Alternatives to a full fat Range Rover?

[skyebear]

If not a Range Rover, then what?

I need something that can carry five people and two large dogs. My Volvo V90 CC estate has been great apart from one failure, but bit cramped for the dogs in the boot. I've ruled out an XC90 on principle as Volvo UK and my local dealer are terrible; one of the dogs would also eat the seatbelt in the boot.

I've been looking at every large car on the market and keep coming back to the Range Rover. Are they really that unreliable? 😬

If I was taking the plunge it would likely be a 2018ish 5L Autobiography. No turbos or DPFs to break and for the ~10k miles annually, the additional fuel cost over the 4.4 diesel isn't going to factor.

Any comments, thoughts on suggestions are appreciated!

[Funk]

My MD has swapped from RR to an SQ7 Black Edition and loves it.

[skyebear]

Funk said:

My MD has swapped from RR to an SQ7 Black Edition and loves it.

Thanks. Did they mention what drove them to change?

[Funk]

skyebear said:

Funk said:

My MD has swapped from RR to an SQ7 Black Edition and loves it.

Thanks. Did they mention what drove them to change?

He got fed up with a succession of them being in for repairs more than on his driveway... His last one was a doozy - LR didn't fit the windscreen properly when it was built and the first major downpour water poured into the interior and drenched it. It killed all the electronics inside and after a couple of months of it being sat at the LR dealer while they argued with the insurer, it was written off and he swore he'd never buy another.

[LunarOne]

The only time I'd own one would be if I lived in Dieburg in Germany and happened to be friends with Christian and Vera who run the LR Time Youtube channel. They've just bought an FFRR to add to their Discovery 3 and 4 and are already repairing it. But of course they bought it knowing it was problematic.

[cayman-black]

Nothing beats the Range Rover and the supercharged V8 is fantastic.

[FlyingPanda]

i’ve had a similar dilemma to the OP over the years. I loved my Range Rover but it was hideously unreliable and the dealership ‘support’ was very poor. In the end I went for a Cayenne and a friend of mine (who had even greater tales of woe with his LRs) went for a Q7, but neither of them have anything like the waft factor.

I really really wish LR could build (and maintain) a better quality product, but people keep buying them so I guess they don’t really need to…

[LooneyTunes]

skyebear said:

If I was taking the plunge it would likely be a 2018ish 5L Autobiography. No turbos or DPFs to break and for the ~10k miles annually, the additional fuel cost over the 4.4 diesel isn't going to factor.

Any comments, thoughts on suggestions are appreciated!

I’ve had a 2019 5l since new. Now at circa 50k miles. Aside from an issue with one of the seats when it was a few month old, it has been faultless.

Tbh, if it was written off today I would almost certainly try to replace like with like.

[Coxey]

I had a FFRR now have a sport both diesels apart from a NoX sensor on the sport they have been great but the dealer network just worries me they just don’t seem interested on what is effectively a high end motor. I want to replace the sport perhaps with the latest version but going to wait. Did have Cayenne 3l diesel which was great but as previously said doesn’t have the “waft” factor

[Percy.]

LooneyTunes said:

I’ve had a 2019 5l since new. Now at circa 50k miles. Aside from an issue with one of the seats when it was a few month old, it has been faultless.

Tbh, if it was written off today I would almost certainly try to replace like with like.

Good to hear.

What MPG have you averages over the 50k miles?

[skyebear]

Funk said:

He got fed up with a succession of them being in for repairs more than on his driveway... His last one was a doozy - LR didn't fit the windscreen properly when it was built and the first major downpour water poured into the interior and drenched it. It killed all the electronics inside and after a couple of months of it being sat at the LR dealer while they argued with the insurer, it was written off and he swore he'd never buy another.

Wow that's amazing. Did Land Rover refuse to admit liability and it went through your MD's insurance?

[skyebear]

LooneyTunes said:

I’ve had a 2019 5l since new. Now at circa 50k miles. Aside from an issue with one of the seats when it was a few month old, it has been faultless.

Tbh, if it was written off today I would almost certainly try to replace like with like.

How are the seats? They look awful but apparently they are uber-comfy?

[skyebear]

Coxey said:

I had a FFRR now have a sport both diesels apart from a NoX sensor on the sport they have been great but the dealer network just worries me they just don’t seem interested on what is effectively a high end motor. I want to replace the sport perhaps with the latest version but going to wait. Did have Cayenne 3l diesel which was great but as previously said doesn’t have the “waft” factor

Volvo UK were awful when a non-serviceable part failed three months out of warranty however the RRs I'm looking at will be of an age where the warranty will have ended. I'd be happy putting it to a good indy if I can overcome the lingering doubts.

