Is there really such a thing ? !!

Whilst I don't want this to be like a "name and shame" thread, I've just been to look at (with a mate) a 2004 Td6 Vogue for sale on the trader at £8891. It has done 136k miles.

My mate had a 4.4 V8 2003 Vogue for 6 months last year, paid £11.5 for it, sold it 6 months later for £5k as the gearbox was on its way out, and he didn't have the cash to fix it. Left a bit of a bad taste, as it were, but as he loves the L322, thought he'd go and have a look. He is currently running a 51 plate Discovery 2 Td5 ES......

The car looked tidy from a distance, but on closer inspection, the paint was cracking on the bonnet, there were scratches on it, some general wear, some not........all the wheel arch liners looked brand new. He opened the top tailgate, and the bottom tailgate fell down, knocking the cup of coffee out his hand, smashing to the floor. It then wouldn't shut.

When I opened the passenger door, I could see the TV tuner unit and a radio module on the floor. So they had been removed, the unit there was a BM53 not a BM54, which I then find are from another car and they have yet to fit them. The boot was very wet under the floor, so we know why the sat nav and radio/tv have failed. the pdc didn't work, and there was cream in the oil near the filler cap......

It wasn't clean, hadn't been prepped...........oh and the air suspension "timed out" when changing heights, and the PDC didn't work.

It drove OK though........

So, my mate has now bought a facelift 2003 Discovery 2 Td5 ES, for £2k less, at a different garage, which he'd seen 2 days ago.

I suppose its not a bad car, at the cheaper end of the market, and with a bit of tlc might be OK. But it was too much of a risk for him. He'd have to hit the credit card slightly to buy it.......

It was just a bit sad really, that the dealer didn't bother to fix a few things before advertising it. It doesn't half put people off. I appreciate they can't fix the big ticket items till a car is sold, but you aren't gonna cover the issues up that that had. Just a bit of presentation effort would have helped.

As I say, not a silly price, and they offered 12 month warranty...........may be good for someone. Just not me or my mate.........

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

I think there is, but there again, there are always overpriced, poorly prepared dogs, being offered by dodgy traders, with worthless warranties too!

Just have to keep your eyes open, and I'd say avoid traders at this end of the market. If you want to buy from a trader, you have to go up market and buy from Gazeilleo (can anybody spell his name?)  Range Rover-less at the moment - Pining!

We all know on here how complex and problematic these cars can be (and not necessarily are . . . ) - so anyone who says they can offer a twelve month warranty on a car of that age/mileage/condition is a bloody liar.

It's unfortunate that people can be drawn in by that little statement and end up thoroughly in the "you know what" . . . . .

Buyer beware !

 Where do you go after one of these . . . ?

I'll be holding onto mine for a bit. Mine has been problem free for the near 4 years I've owned it, apart from the air compressor which I fixed myself. 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded

Noddy your one of the lucky ones then

I can.....

Gazellio

Simples really

Yep, mine has been trouble free too, bar some normal service items. Just clocked over 123k and seems as fresh and responsive as ever, touch wood!

I guess it all depends on a bit of luck, and whether the car has been looked after in its past. Mine was 1 owner and was immaculate bar the odd stone chip dent on the paintwork. The PDC on mine has always been unreliable, but it is probably a dodgy wire that needs looking at.

If you get a good one, hold on to it as long as you can. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

Yeh, mine was 1 owner when I got it last November. A chap in his 60's..........

So imagined he'd not thrashed the doors off it...........

I've needed a radiator, ball joints, track rod ends, fan resistor, battery...........service stuff and consumables really at the age and mileage.

The tailgate top was getting a bit scabby though, and has now been replaced........... 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

The garage must have attempted to fix a few bits and realised how much it costs...........or perhaps they haven't.

It's £10k now on the trader.........

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport