Dear all,

Just joined so good morning all an really looking forward to joining the ranks.

My daughter is outgrowing my wife's mini and my 99 SL500, and we are moving into deepest Kent so a FFRR SC is being drooled over on the web. My uncle has had disco's and FFRR's for years and raves about his current 2008 TDV8 as the best car he has ever owned.

My SL500 is LPG'd which upsets a lot on the Merc forum, but means that I can drive it properly and enjoy it whenever I want so I will definitely LPG the SC model I will buy. It is only fuel after all!! And why pay the ripoff tax if you don't have to. In the Merc I get 130miles to a 45 litre tank around town and 180 on the motorway, where incidentally, lpg is only 2p more expensive than my usual garage, so low mpg I'm used to. Expect this to be a weekend and summer holiday car.

My Question is regarding the reliability record between the years and what to look for recall wise between the years. I have earmarked 3, an 06 with 31,000 miles, a 2007 (56) with 25,000 and an 08 with 33,000 Miles. Is there also any difference in interiors or spec between these years.

I also use a specialist for the Merc who is superb. Have people had the same experience with a RR specialist in Kent?

Looking forward to replies.

Last edited by Swithins on 27th Oct 2013 11:48am. Edited 2 times in total

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_Rover_(L322) ====================================

"Open Mike Night " sounded like a lot of fun until i found out i was going to an Autopsy

Hi Joker, I have seen that page, but it doesn't say which year was more unreliable. I have heard that from 2005/6 things improved a lot, just wanted real life confirmation of this. My uncle's 2006 had the front diff go on the M1, among lesser probs. his 2007/8 has almost been problem free but his is a diesel, so has its own problems.

similar questions have been asked re this so have a read of a few pages in the 'general' section .. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Swithins,

2 links attached to try and assist you if not already found.

First - a recent post you might find relevant and useful entitled 'To SC or not to SC'
http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic20691....n+response

Second - A buyer's guide/ experience about things that went wrong in the first 5 months of 4.2SC ownership
http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/post189410.html#189410

There are a number of LPG owners on the forum.

The L322 RR is a brilliant, infectious car. The build quality is incredible and that will apply to all engine types, hence many older, very high mileage cars can look as new (all that glitters is not gold though so choose carefully).

If all is well with these cars, they are a pleasure to have. However, they have their complexities and like all cars, things go wrong and need to be fixed. That applies to 2012 L322 models, 2008, 2007 and 2005/2006 models. Unless you are a mechanic or competent 'DIY mechanic', as you will know from the prestige cars you have had, they do merit specialist servicing and maintenance to preserve your 'investment'.

All the best with your search. This forum is excellent and the members amongst the most knowledgeable and helpful you will find anywhere

Thanks for the feedback, very much appreciated.

All the best

Gary

I have been through this forum searching for as much info on a 4.2 vogue se as I can get. What I get is one person's very bad experience, though his tenacity with the dealer is exempulary what I also get is a thread starting on the 4.2 but a lot of noise about diesels which i have absolutely no interest in. I've also been in the LPG threads where someone has asked for actual experience and gets everything but that.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this thread, this is to be a family car. Unfortunately I have no time to myself anymore, and very little time at work to trail through many many threads that may contain the specific info I need.

I do appologise if my words seem rude, they are not meant that way. I unfortunately have an old school attitiude that £25k-£30k is an awful lot of money to spend on something with such a horrendous reliability record. That is why I have registered and am asking questions of experts, real life FFRR's.

I am looking for a sub 40k miles post 2006 facelift for under £30k. The car is to be used for weekends and for touring Europe both for winter and summer. I want the car to be with my family until it dies a natural death, rather than a premature death. I have heard for years that large motorway mileage means nothing but in the real world, and with these cars does that hold true? Please only respond if you have knowledge of the 4.2 petrol.

Are saxton's really that bad as they seem to be the only ones with the cars that tick all the boxes?

Once again I appologise if the information is soemwhere ont his forum but time is a luxury I can ill afford so any help is very greatly received.

Many thanks

Gary

Yes, Saxtons really are that bad, so if you want a good one, avoid them!

Remember that not all RRs have horrendous reliability issues if you buy wisely, you just hear about the bad ones more.

You can't use the model year to determine which will be more reliable than any other. A late 2005 or early 2006 year won't have the updated interior, which can be spotted by the Terrain Response control in the centre console rather than switches.

Good luck in your search!  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Beg, borrow or steal one for a week then you will be hooked, there really is nothing to beat an FFRR IMHO (not really steal ) 2013 L405 Autobiography Baltic Blue
2007 L322 Vogue Buckingham Blue

Thanks for the heads up, defo want the key in the dash model with terrain. Very disappointed that Saxton's seem to be the only one with ffrr's that meet all my requirements. Waiting for lump of cash to come in in the next couple of weeks and have seen one possible one which will hopefully be an orphan long enough for me to grab it. Just missed an 07 with v low mileage and from a rr dealer.

Is it difficult to persuade a rr dealer to include a warranty for a 6/7 year old model? Never dealt with RR dealers before, am I reading too much into doom master threads? Am I being over concerned with the fact that the model I crave is Ford owned? I've finally persuaded my wife we need this model not the sport or evoque, I know she's gona be waiting in the wings with her 'I told you so' dance.

I have a 2007 4.2 s/c , I ahve looked all over to find out about proper info re lpg and valve seat recession , still unable to find any proper info rather than anecdotal tattle that you really shouldn't get it lpg'd.

SO I'm going to bite the bullet and go for it as way of a 'gamble' if you like , the reason being as both myself and the missus have decided this ones a keeper , re problems and high maintenance costs , all you read about on forums is owners with problems for every one of them theres a 100 happy owners with no problems.

Previously owned TVR and got the same bs about always being in the garage etc etc , cost me all of £25 for a hot start mod and a couple of hundred due to a snapped damper , other than normal running costs over 4 years.

go for it would be my advice - you're only here once

@ Swithins -

Responses to quotes:

"... Just missed an 07 with v low mileage and from a rr dealer."

Nice ones/ good ones fly out of the door, whomever you buy from. Being decisive and quick is the key.


"... Is it difficult to persuade a rr dealer to include a warranty for a 6/7 year old model? Never dealt with RR dealers before..."

No, when buying an Approved Used LR UK franchised car, you will get a minimum 6 month LR 'Select' warranty and breakdown cover. It is possible to negotiate a longer warranty period within the agreed sale price. When the agreed warranty period ends, you can pay for an extension at approx £900/year and that can be paid as a one off lump sum or monthly via 10 months interest free (as a plus point LR warranty will not make you pay the full year premium if you decided to sell the car after a few months. It is pay as you go basically. However, the warranty can be transferred to a new owner and so is a good private selling point).

We've dealt with a number of main dealer 'RR dealers' since 2006 and they have all in their own way been outstanding, leaving us with the view that sometimes, you do get what you pay for because you will generally pay a premium to buy an A.U LR UK car. However, since joining this forum, if I was looking for a used RR, I would always first look towards Gary Elliot Prestige Cars because his reputation is second to none.

"... am I reading too much into doom master threads?..."

Real life experience posts and threads afford prospective new owners the chance to buy such a car (expensive to properly maintain and run), fully alert and with their eyes wide open. The car mentioned in the thread you refer to is in outstanding condition and has a 'text book' service history but... it is a fact that this work was required and that it needed many thousands of pounds worth of work to be done within the first 5 months of ownership and that is not acceptable regardless of budget. It would be a shame to benefit from using a forum like this and not to share such an experience with existing and future owners. The car in question never broke down as such. It was being a member of this forum that enabled the OP to be informed and in a knowledgeable position to seek redress from a very fair main dealer group.

Comment is also made that "all you read about on forums is owners with problems for every one of them theres a 100 happy owners with no problems."

For the record, Our petrol 4.2 SC is in no way a bad car. In the past week it has been driven hundreds of miles by my lone wife up and down England. It was thoroughly reliable, effortless and she couldn't be in a safer car. Between yesterday and today it's been to Scotland and back. It is a superb car (velvet).

This 4.2 petrol, whilst not cheap to own and run properly, will take some beating when on song... and against the odds, thanks to the efforts of Stratstone, we 'stuck with it' and it is definitely on song for now... do it 'on the cheap' at your peril though... and a £30k max budget for a low miles 2006 car is a lot of money, considering for a few £k more, you could be buying a 2010MY 5.0SC...

Last edited by pld118 on 30th Oct 2013 6:03am. Edited 4 times in total

Thanks for the replies, very much appreciated. A friend is going to lend me a 2007 vogue se in next couple of weeks for a weekend. I'm already sold on the looks, practicality and noise, just need my wife to be convinced it's not too big for her.

Ding, my 5ltr Merc has a brc lpg system and it is fantastic. The filler is hidden behind a removeable rear number plate into a doughnut tank replacing the spare wheel. The looks at the garage when they see me fill up for £27 (45ltr 130-180 miles) is priceless. Parked up nobody would know its got lpg but I can remind myself time and time again that it does 0-60 in 6.5 secs and 1/8 of a tank of fuel .

Pld I think your thread is invaluable and that will be printed out and taken to every test drive, it's not the cost of repairs and running that concerns me so much as time off the road not enjoying it.

Excellent responses thanks.

Gary

I thought that would be my problem when I bought my first one. However when my wife drove one for the first time, she was utterly hooked.

Though they are tall and long, they aren't wide, well not so that you'd notice over a normal car.

The tall aspect gives you a very good view of the road (confidence inspiring), and the fact you sit high added to the square shape of the car, means you can see all the corners really easily. She hadn't driven anything bigger than a corsa before, now can't go back to a normal car. She says its like sitting on the floor and doesn't feel as safe.

I'm sure she will approve. Especially if you go for the supercharged! All the toys and goes really well for a big girl!  Present* 2006 Santorini SC Vogue SE.
Gone* 2006 4.4 AJV8 Zermatt Vogue.
Gone* 2004 TD6 Bonatti Vogue.

My two peneth worth (for what it's worth) is why LPG an SC FF? If you have a £30k budget and your only going to run it for haydays and holidays, why LPG it? It's a performance engine! Why run it on an economy fuel? My last SC was gassed when I bought it... I ran that car for 2 1/2 yrs and didn't use the gas! It cost me maybe an extra £800 in petrol to cover the 6000 miles I traveled (using it for weekends & holidays) and IMHO why would I risk a £6-£8k bill for an engine to save £800? And also to have all the hassles we read about on here with EM lights on constantly and poor performance being just a few... (You'll probably spend the £800 you saved in visits to the garage anyway)

IMHO LPG has a place as an economy fuel... Not in a 4 or 500hp 2.5tonne FF...

I would be driving it constantly waiting for the problem! Much like the old P38...

If you want advice on which model is best... That's simple, the 09> 5.0SC and for not much more than £30k these days