I maybe need to trawl the other pages to read horror stories on X5s, Q7s et al.

[Timbo_S2]

To be honest, a FFRR should be on my drive. I live in rural Norfolk, need to tow a large trailer on muddy ground, and have three kids. But I've seen the tales of woe from friends and family...

So I bought a G350. Don;t regret it at all. Only issue is what to replace it with really...

[irish boy]

Anyone any experience with the big Mazda? Seems like a lot of car for the money.

https://www.usedcarsni.com/2023-Mazda-CX-60-2-5-PH...

[rich12]

Mercedes GLS?

I have a GL63 and absolutely love it.
3 kids, 1 wife and 1 dog. Boot is huge and of course, it sounds fantastic.

[Phil.]

I’m on my 7th FFRR, a L460. I had three L405’s including a 2019 model. I used to cover 50k miles every 3 years and must have covered 150k+ miles in RR’s.

The only major failure were the turbo’s on a V8 diesel L322, otherwise reliable except for the odd visit from LR Assist on the drive who provide excellent service.

Make sure you get a LR warranty if you buy one.

In my opinion there’s nothing like driving a full fat RR

Just to add that the seats in the 2019 model are very comfortable. I drove 1500 miles each way to southern Spain in one and don’t think there was anything that could match it for comfort and practicality over such a distance. Averaged 70mph excluding stops and around 30mpg with the V8 diesel.

Edited by Phil. on Tuesday 2nd January 16:00

[LooneyTunes]

Percy. said:

LooneyTunes said:

I’ve had a 2019 5l since new. Now at circa 50k miles. Aside from an issue with one of the seats when it was a few month old, it has been faultless.

Tbh, if it was written off today I would almost certainly try to replace like with like.

Good to hear.

What MPG have you averages over the 50k miles?

I don’t check it regularly, but had a glance before it went in for its last service and it was showing 21.1mpg over approx 9k miles at an average speed of 32mph. Of that mileage probably 100 miles or so will have been towing (where I see single figure mpg with heavy loads).

Highest I ever managed was mid 20s when towing a lightweight unbraked trailer.

Might be possible to get higher mpg but if that was important you’d probably choose a different engine.

skyebear said:

LooneyTunes said:

I’ve had a 2019 5l since new. Now at circa 50k miles. Aside from an issue with one of the seats when it was a few month old, it has been faultless.

Tbh, if it was written off today I would almost certainly try to replace like with like.

How are the seats? They look awful but apparently they are uber-comfy?

I really like the seats. The thought of 200 mile trip isn’t daunting and have done 400 miles in a day without complaint. I don’t bother with the massage features so it was rather ironic that that was what needed work s a result of a passenger playing with them. Worth being aware that there are two 3-seat options for the back: the “executive” one and a more basic bench. I chose the latter because it gives a bit more boot space as a result of them having slightly less recline. Kids feel slightly hard done by only because they found out about the other variant when we were considering buying a second one for MrsLT (bought a Defender instead) but nobody else has ever commented negatively on them.

The only irritations are the delay starting the ICE/navigation and the flimsiness of the panel the seat/heating controls are mounted on.

Overall it’s sufficiently good that I’ve not bothered looking at the newer model.

[Stick Legs]

Have a read on my experience & make up your own mind.

Can’t think of anything I’d rather own & am still delighted with it.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Funk]

skyebear said:

Funk said:

He got fed up with a succession of them being in for repairs more than on his driveway... His last one was a doozy - LR didn't fit the windscreen properly when it was built and the first major downpour water poured into the interior and drenched it. It killed all the electronics inside and after a couple of months of it being sat at the LR dealer while they argued with the insurer, it was written off and he swore he'd never buy another.

Wow that's amazing. Did Land Rover refuse to admit liability and it went through your MD's insurance?

I don't know all the ins and outs of it but ultimately I would guess that's what happened. LR refused to investigate to quote for repair without charging for it and the insurer wasn't prepared to pay LR just for investigating/diagnosing what appeared to be a manufacturing issue of their own making. I guess the insurer just decided to pay out and get what they could back out of the car at auction perhaps? I would assume the repairs would have been eye-watering as most of the interior up front and all the dash/screens/modules etc would've needed replacing and a car even with repaired water damage is often a ticking time-bomb of potential issues.