Talk me out of a 5.0 SC FFRR
Discussion
A few months ago I sold my AJ-V8 FFRR after 7 years of ownership. It was starting to get a little long in the tooth and I thought it was time for a change, but we loved that car.
I need a car large enough for 2 GSDs in the back, and I didn't (and don't) want a diesel. I ended up buying a Touareg Hybrid, which was a decent-enough car, but it kept throwing repeated software errors which even the main dealer couldn't resolve, so I rejected it and returned it for a full refund.
I have been round and round the houses - E63 Merc, a big Jeep of some sort, a V6 Superb, and a few others which have helpfully been suggested on here, but I end up thinking that they're not quite what I want. I ended up trying to talk myself into a TDV8 FFRR but apropos that fact that in 40 years of car buying, I've yet to own one powered by diseasel, and the overwhelming feeling in my "would you buy a £20k diesel" thread, I've spent today shortlisting a bunch of SCs.
My budget of £20k doesn't go as far as I'd like, so all the ones I can find are c. 2009/2010 with 50k-70k miles showing, but that's just the way it is. My FFRR ownership has been pretty much hassle-free and not punishingly expensive, and I have the services of a very decent indy near to home. Annual mileage is not huge - in the two months I owned the Touareg I did <1000 miles, although the usual level would be slightly above that. Let's say 6k pa.
I know what I'm getting into with a FFRR with the exception of the (apparently fabulous) engine. I don't know whether the 'box is the same on the SC as my NA, and I know about the 12mpg stories.
Life's too short to drive boring cars. So. If I'm happy with the above, any reasons I shouldn't go for it?
I need a car large enough for 2 GSDs in the back, and I didn't (and don't) want a diesel. I ended up buying a Touareg Hybrid, which was a decent-enough car, but it kept throwing repeated software errors which even the main dealer couldn't resolve, so I rejected it and returned it for a full refund.
I have been round and round the houses - E63 Merc, a big Jeep of some sort, a V6 Superb, and a few others which have helpfully been suggested on here, but I end up thinking that they're not quite what I want. I ended up trying to talk myself into a TDV8 FFRR but apropos that fact that in 40 years of car buying, I've yet to own one powered by diseasel, and the overwhelming feeling in my "would you buy a £20k diesel" thread, I've spent today shortlisting a bunch of SCs.
My budget of £20k doesn't go as far as I'd like, so all the ones I can find are c. 2009/2010 with 50k-70k miles showing, but that's just the way it is. My FFRR ownership has been pretty much hassle-free and not punishingly expensive, and I have the services of a very decent indy near to home. Annual mileage is not huge - in the two months I owned the Touareg I did <1000 miles, although the usual level would be slightly above that. Let's say 6k pa.
I know what I'm getting into with a FFRR with the exception of the (apparently fabulous) engine. I don't know whether the 'box is the same on the SC as my NA, and I know about the 12mpg stories.
Life's too short to drive boring cars. So. If I'm happy with the above, any reasons I shouldn't go for it?
Thanks all - I think I was there anyway, just wondered what the collective view was!
The previous FFRR was a great car.
18mpg I can live with, the 4.4 AJV8 averaged a steady 20 across the whole time I had it so it's not a lot different, and I tend to do less miles these days anyway.
Now to find the right one.
The previous FFRR was a great car.
18mpg I can live with, the 4.4 AJV8 averaged a steady 20 across the whole time I had it so it's not a lot different, and I tend to do less miles these days anyway.
Now to find the right one.
Well these are proving decidedly difficult to buy! 90% of the ones in my age/mileage/price bracket* seem to be for sale in or around Manchester or other northern parts, and I'm in Kent. I'd travel if I knew someone had what I'm looking for but not to browse. There's a nice-looking one west of London but it has two-tone leather and I don't think I could stomach that daily!
* I'm looking for a 2010-ish, <70k miles, £20k-ish budget. Prefer it not to be black or silver, (had a black one) and I'd like a light interior (had a dark grey interior previously).
Budget could creep for the right car but you have to start somewhere!
* I'm looking for a 2010-ish, <70k miles, £20k-ish budget. Prefer it not to be black or silver, (had a black one) and I'd like a light interior (had a dark grey interior previously).
Budget could creep for the right car but you have to start somewhere!
Hi Cliff, HNY to you too, thanks for dropping by, good to hear from you! I ended up selling both the L322 and the Classic last year; not sure what came over me!
I'll certainly bear that in mind. I've read that the 4.2 is possibly the better drive, and some say more reliable. But the later one has better toys I believe - although of course that's just something else to go wrong. I'll have another look around at what's out there.
Hope the rest of your fleet is flourishing!
Cheers,
Mark
I'll certainly bear that in mind. I've read that the 4.2 is possibly the better drive, and some say more reliable. But the later one has better toys I believe - although of course that's just something else to go wrong. I'll have another look around at what's out there.
Hope the rest of your fleet is flourishing!
Cheers,
Mark
Cliff, the Defender is currently under general anaesthetic whilst I fit a 3.9 auto power train! I started it a few months ago but time and work (and cold weather) have been against me. Although it will fit in the garage, once it's in I can't work around it, so I've actually been doing everything on the drive, including dismantling and killing the donor Disco V8. I'd kill for some outbuildings like G's!
