My First Range Rover - Advice Please

I have recently decided to join all you in the wise and purchase a Range Rover. Budget wise I'm looking at something from the late 90's (97-01ish). Tax, insurance and running cost are pushing me towards the smaller diesel engines

Can someone explain the difference between model (DSE, DHSE, DT, etc) for me

Any particular bits of advice are greatly appreciated or things to watch out for

Are the diesels really that slow?
Air suspension problems/ Changing to coils?
Common problems after mileage?

What would be my best buy?

Cheers

Not sure what the difference between the DSE, DHSE, DT is, there all straight 6 2.5L turbo diesels, think its just trim banter.
For me the diesels are plenty quick enough, once the turbo kicks in, which is quite early.

What are you mainly using it for, on or off road, I'm assuming mainly on. Air suspension is fine as long as your prepared to maintain it. Main thing that goes with air suspension, are the air bags, there about £80+ each to buy (for the classic, I assume there a similar price for a P38).

Watch for dodgy electrics. Early P38's are a nightmare for electrical problems. Any warning lights on the dash probably suggests a rats-nest of wiring problems.

I'm sure someone will come along soon with some more detailed info, in the mean time, check out this site: - Index of Range Rover Mechanical Information

ronosull said:

I have recently decided to join all you in the wise and purchase a Range Rover. Budget wise I'm looking at something from the late 90's (97-01ish). Tax, insurance and running cost are pushing me towards the smaller diesel engines

Can someone explain the difference between model (DSE, DHSE, DT, etc) for me

Any particular bits of advice are greatly appreciated or things to watch out for

Are the diesels really that slow?
Air suspension problems/ Changing to coils?
Common problems after mileage?

What would be my best buy?

Cheers

Click to expand...

DT is the lowest spec diesel model, usually has cloth seats, no a/c, no cruise, no headlamp wash/wipe (you can easily spot a DT this way), no wood cappings on the door cards etc etc. When these appear on eBay they appear to usually have been abused off-road or used promarily for towing etc etc.

DSE is the next spec up. Has leather nearly 100% of the time. Has A/C. Then it can kind of skew off, you could find one like mine which was a special order one so I have the door cards with wood cappings, the Harmon Kardon sound system, Electric Seats etc etc.

Or more commonly you can find them with manual seats, no wood cappings on doors, all sorts of things really.

If you can stretch to it go for a DHSE, these have all the options and luxuries of a petrol HSE but they wern't introduced until later, from 99 onwards IIRC so they are more expensive.

However, just to add a final thing to the mix, it seems the later DT's just had lots of nice extras thrown in anyway as LR were coming to the end of P38 production, as shown in this eBay link...

2001 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER COUNTY AUTO BLUE on eBay, also, Land Rover Range Rover, Cars, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 14-Mar-08 12:14:47 GMT)

Its a DT but with lots of non-DT things like A/C, 18 inch wheels, HK sound system etc etc.

You will have to have a good search round and go and look at a few before you settle on one. Have a search through the forum to see info about buying, things to watch out for etc, I and others have typed this stuff out many times before

Good luck

-Wills

Cheers thanks for the advice.