Range Rover musings....
Discussion
Well, the time has come. After 12 years of very happy Volvo ownership, I've decided it's time for a change. I've considered what cars we already have, and I think the only one we're "missing" for the set is something 4x4. And after much cogitation, I've decided that I fancy a Range Rover.
And this is where it starts to get tricky. There are different models, different engines, etc. So I thought I'd ask you guys, because you probably know a lot more about the things than I do!
Essentially, I'll be using the car mostly for local runs, with the occasional motorway foray and longer-distance trip when I feel like it. Budget is £15-20k, and ideally I'd like to be in the new car by around September time. (No rush!) I prefer a manual, but I'll live with an automatic if I must.
So, what would you suggest? And what things do I need to look out for when I go to view?
And as an aside - if I were to sell my car privately, any idea what it'd be worth? Volvo 850 T5, 181 000 miles, N reg, reasonable condition for year.
I might just PX it for the sake of the hassle of selling it, but if I can get significantly more for it by selling it privately then I might well do that.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
And this is where it starts to get tricky. There are different models, different engines, etc. So I thought I'd ask you guys, because you probably know a lot more about the things than I do!
Essentially, I'll be using the car mostly for local runs, with the occasional motorway foray and longer-distance trip when I feel like it. Budget is £15-20k, and ideally I'd like to be in the new car by around September time. (No rush!) I prefer a manual, but I'll live with an automatic if I must.
So, what would you suggest? And what things do I need to look out for when I go to view?
And as an aside - if I were to sell my car privately, any idea what it'd be worth? Volvo 850 T5, 181 000 miles, N reg, reasonable condition for year.
I might just PX it for the sake of the hassle of selling it, but if I can get significantly more for it by selling it privately then I might well do that.Thanks in advance for your advice.
Range Rovers...
Firstly, is that just Range Rover or would you consider Range Rover Sport??
As you're just getting rid of a T5, I'm guessing that you like to have your cars with a bit of 'poke'!! So, for that money, I'd suggest looking at one of the Supercharged cars, especially as you're not doing much mileage. The diesels in your price bracket are a bit gutless!
Age wise, you're mostly looking at cars up to 2007 model year in both RR & RRS.
If you're looking at RRS... Can I suggest you have a look at one of the early Vesuvius Orange Supercharged cars.
As for the Volvo... You'll probably look at approx £1k for it.
M
Firstly, is that just Range Rover or would you consider Range Rover Sport??
As you're just getting rid of a T5, I'm guessing that you like to have your cars with a bit of 'poke'!! So, for that money, I'd suggest looking at one of the Supercharged cars, especially as you're not doing much mileage. The diesels in your price bracket are a bit gutless!
Age wise, you're mostly looking at cars up to 2007 model year in both RR & RRS.
If you're looking at RRS... Can I suggest you have a look at one of the early Vesuvius Orange Supercharged cars.
As for the Volvo... You'll probably look at approx £1k for it.
M
We've a RRS 2.7HSE, generally used by my wife for bombing around the lanes locally but regularly taken as the family hack to France. She was a Saab 9-5 Aero Estate fan before and found the transition easy.
Gutless....well it depends on what you expect but it's been great for us, returns anywhere between 25 and 30mpg and does everything you'd expect a RR to do.
Wouldn't want to go as big as a full fat RR where we live and don't need the extra space in a Disco. Will deffo have another but when we upgrade, it'll be to a TDV8.
Gutless....well it depends on what you expect but it's been great for us, returns anywhere between 25 and 30mpg and does everything you'd expect a RR to do.
Wouldn't want to go as big as a full fat RR where we live and don't need the extra space in a Disco. Will deffo have another but when we upgrade, it'll be to a TDV8.
I'd definitely consider Range Rover Sport as well, if they're available in my price range. Are the two similar to drive, or should I test drive both?
Guilty as charged - I'm not very keen on gutless cars. I've already done the mad, fast stuff - a couple of TVRs - so now that's out of my system it doesn't matter if the RR is a bit slower. What kind of mileage do they return, the petrol models? I'm not overly keen on switching to diesel because of the low mileage I'll be doing. I doubt I'll be towing with it, either, so it's not like I'll need diesel-type torque.
Camel_landy, would you happen to know where I'd find an early Vesuvius Orange Supercharged car, by any chance?? I did consider an Overfinch a couple of years ago, but it was in Glasgow and I couldn't be bothered going all that way for it.
£1k for the Volvo is considerably more than I'd get for it in PX. It's a great car - the only reason I've kept it so long is that it's never once left me stranded at the roadside, it's still fairly quick for its age and it's never failed an MoT! It even has a FSH. But now it really is time for a change, otherwise I'll still be driving it when I'm 90.
