I now realise why everybody loves Range Rovers
Discussion
Agree re the image but it’s an aspect that is geographically determined. Go to a chavvy area and you tend to see chavvy people in them, go to a non chavvy area and you don’t.
The issue is rather that most of the UK is now chav central with small pockets of civility rather than the other way around as it was before the great consumer spend got under way.
This isn’t helped by the fact that today there seem to be so many insecure men (maybe it’s the result of living a traditional female lifestyle of mirror gazing and shopping with someone else’s money?) that some need the largest, overt symbol of wealth that they can obtain while others have this perpetual inner belief that everyone is looking down on them so when someone is physically sitting higher up it really freaks them out.
What you have to ask yourself is why on threads about Range Rovers will you always get the posts about women. These cars really trigger the men who have an issue with women.
There is also the ‘they don’t go round corners’ bit that always crops up where the man feels the need to attain some form of manliness through driving skill. Or the the strange argument that people who buy expensive cars must be thicker than them.
And very clearly over the years on PH there has manifested the bloke who doesn’t mind non white or indigenous types so long as they stay in their place at the bottom but if one of them gets all uppity by driving around town in a nice big car then that’s not on.
What these cars do seem to do is trigger the issues, the insecurities of a lot of blokes. Some of which are inside the cars and others outside.
They don’t drive like race cars but then who’s confusing nipping to the shops with Le Mans? They are big but not bigger than a van. Seriously, what on Earth is the issue with women driving? This isn’t Saudi it’s 21st Britain. Other very comfortable cars are available so why get hooked up on one because it is taller than others.
They clearly trigger the chippy little Englishman but it’s not the car’s fault. The car is just a car and it has fantastic merits and some whooping downsides. It’s not an all rounder like a diesel estate but more a specialist choice like a sports car where you surrender certain benefits in exchange for the amplification of others that you hold personally more valuable.
The most obvious trade off being exchanging Le Mans lap times for a specific type of relaxing comfort.
Not everyone has married a G unit that requires winching into their Greggs teleporter or some Big Bird impersonator and here’s the little gem of information; if you need a big family car but your other half or yourself are a short arse then the layout of an SUV offers huge advantages over an estate or saloon of similar size.
The issue is rather that most of the UK is now chav central with small pockets of civility rather than the other way around as it was before the great consumer spend got under way.
This isn’t helped by the fact that today there seem to be so many insecure men (maybe it’s the result of living a traditional female lifestyle of mirror gazing and shopping with someone else’s money?) that some need the largest, overt symbol of wealth that they can obtain while others have this perpetual inner belief that everyone is looking down on them so when someone is physically sitting higher up it really freaks them out.
What you have to ask yourself is why on threads about Range Rovers will you always get the posts about women. These cars really trigger the men who have an issue with women.
There is also the ‘they don’t go round corners’ bit that always crops up where the man feels the need to attain some form of manliness through driving skill. Or the the strange argument that people who buy expensive cars must be thicker than them.
And very clearly over the years on PH there has manifested the bloke who doesn’t mind non white or indigenous types so long as they stay in their place at the bottom but if one of them gets all uppity by driving around town in a nice big car then that’s not on.
What these cars do seem to do is trigger the issues, the insecurities of a lot of blokes. Some of which are inside the cars and others outside.
They don’t drive like race cars but then who’s confusing nipping to the shops with Le Mans? They are big but not bigger than a van. Seriously, what on Earth is the issue with women driving? This isn’t Saudi it’s 21st Britain. Other very comfortable cars are available so why get hooked up on one because it is taller than others.
They clearly trigger the chippy little Englishman but it’s not the car’s fault. The car is just a car and it has fantastic merits and some whooping downsides. It’s not an all rounder like a diesel estate but more a specialist choice like a sports car where you surrender certain benefits in exchange for the amplification of others that you hold personally more valuable.
The most obvious trade off being exchanging Le Mans lap times for a specific type of relaxing comfort.
