I think Mr Fawlty makes a very good point about buying the newest car you can.

Mine's a 2014 VSE and it's taken a year of ownership to get the suspension physically updated (inherent defect in early models), plus all sorts of software patches to fix other niggly problems. (Battery control, TV module, deployable side steps, infotainment system, etc).

That said, it's all fine now and I'm really enjoying the car for the first time but newer versions are fixed at the factory.

They are great cars FFRR. My first one was a 2013 Autobiography and I thought it was lovely and I've had several since then but it's clear that they do get even better with each update. Things like sunroof's, trackers and improved tech all get added on the newer cars, which just make the ownership that bit better. For instance I regularly put large loads in the back and need to have a flat-ish floor but on later models (15 I think) when you lower the back seats the front one automatically move forward first to stop you snagging one seat on the other and when the back ones are down the front returns to normal. Then there access mode, which drops the car when you park to allow easy access to and from the car. There's lots and lots of these that get added or improved as the car develops along it's life cycle.

I have no problem at all with people who go the AB route; it's a wonderful way to go and I've done it twice myself but I've honestly never felt like I was slumming it in the VSE and my point was simply that actually having owned these cars in different variants for several years now and given the choice I'd personally choose a well specced low mileage 2015 (65) VSE over an average mileage 2014 AB. And that isn't designed as an insult to anyone who's got one of those.

Last edited by Basilfawlty on 12th May 2017 9:29am. Edited 2 times in total

Mattl29 wrote:

Cheers for the responses, most interesting is probably the engine. I had not even considered the 4.4 as just assumed it would be well below the 3.0 in mpg stakes but this is now a contender as there are a load more higher spec AB's for sale at the moment

Great makes a lot of sense, my continued 1 hour daily slog on auto trader continues! Will def go the approved used route I think for the piece of mind and goodwill. I know you can get an inspection done (pardon the phrase!) and take out the LR warranty with dealership but don't want to risk it if the car failed in a big way on something and then then all ache of getting in rectified with the no approved dealer. One interesting thing I have found is that a few non LR approved dealers are advertising an extended LR approved warranty (beyond manufacturers standard), I wanted to double check this so called the LR Approved warranty plan who are Car Care Plan, the guy I spoke to was really friendly but explained that need to be careful as an non approved dealer is unable to transfer the extended warranty to purchaser and that the only way an extended warranty of theirs can be transferred is on a private purchase! Interesting and maybe useful to others so wanted to share. We went over this a couple of times to the point where he said that cars claiming this should not be advertised in this way as the warranty would not be valid for a claim, other warranties of course will vary but theirs which is the Land Rover approved is structured in this way.

Note that there have been quite a few instances of the 3.0 engine seizing. I asked my LR dealer about this and even in a smallish place in the Scottish Borders they had replaced "several". That said they had a 4.4 which had needed a new engine too, but that seemed a surprise and isolated incident. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Hence even more important to have the LR warranty  2021 D350 Fifty Edition - Carpathian Grey
2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography (2021-2024) - Santorini Black
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster (2016-2021) - Santorini Black

If you're restricting the search to Approved Used then why are you looking at Autotrader and not the official LR used website ?

Prefer the layout on iPhone of auto trader and search function seems better. When you use LR website on desktop or mobile it has limited functionality that just doesn't work! E.g if you want to search for more than one colour sometimes it will not let you, it does not have all options to select and eliminate by, it has limited cars per screen. On auto trader you can just scroll through / save any car to your own garage / it shows approved used with a "tick" and I have been using for last few months and funnelling my wider search across manufactures down to a FFRR!. Maybe it is habitual but just prefer the system, I also have alerts set up based on several Pre defined criteria which show me the latest cars added that meet my search

Makes sense

I've driven VSE and AB (I own one) and for me the AB does have a little extra refinement in its use of extra leather. I have the leather headlining as well and that is awesome, definitely recommend looking at cars with both headlinings to compare, but for me it was an option well worth specifying (especially as it was zero cost).

Regards discount, dealers do have wiggle room, they always do, but it's all in the negotiation, what spec is the car, does it have extras, how long has it been on the forecourt? If your willing to take their bolt-on extras then discounts can be more forthcoming (tit-for-tat).

Can't comment on the wheels as I drive round on the 20" rims, which I love as I don't have to give a damn about the kerbs!

I have a 4.4 and am getting 26-28 MPG real world, with mainly dual carriage/m-way and some urban (80/20 split mileage-wise maybe), being a new car I'm expecting a small improvement overtime as the engine beds in.

Finally, I have the massage seats, gimmicky but I like them, useful for long journeys.

Aintree green as well very nice get some pictures up Lutonboy.

caymanblack, I put a couple up on my post here: http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic42767.html

Wow its lovely , love the expresso as well. Thanks.

Basilfawlty wrote:

I say all this because I really considered one tdv6 SE last week that's up with a main dealer for very near to trade price with just 13000 miles and all the usual VSE options plus blind spot monitor, lane departure warning, electrically deployable towbar, sliding pan roof, massage seats, parking heater and surround cameras. And the icing is that it's a 2015 65 plate so that means that it has the incontrol suite, which gives a tracker (lowers insurance) and other useful tools that link to smart phone like remotely switching on your climate control from the phone etc. It's even got privacy glass and whilst it only has standard 20's you can sell them and buy 21's or 22's.

I doubt they'd move far on this one as it's just under £61000, which is strong value. As I say it came down to the final three with me before opting for the one that I did.

Hi there and good choice on your spec. I've had AB's and VSE's and the SE is the sweet-spot of the range IMHO, although the AB is worth a bit extra. Given what you've mentioned you should be able to find what you are looking for but bear in mind that retro fitting the winged headrests is very, very expensive (thousands rather than hundreds and the tow bar too isn't cheap so look for cars with them in.

Personally, I love winged headrests but probably one in 20 cars has them, so it really limits your choice as I found out with my latest car. Tow bars are more common fortunately. I have the sliding roof on this one but for me having had both the roof wouldn't be a deal breaker.

From experience dealers, even greedy ones don't like to dropping the numbers that you've mentioned. What you need to do is look for stock that's been hanging around and is starting to owe them money. That Aruba one was a case in point but there are lots of others. The other thing is be as flexible as you can be on spec as things like the winged headrests may mean you don't get the best value cars.