Interesting that the transition from Saab to RRS was easy, too. I test drove a Saab the other week but it was a bit too comfortable to drive, if you see what I mean - it was like getting out of my old car and just having a few extra toys to play with! So it wasn't really "different" enough. Hence the switch to a higher-up position.
Guilty as charged - I'm not very keen on gutless cars.
I've already done the mad, fast stuff - a couple of TVRs - so now that's out of my system it doesn't matter if the RR is a bit slower. What kind of mileage do they return, the petrol models? I'm not overly keen on switching to diesel because of the low mileage I'll be doing. I doubt I'll be towing with it, either, so it's not like I'll need diesel-type torque.Camel_landy, would you happen to know where I'd find an early Vesuvius Orange Supercharged car, by any chance?? I did consider an Overfinch a couple of years ago, but it was in Glasgow and I couldn't be bothered going all that way for it.
£1k for the Volvo is considerably more than I'd get for it in PX. It's a great car - the only reason I've kept it so long is that it's never once left me stranded at the roadside, it's still fairly quick for its age and it's never failed an MoT! It even has a FSH. But now it really is time for a change, otherwise I'll still be driving it when I'm 90.
Interesting that the transition from Saab to RRS was easy, too. I test drove a Saab the other week but it was a bit too comfortable to drive, if you see what I mean - it was like getting out of my old car and just having a few extra toys to play with! So it wasn't really "different" enough. Hence the switch to a higher-up position.
There is a big difference in ride between the RR and RRS so drive both. It will come down to personal preference.
A 4.2 supercharged (S/C) will give you the acceleration but expect 10-15mpg for local runs. Someone will be along shortly to tell you to LPG a S/C. This is not a trivial task and should not be entered in to lightly.
A 3.6 TDV8 will probably be out of your price range. If you can get a TDV8 then is the one to have. Alternatively, a 4.4 V8 with LPG is a good compromise.
I have LPG'd a 4.2 S/C and currently have a re-mapped 3.6 TDV8, both Full Fat RR's.
A 4.2 supercharged (S/C) will give you the acceleration but expect 10-15mpg for local runs. Someone will be along shortly to tell you to LPG a S/C. This is not a trivial task and should not be entered in to lightly.
A 3.6 TDV8 will probably be out of your price range. If you can get a TDV8 then is the one to have. Alternatively, a 4.4 V8 with LPG is a good compromise.
I have LPG'd a 4.2 S/C and currently have a re-mapped 3.6 TDV8, both Full Fat RR's.
The TDV8s will be out of your range but it is a stonking engine!
The RRS is a completely different car to drive vs the RR. Different chassis, platform, everything really!
Don't do LPG... It is a world of pain on those engines!
The only diesel worth considering in your price range is the TDV6 in the RRS. It is a nice engine, quite hesitant on initial pickup but once wound up it does shift nicely.
As for an early vesuvius RRS, there is one on Autotrader at the mo for £17.5k. However, it has the wrong wheels and a quick look at the photos makes me think it might need a bit of TLC.
M
The RRS is a completely different car to drive vs the RR. Different chassis, platform, everything really!
Don't do LPG... It is a world of pain on those engines!
The only diesel worth considering in your price range is the TDV6 in the RRS. It is a nice engine, quite hesitant on initial pickup but once wound up it does shift nicely.
As for an early vesuvius RRS, there is one on Autotrader at the mo for £17.5k. However, it has the wrong wheels and a quick look at the photos makes me think it might need a bit of TLC.
M
camel_landy said:
The RRS is a completely different car to drive vs the RR. Different chassis, platform, everything really!
The RRS is based on the Disco platform and early ones roll dreadfully. In comparison the RR drives and feels like royalty. There are some 90k mile TDV8's available for less than £20k, probably more by Sept.
Better value are the 4.4 V8's. Here's one example.
Phil. said:
camel_landy said:
The RRS is a completely different car to drive vs the RR. Different chassis, platform, everything really!
The RRS is based on the Disco platform and early ones roll dreadfully. In comparison the RR drives and feels like royalty. There are some 90k mile TDV8's available for less than £20k, probably more by Sept.
Better value are the 4.4 V8's. Here's one example.
M
20k will get you into a 2007 facelift car so a TDV8 could be on the cards. Between the supercharger and the diesel I appreciate its personal opinion but I think the TDV8 suits the nature of the car more. Superchargers are great but they need winding up before they deliver the performance. This combined with the auto box (which all Range Rovers have btw) makes for an undignified way of "making progress", imo!
The diesel even sounds alright (akin to a Range Rover classic V8) albeit quieter.