Not everyone has married a G unit that requires winching into their Greggs teleporter or some Big Bird impersonator and here’s the little gem of information; if you need a big family car but your other half or yourself are a short arse then the layout of an SUV offers huge advantages over an estate or saloon of similar size.
We are off to pick up Mrs Brooking's new one on Friday.
This assumes of course that she can cancel her tanning appointment and I can tear her away from endless repeats of Love Island.
Frankly my biggest concern is that the PCP company, bank and social services collude and fail to understand that not feeding the kids is a small price to pay for intimidating and impressing people in equal measure.
We really f
ked up this time by not ordering black or privacy glass but hopefully the 22 inch alloys are small redemption and she can crack on with kerbing them on the school run post haste.
This assumes of course that she can cancel her tanning appointment and I can tear her away from endless repeats of Love Island.
Frankly my biggest concern is that the PCP company, bank and social services collude and fail to understand that not feeding the kids is a small price to pay for intimidating and impressing people in equal measure.
We really f
ked up this time by not ordering black or privacy glass but hopefully the 22 inch alloys are small redemption and she can crack on with kerbing them on the school run post haste.Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 2nd December 08:52
I've never really liked them. Not for lack of experience or for lack of trying.
I've driven and/or been in: Late 4.2 Classic, a 4.0 P38, 02 Straight 6 Diesel, 04 Supercharged V8 Overfinch, 06 Supercharged V8 Overfinch, a 2010 Supercharged Autobiography, 2013 V8 Diesel.
My old bosses Land Cruiser V8 felt like a better 4x4/Jeep than either the 02 Diesel or 2010 Autobiography that were both his.
A family friend owned both Overfinch ones, his Alpina B10 V8 was a far better mile muncher and luxury vehicle. However he had horses at the time, maybe that was why he had the RRs.
The Classic felt like a tractor, the P38 was always broken.
That leaves the late V8 Diesel, which admittedly makes the most sense but I just found the Land Cruiser to be a better car.
I've driven and/or been in: Late 4.2 Classic, a 4.0 P38, 02 Straight 6 Diesel, 04 Supercharged V8 Overfinch, 06 Supercharged V8 Overfinch, a 2010 Supercharged Autobiography, 2013 V8 Diesel.
My old bosses Land Cruiser V8 felt like a better 4x4/Jeep than either the 02 Diesel or 2010 Autobiography that were both his.
A family friend owned both Overfinch ones, his Alpina B10 V8 was a far better mile muncher and luxury vehicle. However he had horses at the time, maybe that was why he had the RRs.
The Classic felt like a tractor, the P38 was always broken.
That leaves the late V8 Diesel, which admittedly makes the most sense but I just found the Land Cruiser to be a better car.
Cold said:
andyxxx said:
Cold said:
My mate in the pub said he only managed 34 minutes of driving his despite owning it for five years. The rest of the time it was back at the dealership.
True story.
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Parrot accepted thank you! I think it’s my first in nearly 20 years!!
Maybe if you live in a sh!te part of the country they have the chav stigma.
Around here they're just driven by slightly better off people who live in the countryside. The majority of people who live in the countryside here drive 4x4's though, a lot actually need them.
For what it's worth I would love one, but couldn't afford to run one currently.
Around here they're just driven by slightly better off people who live in the countryside. The majority of people who live in the countryside here drive 4x4's though, a lot actually need them.
For what it's worth I would love one, but couldn't afford to run one currently.
Had a Disco 3 hse for years which is a very similar to the RR experience. Loved it. The high up experience makes sitting in traffic far less claustrophobic / frustrating, also makes country lanes easier as you can see further. Nice comfortable wafty drive. You really do realise you are shifting 2.7t around when braking hard.
Other half hadn't driven anything anywhere near as big (Renault Clio was her main car) but quickly got used to it and loved it.
