looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

5701 Views 29 Replies 13 Participants Last post by darrinturner, Jan 8, 2010

Chris80

Discussion Starter · Dec 27, 2009

hi everyone.

i'm after a change and always wanted a 4x4 so thought i'd take the plunge and look into the range rover vogue and the porsche cayennes.

Is there anything i need to really be on the lookout for with the range rover? Air suspension? Electrics? Autobox?

I'm lookin at an older one, 2003-2004 and as low mileage as i can get for 12-14k but i was wondering do i forget about the td6 and concentrate on the v8 as the mpg aint much different but the premium of the derv can be quite a bit.

any info or links to other threads asking similar questions would be greatly appreciated

thanks,
Chris

1 - 20 of 30 Posts

Chris80

Discussion Starter · #2 · Dec 27, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

oh, also, are there any additional extras on top of the vogue spec i should be looking to have??

nasdaq

· #3 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

If you've got the ability to buy the Porsche or the RR, I would take the RR all day long, (with the one exception of you wanting a ton of power). My father in law has the Cayenne, and they are two different animals. Just out of curiosity, where are you that you can pick up a vogue for $12k?

Norval

· #4 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Counselloing? :lol:

vinniman

· #5 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

C80.

Which part of the globe are you from ? Try to find an original 2002 build V8 model with less than 110,000 miles on the clock !

Replace faulty air bellows at the first sign of malfunction with a British Atlantic coil kit and convert it over to LPG as soon as.

The truck will probably need a complete fluids change everywhere, check for full history & servicing or issues with the electrics.

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

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Chris80

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Thanks for the replies so far. I'm living in the north west of England so the 12-14k is in pounds not dollars

The 0-60 time isn't an issue as long as it has the ablity to cope with the inclines on the m62 and still able to overtake at motorway speeds. I'm looking for a vehicle that'd eat up the miles on my occaisonal trips back to the north east.

LPG has been mentioned by a friend of mine, would I see a quick return if I'm only doing 10-12k miles per year? I've not seen any in my price range already converted so it's probably a job I'd have to do myself and splashing an extra 2k on top of the car makes it pricey. How much room will I lose from having the tank installed?

Chris80

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

vinniman said:
Replace faulty air bellows at the first sign of malfunction with a British Atlantic coil kit and convert it over to LPG as soon as

could you tell me what air bellows are?

Roverrad95

· #8 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Seriously, find a nice Land Cruiser Prado or Amazon. Souless yes, but reliable.

The Range Rover is equipped with EAS (electronic air suspension). There are various components associated with the suspension that allow the truck to be raised and lowered using a compressor and air springs. The air bellows essentially hold the air, which keep the truck raised or lowered. These are projected to fail between 80-100k miles (US miles), but usually fail sooner. Also, since you are looking at the BMW Range Rovers, if you are going with petrol, I'd definitely check out ALL the hoses.

Here's the deal with Range Rovers. One out of ten is decent, but regardless, if it isn't taken care of well (and by well, I mean meticulously,which has been redefined by Land Rover), then run away, quickly. My 2004 has had $42k in warranty repairs (high, yes, but not unheard of).

Good luck, and hopefully we won't hear from you again :lol: . If you do buy one, be ready to have your bank account emptied. On a monthly basis.

***Also, watch for the valve lifters. It they are very noisy, run away (you will hear a rattling under light to moderate acceleration).

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vinniman

· #9 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

C80.

The air bellows refers to the air bag suspension system employed on all OEM Range Rover models since the mid' 1995 versions !

Check out http://www.youtube.com for "wheeler dealers" and see the Range Rover Sequential Injection kit employed on the current version which those two lads tried to employ on a Range Rover Classic. After switching to LPG you will never look back Chris.

I think they mentioned the 72ltr donut stored in the spare wheelwell gets up to 240 miles in the V8 which is very reasonable ?

Cheerio,

Vinniman
'88 Highline
Perth, W.A.

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umitbat

· #10 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Service history is the thing i guess.
Extras are less important then a decent car.

texige

· #11 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

The sad truth is the 07 and newer Rovers are a reliable amazing vehicle and the earlier years are a crap shoot. After suffering through a 2004 bought new that had the typical 04 problems, I have been shocked how good my last 2 new Rovers have been. 0 problems. If you can't swing newer, go elsewhere unless you don't mind rolling the dice.

i gore

· #12 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Hi, i have just purchased a tidy lowish milage vogue TD6 52 plate for 13k, in the 2 weeks ive had it ive forked out £140 on the EAS. but i would def go for the oil burner here and not the thursty V8 unless you get it gas converted. also i forgot to say buy a rangerover over the porsche cos you just feel like a million dollars driving it :thumb:
regards
ian

yrbender

· #13 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

a toyota. But, if you must an extended warranty.

G

· #14 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Hi,
OK your hear a lot of "bad" about Range Rovers, but keep it real.
Maintenance is the key to a good Range Rover. What we find is that most of the people complaining about 2003 + Rovers are those that have purchased them 2ed or even third hand. (most 3rd hand).
If the first owner did not do the proper maintenance than the 2ed owner had to put the $$ into it and if the 2ed owner also failed to do proper up keep, than the 3rd owner has a bigger problem on their hands.

We all know that hoses tend to fail, so why not replace them every 60K??? preventative maintenance???
Air Bellows are also pron to fail, do you really expect a piece of rubber to last forever when it is exposed to the environment?

I am not sure what people think when they purchase a Range Rover, but it is a SUV and they do wear down. If you can not afford to do the up keep on a Range Rover, than you should get a Toyota where parts cost a lot less and things are kept simple. Oh, and you will still need to replace hoses and belts and breaks.

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G

· #15 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

If your going to buy a Range Rover, I would get one that has average mileage and a newer year. Then do the proper maintenance on it and check items that are known for failure and have them replaced if suspected and then you wont be stranded on the side of the road.

The 2004 Range Rover has been a charm. In the time we have owned it, we were only towed once because I wanted to wait for warmer weather to change the top radiator hose (it did not wait on me). We have replaced the head light bulbs, and know that the air bellows are time for their change out. We have 80K miles on it and know that there are limits to parts.

Our 2008 Rover has been no issues, but we have only driven it less than 2000 miles

G

· #16 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Roverrad95 said:
***Also, watch for the valve lifters. It they are very noisy, run away (you will hear a rattling under light to moderate acceleration).

LOL you got to be joking, all the 2003 - 2005 Range Rovers are doing this and it is considered normal. It is the BMW engine and there is nothing wrong with it as long as the lifters go quiet after a few seconds. If the sound does last longer, as with any SUV/car, there is a loose rocker/lifter and it should be examined/fixed.

Chris80

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Thanks very much everyone. So, to recap, basically i should buy something else

I thought these were bullet proof? I don't want to spend 14k on a car if i have to fork out £500 p/mth on repairs. I could get an X5 or the likes and have no issues instead.

gutted about that but dont think i can risk shelling out £5k a year on its upkeep!!!

Does porsche have a better build quality??

G

· #18 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Hi,
if you put $200 a month away for possiable repairs, you will be in good shape. Just plan on doing catch up maintance if owner before you did not.

Going with a Rover will make you happy, but just don't expect it or any other suv to be bullet proof.

Cheers

Norval

· #19 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Chris80 said:
I could get an X5 or the likes and have no issues instead.

actually, the range rovers and the x-5 have the same engine, but with the range, you feel like a king.

roverron

· #20 · Dec 28, 2009

Re: looking to buy a range rover - what should i be looking for?

Norval said:
Chris80 said:

I could get an X5 or the likes and have no issues instead.

Click to expand...

actually, the range rovers and the x-5 have the same engine, but with the range, you feel like a king.

Almost everything is the same: seats, electronics, brakes, majority of the suspension and transmission.
Most problems find there origin in abuse in handling and bad service or incompetent service people.

Go for it!

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