2K to spend.
In my experience they really DO live up to their reputation of being expensive to run. Maybe if you buy a higher mileage (say 90K plus and ALL this work has been done) it might be cheaper. Or a newer one with a full BMW warranty. Sealed for life gearboxes I am told should have their ATF changed by this mileage. A failure would be another £2-£3K+ to replace if this fails.
This was without doubt the most expensive car I have had to run particularly compared to it's relatively low purchase price.
On the up side the 4.4 V8 was a peach - it's a bit worse MPG than the 3.0 but in the scheme of things not much I would argue. And sounded lovely when you pushed it. And it drove far better and far quicker than anything of its size and proportions deserves to. One summer we covered about 3000 miles in a couple of weeks crossing the Alps to the South of France in it which was a hoot. But eventually with the regular catalogue of failures (that tended to be £000's than £00's) and with every service bill a long list of extras that needed seeing to I got shot of it in the summer.
Oh...it's alright but fairly rubbish in snow - any benefit from 4WD is largely lost due to the wide & low tyres.
Someone said Landcruiser earlier. Although not perfect it would be a better ownership proposition particularly if you plan to take it off road as well.
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