Range Rove - any opinions

[blankczechbook]

i know the problem - i have the same with my wife, but a giveaway disco and ultra cheap freelander with RHD were had to refuse..

snow is here for the second month solid now it seems so 4x4 is necessary evil.

keep one little peugeot/renault for SWMBO summer runs - keeps local mechanics happy :-)

[Norman Verona]

She doesn't want a big 4 x 4 because of snow, we haven't had any (well only a slight dusting).

She likes to be sat up high and look down at everyone else!

I've given up for a week or so. No one seems to want t answer phone calls or emails.

Makes me wonder why they advertise stuff in the firts place.

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

Get her a horse or a bicycle - she will still be sat up high  

[Norman Verona]

Ah, and I thought she was a horse.... or was it a dog  

As for a bicycle, you are joking aren't you?

[Blacknblue]

You have a PM

[Norman Verona]

Many thanks to BlacknBlue for pointing me to an auction with a perfect fit Range Rover.

I register for a telephone bid (It's a trade sale and I'm in the trade).

Then yesterday afternoon I get a call from the auction house informing me they thing a head gasket may be blown. The header tank is dry and when they fill it there is white smoke/steam coming out the exhaust.

very nice of them, I'll watch to see what it goes for.

Theer are now no vehicles that fit the bill on auto trader or ebay. There is one for sale by a dealer but has 170,000 Miles. I have rung and sent emails and eventually, on Sunday get an email (midnight!) saying she been to hospital hence no response.

I ring Monday morning. No answer.

The search goes on....

[Norman Verona]

search over.

Bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee on French plates, french headlights 2 years CT (mot).

Looks OK, popping over on Thursday to inspect and buy.

b****y expensive but such is life  

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

Ah well, I had you said you wanted a Grand Cherokee and not a Range Rover we could have helped you more  

Glad you are sorted though

[lippydave]

Norm I know it's too late now but FWIW....

A decent '93 Range Rover Classix is a far better buy than a later P38 model RR.

The P38 is the most unreliable problematic Range Rover ever built....

Have had a number of Defenders, Disco's and a couple of RR Classics but I have managed to avoid P38 ownership.

I've worked for JLR many times over the years as a desgn and studio engineer, (I'm back there now), and I was even part of the launch team on the east coast that introduced 3.9 efi Range Rover to the States.

I like the older (pre P38) stuff and the newer stuff are fantastic products, but sadly still a little pricey for a pikey like me, so I'll soon be lookig for another Disco as a tow bus....  

I've worked all over the place (including a decade in Germany for all of the big brands), but LR is still my favourite place to work and I really like the products....

Not much help now, but I just wanted to waffle while the wife walks the dogs...

[Norman Verona]

John, Sorry, didn't "want" a Jeep, but trying to find an Auto RR or Disco (pre P38 as above) in LHD is like finding rocking horse poo. Are you a dealer? Do you have any LHD Cherokees, It's not too late... It's never too late.

Lippy, tell me about it. We bought a P38. The gearbox controller was "faulty" (it kept thinking the tramsnission had siezed) and cut the engine. No PAS, No brakes, No Lynne...

The diff was replaced. The turbo went which caused the head to crack. The fan belt tensioner was broken (this took 3 tow in's before they realised)

In all it was towed back to the dealer 14 times in 12 months. Eventually I returned to the selling dealer and sent solicitors letters. Ended up losing £12,000 on the thing.

The real problem was the dealer. The final straw was a burst heater hose. I looked at it and it was perished and cracked where it was fitted to the head. The new head that had been replaced 2 weeks earlier. Lynne was terrified to drive it. We lived in the peak district in the middle of nowhere. I couldn't blame her.

Before that we had a V8 disco which gave no trouble whatsoever.

I'm not too keen on the Jeep, they're worh nothing in the UK, My daughter in law had 2 and they lost a lot of money on both. The second one, new shape built on Merc bits and know how, was a real problem to get rid of. Even the Jeep dealer they bought it off wouldn't buy it - at any price.

However, that's not a problem here. We'll keep it for as long as it goes. This one has just had a major service and a French MOT (controle Technique -CT) so I'm not too worried about it as far as realiability is concerned.

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

Hi Norman - I am not a dealer. Just trying to lighten your day.    However, is there an urgent need for said vehicle? Cant you wait until the right RR turns up?

[Norman Verona]

Problem is the Pugs dying. In the summer this wouldn't matter but in winter it means we're left with only the 7 and the Midget. HM won't/can't drive either.

If the pug pops it's clogs we'll be a bit stuck. We'll HM will.

So I'd rather get a set of wheels than risk none.

Anyway, we have grave reservations about a RR after the trouble she had with her last one and Disco's are very few and far between. This Jeep is French sold, registered and lighted so I will save some money and hassle.

I have been looking for nearly a month now and this was the first real candidate.

[peterg]

Erm, I thought you replaced 'her' Elise with her 'Midget'    

[Norman Verona]

Tell her!

We did, but it's a summer car. We need a large vehicle to pick up people and their luggage from the airport. So, my thinking is, if you need a large vehicle get the biggest you can. The fuel consumption isn't that much of a problem as we only do about 1500 miles a year in it. The Peugeot has given good service and will now be used as a builders van until the barn is finished.

I'll report back on Friday. If they let me on the tunnel train Thursday night (ticket is for 0548 Friday, but I'll be there by 2000 Thursday) then I'll get back here about 0300. If I have to wait then I'll get back about 1300.

Oh what fun.