The beginning of a new adventure

Hi, My name is Belushi, and I am hoping to join the illustrious landy club tomorrow when I buy my first landy.
After 5 years off from travelling around the globe, and being very boring, I have decided it is time to get back on the road and see some more of our blue planet.

So tomorrow, I am heading to a dealer in Taunton, Somerset to see the cutest little 90 in the world.

If she comes home with me, my g/f and I will be packing up our stuff and taking off on an adventure to Greece. We will be driving down through France, across the top of Italy, and down towards Bari. Then a quick hop over the Adriatic to mainland Greece. A wander to Piraeus in Athens and then a ferry to Crete.

All of this is, of course, flexible and we could hang a right instead of left at the butt end of France and we could end up in Spain.

So, illustrious gentlemen and ladies, I have a few questions for you.
What should I look for when buying the following little sweetie

E Reg LAND ROVER 90
7 Seats, Bull bar, side steps, Spot Lights, Power assisted steering, Radio/Cassette, Sunroof, Towbar. New White 8 Spoke Wheels, Roof Rack,12 Months Mot, 3 Months Warranty, P/x £2,995

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/vans_search.asp?make=Land+Rover&model=90&min_pr=75&max_pr=3000&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=ex15+1pn&miles=20&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&search=SEARCH

I found it on Auto trader.
Comments on it would be appreciated
I look forward to hearing from you all
Regards
Dunx (Belushi)

one major thing to look for because you have not stated it here, is that check for any type of rust. landy's are renound for rust, so watch out for that and if you find any, make sure you tell him/show him, and try and get a bit off the cover price and then get it welded up nice. also milage can be a feature, and what engine has it got on it. starts making me think, because it looks a nice one, but it is quite cheap for what it looks like, so it must be milage, or he is just really keen to get rid of it for some reason ?? looks nice for the price. regards Rob p.s. enjoy ur trip! sounds really nice!

Not sure about the engine size, but the mileage is 168,000
We saw it this morning and it looks pretty tidy around the body work. There were a few spots of rust.
The driver's door has a problem with the hinge, which he will fix, he will have to replace the windscreen, as there are a few chips in it, to get tit through the MOT, anyway. It has no MOT at the mo, but the trader will get it through the MOT.
I p/x my car for it and got a good deal for my car.
We took it for a quick drive and it sounds ok. No clanking or anything like that. It is very tidy inside, no signs of abuse. Checked gearstick, handbrake, clutch pedal and seats. All look used but not excessively so.
It does make me wonder what is the reason for such a low price, but then I suppose if you start double-guessing everything, you would not get out of bed in the morning.
I get 3 months warranty with it, which I will ask what it covers, and then I have a friendly welder in the locale and I will get him to put it on a ramp and check..

But thanks for the heads up and I am lookingforward to picking it up on Saturday

nice one. i think the high price is because of the milage. it has a high milage for a landrover... (i have not known one to pass 200,000 without MAJOR work done) so, im guessing it is the milage. is it a diesel?

It's a Turbo D. 168k is beyond the usual 150k that is the accepted life of the engine. Otherwise check the bulkhead tops by the door hinges, rear cross member and footwells for rust. Check that the engine is clean and responsive. The gearbox should be smooth to take up the drive, a bit clunky, but not too noisy. The suspension should be firm but not crashy. Make sure that is brakes straight when you do an emergency application too. Pulling to one side can reveal a multitude of suspension and brake issues.

It's really difficult to describe what normal is like, but the best ploy is to drive a few and get a feel for what's right or not.

On balance I would approach this truck with caution - I think that you might be able to do better for not much more money. I don't know why though

I don't want to sound negative, but I don't think it's that cheap it seems a fairish price, mine was £1100 cheaper same year but no extras and nowt like as shiney.

I've done 2500 miles in it since I got it and have had to replace the exhaust manifold gasket, and I put a new alternator on more for my piece of mind. I had a bit of tyre trouble 'cos they arn't a common size but I expected that when I bought it.

