Range Rover a daft choice?
Discussion
Thinking about an L322 diesel Range Rover at about £10k.
I know these can fail (but I've run an Alfa before) but wondering if, with a Warranty Direct policy and an expert checking it over to begin with, I could have a reasonable experience? Happy to pay the odd bill to keep it running, and the Warranty Direct quote (without haggling) is £750 per annum.
So is the Warranty Direct warranty worthwhile for this car? or at all? or just have a slush fund and hope? Or is the Rangie too cheap at this point to offer anything reliable and cost-effective at all?
Experiences of both older Rangies and Warranty Direct relevant, really.....
I know these can fail (but I've run an Alfa before) but wondering if, with a Warranty Direct policy and an expert checking it over to begin with, I could have a reasonable experience? Happy to pay the odd bill to keep it running, and the Warranty Direct quote (without haggling) is £750 per annum.
So is the Warranty Direct warranty worthwhile for this car? or at all? or just have a slush fund and hope? Or is the Rangie too cheap at this point to offer anything reliable and cost-effective at all?
Experiences of both older Rangies and Warranty Direct relevant, really.....
Never owned the RR but I have a Disco 3 and I think the thing to remember is you are buying a £70k car for £10k. They are stupidly complicated as everything is electronic. Just because it's cheap to buy, don't assume it will be cheap to run. If you can come to terms with that, I say go for it and enjoy. £750/year on top of regular servicing to cover bits that fall off sounds about right to me. Find a decent LR independent.
know it'll be more than a Fiesta to run and less reliable, so happy with that.
Looked at X5. Drives ok but smaller boot and just doesn't really do it for me. That's a 'head' choice though (though the best head choice is prob an estate).
Need the 4wd and towing capability at times, need a waft from a to b at times, need to throw wet dog in back at times. Would prefer a Defender, except for the driving it anywhere part - noisy, uncomfortable, etc. For that, I really should have a farm. Or an expedition planned, which is not beyond the bounds of possibility. But in the next couple of years, it's on road mostly, and as the Disco 3 is at least as unreliable (and prob more so) it seems that the Rangie is the next best thing. Maybe.
Looked at X5. Drives ok but smaller boot and just doesn't really do it for me. That's a 'head' choice though (though the best head choice is prob an estate).
Need the 4wd and towing capability at times, need a waft from a to b at times, need to throw wet dog in back at times. Would prefer a Defender, except for the driving it anywhere part - noisy, uncomfortable, etc. For that, I really should have a farm. Or an expedition planned, which is not beyond the bounds of possibility. But in the next couple of years, it's on road mostly, and as the Disco 3 is at least as unreliable (and prob more so) it seems that the Rangie is the next best thing. Maybe.
At £10k you're looking at the BMW engined TD6.
Personally, I'd not bother, because at that age and (presumably) mileage of 100k+, you're very likely to have gearbox issues. Obviously if it's had a replacement or properly reconditioned gearbox, that's a different story.
Note that one of my cars of a Disco3 TDV6, so it's not as if I'm anti-LR products. In fact, if I were looking to spend £10k on a LR product, I'd go for the Disco3 rather than the RR, wonderful though the L322 is.
If you really want a Range Rover, spend a few grand more and get a 3.6 V8 - you can get them for £13-14k now.
Personally, I'd not bother, because at that age and (presumably) mileage of 100k+, you're very likely to have gearbox issues. Obviously if it's had a replacement or properly reconditioned gearbox, that's a different story.
Note that one of my cars of a Disco3 TDV6, so it's not as if I'm anti-LR products. In fact, if I were looking to spend £10k on a LR product, I'd go for the Disco3 rather than the RR, wonderful though the L322 is.
If you really want a Range Rover, spend a few grand more and get a 3.6 V8 - you can get them for £13-14k now.
longblackcoat said:
At £10k you're looking at the BMW engined TD6.
Personally, I'd not bother, because at that age and (presumably) mileage of 100k+, you're very likely to have gearbox issues. Obviously if it's had a replacement or properly reconditioned gearbox, that's a different story.
Note that one of my cars of a Disco3 TDV6, so it's not as if I'm anti-LR products. In fact, if I were looking to spend £10k on a LR product, I'd go for the Disco3 rather than the RR, wonderful though the L322 is.
If you really want a Range Rover, spend a few grand more and get a 3.6 V8 - you can get them for £13-14k now.
Agreed re the gearbox - I'd only get one with a recon or replaced gearbox. Or £2k off for it to be done. Just heard too many niggles about the Disco3 - but maybe that's internet forum noise? Though friends with them have gotten rid after one too many failures.....Personally, I'd not bother, because at that age and (presumably) mileage of 100k+, you're very likely to have gearbox issues. Obviously if it's had a replacement or properly reconditioned gearbox, that's a different story.
