I love my Rangie

I live on a serious hill and the snow is freezing down again...

Range Rover + AT Grabbers = Da Bomb in this type of weather!!! Did a 3-point turn at the steepest part of the hill just cos I could!!! The high ratio box is superb for steep descents on snow/ice.

On a serious note - I don't have a towbar and a mate needs a pull. D'you reckon best to use the towing eye or find a chassis member to loop the rope around. Someone suggested looping the axle direct, but since it's not designed to bear direct load I'm not sure that's a good idea....

Jock

PS. I laughed myself nearly to death passing a Q7 and and X5 on the pavement...

dont think i would want to tow from the axle,, think i would go for the tow eye

as for the Q7 n X5 :hysterically_laughi

Definately do not tow from the axle, it will bend. Towing eye works fine.

th tow eye is designed to take the (rolling???) weight of the p38, around 2-2.5 ton, i'm sure it will pull a car out if its not too stuck.

i know where there is at least one tow bar assy in my local area at a scrap yard. i'd have a look round for one!!!

Yeah, the towing eye should be fine if it is only a light pull that is needed, but anything heavy or stuck fast use the chassis, Do not use the axle it will pull the axle straight out ar bend it.

I have Michelin tyres on mine, stopped on a hill to have a bit of fun and it just span, put it into low range and give it some, voila!!! Dont think the locals asleep were to pleased with the V8 roar at 2330 hours, ha ha, i was.

I have standard alloys with cheap Nankong hongwong cheapies on, I thought they would be rubbish but was suprise how well they do in snow !
Whatever you do dont tow from the axle, they aint up to it, go for the towing eye or chasis member....

Thanks for the comments... when he said it, I had images of applying a burst of throttle, and the chassis departing with the back axle left behind!!

Took my old girl Rosie ( 97 4.6 HSE) out for a spin today looking for some fun and found a steep one lane track covered in sheet ice so up we went in high box nice and steady thought I might at least have to stop and use the low box but no bit disappointed actually. Got up to the main road and went round the loop to give it a second go, when I got to the bottom there was a guy in Mitsubishi spinning round in circles. I stopped and another guy came over and said you will never get up there mate we have tried in a freelander, jeep and an X5 with no luck. Did it again then went home as happy as a pig in ****!!:hysterically_laughi

My X5 passed a stuck Freelander and Range Rover and a crashed Nissan Navarra or suchlike, on the way back to the Midlands from Norfolk Friday. Its not the car that has everything to do with getting about in difficult terrain - its the driving experience of whoever is behind the wheel, the tyres AND the car - all three. While my X5 is not designed or intended for extensive OFF roading, it is certainly as capable as my Rangie ON road, depending on whether the tyres are appropriate or not - many, if not most, X5 owners have huge big low profile alloys of 19" and more with very wide Michelin Diamaris tyres- NOT going to work in snow and ice however hard you try!! I have the rare opportunity to drive and own both of these fine cars, both of which are very capable if driven correctly and the X5 is a far better ON road experience than the Rangie, however much I love the old girl!!! Rangie comes into her own off road and will always outperform the X5 in those circumstances.

I think that's the point: you get 4x4s and you get off-roaders. Off-roaders are usually also 4x4s. The Q7, the X5, the Cayenne are 4x4s. They are not off-roaders. In fact, I could be wrong but I don't think the rims on Cayenne will even take an off-road tread (recall it being said on TG) and I think the same is true for the Q7.

Never driven an X5 so couldn't compare the on-road performance, but would be surprised if it wasn't at least as good as the Rangie. After all, the on-road is the easy bit.

Problem with an X5 is that it's a BMW. Say no more.

Forgot to mention guys my everyday car is a new 5 series BMW now that really is like dancing on ice. The old rangie has standard road tyres and I am not an experienced off roader but I was still proud of her she really looked after me.:cheer2:

BigJock2005 said:

Never driven an X5 so couldn't compare the on-road performance, but would be surprised if it wasn't at least as good as the Rangie. After all, the on-road is the easy bit.

Problem with an X5 is that it's a BMW. Say no more.