Clearly not as well appointed as a RR but overall a comparable experience (someone here will argue the toss I'm sure). I can totally understand the appeal. (I've also driven full fat RRs and an Evoque and a sport).
Maintenance costs and poor mpg made me lose her in the end but really enjoyed the ownership experience overall. ( I did use her off road for my work a lot, which helps justifying, but I'd still have had the car regardless).
Image wise, never had a problem with the D3. Some D4s have waaay too much Chrome on them now. Looks a bit naff. I feel the same about heavily tinted windows. You are not a diplomat or a movie star . It's your kids in the back, and you are off to Tesco.
Evoque - I thought it was a bit pointless. Mum has one. But I've grown to like it having used it a few times. Seems to be a compromise on physical size. RRish experience without having a tank to squeeze in the garage.
RRsport - was tempted when I bought the D3 . They were exactly the same money at the time. But I needed the practicality of the D3 loadspace. I have to admit the image also out me off. Too many are now driven by rough fat couples now they are cheap as chips.
It's just one of those things. Once luxury products like the RR get cheap enough they start to get popular with mouth breathers who drive round with a fair chunk of attitude.. and bang... The cars image is ruined.
P.s. OP I'm with you on the issue with the insurance private dics on here. Just ignore them and don't feed them. Loads of the type on here and getting worse daily :-)
P..s fun fact. A friend of mine owns a FFRR. He drives it to the pub. About a 4 minute walk away. Leaves it there . Collects it the next day. He owns it for 100% status reasons, and the pleasure of knowing he has it. Never goes anywhere in it other than that. Odd, but goes to show it takes all sorts and that car status really is a thing!
Other half hadn't driven anything anywhere near as big (Renault Clio was her main car) but quickly got used to it and loved it.
Clearly not as well appointed as a RR but overall a comparable experience (someone here will argue the toss I'm sure). I can totally understand the appeal. (I've also driven full fat RRs and an Evoque and a sport).
Maintenance costs and poor mpg made me lose her in the end but really enjoyed the ownership experience overall. ( I did use her off road for my work a lot, which helps justifying, but I'd still have had the car regardless).
Image wise, never had a problem with the D3. Some D4s have waaay too much Chrome on them now. Looks a bit naff. I feel the same about heavily tinted windows. You are not a diplomat or a movie star . It's your kids in the back, and you are off to Tesco.
Evoque - I thought it was a bit pointless. Mum has one. But I've grown to like it having used it a few times. Seems to be a compromise on physical size. RRish experience without having a tank to squeeze in the garage.
RRsport - was tempted when I bought the D3 . They were exactly the same money at the time. But I needed the practicality of the D3 loadspace. I have to admit the image also out me off. Too many are now driven by rough fat couples now they are cheap as chips.
It's just one of those things. Once luxury products like the RR get cheap enough they start to get popular with mouth breathers who drive round with a fair chunk of attitude.. and bang... The cars image is ruined.
P.s. OP I'm with you on the issue with the insurance private dics on here. Just ignore them and don't feed them. Loads of the type on here and getting worse daily :-)
P..s fun fact. A friend of mine owns a FFRR. He drives it to the pub. About a 4 minute walk away. Leaves it there . Collects it the next day. He owns it for 100% status reasons, and the pleasure of knowing he has it. Never goes anywhere in it other than that. Odd, but goes to show it takes all sorts and that car status really is a thing!
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 2nd December 09:07
The mrs tried to get me to buy a RR a few years ago, after a bit of searching and putting down a deposit we had one for a week on trial.
Hateful, hateful, hateful thing!
Was extremely glad to hand it back, instead of using up the full week I took it back two days earlier and took back the deposit.
For me (and the mrs) it was way too big and clumsy, the interior space was not that much (if any) more than a typical estate car, the handling was laughable, the automatic gearbox was slow and clunky and the additional ride height was quickly realised that you don't actually see 'that' much more of the surrounding environment than a normal car.