Note that one of my cars of a Disco3 TDV6, so it's not as if I'm anti-LR products. In fact, if I were looking to spend £10k on a LR product, I'd go for the Disco3 rather than the RR, wonderful though the L322 is.
If you really want a Range Rover, spend a few grand more and get a 3.6 V8 - you can get them for £13-14k now.
Will look at Cayenne, good shout. Ugly car though.
xcentric said:
Will look at Cayenne, good shout. Ugly car though.
Not from the inside 
Word of advice from someone who bought the V6 - you'll find that the S has pretty much equal fuel consumption, and better low end grunt.
The reviews that are very complimentary about driving and handling are all true - the damned things ought not to be able to do that.
Edited by randlemarcus on Sunday 3rd March 19:14
xcentric said:
longblackcoat said:
At £10k you're looking at the BMW engined TD6.
Personally, I'd not bother, because at that age and (presumably) mileage of 100k+, you're very likely to have gearbox issues. Obviously if it's had a replacement or properly reconditioned gearbox, that's a different story.
Note that one of my cars of a Disco3 TDV6, so it's not as if I'm anti-LR products. In fact, if I were looking to spend £10k on a LR product, I'd go for the Disco3 rather than the RR, wonderful though the L322 is.
If you really want a Range Rover, spend a few grand more and get a 3.6 V8 - you can get them for £13-14k now.
Agreed re the gearbox - I'd only get one with a recon or replaced gearbox. Or £2k off for it to be done. Just heard too many niggles about the Disco3 - but maybe that's internet forum noise? Though friends with them have gotten rid after one too many failures.....Personally, I'd not bother, because at that age and (presumably) mileage of 100k+, you're very likely to have gearbox issues. Obviously if it's had a replacement or properly reconditioned gearbox, that's a different story.
Note that one of my cars of a Disco3 TDV6, so it's not as if I'm anti-LR products. In fact, if I were looking to spend £10k on a LR product, I'd go for the Disco3 rather than the RR, wonderful though the L322 is.
If you really want a Range Rover, spend a few grand more and get a 3.6 V8 - you can get them for £13-14k now.
Will look at Cayenne, good shout. Ugly car though.
JZ Machtech quote: (my bold)
"Turbos and V6s are broadly trouble-free apart from the V8’s original plastic coolant pipes under the inlet manifold, which should have been changed to the later aluminium ones. Each spark plug’s individual coil pack can fail, too, leading to a misfire. The big problem is the S’s Lokasil cylinder-coating failure. It starts with a sudden appetite for oil and an increasing knock, followed by a misfire as the bores and pistons are shredded. From first signs to death can take as little as 500 miles, and the problem can strike from around 70,000 miles. Turbos and later S models have a Nikasil coating which gives no trouble."
longblackcoat said:
Cayenne has a huge problem in the shape of the 4.5 n/a engine
JZ Machtech quote: (my bold)
"Turbos and V6s are broadly trouble-free apart from the V8’s original plastic coolant pipes under the inlet manifold, which should have been changed to the later aluminium ones. Each spark plug’s individual coil pack can fail, too, leading to a misfire. The big problem is the S’s Lokasil cylinder-coating failure. It starts with a sudden appetite for oil and an increasing knock, followed by a misfire as the bores and pistons are shredded. From first signs to death can take as little as 500 miles, and the problem can strike from around 70,000 miles. Turbos and later S models have a Nikasil coating which gives no trouble."
Hmm having had Porsche engine problems before, I don't think that would sit well in my psyche or with SWMBO.....JZ Machtech quote: (my bold)
"Turbos and V6s are broadly trouble-free apart from the V8’s original plastic coolant pipes under the inlet manifold, which should have been changed to the later aluminium ones. Each spark plug’s individual coil pack can fail, too, leading to a misfire. The big problem is the S’s Lokasil cylinder-coating failure. It starts with a sudden appetite for oil and an increasing knock, followed by a misfire as the bores and pistons are shredded. From first signs to death can take as little as 500 miles, and the problem can strike from around 70,000 miles. Turbos and later S models have a Nikasil coating which gives no trouble."
longblackcoat said:
Cayenne has a huge problem in the shape of the 4.5 n/a engine
JZ Machtech quote: (my bold)
"Turbos and V6s are broadly trouble-free apart from the V8’s original plastic coolant pipes under the inlet manifold, which should have been changed to the later aluminium ones. Each spark plug’s individual coil pack can fail, too, leading to a misfire. The big problem is the S’s Lokasil cylinder-coating failure. It starts with a sudden appetite for oil and an increasing knock, followed by a misfire as the bores and pistons are shredded. From first signs to death can take as little as 500 miles, and the problem can strike from around 70,000 miles. Turbos and later S models have a Nikasil coating which gives no trouble."
Hmm having had Porsche engine problems before, I don't think that would sit well in my psyche or with SWMBO.....JZ Machtech quote: (my bold)
"Turbos and V6s are broadly trouble-free apart from the V8’s original plastic coolant pipes under the inlet manifold, which should have been changed to the later aluminium ones. Each spark plug’s individual coil pack can fail, too, leading to a misfire. The big problem is the S’s Lokasil cylinder-coating failure. It starts with a sudden appetite for oil and an increasing knock, followed by a misfire as the bores and pistons are shredded. From first signs to death can take as little as 500 miles, and the problem can strike from around 70,000 miles. Turbos and later S models have a Nikasil coating which gives no trouble."
longblackcoat said:
Cayenne has a huge problem in the shape of the 4.5 n/a engine
JZ Machtech quote: (my bold)
"Turbos and V6s are broadly trouble-free apart from the V8’s original plastic coolant pipes under the inlet manifold, which should have been changed to the later aluminium ones. Each spark plug’s individual coil pack can fail, too, leading to a misfire. The big problem is the S’s Lokasil cylinder-coating failure. It starts with a sudden appetite for oil and an increasing knock, followed by a misfire as the bores and pistons are shredded. From first signs to death can take as little as 500 miles, and the problem can strike from around 70,000 miles. Turbos and later S models have a Nikasil coating which gives no trouble."
Hmm having had Porsche engine problems before, I don't think that would sit well in my psyche or with SWMBO.....JZ Machtech quote: (my bold)
"Turbos and V6s are broadly trouble-free apart from the V8’s original plastic coolant pipes under the inlet manifold, which should have been changed to the later aluminium ones. Each spark plug’s individual coil pack can fail, too, leading to a misfire. The big problem is the S’s Lokasil cylinder-coating failure. It starts with a sudden appetite for oil and an increasing knock, followed by a misfire as the bores and pistons are shredded. From first signs to death can take as little as 500 miles, and the problem can strike from around 70,000 miles. Turbos and later S models have a Nikasil coating which gives no trouble."
longblackcoat said:
xcentric said:
longblackcoat said:
At £10k you're looking at the BMW engined TD6.
Personally, I'd not bother, because at that age and (presumably) mileage of 100k+, you're very likely to have gearbox issues. Obviously if it's had a replacement or properly reconditioned gearbox, that's a different story.
Note that one of my cars of a Disco3 TDV6, so it's not as if I'm anti-LR products. In fact, if I were looking to spend £10k on a LR product, I'd go for the Disco3 rather than the RR, wonderful though the L322 is.
If you really want a Range Rover, spend a few grand more and get a 3.6 V8 - you can get them for £13-14k now.
Agreed re the gearbox - I'd only get one with a recon or replaced gearbox. Or £2k off for it to be done. Just heard too many niggles about the Disco3 - but maybe that's internet forum noise? Though friends with them have gotten rid after one too many failures.....Personally, I'd not bother, because at that age and (presumably) mileage of 100k+, you're very likely to have gearbox issues. Obviously if it's had a replacement or properly reconditioned gearbox, that's a different story.
Note that one of my cars of a Disco3 TDV6, so it's not as if I'm anti-LR products. In fact, if I were looking to spend £10k on a LR product, I'd go for the Disco3 rather than the RR, wonderful though the L322 is.
If you really want a Range Rover, spend a few grand more and get a 3.6 V8 - you can get them for £13-14k now.
Will look at Cayenne, good shout. Ugly car though.
JZ Machtech quote: (my bold)
"Turbos and V6s are broadly trouble-free apart from the V8’s original plastic coolant pipes under the inlet manifold, which should have been changed to the later aluminium ones. Each spark plug’s individual coil pack can fail, too, leading to a misfire. The big problem is the S’s Lokasil cylinder-coating failure. It starts with a sudden appetite for oil and an increasing knock, followed by a misfire as the bores and pistons are shredded. From first signs to death can take as little as 500 miles, and the problem can strike from around 70,000 miles. Turbos and later S models have a Nikasil coating which gives no trouble."
St John Smythe said:
I was looking at Cayennes a while back and came across the same info. It appears that the early turbos are the ones to go for, much the same as the 996.
You can get a decent Turbo Cayenne for £13-14k (probably 2003-2004) which is barely any more thirsty than the 4.5, waaaaay faster, and properly reliable as well. Not sure you can tow with one though?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff