How expensive ?…..really

We’ve been toying with the idea of RR ownership for a while now, but keep getting cold feet regarding ownership costs and reliability.

I strongly suspect that a lot of the negativity is overblown, and probably often second hand, rather than from actual owners.
Our situation is we have one car, a BMW 520d, which we have owned for about seven years now, and we cover around 10 to 12k a year. I have a company van for work.

Apart from one major disaster (an £8000 new engine, at 80k miles), ownership has been very reliable, and inexpensive.
If/when we push the button, it will likely be a 2020 / 21 RR Sport.

Any advice on ownership experience and costs would be greatly appreciated.

The only experience I had with a Sport was a 2010 model with about 120,000 on the clock. It was almost falling apart as there were so many insecure panels on it. I got shot of it a bit quick! It also had this predictive lane thingy which I found most annoying, glad to get rid of it.

roythebus said:

The only experience I had with a Sport was a 2010 model with about 120,000 on the clock. It was almost falling apart as there were so many insecure panels on it. I got shot of it a bit quick! It also had this predictive lane thingy which I found most annoying, glad to get rid of it.

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Thanks for the reply.

In which case, would you recommend a different model? Like an actual Range Rover?

I’d love the new Defender, but low mileage examples are still pushing 50 grand, which is too much for me.

What price range?
I'm driving an L405, we see quite a few late model L405/L494's at work, other than service items, they're not really any trouble - certainly not as much as popular opinion would have you think.
Have a look at some of the price/age/specification combinations at 'The Vogue Centre' website, there's some really good value for money cars there. Think carefully about petrol/diesel choices, unless you're doing good length trips on as regular basis, a diesel will suffer due to the mandated emission controls fitted (EU5 and above).

Graculus said:

What price range?
I'm driving an L405, we see quite a few late model L405/L494's at work, other than service items, they're not really any trouble - certainly not as much as popular opinion would have you think.
Have a look at some of the price/age/specification combinations at 'The Vogue Centre' website, there's some really good value for money cars there. Think carefully about petrol/diesel choices, unless you're doing good length trips on as regular basis, a diesel will suffer due to the mandated emission controls fitted (EU5 and above).

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Between £40 and 45k, and up to 25k miles.

As I said, we only have one car, and we tend to keep them for quite a long time.

I have been tempted by the PHEV, as my wife does a lot of short journeys, but will probably settle on a diesel if we do go ahead.

I'm now on my 3rd Range Rover, the 1st was S reg, ex dealer runabout, with around 20,000 o the clock, no problems with that as I sold it on within 3 year, got a new 52 L322, that was nothing but trouble, cost more in repairs than it did to buy. Got rid of it with 250,000 on the clock; got an 08 Vogue TDV8, minor problems until this year after I had the brakes and suspension done, massive engine failure, hydrolock on engine oil. The the Sport, less said the better...now the 2012 Vogue with missing radio. I'd choose a Vogue any day, far more room than a Sport and from my limited experience , more mpg and cheaper on insurance. I also don't get hassle in certain areas with people expecting me do do a bit of dealing round back streets....

Jayo70 said:

Between £40 and 45k, and up to 25k miles.

As I said, we only have one car, and we tend to keep them for quite a long time.

I have been tempted by the PHEV, as my wife does a lot of short journeys, but will probably settle on a diesel if we do go ahead.

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If the journey type is predominantly short, low energy, low speed, I'd strongly advise against a diesel and look at the PHEV or pure petrol. Modern diesels are strangled by emissions regulations, unless they get a sustained run at least every week, they can be problematic - that applies to all marques, not just JLR.

A bit higher than your target mileage but a good price for the MY and spec. https://www.thevoguecentre.co.uk/us...auto-4wd-euro-6-ss-5dr-oldham-202409194227238

Also, if you're intent on a diesel, I would strongly advise you to avoid 3.0l diesels if you intend to keep the car for a while and do predominantly short runs, 4.4 TDV8 will need more frequent oil & filter changes but the engine won't eat itself.

Jayo70 said:

We’ve been toying with the idea of RR ownership for a while now, but keep getting cold feet regarding ownership costs and reliability.

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We got our L322 4.4TDV8 2011 when it was 3yrs old, (I had to hold my breath when I paid for it as it was more than twice as much as my first house) But it has always been serviced when needed and any problems sorted before they get out of hand in our ownership, we still have it.
We have had no scary unexpected bills. I wouldn't class the maintenance we have paid to be over normal running cost. No they are not cheap to keep but they get more expensive if neglected.

For you the big thing is the short journeys so think about the choice of fuel.

J

Diesels need a good thrashing to blow the cack out of the DPFs. One of the big problems with bus operators in London is the fact the engines don't get hot enough to clean themselves out.

roythebus said:

Diesels need a good thrashing to blow the cack out of the DPFs. One of the big problems with bus operators in London is the fact the engines don't get hot enough to clean themselves out.

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No they dont need a thrashing. A 5 min thrash wont sort it.
They need good runs, not to the shops and back.

J

marjon said:

We got our L322 4.4TDV8 2011 when it was 3yrs old, (I had to hold my breath when I paid for it as it was more than twice as much as my first house) But it has always been serviced when needed and any problems sorted before they get out of hand in our ownership, we still have it.
We have had no scary unexpected bills. I wouldn't class the maintenance we have paid to be over normal running cost. No they are not cheap to keep but they get more expensive if neglected.

For you the big thing is the short journeys so think about the choice of fuel.

J

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Thank you, that's reassuring.

We have an independent LR specialist within walking distance of our house, and we would keep it well maintained.

And I'm edging back towards PHEV.

Yeah the hybrid
I have a client who had, yes had a sport hybrid petrol. 30 miles on a charge... They only had it for two years and sold it, they bought a Volvo petrol hybrid instead...
The sport was ticking the hybrid box but not really filling it's image.
A recently failed rear driveshaft that has been uprated by lr, a faulty water pump on the engine and the accessorie battery in the rear wing that failed and gave serious braking issues..
How many batteries do you need in a modern car????

marjon said:

No they dont need a thrashing. A 5 min thrash wont sort it.
They need good runs, not to the shops and back.

J

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Yes I know, a "good thrash" along the local motorway. Luckily (?) I live near the M20.

Jayo70 said:

Between £40 and 45k, and up to 25k miles.

As I said, we only have one car, and we tend to keep them for quite a long time.

I have been tempted by the PHEV, as my wife does a lot of short journeys, but will probably settle on a diesel if we do go ahead.

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JLR products constantly feature at the bottom end of the JD Power surveys. If you are lucky and get a good one, OK but many are plagued by electronic problems and the V6 snaps cranks for fun.

As a long time owner of one of the oldest L322s I can only say one thing and it is not meant as an insult, "if you have to ask about cost you cannot afford it".
If you have £40 -45k to spend , reckon on 30 -35 for a Range Rover and keep the rest for what may, can, will need fixing. No matter which model you buy.
Range Rovers are the gift that likes to keep on costing. Dealerships class anything over 4yr old as 'old' and although they may sell them they are not interested in maintenance. Which leaves the search for a good independant. The cost of parts never goes down, unlike other marques. In fact most parts stay with market increases. £300ish for wing mirror glass for my L322. I don't have the courage to look at the price for the same part on a newer model
If however you have fallen in love with a particular model, but accept that it will never love you the way a Volvo will and will never get less expensive to run like other marques, then the cost of unrequited love can be worth it.


P.s stay away from electric. You lose space. Especially leg room. I had a weekend test drive in a lwb about 5yrs ago. Less boot space and less leg room than my L322.

I've just had a L322 mirror online for about £20, new.

Genuine LR chromatic?

Of course not! L405 mirrors are circa £300 too, the heating elements seem more robust than the L319 / L322 ones though.
Roythebus seems to be someone that buys cheap, buys twice three or four times, if his postings elsewhere are an indicator.

roythebus said:

I've just had a L322 mirror online for about £20, new.

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Really? Which part number and please share where you got such a bargain. Or did you buy a cheap stick on bit of 'glass'?