Contemplating Buying - Advice Needed!!!

Hi Everyone, great forum here so i thought this was the best place to start for some advice!!!.

I currently have a Jag X Type 2 Litre Diesel 2005, i am contemplating trading in for the last generation (2000/2001) Reg Range Rover.

Firstly I am worried about reliability, as i have heard alot of bad stories regarding the air suspension? and general big issues, the reason i want to change it because i would like one with an LPG Conversion so im getting good fuel economy, and its just as fast if not quicker than my jag. Also it will cost alot less to buy!.

Just wondered what the general consensous is with these cars?, my opionion is that if i get one with full service history thats not done too high mileage then there should be little problems, is that just being nieve?.

Im not in any rush, as i dont want to jump from a good car into something thats going to cost me loads of money, therefore defeating the object of my changing in the first place!.

Hope someone can give me some advice, as i dont know anyone that has one.

Thanks for your help.

Matthew

after owning 1 and fixing several p38's my advice in the nicest possible way is don't buy one unless
1)you aware of bcem issues
2)EAS issues
3)liner drop issues on v8's
4)Auto box and transfer box failure.
5)various gremlins

personally a Discovery or defender are easier to live with

ive had several biggies with my 96 model, i know its older but there wasnt many improvements throughout the years. on the other hand i can fix my own car, dont mind spending the hours on it and i'm a fool.

the diesel engine seems to be more reliable but as i have said many times i'd rather push a V8 than drive a doozel!

if i were you i would look at getting a newer rangey, that obviously depends on your budget tho, get one less than 10 years old and you can get a warranty with it. worth the money if it will pay for a new engine or box!! do read the terms carefully tho as with any insurance they want the premium but don't want to pay out on the claims!!!

i love my car and tbh i would buy another one tomorrow. its been a delight in the recent cold weather. its brilliant in the summer months too. long journeys are a pleasure as it just eats the miles without any discomfort. towing the 'van is a pleasure too.

the bad bit is the fuel consumption, around 12 to 14 mpg round town, rising to 22 on motorways!!

the softener for this????

lpg is 51.9 a litre!!!

I've done a simular trade in as you are thinking about. I had a Jag XJ6 X300. It got written off and I bought a RR 2001 4.6 V8 Vouge with 50k on the clock and converted it to LPG.

I've only been driving the RR for 2 months but had no major faults yet. I like you was very nurvous about buying one, but I'm glad I did now. But as for economy, you'll get better equivelent MPG in your JAG. I got a 90L LPG tank and mostly motorway driving I'm getting 200 miles and it's about £40 to fill the tank.

There lovely cars and I'm glad I bought it, especially in the resent snow and ice. The misses loves it and if it's outside the house she'll take it before her car. (I just need to teach her how to put LPG in it!!) She has a 2007 Fiesta ST so her car isn't a porta-loo!

Mine has some problems, the heated seats don't work, the drivers seat won't go up or down, it keeps telling me that the windscreen washer bottle is empty and I have a squeeking front O/S wheel baring. But to be honest I only care about the wheel baring.

Right now if someone asked me would I have another one, my answer would be YES!

Thanks both of you for your advice, unfortunately although im not a stupid person and i am quite technical i dont know much about cars so if something went wrong i would always take it to a garage after some investiation online as to what it might be!!, i would love to think if i bought carefully that i wouldnt have any trouble with it but i have that niggle in the back of my mind that i will!

I have looked at the Discovery also, but there isnt many that are as high specced or luxurious as my Jag, plus the diesel is quite slow in comparison and there doesnt appear to be as many LPG's around as the Rangie.

Thanks

Matthew

mdcooper said:

Thanks both of you for your advice, unfortunately although im not a stupid person and i am quite technical i dont know much about cars so if something went wrong i would always take it to a garage after some investiation online as to what it might be!!, i would love to think if i bought carefully that i wouldnt have any trouble with it but i have that niggle in the back of my mind that i will!