The engine and box are in, the headers are fitted, I've built a new fuel system with a swirl pot and separate HP pump to feed the EFI, I've had a custom rad built with engine and transmission coolers incorporated (that was £££
) and I was only looking today at what's next. Pipe up the two coolers and the rad, then splice the EFI loom into the Defender, and I think we'll be ready for a test start. Quite looking forward to it - but it's going to need cosmetic attention next. I posted on the weather thread, as things stand this will be the first winter in about 20 years that I haven't had a running 4x4 available, so I think we can confidently expect snowmageddon to arrive...
Back to FFRRs. I must admit I haven't driven either flavour of SC, not least because, as above, there don't seem to be many for sale in the south east, but I'll try and track both types down and see what I think. I'm sure one like yours will be 100% familiar, so it'll be good to make the comparison.
The engine and box are in, the headers are fitted, I've built a new fuel system with a swirl pot and separate HP pump to feed the EFI, I've had a custom rad built with engine and transmission coolers incorporated (that was £££
) and I was only looking today at what's next. Pipe up the two coolers and the rad, then splice the EFI loom into the Defender, and I think we'll be ready for a test start. Quite looking forward to it - but it's going to need cosmetic attention next. I posted on the weather thread, as things stand this will be the first winter in about 20 years that I haven't had a running 4x4 available, so I think we can confidently expect snowmageddon to arrive...Back to FFRRs. I must admit I haven't driven either flavour of SC, not least because, as above, there don't seem to be many for sale in the south east, but I'll try and track both types down and see what I think. I'm sure one like yours will be 100% familiar, so it'll be good to make the comparison.
Update time: Deposit paid 
5.0 SC Autobiography. I had a look at two, one was really overpriced and the owner wouldn't budge on price so I went with the other one and got a good deal. Not collecting for a couple of weeks as they are going to change some things for me (wheel colour, colour-code the door handles, etc) but pics to follow as & when. Thanks again for the input (and apologies to the 4.2 owners
)
5.0 SC Autobiography. I had a look at two, one was really overpriced and the owner wouldn't budge on price so I went with the other one and got a good deal. Not collecting for a couple of weeks as they are going to change some things for me (wheel colour, colour-code the door handles, etc) but pics to follow as & when. Thanks again for the input (and apologies to the 4.2 owners
)Thanks! It's Santorini Black with an Ivory (Parchment? Sand? not sure yet what this shade is called) interior. I'm having the door handles and the side grilles colour coded to match the black, I saw that on another one and it looked good, a simple mod but seems to update the overall look.
Black, whilst I do like it, wasn't my first choice simply because my old AJV8 was black, but I didn't fancy silver, there weren't any Stornoway for sale anywhere, the gold one I saw had a dodgy MOT history, and whilst the Nara Bronze I saw looked gorgeous, I couldn't bring myself to pay over £6.5k more than I did for mine! I did particularly want a light interior, so all good on that front.
Black, whilst I do like it, wasn't my first choice simply because my old AJV8 was black, but I didn't fancy silver, there weren't any Stornoway for sale anywhere, the gold one I saw had a dodgy MOT history, and whilst the Nara Bronze I saw looked gorgeous, I couldn't bring myself to pay over £6.5k more than I did for mine! I did particularly want a light interior, so all good on that front.
Well, today was collection day, and here it is:
Not the best pics yet, just a couple of quick snaps I grabbed. I had the door handles and the top/back half of the side grilles colour-coded, (properly, with that paint stuff, no stick-on covers!) having seen another like that, and I think it really works.
Lovely to be back in one again. It's very nice, very pleased with it. Haven't had much chance to explore the power yet but dear me, it does nip from 70-ish to 90-ish rather rapidly!
Tiny niggles with some creaking leather somewhere on the trim (I'm hyper-allergic to in-cabin noises for some reason) and the steering just has the faintest little twitch at motorway speeds, but the dealers I bought it from seem to be very decent guys indeed (just two of them) so I'm sure they'll help sort that out with no problem. In fact if anyone is looking for petrol Rangies and wants a pointer, PM me, so far I'd heartily recommend them and whilst they sell various marques, they were telling me that they do try to carve a small niche for themselves offering petrol Rangies.
Not the best pics yet, just a couple of quick snaps I grabbed. I had the door handles and the top/back half of the side grilles colour-coded, (properly, with that paint stuff, no stick-on covers!) having seen another like that, and I think it really works.
Lovely to be back in one again. It's very nice, very pleased with it. Haven't had much chance to explore the power yet but dear me, it does nip from 70-ish to 90-ish rather rapidly!
Tiny niggles with some creaking leather somewhere on the trim (I'm hyper-allergic to in-cabin noises for some reason) and the steering just has the faintest little twitch at motorway speeds, but the dealers I bought it from seem to be very decent guys indeed (just two of them) so I'm sure they'll help sort that out with no problem. In fact if anyone is looking for petrol Rangies and wants a pointer, PM me, so far I'd heartily recommend them and whilst they sell various marques, they were telling me that they do try to carve a small niche for themselves offering petrol Rangies.
Yes, 2010, it's done 90k but in very good condition with a full JLR service history. I got a good deal on it, about a grand under the Cazana value including the colour-coding work and a few other small bits thrown in, which seemed a decent deal based on prices out there currently.
Edited by CAPP0 on Saturday 9th February 15:52
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