New purchase?

Im not new to this Forum, as Ive had my Freelander sport for nearly 10 years now and Ive posted a couple of times and even contributed.

Maybe Im getting ideas above my station, but you know how it is- Ive seen a Landrover Sport supercharged- yes, the one that does 12 miles-to-the gallon- but as I don't use my car much- Im a biker(!) my Freelander only having covered 40600 from new- Im prepared to suffer the silly MPG.

Ill get around to the purpose of the post... The car Ive been looking at is a 2005 and only covered 18k in that time, so Im presuming the owner was a mum just doing the school-runs.

What should I be looking for on an inspection- Ive had a peek and all looks good- but the cars under offer until tomorrow- the guy buying has finance problems, so he might be booted off the deal and Ill get 2nd refusal, so to speak.

It just seemed logical to ask you Guys for an opinion rather than running to the Forum when they break down!

I love Landrovers- I had a G reg in the late 90's but had to give that up for a new kid and settle the finance. So Ive been longing for one for a while...

Please dont slag me off as its a genuine question.

Mmmm

genuine question !!! 'suppose yours will be up for sale soon then ? :bolt:

Landrover Sport supercharged- yes, the Disco that does 12 miles-to-the gallon


You could get a Range Rover that does that

No major issues specific to that year. There were a few on the earlier ones that were sorted by 2005. Just the usual checks you'd do for any used car should be fine. Its not a very friendly car for home mechanics so I hope you have a tame specialist in the neighbourhood. Like all LRs it'll needs a lorra upkeep.

Dragonwalker said:

Mmmm

genuine question !!! 'suppose yours will be up for sale soon then ? :bolt:

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Yes! Im looking to trade mine in for simplicity- it owes me nothing and I paid for it years ago! The NEW car is only a year older- a 2005 and its the guzzling V8 jag engine- which Ive no knowledge of at all. Since Ive owned the Freelander V6, and despite some negative comments when I brought it- its only had tyres/discs/new screen cos chip/coil packs-all of them as I don't cut corners- when one when, I figured they would all follow- and a rear-wheel sensor in December 13. Im not trying to sell it, but Its been a good car. I got invited to the Launch of the new Freelander in Excel-and I remember some LR blokes saying that the new one overcame all of the old problems...I challenged them and said 'actually, Im happy with my V6' They shut up! Ok, I know I didn't go for the K-series, but I know Russell Walsh down here in Kent whos the BEST with them.

The RR will be my last flash car as I need it to see me into my retirement, than it will be fiestas/Dacias and push-bikes!

rasheed said:

No major issues specific to that year. There were a few on the earlier ones that were sorted by 2005. Just the usual checks you'd do for any used car should be fine. Its not a very friendly car for home mechanics so I hope you have a tame specialist in the neighbourhood. Like all LRs it'll needs a lorra upkeep.

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Thanks for your reassuring comments- Ive heard the air-suspension is a challenge. On the rest of it- Ive scanned successfully my Freelander with my new Autel and this tool has the LR program in it- so we will see. Yes, Im a home mechanic as I trust no one. Guy Salmon used to service the Freelander when I first brought it- but then they lied to me and Ive never been back.
As for a friendly neighbourhood mechanic- nah- people don't work on cars round here...except me...I run the fleet of family cars, sons, daughter-in-laws...

PatM.

I would say that is a car suicide.

Possibly the most expensive and most unreliable.
there are lots of jobs that require the removal of body to do the work.
You really must have a good independent to look after the car unless you have a full workshop and ability at your fingertips.

How long do you wish to keep it for?

Lastly, if you still want to go for it, please ensure you have significant £ aside to deal with it.

Say a fund of £3k/yr..

best wishes,

rasheed said:

No major issues specific to that year. There were a few on the earlier ones that were sorted by 2005. Just the usual checks you'd do for any used car should be fine. Its not a very friendly car for home mechanics so I hope you have a tame specialist in the neighbourhood. Like all LRs it'll needs a lorra upkeep.

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They didn't start producing range rover sports until 2005 !

They are the "earlier" models that have the nigggles / problems !


Electric handbrake issues
Suspension issues
Quickly Worn bushes etc...


Lots to check !

2.0_hippo said:

They didn't start producing range rover sports until 2005 !

They are the "earlier" models that have the nigggles / problems !


Electric handbrake issues
Suspension issues
Quickly Worn bushes etc...


Lots to check !

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I seem to recall issues with the AJ engine too.

