It kind of depends on how much you want all of you car working all of the time?

Dont get us wrong its not that they are all bad and always broken down, but there are just common problems which will and do crop up.

As you have identified the gearbox is a major weak point, but if done you should be able to tick it off, the torque converter also has a tendancy to go south at some point too. Again if done all should be ok for a while.

As heavy cars they wear through suspension parts too though these are quite cheap and if you are handy with spanners doable.

We are not trying to put you off ownership, just trying to make you aware that there are associated costs which seem to be pretty constant.

For example, i have a nice tdv8 which is well maintained, and so far this year had until last week cost £0 since jan. But has just had to have the rear calipers stripped and new pads fitted as they were binding (£20 pads only), will now need the transfer box resealing (£? As they have done it before), new alternator (£450) new 110ah battery, but before christmas needed:

Diff oils
Gearbox flush
Front arb droplinks
Inner and outer track rods
Upper suspension arms
Lower suspension arm ball joints

Al in all about a grands worth, and thats just stuff which wears. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

If your worried about running and repair costs I don't think this is the vehicle for you my friend,
There are very good reliable ones out there and there are very unreliable ones
Parts are expensive,diagnosis can be difficult and pricey .

I have what I class as a good one but it still needs maintaining /repairing
Alternator packed up last year ,not a halfords job £60 (£380 + battery £110 )
That's on top of service bits oil and filters £150
Gearbox oil change £190
Plugs £80
Boot seal £90
Ect,ect
Buy an 8k car and put a few quid aside if you can't pay for repairs off the hip,
You may not need the 2k but I guarantee you'll need £600 of it as soon as you get it
Buy one they are a great car but choose the right one

As above.

Buy the very best you can find. Do your homework on both petrol and diesel models thoroughly.

A petrol isn't always the expensive monster the armchair critics make out. And a diesel can often be no cheaper to run than the V8 when you factor in purchase price, GM gearbox issues, etc.

Keep an open mind on both and, as advised previously, keep the facelift idea firmly in the back of your mind until you find, buy and run one for a bit. Get the confidence up that it's not going to let go first.

Simple upgrades such as 20" alloys, chrome steering wheel spokes, replacing the 'foundry' door trims, body colour door handles, etc are all relatively low cost and make a substantial difference for little effort.

The later touchscreen models are much better from an ICE / navigation perspective.

Good luck with it. There's plenty out there and be prepared to travel to find the right one.  Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Boydonegood wrote:

Thanks for input guys! It's definitely making me stop and think!
I suppose a few things to consider are, is 130,000 miles (average) too high to spend £7-£8k on? Gearbox is going to have to have been replaced and good service history and it's still 12 year old.
I do really like the look of the converted ones, but doing it myself, with wheels is over the £3000 difference between buying it done (provided the converted one has good history average £10k)

Am I right in expecting 20mpg ish? Anything else other than gearbox?
Sorry for all the newbie questions
I think the presence of a "Fullfat" (still can't get over that, has got to be the ultimate way of describing them) on the road is awesome. But the 2011 are more so

Looks like things arnt gonna be as simple as I first thought! Lol


Tel

We have a 2003 4.4 with 103K on the clock. Had it 4 years now (March 2010) when it had 85.5K on the clock, paid £11,500 for it and to date (including the last service and MOT in April - cost of £1549) have spent roughly £16K on repairs and servicing:

Major costs have been:

First Service: £2100 (we discovered that although it had a fully stamped up service book, the car had not had a service for 2 years!)
Gearbox Rebuild - £3500
Radiator / Trans Oil Cooler - £1500
Batteries (several!)
Alternator - £1200 (this was the BMW water-cooled jobbie - fitted by the main LR Dealer who does all our servicing)
Fuel Pump - £800

Other major things have been Rear Suspension rebuild (bushes etc), Compressor, Ride Height Sensors, the list goes on!

My wife wants to get rid of it and get a newer one, but as I keep saying, mechanically it is virtually all new!!

I wouldn't worry about spending loads on the Louis Vuitton leather and blingy bits, you'll need all your money keeping it on the road!!

As regards MPG, the computer on ours is showing an average of 15.7.

This is our fifth Range Rover, first one bought in the early 90's (a 1987 3.5 V8 Manual), but of all of them this has been the most, not unreliable, but you have not got a lot of confidence in it, having said that we would have another.

For a 2003, I would budget on £3000-£4000 a year for servicing / repairs, not including fuel costs!!

