Thinking of buying a Range Rover...

Hi all,

Hoping I can get some advice please.

I'm thinking of buying a RR, problem is, I know absolutely nothing about them!!! I have a budget of around £12K and would basically want as many 'toys' as possible, lowest miles possible, as new as possible (don't want much hey?) and something that isn't going to break the bank fuel wise (I've heard about getting them converted to LPG?)

I'm going to be selling my Nissan 350Z for something a little more practical and I've always fancied a 4 wheel drive.

What should I be looking for and what can I expect to get for that kind of budget???

All thoughts and help greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Scon.

You should be looking for a Nissan Patrol !!!!!

Any advance on that piece of advice folks?

I was hoping for something a little bit more helpful...

Hi Scon.
I'll give you some info when i get home, for now a lpg conversion costs around 1500 - 2000. You need to get the multi point injection system. The single point system backfire's in certain situations. 4.0 ltr is what i've got but be wary of any high milage V8 4.0 as they are prone to liner movement in the cylinders. Having said that mine did 60,000 miles full of paper and towing a trailer with paper in it in 2 years ( i used it for work) before it did develope that fault.

I will put more info up later.
Cheers, Nick.

Hi.
The amount of money your spending should get you a nice P38, but beware as they like regular servicing and quality parts.
I've just looked at some previous posts on page two of the RR section and there is more info there, in my opinion get a petrol and get it converted, as their price to buy is lower and they sound sooooo much better ( if of course, that is important to you). They all come with plenty of toy's but you must make sure that everything works without exception and if it doesnt come on here and ask how much to fix a fault, we're quite helpfull really.

If i think of anything else i'll put it up.

Cheers, Nick.

Ah yes, they're cam chain not cam belt so you know if they're poorly because they really rattle and good for 150,000 + if serviced properly (the chain, that is). Also have a look at Tch911's post on page three.


Cheers, Nick.

Look for 4.6 HSE or Vogue that has already been converted. As mentioned make sure it is a multipoint system and has an installation certificate. Look for full service history - no gaps. When I sold mine with 100, 000 miles on it the MOT tester couldn`t believe how well she ran and how low the CO reading was, a testament to how she was looked after...SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE !!!

Thanks for the advice so far...

One further question...are they a nightmare to run and own in general???

Don't get me wrong, I use loads of car forums and understand that the majority of postings are going to be about problems as people are looking for help (you don't often see threads along the line of 'nothing wrong with my car this week' titles do you?!?) but there does seem to be a lot to look out for.

Especially if I'm looking at a 2000/2001 car, that's not actually that old.

Any thoughts?

Things can go wrong just like any other car - but on the flip side you will not find a better source of help or information that are the Land Rover Forums. I Guarantee if you have a problem, someone else has had the same problem and fixed it, and someone else has posted a step by step guide. You are about to enter a rather unique world where people go out of their way to help others....

Hi Scon.
No they're not a nightmare, but they are an experience to own, especially if you get them off road, they are fantastic. so if your the kind of guy from the old Audi advert who say's "chow" a lot and you want to not have it serviced and not check the oil and ignore thing's as they crop up then don't buy one. But if you do and it breaks, we will help.
Cheers Nick.

Chances are it would never go near off road.

I love my vehicles gleaming clean and spangly. Would I be buying one for the wrong reasons??!?!

Why can't I view the gallery either? I want to look at loads of different rangey's but am struggling!

Hi.
No, not at all. Mines as clean as i can keep it. But it goes off road and in the sea four times a weekend in the summer and my friends think i'm mad the amount of washing i do. In my book buy it because you like it and if you dont take it off road then fine. They are fantastic cruisers too. I won't ever buy another car as the RR does everything i want with all the comforts you could need.
Sorry, dont know about the gallery.


Cheers, Nick.

Hi,

Mine is a 2002 P38 4.0 Westminister petrol converted to LPG, I have had mine three years and done 85k out of the 104k miles it has done, It is a true workhorse, does everything, goes everywere and there is no other 4x4 to match it. I would highly recommend that you get it inspected by independant person if you are buying private as they are prone to damage if abused in wrong peoples hands. It looks good when going out and works hard during the day.
Regards
Steve

Seen a couple of shots of somebody who's chucked the RR Sport 10 spoke alloys on a P38, colour coded the bump strips and tinted the windows and it looked really nice - anybody on here into the cosmetic side of things?

I'm not talking about pimping it up with 24inch chrome alloys and stuff like that, just nice and subtle.

Just have a quick look at Rangeover.co.uk. There was another site which indeed had 24's i'm sure but it's timed out on ebay. I am so impressed by it that i'm going to buy rr sport upgrade light kit rather than ever thinking about changing the car, front and rear methinks. Chrome number plate surrounds and chrome tow hitch covers tend to be nicely understated with the white light kit put on and with the ten spokes would be nice but with what colour?

Cheers, Nick.

Scon

I too had always wanted to own a 4x4 so went out last year and brough a 97 4.6HSE p38 with 68,000 on the clock and full RR SH. Like everyone said find a good one took me 8 months to find this and it only cost me £4,500 which i thought was a good deal. Only problem i had was I didn't check the heated seats as in summer coudln't really tell. Not winter has come and they don't work but thats life. As soon as i got it I had it converted to Multipoint LPG for £1800 in Milton Keynes and then had the windows tinted and changed the alloys to a 2005 model alloys. Its fun to drive and you feel on top of the world driving them. No need to boot it but when you do they sure do move. I had a 95litre LPG tank installed cost me £28 to tank it and drove to bradford from coventry and back on one tank. I did stick to the limit of 70mph

Enjoy you searching and can post pics if u want.

hi scon well as the other guys have said before owning a rangerover is a totally different ball game to owning any other sort of vehicle .
i have owned one type of rangerover or other for the last 15yrs and yes i have got bored and thought hmm i`ll try something different but then after seeing the new owner drive off in what was once my pride and joy i know instinctively that i have dropped a clanger so off i go in search of another .
i have over the years owned classic`s and p38`s 4.0 4.6 but i cant help feeling that my current vehicle a soft dash lse is my all time favourite of the bunch , to me and i may get some flack here but the p38 although an absolutly fantastic vehicle just lacks the charisma that the old classic has , just my own personal taste and veiw i might add .
but whichever model you decide to choose ( and i would personally go for a quality lpg converted one ) please take along someone who knows these motors thats a must , because as no doubt these guys will tell you , a bad one will break your heart ( nad your bank balance ) i hope my little contribution has helped .
rick

Hi Rick.
Couldnt agree more.
Nick.