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I don't think on road is "easy" in extreme weather conditions - people have died across the country in accidents in the "easy" onroad conditions we currently are experiencing !!! There have also been scores of accidents in these "easy conditions"!!. Most people have cars to drive on the road network - they don't tend to want to travel across fields and into rivers!! However, the additional capabilities of 4x4s / offroaders whatever you want to call them, along with appropriate tyres and driving experience, can only make for safer driving in extreme weather.

There is no "problem" with an X5- I'm very happy its a BMW, thank you. Problem with Range Rover is its a Land Rover product - end of! Their legendary "quality control" has left many a driver stranded at the roadside and has led to forums like this one, where enthusiasts and owners can collectively share info and solutions to problems which should never have left the factory!!!

The finish and quality of the X5 is much better than any Land Rover product - I have owned a Land Rover in one guise or another for over 10 years now and still have a beloved P38 - and the X5 is a million times more comfortable, better finished both interior wise and body work wise, and a far superior drive.

X5s also have the best residuals of all the 4x4s - far better than any Range Rover. I don't think its particularly clever to "knock" any other marque - if they were all such complete rubbish, no-one would drive them. Every vehicle has its flaws; the perfect one is yet to happen!!!

Without actually driving an X5, I don't think anyone can actually comment with any accuracy on its performance or drive quality...:doh:

My Rangie has always been a sterling performer for me, but there are very well-known issues regarding the drive quality and many other things!!. I'm very happy to move on into the 21st Century with a different car, which is in many ways just as capable in difficult road conditions as the old girl and I don't see the need to rubbish other makes or models of car either - its puerile, unnecessary and intolerant.:behindsofa: :doh:

billybuilder said:

Forgot to mention guys my everyday car is a new 5 series BMW now that really is like dancing on ice. The old rangie has standard road tyres and I am not an experienced off roader but I was still proud of her she really looked after me.:cheer2:

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Absolutely - the 5 series on standard tyres is never going to provide the same perfomance on the those tyres in extreme weather! You effectively have a sledge under you in a performance vehicle with wide lo profiles...but if you changed over to winter tyres as drivers have to do in some of the EU countries, you would have a much nicer and safer driving experience in these conditions....there are numerous threads on the BMW forums about the huge improvement on winter tyres for all their performance cars. Winter tyres are not just for 4x4s!!

Range Rovers have solid capabilities in bad driving conditions although there are limitations due to design as well. I've travelled many thousands of miles in mine and felt very secure when driving conditions were less than desirable. The X5 has likewise been a superb performer in this weather so far and has dealt with all the same conditions as the Rangie without a problem.

rangiegal said:

Absolutely - the 5 series on standard tyres is never going to provide the same perfomance on the those tyres in extreme weather! You effectively have a sledge under you in a performance vehicle with wide lo profiles...but if you changed over to winter tyres as drivers have to do in some of the EU countries, you would have a much nicer and safer driving experience in these conditions....there are numerous threads on the BMW forums about the huge improvement on winter tyres for all their performance cars. Winter tyres are not just for 4x4s!!

Range Rovers have solid capabilities in bad driving conditions although there are limitations due to design as well. I've travelled many thousands of miles in mine and felt very secure when driving conditions were less than desirable. The X5 has likewise been a superb performer in this weather so far and has dealt with all the same conditions as the Rangie without a problem.

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Can't agree with you about BMW, outrageously expensive parts and service and on the one I had **** poor quality. Used to have to take 5 litres of oil with me to go from Brighton to Birmingham. BMW reckoned that was "Normal" and would improve as "things bedded in" Needless to say, it only got worse. Also had a hard jiggly ride and rock hard seats.

Haha... If terms like "residuals" "reliability" and "quality" have any importance to you, I'd stay well off a Land Rover!

I've only had one beamer... a 635CSi... Lovely motor, but eventually it passed away from multiple organ failure.

I thoroughly enjoy knocking other marques, it makes life more interesting! I stand by what I said, it's a BMW. Expect to find one 3 inches of your rear bumper, turning left at the first exit on a roundabout from the RH lane, blocking a box junction, parking on the pavement, or ferrying 5 drug dealers to collect their next stash.

All of the above will be using their mobile phone of course.

;-) ;-) ;-)

Jock

My uncle has just successfully rejected a 3 month old top of the range 7 series (60k's worth) for multiple failures.