I wouldn't worry too much about facelifts personally, as others said money better invested in servicing and keeping it sweet. I kinda like my Westminster as it is and feel facelifting would remove it's originality. It is each to their own though and I've seen some nice mods other people have done. That's the beauty of them, they look stunning original but they can also look stunning modified, there are so many variants  09 TDV8 Westminster, Mariana Black, Rear seat entertainment, hatch bag and 2 slobbery mutts

The thing is that these in general are good solid reliable cars if you maintain them properly but it costs start skimping on quality of parts or frequency of tasks and it will bite you hard on the arse
Well thats just my opinion of course.

+1 to SandyT!

If we had not have rushed to buy the first one we saw (the one we have now), we would possibly not have fallen foul of the car not being serviced for 2 years before we bought it, and that did come back to bite us! I think the problems we have had since then are all related back to the period before we bought it.

Our P38 we had before this one we had for 11 years and apart from a crack in the block (apparently not unknown on the 4.6 V8- we had a short engine fitted) and having the air suspension swapped for a coil setup, it never once let us down. Wish this one was as reliable!!

Guys you really don't realise how much I appreciate your input! Thank you all so much!
I appreciate a lot of new members ask the same sort of things so I really appreciate you taking time to reply and even with pics! (Awesome looking car!)

I'd proberly look to do most of the repairs myself. Servicing etc isn't an issue or the general repairs. It's the big things like G/box, transfer boxes, head gaskets I'm more concerned with. Although capable I really don't look forward to having to do stuff like that. (Lol I think my P38 went through about 4 radiators)

Things like door locks, bushes, batteries radiators etc I except go wrong on all cars so don't really worry me. As I say it's the big "park it up for a fortnight" jobs that scare me could become regular.

I've got my heart and sole set on one. I don't think there's many other options that are as imposing on the road for £10k. I'm not in any hurry and travelling for a good one isn't an issue.
Minds kind of changed I suppose. Before coming on here I was heavily weighted towards a converted one. Now I'm not too worried if it is or isn't and could look to get it done later

Thank you so much
Tel

Just as a bit of confirmation I bought mine in December last year done 10k so far it has been in for mot today failed on a tyre of all things everything else spot on the service history on mine was and is immaculate with copy invoices for all work done since new it has done 96k now and if it hadn't been so well looked after before me I am sure I would have all sorts of problems.
So today I have replaced the door rubber in the rear nearside and the fhb had lost sync with the car ?? software update and a software update for the gearbox its stuff like that that the stealers are good for. look after it and it will do the same back

^+1

Just need to keep on top of the job list and it will all be ok..... There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

With ours the only reason we use a main dealer for servicing is that I work away from home and my wife is the main user of the car. If I was home some jobs I would do myself.

Hi Tel

Its good to see you are thinking it through and not jumping in headfirst as I did with a Range Rover, how old are you out of interest to be considering one of these?

Forget spending 3k on facelifting the front bumper and rear lights to 2010, it's a lot of money especially if your total budget is 10k.

My advice is buy a LPG converted petrol v8, they are cheaper to buy and have better performance and fuel economy than the early diesels. Then spend about 1.5k on changing the front grill, getting colour coded mirrors and door handles and 2010 side vents along with new big alloys.

You will be left with a car that looks the dogs and gets admiring looks and comments everywhere it goes and have some money left over for your summer holiday.

Have a look at my car below - I did just that and have had the car for 3 months and it runs like a dream (2004 model).

Before:

^+1 for an LPG conversion - Mine is a 56 plate with the 4.4l AJV8 Jag Engine and 6 sped box. Runs like a dream, average about 16mpg but I'm not afraid to use the 'loud pedal' With LPG at 70p/l, it costs me no more in fuel than my TD5 defender did - but there is just a little difference in the performance and comfort!!

With regard to a conversion, each to their own, some people like them, I personally don't see the point in spending quite a lot of money to make a car look newer than it is - underneath, it is still the same car.

So for me, I would rather spend the money on a later car with a good history, which is what we did.

As I said above though, it is a matter of personal taste, so do what pleases you, but take your time and do your homework before buying, and remember there are plenty of them out there, you will find the one for you, don't rush, and above all enjoy yours when you find her.

4 months in, I still have a grin from ear to ear, and don't want to get out of her!!  2006 (56 Reg) 4.4 V8 Vogue In Bonatti Grey (Gorgeous!!)

@Boydonegood - You've asked about cars with higher miles including one that had done approx 130k.

There was one (now former I think) member on the forum who appeared to have an aversion to higher mileage L322. Bit crushed at present as I can't remember said member's name.

Anyway, this previous thread contains many posts from some experienced L322 owner members who have knowledge of the L322 with more mature miles and there are many positive comments on the thread re higher mileage cars. Might interest you if not seen:


http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic1937.h...p;start=30