Do a search on here going back to last August September time for more info.

Oh I. I forgot it's done a similar mileage but on closer inspection I think it may have had a relacement engine or short motor.

it is worth getting someone to look at it first before you buy it. this does not cost too much, and it is well worth it.

For that kind of cash and at that age and mileage I'd look at getting it inspected profesionally. First choice would be an indie LR garage then maybe RAC. The RAC don't do an in depth on the engine/transmission though and I fear this could be where any big costs will be. Not the cheapest way to do it but better spend a couple of hundred and then walk away than save the maney and find that you've got a pig on your hands.

I'd agree with Mr Ashoo, just from the point of view that it's better to spend a few quid at home, than get somewhere on a trip & find something terminal you didn't notice is shafted (not that there's much irepairable on proper Landies)...........That said, it is puurdy & a fair price from a dealer (anyone got any horror stories about this outfit?) & seriously top plan for a trip chap.

Oh, & welcome to the forum.

Best,
Marcus.

Marcus makes a good point. Do a thorough internet search on the dealership and spend a lot of time seeing what you can turn up. I was very close to parting with my cash when I found out that the dealership had been found guilty of selling a vehicle dangerous for road use. The info was buried in a local rag which published on line.

Remember a landie is for life not just for christmas

Thanks guys. I got a guy who is a local in my pub to come with me and check it out. He is surprised how clean it is
There is a small blib of oil on the powersteering - will be checked.
Both the Landy "experts" in the pub reckon I have got myself a steal. I drove it for about 150 miles once I bought it, and then they put it up on a ramp and tried to find a problem with it.
A little rust on the door frame
An old leak on the rear brake disc drum.
The door need a damn good slam to keep it closed, as I found out when I was going around a roundabout and the door flew open - again the boys will sort it for me.
The wind down drivers window needs re-seating as all the slamming of the drivers door has made it slip off the runner.
Apart from that, there is very little wrong that isnt cosmetic
Looks like a new engine, but then steam clean will do that for you.
After 150 miles, no major leaks under the hood

It went through the MOT first time, and the boys have started "spending" my money.
Central locking, cubby box, 17 inch wheels, raised suspension new stereo, four more spotlights on the front, three more on the back, and inverter for 'Er Indoors' hairstraighteners - jeez
It all looks tickety boo
Now all I got to do is restrain myself from spending on all those toys!!!!

Finally found out what the catch is.
After a little bit of travelling around (200 miles) there was a lot of blue smoke coming out of the exhaust and it was getting more and more difficult to start.
I took it to an indy diesel specialist for a cursory compression check, and lo! and behold, he said he would not even charge me for the compression check as it was a waste of time. He could hear that there was a missing cylinder, and he reckons it could be the rings, or the pistons.
So, I rang the dealer up Friday and told him, and boy was he unhappy!
3 months waranty on a Landy that needs a new set of pistons? Tee hee.

So, esteemed posters, thank you for all your advice, it seems that there was a reason why the price was cheap, and now I have found it!

Watch this space ....

Do you think they'd put a little magic potion into the engine to keep the compression up for a short while?

So, do you 1) let them repair it, or 2) get a recon unit from an agreed third party or 3) get your money back because it's not fit for purpose?

Option 1 - they like: you don't
Option 2 - you like: they don't
Option 3 - You like: they can live with it because they can fix it as cheaply as poss and seel it on?

I would urge you not to use the warranty to get a fix, rather exert your consumer rights because the car wasn't up to scratch in the first place.

hmmm - most things that appear tooo good to be true usually are (but dont let that make you think that it never happens)

I would concur with Widget, money back would seem to be the best option - if they tried to palm you off with an engine with a ropey motor in the first instance then they will have no compunction at trying it again when trying to put the problem right

If its any use - http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/ - this might be a good start to havde a look at how you stand legally - the basis of your argument for a refund will be that the goods are not 'fit for the purpose' and, as such, do not comply to The Sale Of Goods Act.

good luck