Advice needed for a complete Land Rover newbie - Range Rover vs Range Rover Sport

[Peshy]

Hi all,

I'm totally new to Land Rover (even though I've longed for one for ages). I'll soon be working on a new house building project and for that I'll need a solid vehicle as a bit of a work horse but that I don't mind getting knocked about a bit. I'm looking at 2008-2013-ish Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports. Any advice as to which people prefer and what to look out for would be most appreciated. I'd be particularly interested in knowing about maintenance issues I should look out for, fuel economy vs power/speed engines, costs to repair parts and servicing, etc. Also anything I should ask the dealer?

Many thanks in advance,

Peshy
PS Assuming I get along well with a Land Rover, I'd love to replace my 2020 Mercedes with one next year.

 

[Yamawg]

My experience with older models is they need to be treated as a pet and not like a washing machine.
Its going to not be perfect most of the time, and the cost of running it is down to you. I have a 1999 Range Rover, and have budgeted £500 a month to keep it on the road, not including fuel. I'm guessing I'd add a couple of £100 for the models you are interested in.
What you do need to know is the Range Rover Sport is really a Discovery - and generally bought by people who think you can live a champagne lifestyle on lemonade money! Just make sure you have a full service history
There should be better advice alone any moment.

 

[Peshy]

My experience with older models is they need to be treated as a pet and not like a washing machine.
Its going to not be perfect most of the time, and the cost of running it is down to you. I have a 1999 Range Rover, and have budgeted £500 a month to keep it on the road, not including fuel. I'm guessing I'd add a couple of £100 for the models you are interested in.
What you do need to know is the Range Rover Sport is really a Discovery - and generally bought by people who think you can live a champagne lifestyle on lemonade money! Just make sure you have a full service history
There should be better advice alone any moment.

Thanks for the advice! Especially the monthly expense figure. That's really helpful. I'm sure next year I'd spring for a RR but for a load lugger with weekly motorway trips, I'll happily settle for some lemonade

 

[backinblack]

If mine was costing me £500 a month it would be gone pretty quick. Maybe a couple of hundred a month put aside just in case.

 

[kermit_rr]

My P38 RR is costing me plenty at the moment, but I'm not at £500/month!

 

[robhtid]

My P38 RR is costing me plenty at the moment, but I'm not at £500/month!

Yea its not going to cost 500 a month (6k pa) in repairs/maintenance! Stick a grand to one side if you need it and if you do have to use it top it back up

 

[Moron]

I would. avoid the Sport ......its V6 diesel engine has issues ........I'd go for a V8 diesel full fat Range Rover , all Range Rovers are complex vehicles and age does them no favours , but the design of the Sport ( in my opinion) exacerbates its issues

 

[kermit_rr]

I would. avoid the Sport ......its V6 diesel engine has issues ........I'd go for a V8 diesel full fat Range Rover , all Range Rovers are complex vehicles and age does them no favours , but the design of the Sport ( in my opinion) exacerbates its issues

I've heard expensive stories about the sport, but that's all they are, stories

 

[backinblack]

Hi all,
I'll need a solid vehicle as a bit of a work horse but that I don't mind getting knocked about a bit. I'm looking at 2008-2013-ish Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports. I'd be particularly interested in knowing about maintenance issues I should look out for, fuel economy vs power/speed engines, costs to repair parts and servicing, etc. Also anything I should ask the dealer?

Not sure a RR is good for being knocked about a bit unless you have deep pockets.
Fuel economy will be poor 20-25mpg diesel, petrol don't ask.
Are you doing your own spannering ?

 

[oakey]

I would get a 110 Landy

 

[backinblack]

If it's gonna get knocked about he should get an Ejoke

 

[Henry_b]

RR sport = drug dealer that isn't doing too well
RR L322 = Wealthy drug dealer

RR P38 = Classy Classic

Everything breaks and it'll cost an arm and a leg to run..

Parts are expensive and labour for some of the more serious faults can be hilarious..

etc etc

you better be handy with the spanners.

 

[Henry_b]

Oh and avoid the 3.6 TDV8 like the plague..

 

[Grrrrrr]

It will go wrong, not if but when. Unless you do your own spannering the repair bill will be eye-watering. I would only have the Jag engine and go full fat. Any doubts over the car: walk away. I'd look really close at all brake lines at that age too.

 

[tomcat59alan]

If it's gonna get knocked about he should get an Ejoke

And a good fitting balaclava, other wise you'll die of shame.

 

[Tricky of York]

Hi all,

I'm totally new to Land Rover (even though I've longed for one for ages). I'll soon be working on a new house building project and for that I'll need a solid vehicle as a bit of a work horse but that I don't mind getting knocked about a bit. I'm looking at 2008-2013-ish Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports. Any advice as to which people prefer and what to look out for would be most appreciated. I'd be particularly interested in knowing about maintenance issues I should look out for, fuel economy vs power/speed engines, costs to repair parts and servicing, etc. Also anything I should ask the dealer?

Many thanks in advance,

Peshy
PS Assuming I get along well with a Land Rover, I'd love to replace my 2020 Mercedes with one next year.

Hi and welcome to LandyZone, if you’re looking for a Range Rover you have made a good first step here but be warned we’re all pretty well one sided towards Range Rovers not Sports. That said each to their own.
Best advice don’t accept anything a dealer tells you, by the best condition and history you can afford and test everything before you pay up, the warranty will almost certainly not cover the costs of fixing the big stuff and won’t cover the electrical nightmares if they happen.
If you aren’t good with the spanner’s as said be prepared for big money bills.
If you do jump in we’ll be here to help if we can or as a shoulder to cry on.
Finally I’m petrol biased but definitely diesel if you want more than 14mpg in town lol.
Tricky

 

[Peshy]

Oh my goodness I had no idea RR Sport's had such a bad rep! I only thought about that rather than the full Range Rover as I assumed it would be cheaper to run, maintain and also less pretentious looking lol. Afraid the Defender will be useless for me on motorways and the Evoke just doesn't do it for me (plus it's too small). That's interesting about avoiding the 3.6 TDV8 - I read somewhere that they were the better engines.

 

[kermit_rr]

a sport anything is never cheaper to run the 3.6 may be good when they work, they just don't last, from what i've read on here

 

[tomcat59alan]

Unless you are prepared to do your own spannering make sure you have deep pockets full of money.plenty of advice on here.

 

[gold rover]

Oh my goodness I had no idea RR Sport's had such a bad rep! I only thought about that rather than the full Range Rover as I assumed it would be cheaper to run, maintain and also less pretentious looking hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ,stop me when you get the idea lol. Afraid the Defender will be useless for me on motorways and the Evoke just doesn't do it for me (plus it's too small). That's interesting about avoiding the 3.6 TDV8 - I read somewhere that they were the better engines.

Stay away from any RR if you want a work horse. They are great when they work, and an older one, such as you are looking at , can carry the load , sometimes Stay away from them at any age if you want reliability. Once you have one, you will be smitten and will pay hand over fist to keep it.
Range Rovers are one of two things: brand new, with depreciation that is unbelievable, and reliability that is not guaranteed, or not brand new and a labour of love.
If you want to lug building supplies, go for a different marque, if a 90 is not for you. Although not sure why you can't do m/way in a 90. They manage 70mph very easily.