We tried an X5 before the Rangie. I thought is was ok, the Mrs flatly refused it because the ride was too hard (not a sport model and not big tyres).

Datatek said:

BMW reckoned that was "Normal" and would improve as "things bedded in" Needless to say, it only got worse.

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My 3 series was the same, BMW's quoted allowable oil use figures are horrendous, which oil company do they have a major holding in to believe that that's acceptable!

BigJock2005 said:

Haha... If terms like "residuals" "reliability" and "quality" have any importance to you, I'd stay well off a Land Rover!

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No other marques prices platau out at a consistent level regardless of age like a LR, quality sells and holds it's value. As with any car, treatment and maintenence play a major part in reliabilty, I'd like to see a Bimmer just keep on going after getting the treatment most of our LR's get! In respect to quality see previous comments!!

BigJock2005 said:

I thoroughly enjoy knocking other marques, it makes life more interesting! I stand by what I said, it's a BMW. Expect to find one 3 inches of your rear bumper, turning left at the first exit on a roundabout from the RH lane, blocking a box junction, parking on the pavement, or ferrying 5 drug dealers to collect their next stash.

All of the above will be using their mobile phone of course.

;-) ;-) ;-)

Jock

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You should try to get a life!! So I'm a drug dealer then am I, or some other kind of criminal because I dare to drive a BMW (or whatever else your bigoted opinion construes as the "wrong" car???) I bet you have not got a shred of evidence to support your astonishingly bigoted opinions and allegations - if you have, then produce it!!


Only a complete tosser would claim that all BMWs /(or any other marque you hate for spurious reasons) are exclusively driven badly or by criminals. As it so happens, the archetypal drug dealers car is usually portrayed as a Range Rover with its blinged up 24" wheels (don't forget the spinners) and blacked out windows, but in reality could be any other car.


To all those whose views are utterly bigoted and invariably inaccurate :multiply:

Oh by the way, most BMWs now have Bluetooth phone provision, so their drivers don't have to use hand held mobiles......

Anyhow I eagerly await your proof that I am a criminal, a drug dealer or a reckless and irresponsible driver, just because I drive a BMW......no doubt my professional registration authority (the General Medical Council) would like to know too.....its far more likely, in my opinion, that your description of the bad behaviour you describe is just a projection of your own behaviour......

fortgrange said:

My uncle has just successfully rejected a 3 month old top of the range 7 series (60k's worth) for multiple failures.

We tried an X5 before the Rangie. I thought is was ok, the Mrs flatly refused it because the ride was too hard (not a sport model and not big tyres).

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I've seen a brand new Rangie burn out on the motorway verge as a result of poor build quality and electrical failure, but it doesn't mean that every representative of the marque is a dire failure....same with any car, part of the joys of motoring.

I've changed the P38 for the X5 due to the appallingly uncomfortable Range Rover seats (despite the nice leather and the electric controls) and the hard ride - it also used to wallow around corners until upgrading the shocks for Konis. Not to mention the tramlining and understeer....

Different strokes, I guess. We find the X5 incredibly comfortable and a superb drive - at the end of a six hour drive cross country you arrive feeling relaxed, not as if you've just run next to the car for the last 50 miles like the P38. But the P38 is great offroad and I enjoy mine for that reason so haven't sold her yet......she cost a relative fortune to maintain by the way, no-one is likely to maintain what was an expensive car, be it a BMW, Rnagie or any other, correctly for Fiesta money.......

Datatek said:

Can't agree with you about BMW, outrageously expensive parts and service and on the one I had **** poor quality. Used to have to take 5 litres of oil with me to go from Brighton to Birmingham. BMW reckoned that was "Normal" and would improve as "things bedded in" Needless to say, it only got worse. Also had a hard jiggly ride and rock hard seats.

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We all have different experiences, I guess - BMW certainly sell large numbers of their 3,5 and 7 series, not to mention the sports, special models and X- series, so if they were all so dreadful, no-one would want them or keep them. The ride quality of my X is firm , not hard or jiggly, road holding superb, and seats soft but supportive and the reason why I changed from the p38 as my primary vehicle in the first place - the Rangie seat was incredibly uncomfortable and unsupportive, despite being upholstered in nice leather.....

If we all liked exactly the same thing, then there would only be place for one car company in the world