Ive had a couple of superchargers and both ate brakes and tyres...maybe something to do with my enthousiastic driving style and the RR's weight?
As a fellow 850 T5 owner I suspect you'll find the RR a complete boat to drive compared to the Volvo (which handle surprising well) but then again its a different beast.
Suspect your T5 is worth buttons unfortunately. If you went to a dealer with it, they'd offer you pretty much scrap value plus whatever margin they have in the car they're selling in an attempt to disguise this...Private? depending on condition but around £400-£700 in your pocket(ie ignoring inflated asking prices!)
The diesel even sounds alright (akin to a Range Rover classic V8) albeit quieter.
Ive had a couple of superchargers and both ate brakes and tyres...maybe something to do with my enthousiastic driving style and the RR's weight?
As a fellow 850 T5 owner I suspect you'll find the RR a complete boat to drive compared to the Volvo (which handle surprising well) but then again its a different beast.
Suspect your T5 is worth buttons unfortunately. If you went to a dealer with it, they'd offer you pretty much scrap value plus whatever margin they have in the car they're selling in an attempt to disguise this...Private? depending on condition but around £400-£700 in your pocket(ie ignoring inflated asking prices!)
Lots of information to take in - thanks everyone.
So the RRS is based on the Discovery... that's very interesting. I tried a Disco but I didn't much like driving it! I'll still try the RRS in case it's "better", but it's worth bearing in mind it might be similar. I was also considering a Defender, for what it's worth, but at the moment the RR has the edge in terms of general usability and drive. I think the Defender will be too slow.
The TDV8 seems to be cropping up a lot - is this the one to go for then, in terms of performance and reliability? (Mpg is less of an issue because I won't be doing all that many miles - maybe 8000 a year tops.) Excuse the dopey newbie question - but what exactly is the full fat model? I gather the LPG conversion is a bad idea, so I won't bother looking for one of those. (And I won't be converting my own, too hassly!)
It seems £15-20k may be a bit short when it comes to getting a shiny newish one with toys, though - do you think I'd do much better if I upped the budget to £25k? Or even £30k? I doubt I could raise much more than that by September though, so don't tell me to buy a new one.
I'm fairly aware the Volvo is worth hundreds rather than thousands, though. I'm under no illusions. To be fair, I've had the car 12 years now and it owes me nothing! It's been looked after from the day I bought it, but the last time I had a "want a new car" itch, I just went out and bought the Roadster. I can't do that now because I really don't need three cars. (Don't really need two either, if the truth be known...) So one of them has to go, and the Roadster is fun and cheap to run and I love it! Otherwise I'd keep the Volvo until it fell to bits. In fact, our 9-year-old reckons the Volvo is his and that I have to keep it until he's old enough to drive it. I've had to tell him he probably wouldn't be able to insure it for a sensible amount until he's 30. 
So the RRS is based on the Discovery... that's very interesting. I tried a Disco but I didn't much like driving it! I'll still try the RRS in case it's "better", but it's worth bearing in mind it might be similar. I was also considering a Defender, for what it's worth, but at the moment the RR has the edge in terms of general usability and drive. I think the Defender will be too slow.
The TDV8 seems to be cropping up a lot - is this the one to go for then, in terms of performance and reliability? (Mpg is less of an issue because I won't be doing all that many miles - maybe 8000 a year tops.) Excuse the dopey newbie question - but what exactly is the full fat model? I gather the LPG conversion is a bad idea, so I won't bother looking for one of those. (And I won't be converting my own, too hassly!)
It seems £15-20k may be a bit short when it comes to getting a shiny newish one with toys, though - do you think I'd do much better if I upped the budget to £25k? Or even £30k? I doubt I could raise much more than that by September though, so don't tell me to buy a new one.
I'm fairly aware the Volvo is worth hundreds rather than thousands, though. I'm under no illusions.
To be fair, I've had the car 12 years now and it owes me nothing! It's been looked after from the day I bought it, but the last time I had a "want a new car" itch, I just went out and bought the Roadster. I can't do that now because I really don't need three cars. (Don't really need two either, if the truth be known...) So one of them has to go, and the Roadster is fun and cheap to run and I love it! Otherwise I'd keep the Volvo until it fell to bits. In fact, our 9-year-old reckons the Volvo is his and that I have to keep it until he's old enough to drive it. I've had to tell him he probably wouldn't be able to insure it for a sensible amount until he's 30. I can say this because I've got one.......
RRS is the drug dealer (often seen with bling wheels etc) version.............Full Fat is the big classy one the Queen drives!