It quickly becomes apparent that you are in nothing more than a large heavy clumsy box that is not really providing any additional benefit. (Especially for what it would be used for 99.9% of the time, which is typical road driving).
So I guess a totally opposite experience than the OP for me.
Hateful, hateful, hateful thing!
Was extremely glad to hand it back, instead of using up the full week I took it back two days earlier and took back the deposit.
For me (and the mrs) it was way too big and clumsy, the interior space was not that much (if any) more than a typical estate car, the handling was laughable, the automatic gearbox was slow and clunky and the additional ride height was quickly realised that you don't actually see 'that' much more of the surrounding environment than a normal car.
It quickly becomes apparent that you are in nothing more than a large heavy clumsy box that is not really providing any additional benefit. (Especially for what it would be used for 99.9% of the time, which is typical road driving).
So I guess a totally opposite experience than the OP for me.
RogerDodger said:
It's just one of those things. Once luxury products like the RR get cheap enough they start to get popular with mouth breathers who drive round with a fair chunk of attitude.. and bang... The cars image is ruined.
one of the ironies of the internet...the person who now drives a car apparently changes the image
yet if someone here buys it - the car changes their image - surely it can't work both ways...
if everyone on here is cool / trendy / upper class / fill in the acceptable trait - then we should all be buying the cars we like and we will set the image?!
I have owned 5 range rovers, at no point do I feel that my image has been determined by the car I have owned - I have also owned a Ford Kuga (faux 4x4?) / Skoda / and even one an old man's Rover 214 SLi in BRG with wood trim - aged 23! I am who I am and enjoy buying the cars that do what I want - the RR is a fantastic car for doing anything you want - go anywhere - acres of space - loads to the tip / hoardes of wet and muddy dogs / throw in a few children - go around a farm (I think we had 13 in one once on a shoot - with dogs!)
mind you - my current one isn't pimped out with black windows and 22 inch wheels - but I would have no issue owning / driving such a car
akirk said:
one of the ironies of the internet...
the person who now drives a car apparently changes the image
yet if someone here buys it - the car changes their image - surely it can't work both ways...
if everyone on here is cool / trendy / upper class / fill in the acceptable trait - then we should all be buying the cars we like and we will set the image?!
I have owned 5 range rovers, at no point do I feel that my image has been determined by the car I have owned - I have also owned a Ford Kuga (faux 4x4?) / Skoda / and even one an old man's Rover 214 SLi in BRG with wood trim - aged 23! I am who I am and enjoy buying the cars that do what I want - the RR is a fantastic car for doing anything you want - go anywhere - acres of space - loads to the tip / hoardes of wet and muddy dogs / throw in a few children - go around a farm (I think we had 13 in one once on a shoot - with dogs!)
mind you - my current one isn't pimped out with black windows and 22 inch wheels - but I would have no issue owning / driving such a car
Nailed it.the person who now drives a car apparently changes the image
yet if someone here buys it - the car changes their image - surely it can't work both ways...
if everyone on here is cool / trendy / upper class / fill in the acceptable trait - then we should all be buying the cars we like and we will set the image?!
I have owned 5 range rovers, at no point do I feel that my image has been determined by the car I have owned - I have also owned a Ford Kuga (faux 4x4?) / Skoda / and even one an old man's Rover 214 SLi in BRG with wood trim - aged 23! I am who I am and enjoy buying the cars that do what I want - the RR is a fantastic car for doing anything you want - go anywhere - acres of space - loads to the tip / hoardes of wet and muddy dogs / throw in a few children - go around a farm (I think we had 13 in one once on a shoot - with dogs!)
mind you - my current one isn't pimped out with black windows and 22 inch wheels - but I would have no issue owning / driving such a car
She's a cracker by the way.