I have looked at the Discovery also, but there isnt many that are as high specced or luxurious as my Jag, plus the diesel is quite slow in comparison and there doesnt appear to be as many LPG's around as the Rangie.

Thanks

Matthew

Click to expand...

Change that niggle to a dead cert. it isn't if but when.

Sidds said:

I've done a simular trade in as you are thinking about. I had a Jag XJ6 X300. It got written off and I bought a RR 2001 4.6 V8 Vouge with 50k on the clock and converted it to LPG.

I've only been driving the RR for 2 months but had no major faults yet. I like you was very nurvous about buying one, but I'm glad I did now. But as for economy, you'll get better equivelent MPG in your JAG. I got a 90L LPG tank and mostly motorway driving I'm getting 200 miles and it's about £40 to fill the tank.

There lovely cars and I'm glad I bought it, especially in the resent snow and ice. The misses loves it and if it's outside the house she'll take it before her car. (I just need to teach her how to put LPG in it!!)

Mine has some problems, the heated seats don't work, the drivers seat won't go up or down, it keeps telling me that the windscreen washer bottle is empty and I have a squeeking O/S wheel baring. But to be honest I only care about the wheel baring.

Right now if someone asked me would I have another one, my answer would be YES!

Click to expand...

Thanks alot for your advice, i may still contemplate it then lol.

I need to look at it all carefully i think and not let me heart rule my head!, the Jeep Grand Cherokee looks nice also with a good diesel engine and i could get a 2002 reg for the money, although i dont believe its as luxurious as the rangie.

Matthew

redhand said:

Change that niggle to a dead cert. it isn't if but when.

Click to expand...

Yes, thats my concern!!

Matthew

mdcooper said:

Thanks alot for your advice, i may still contemplate it then lol.

I need to look at it all carefully i think and not let me heart rule my head!, the Jeep Grand Cherokee looks nice also with a good diesel engine and i could get a 2002 reg for the money, although i dont believe its as luxurious as the rangie.

Matthew

Click to expand...

Very very expensive to repair If it goes wrong though and a very limited source of spare parts expect to pay stealer prices, for anything except the most basic of spares

redhand said:

Very very expensive to repair If it goes wrong though and a very limited source of spare parts expect to pay stealer prices, for anything except the most basic of spares

Click to expand...

Oh right, ok, didnt know that.

What about Mercedes ML 270?

Matthew

My father has a disco 2 since new, it's on a 54 plate and he's on his 4th gear box and he drives like he's driving Mrs Daisy. I've only had the RR for two months so I can't really comment yet on reliablity of the big parts.

But you just can't go from a Jag to a disco 2!! It's like going back in time with ride quality and toys inside.

i have a 2000 4.0 rr 91000 on the clock needs a engine not on gas been looked after thats how it goes or dose not in my case. hope that helps you.

j the range said:

i have a 2000 4.0 rr 91000 on the clock needs a engine not on gas been looked after thats how it goes or dose not in my case. hope that helps you.

Click to expand...

Yes i suppose thats the luck of the draw, you could get one that needs hardly any work, or nothing major.

Matthew

Although I love my Rangie (p38) and wouldn't trade it for anything else dispite it's faults, I would have trouble recommending it to someone not up to maintaining themselves for the most part, and who's primary concern was reliability.

As with any second hand car there are always bits you can't see or diagnose before purchase (e.g. my waterpump went within first month), but once you've got it the way you want it and are paying attention to regularly maintaining it, it should settle down and give you great pleasure.

But buying any kind of LR also means you're buying into something you don't find with other brands, a whole community of owners who'll offer advice, help out, and support you like no other - even if most of us are just a tad nuts along with it.

If you want almost bulletproof reliabilty with comfort maybe look for a late model Merc. G-Wagen, one of the limited editions like AMG or Brabus, although independent specialists are few if you should have problems. Loads of power and comfort, along with 3 lockable diff's should you venture off road, although on petrol will max out at about 15mpg on a good day, not sure what LPG figures you could expect. Only one owner I know had a problem grenading the motor but that was after charging up the m/way with no oil in it!