Oh Dear, as they say! the last few posts paint a poor watercolour- and Im viewing the car through rose-tinted glasses , as we all do when we buy dreams..
Yes, Its a 2005 and Ive heard the air-suspension problems. I do not have a Dealer I am familiar with around mid-Kent.
I suppose the best I can hope for, even though it will be bad news at first, is that its already sold or the wife wins- as she wants me to buy a newer one...and use all my hard-saved cash ...

The word suicide doesn't read well and I did ask you guys for an opinion- seems silly not to heed it!
Thanks everyone who replied!

PatM said:

Oh Dear, as they say! the last few posts paint a poor watercolour- and Im viewing the car through rose-tinted glasses , as we all do when we buy dreams..
Yes, Its a 2005 and Ive heard the air-suspension problems. I do not have a Dealer I am familiar with around mid-Kent.
I suppose the best I can hope for, even though it will be bad news at first, is that its already sold or the wife wins- as she wants me to buy a newer one...and use all my hard-saved cash ...

The word suicide doesn't read well and I did ask you guys for an opinion- seems silly not to heed it!
Thanks everyone who replied!

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I'm no fan of the L322, but it would be a much better option.

The problem is with all early models, regardless or marque, there are always teething problems - the more complex the car, the more issues there are usually.

That being said, you may just get one of the good ones...but when they do go wrong - expect eye watering bills.

The L320 Sport was based on the Discovery and as they tried to shoe horn everything in to a tidier and more streamline package, it meant that for a number of engine and suspension work, it means lifting the body off the subframes to access some components and this is beyond the scope of many DIY'er

Visit RRSPORT.CO.UK • Index as they will be more versed in the model and could even give pointers to short cuts on work....heck the P38 official procedure for the blend motors is dash out job....but over the years DIY'ers have created shortcuts for the work....same maybe true for the 'body off' jobs!

Datatek said:

I seem to recall issues with the AJ engine too.

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There was a batch of Range Rover spec engines with incorrectly torqued big ends if I remember rightly. Other than that they are very reliable. The earliest Jag AJV8s with the Nikasil liner and camchain tensioner issues pre-date Land Rover use by at least five years. I've put over a quarter of a million miles on AJV8 engines in various Jags and never had one miss a beat.

StuckAgainSteve said:

There was a batch of Range Rover spec engines with incorrectly torqued big ends if I remember rightly. Other than that they are very reliable. The earliest Jag AJV8s with the Nikasil liner and camchain tensioner issues pre-date Land Rover use by at least five years. I've put over a quarter of a million miles on AJV8 engines in various Jags and never had one miss a beat.

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Do the supercharged versions not suffer valve seat issues?

Datatek said:

Do the supercharged versions not suffer valve seat issues?

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Dunno - mine didn't! I know the supercharger bearings can go at 50K intervals - or last forever!

2.0_hippo said:

They didn't start producing range rover sports until 2005 !

They are the "earlier" models that have the nigggles / problems !


Electric handbrake issues
Suspension issues
Quickly Worn bushes etc...


Lots to check !

Click to expand...

Thanks for those comments and a couple of months on from buying a 2008 HSE.
I brought one from a Main Dealer and paid OTT for it, but have a comfort blanket.
The ERG valve went day one- that was fixed- then all the electrics went on the way back from the Dealer after the fix- they never advised what the hell it was- but its not done it since- The dashboard lit up like a Christmas-tree!
I had the discs replaced privately- the garage must have adjusted the handbrake too tight and I was back inside 2 days having the rear disc replaced due to overheating...

Ive not used the car much as I ride a bike every day, but its lovely to drive- its got 46k on the clock and theres not a mark on it.
Its a 2.7v6 and returns a lot better MPG than my old KV6 Freelander.

PatM said:

Thanks for those comments and a couple of months on from buying a 2008 HSE.
I brought one from a Main Dealer and paid OTT for it, but have a comfort blanket.
The ERG valve went day one- that was fixed- then all the electrics went on the way back from the Dealer after the fix- they never advised what the hell it was- but its not done it since- The dashboard lit up like a Christmas-tree!
I had the discs replaced privately- the garage must have adjusted the handbrake too tight and I was back inside 2 days having the rear disc replaced due to overheating...

Ive not used the car much as I ride a bike every day, but its lovely to drive- its got 46k on the clock and theres not a mark on it.
Its a 2.7v6 and returns a lot better MPG than my old KV6 Freelander.

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With that level of reliability, it's good job you have the bike as back up