Only way to go is to try the lot I guess, we all have our faves here. Was very sceptical about the RRS until it arrived and feels a whole different beast to a Disco IMHO. Chap I bought this one from upgraded to a S/C version which was amazing but even for limited mileage he found the fuel use pretty shocking but he drove it like a sports car. I lobbed £128 worth of diesel into ours this week (a new record for me!) but at least it'll last 500 miles!
Have fun!
RRS is the drug dealer (often seen with bling wheels etc) version.............Full Fat is the big classy one the Queen drives!
Only way to go is to try the lot I guess, we all have our faves here. Was very sceptical about the RRS until it arrived and feels a whole different beast to a Disco IMHO. Chap I bought this one from upgraded to a S/C version which was amazing but even for limited mileage he found the fuel use pretty shocking but he drove it like a sports car. I lobbed £128 worth of diesel into ours this week (a new record for me!) but at least it'll last 500 miles!
Have fun!
Phil. said:
The RRS is based on the Disco platform and early ones roll dreadfully. In comparison the RR drives and feels like royalty.
There are some 90k mile TDV8's available for less than £20k, probably more by Sept.
Better value are the 4.4 V8's. Here's one example.
i'd agree about the 4.4 V8 - i have a 2005 car - one of the very last pre facelift (which i prefer)There are some 90k mile TDV8's available for less than £20k, probably more by Sept.
Better value are the 4.4 V8's. Here's one example.
i've driven the 4.2 and 5.0 supercharged - fine in a straight line if you want to look like a boy racer - lol!
the driving style of a FFRR is laid back but with ample safe power to overtake safely etc - all imo!
fuel comsumption - locally about 15mpg - on a run up to maybe 19mpg?
but the op will not be doing high miles so should not be a problem
grand cherokee said:
slippery said:
Does the RRS feel a lot more flimsy and less well put together than the FFRR within the sub £20k price range?
i would say sobut others will disagree - i know a lot of RRS owners who have 'upgraded' to the FFRR which says a lot?
M
Ultimately, the best way forwards is to try them for yourself and see what you like.
Eg, I get to drive them ALL for work but when it came to shelling out my own money, I went for a RRS TDV8. "Says a lot" eh...
If you can extend your budget to £30k, you can find some very nice TDV8s (both RR & RRS) in that range. As for the 'Drug Dealer' image of the RRS... If you go down the 'bling' route, it is going to stand out. However, there are some nice colours which blend in nicely. FWIW - Mine is Tonga Green (dark metallic green), a nice colour which blends in... I also saw a nice metallic blue supercharged RRS today which looked really nice, without being garish.
As for the Disco link, don't be put off!! The RRS & Disco 3/4 are built on the same platform (T5). The RRS is 6" shorter in the wheelbase and the suspension is tuned differently to give better on-road handling characteristics. The RRS is also fitted with ACE, to give better cornering at speed (optional on TDV6 but standard on TDV8 & Supercharged).
As I said, get out & drive them all to see which you like.
M
Eg, I get to drive them ALL for work but when it came to shelling out my own money, I went for a RRS TDV8. "Says a lot" eh...
If you can extend your budget to £30k, you can find some very nice TDV8s (both RR & RRS) in that range. As for the 'Drug Dealer' image of the RRS... If you go down the 'bling' route, it is going to stand out. However, there are some nice colours which blend in nicely. FWIW - Mine is Tonga Green (dark metallic green), a nice colour which blends in... I also saw a nice metallic blue supercharged RRS today which looked really nice, without being garish.
As for the Disco link, don't be put off!! The RRS & Disco 3/4 are built on the same platform (T5). The RRS is 6" shorter in the wheelbase and the suspension is tuned differently to give better on-road handling characteristics. The RRS is also fitted with ACE, to give better cornering at speed (optional on TDV6 but standard on TDV8 & Supercharged).
As I said, get out & drive them all to see which you like.
M
SGirl said:
It seems £15-20k may be a bit short when it comes to getting a shiny newish one with toys, though - do you think I'd do much better if I upped the budget to £25k? Or even £30k? I doubt I could raise much more than that by September though, so don't tell me to buy a new one.
Whether you go for a FFRR or RRS I think you'd be better off spending a bit more and going for the TDV8. If you want it go to faster then have it re-mapped at a reputable specialist. I did, for £400 the economy increased slightly and it now has 315BHP and 590lbs, with a 0-60 of around 7s. Remember, the best time to buy is in the summer when no one is thinking about snow.....LFB531 said:
I can say this because I've got one.......
RRS is the drug dealer (often seen with bling wheels etc) version.............Full Fat is the big classy one the Queen drives!
US drug dealers prefer the FF. Murdered out FF or ESV is the only thing that a self respecting dealer will be seen in here. RRS is the drug dealer (often seen with bling wheels etc) version.............Full Fat is the big classy one the Queen drives!
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