Awesome shoot bus
I love a proper range rover- be it an old one or new one. ditto discoverys. hate RR sports- utter council and driven by utter councils.
told this tale before on here- but a former father in law bought a new RR every 2 years. the faults were so extensive not even the main dealer could fix them, so eventually it was collected from the lake district and taken back to landrover in coventry.
they left him an overfinch version- which he thought was great fun as he could get the wheels spinning down the driveway. (think small stately home, with gate house- and thus a serious driveway in which to mess about on).
told this tale before on here- but a former father in law bought a new RR every 2 years. the faults were so extensive not even the main dealer could fix them, so eventually it was collected from the lake district and taken back to landrover in coventry.
they left him an overfinch version- which he thought was great fun as he could get the wheels spinning down the driveway. (think small stately home, with gate house- and thus a serious driveway in which to mess about on).
It's been mentioned, but how do you get insurance to drive any car you want? I know there used to be third party on any car for those with a fully comp policy on something, but isn't that a thing of the past now?
Someone earlier said it was Pistonheads killjoying to ask, but I seriously don't get it. Nobody is surely advocating driving without insurance, so how does this work?
Someone earlier said it was Pistonheads killjoying to ask, but I seriously don't get it. Nobody is surely advocating driving without insurance, so how does this work?
otolith said:
SweptVolume said:
It's been mentioned, but how do you get insurance to drive any car you want? I know there used to be third party on any car for those with a fully comp policy on something, but isn't that a thing of the past now?
No. It's less common than it used to be though.
cheap insurance policies which are a race to the bottom in cost terms may exclude it - better policies won't.
you can also buy policies allowing fully comprehensive on any car with the owner's permission - I have it, it is not cheap, but very useful.
SweptVolume said:
It's been mentioned, but how do you get insurance to drive any car you want? I know there used to be third party on any car for those with a fully comp policy on something, but isn't that a thing of the past now?
Someone earlier said it was Pistonheads killjoying to ask, but I seriously don't get it. Nobody is surely advocating driving without insurance, so how does this work?
Not a thing of the past, I have it on my car policies and on my bike policy. May be an age/policy history thing?Someone earlier said it was Pistonheads killjoying to ask, but I seriously don't get it. Nobody is surely advocating driving without insurance, so how does this work?
akirk said:
one of the ironies of the internet...
the person who now drives a car apparently changes the image
yet if someone here buys it - the car changes their image - surely it can't work both ways...
if everyone on here is cool / trendy / upper class / fill in the acceptable trait - then we should all be buying the cars we like and we will set the image?!
I have owned 5 range rovers, at no point do I feel that my image has been determined by the car I have owned - I have also owned a Ford Kuga (faux 4x4?) / Skoda / and even one an old man's Rover 214 SLi in BRG with wood trim - aged 23! I am who I am and enjoy buying the cars that do what I want - the RR is a fantastic car for doing anything you want - go anywhere - acres of space - loads to the tip / hoardes of wet and muddy dogs / throw in a few children - go around a farm (I think we had 13 in one once on a shoot - with dogs!)
mind you - my current one isn't pimped out with black windows and 22 inch wheels - but I would have no issue owning / driving such a car
It is pimped with a bonnet ornament, though - what is it?
the person who now drives a car apparently changes the image
yet if someone here buys it - the car changes their image - surely it can't work both ways...
if everyone on here is cool / trendy / upper class / fill in the acceptable trait - then we should all be buying the cars we like and we will set the image?!
I have owned 5 range rovers, at no point do I feel that my image has been determined by the car I have owned - I have also owned a Ford Kuga (faux 4x4?) / Skoda / and even one an old man's Rover 214 SLi in BRG with wood trim - aged 23! I am who I am and enjoy buying the cars that do what I want - the RR is a fantastic car for doing anything you want - go anywhere - acres of space - loads to the tip / hoardes of wet and muddy dogs / throw in a few children - go around a farm (I think we had 13 in one once on a shoot - with dogs!)
mind you - my current one isn't pimped out with black windows and 22 inch wheels - but I would have no issue owning / driving such a car
It is pimped with a bonnet ornament, though - what is it?
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