At the end of the day you pays yer money and takes yer choice, but I'll stick with my Rangie .

i would not swap my rr. you can get one with no problems, just dont think it will be like that forever, go in with eyes wide open watch out for coolent problems, if you can take somebody with you that knows ranger rovers. best of luck

Sidds said:

My father has a disco 2 since new, it's on a 54 plate and he's on his 4th gear box and he drives like he's driving Mrs Daisy. I've only had the RR for two months so I can't really comment yet on reliablity of the big parts.

But you just can't go from a Jag to a disco 2!! It's like going back in time with ride quality and toys inside.

Click to expand...

Yes, i have seen some nice Disco's with leather etc but none with sat nav etc, and maybe electric seats etc.

I suppose you get what you pay for at the end of the day, and if you only pay a relatively small amount for the rangie then you have to expect to spend money on it at some point, you cant have it all ways!!

Thanks

Matthew

Your looking to buy a 9 - 10 year old car, your going to get some issues no matter what you buy. The lower the mileage and the more serivce history the better.

I changed the oil and filters every 6k in my jag and it run like a dream for 120k miles. I'm going to do the same in the RR oil and filters every 6k and trans fluids every 15-20k and fingers crossed I'll keep the problems down!

Only issue with my Jag was it got battered in Car parks, hopefully the RR is high enough not to get so beaten up!

mdcooper said:

Thanks alot for your advice, i may still contemplate it then lol.

I need to look at it all carefully i think and not let me heart rule my head!, the Jeep Grand Cherokee looks nice also with a good diesel engine and i could get a 2002 reg for the money, although i dont believe its as luxurious as the rangie.

Matthew

Click to expand...

buy a land cruiser or shogun for reliability, for cheap fixes a disco

If and it is your choice, can you live with a vehicle that will misbehave without warning and steal your spare cash

kernowdragon said:

Although I love my Rangie (p38) and wouldn't trade it for anything else dispite it's faults, I would have trouble recommending it to someone not up to maintaining themselves for the most part, and who's primary concern was reliability.

As with any second hand car there are always bits you can't see or diagnose before purchase (e.g. my waterpump went within first month), but once you've got it the way you want it and are paying attention to regularly maintaining it, it should settle down and give you great pleasure.

But buying any kind of LR also means you're buying into something you don't find with other brands, a whole community of owners who'll offer advice, help out, and support you like no other - even if most of us are just a tad nuts along with it.

If you want almost bulletproof reliabilty with comfort maybe look for a late model Merc. G-Wagen, one of the limited editions like AMG or Brabus, although independent specialists are few if you should have problems. Loads of power and comfort, along with 3 lockable diff's should you venture off road, although on petrol will max out at about 15mpg on a good day, not sure what LPG figures you could expect. Only one owner I know had a problem grenading the motor but that was after charging up the m/way with no oil in it!

At the end of the day you pays yer money and takes yer choice, but I'll stick with my Rangie .

Click to expand...

:blabla:I have had landies for several years now and I dont think any of them come without problems but what vehicle doesent, I now have both a Classic and a P38(I wouldnt change either of them ) which have at times had there problems but as in previous posts if you are prepared to do a lot of the work yourself or find help from the guys on here there should not be a lot that could not be sorted. As regards when buying if you do take the plunge head the advice check everything once twice and then again also try for one with low milage oh and welcome. Good Luck

Thanks for all your advice, i will look into the Shogun and the Mercedes i think due to the reputation and diesel engines.

Problem is that the land rover diesels are not very quick, whereas the Petrol's are great with regards to speed, but economy is dreadful, thats why i was considering the LPG option so i could get great performance but a reasonable return.

Ill have to take a look into all aspects i think!, as i said im not going to rush things.

Would it be better to get an independant dealer to find me one through there sources? if i give them them the details of what i want? assuming they will know what to look for. or would that be a mistake?

Thanks

Matthew