To be honest you will have to go on gut feel and how it drives - you can have as much history etc as is possible but something can let go at anytime and thats true on any vehicle. I allow 3k a year for running costs and repairs excluding fuel tax etc and that seems to work.
Keep looking

Well, it was a 270 mile round trip to go and view that car and it had sold when we got there.

However, it wasn't wasted as there was another one that had just arrived into stock but hadn't been prepared yet so I took the opportunity to have a look over that one. It's a 58 registered blue with cream interior Vogue on 110k miles with a full history from a local (to the dealer) Land Rover specialist. I had a good look underneath and it all seemed in good order, no rust to speak of, completely the opposite of the underside of the previous one!

It also had four matching Goodyear tyres with good tread and only the smallest amount of corrosion on the rear boot lid. The paintwork was crying out for a correction and the interior needed some attention but as I said, it hadn't been prepared for sale yet.

Anyway, I left a deposit

It'll come with a new MOT, a full inspection service, a machine polish and valet and a leather specialist will see to the front seats before pick up. This will now be the longest week in the history of mother earth.

WOW, Talk about striking when the irons hot. Good for you.
It looks pretty clean now, prior to it being polished. Look forward to receiving the update next week.

Welcome to the FFRR family! The drive home will be a great few hours! Even though you will probably be tired after not sleeping the night before with excitement

Yours looks a great example

Mine is a dark colour too - keeping it clean is time consuming, but they look so good when shiny

Well, the saga continues!
Unfortunately we were a bit apart on my trade in and they needed a fair few pounds on top to do the deal. Whilst I was (obviously) happy to proceed, the better half was most certainly not. Especially with Christmas coming up and two little ones to think about.

So, my excitement was very short lived but one day, in the not too distant future, I WILL have one.

Yours, dissapointedly,
Dan

Just tell the little ones that Santa has bought them a special adventure mobile to take them out to wonderful places.... Series 2a LWB Hardtop - ex British Aerospace that was then used in an armed robbery! not by me!
2 door V8 1979 Range Rover
A slight Subaru blip..
110 County 200tdi
R reg 300 tdi Discovery Aviemore - gone to a local enthusiast to be resurrected in Transylvania
2003 TD5 Discovery2 - now sold
and the 2 wheeled Range Rover - BMW R 1150GSA

and finally the big lady of my dreams... 2012 Westminster - gives me a smile every morning

You're quite right of course. I've shifted around some funds and all being well, I'm picking it up on Saturday. The leather man has already been and repaired the seats. I received the following photos from the dealer, it looks like he's done a cracking job (no pun intended).

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Picked her up today, absolutely adore it!
The paint still needs work (swirlies) so I'll spend an afternoon with some SRP at some point. She did 32mpg on the 115 mile trip home which was fab, I know this'll drop on my usual commute but

The spare key doesn't work although the dealer said it needs charging so I had that one in the car on the way home but still didn't work when we arrived. Would it take longer than 2 hours to charge or do the batteries need changing?

Also, I went in the boot to find the key for the detachable tow bar and there's another complete tow bar in there but no key for the one that's on it - it also looks like it's probably seized, I couldn't get my spare key into it so I've sprayed it with WD40 to see if it'll loosen up.

Other than these minor issues she drove great. I've promised to go to the pub with the better half this afternoon but I just want to go for a drive

Oh, filled her up with diesel, well, up to the £100 limit on the pump and it says 621miles to empty, if I get that many I'll be a very happy chap indeed!

Good work! I have the same issue with my second key, I’m not sure on the answer.

You did well to get 31mpg. Best I’ve managed so far is 28.2!

Congrats Hitby! Set your trip meter, you can compare the distance to empty.
Sounding rather optimistic at 621 miles ! I think it'll be in the 400's on a good day for a 3.6

Your seats look great, must feel like new! What did all that cost?

Greg Cheers, Greg
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

Thanks, I've been to our seasonal caravan site today to collect some stuff to bring home, three bikes in the back with loads of room to spare Trip computer down to 505 after a 50 mile trip but hey ho.

I don't know what the leather repairs cost as the dealer had it done. They didn't give it a machine polish though as evidenced by the paint so I'm borrowing a DA polisher and I'll have a go myself as they really detract from the car.

Other than that though, it is over the first hurdle of starting for the first time I've left it overnight

Well done, I hope you’ve got a good one. I bought a 4.4 petrol a few weeks ago, 69k and excellent bodywork. Had all fluids and filters done. All brakes needed changing as the fronts were dished, only 30% contact, and rear handbrake drums were shot. I’ve had the dreaded battery drain too, alternator failed a load test so a rebuilt one fitted and I’ve traced the actual drain to fuse 12 following great advice on this forum -thanks chaps!
Today the rad let go, hopefully stopped before any damage done and its had the low loader ride of shame back to the indy. I was going to change the rad anyway to help protect the gearbox so not too unhappy. At least it happened at a time when I was the only one inconvenienced. With any luck it should be fault free for five years now (??).

Nightmare, yep, sounds like you’re due a spot of luck now. Fingers crossed for many group years of motoring ahead.

I’ve got a year warranty on mine so the first sign of any niggles it’ll be going to the garage!

Finally got around to sorting out the paint work. A wash and clay bar made a difference then I gave it a machine polish and a wax. Probably looks better than new

To be honest, still some swirlies so I'll have another go in the spring. At least it's nice and protected for the winter

Shiny -

Welcome to the FFRR family.
It's a love hate relationship, but once you driver the FFRR there's no comparison & no going back. You seem to fall in love with the Green Oval, enjoy.  Late 2004 FFRR Vogue 3.0 TD6 Tonga Green
Previous cars
Series 3 V8 conversion
1989 V8 classic Vogue
1992 V8 Classic Vogue
1998 P38 DSE