I have not been on here for a while since my P38 expired after ten years of trusty service. However I now want another Range Rover for no more than £5.5k. No blacked out windows or something that looks like its doing something naughty in the suburbs. Diesel and nothing complicated. What should I look for and buy?
Thinking of Buying 2003-2009 Diesel Range Rover
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The term Oxymoron comes to mind ......
The only RR which fufills these two criteria would be the 2.4 VM engined classic...
Getting one of them within your budget =
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The term Oxymoron comes to mind ......
The only RR which fufills these two criteria would be the 2.4 VM engined classic...
Getting one of them within your budget =
He said 2003 -2009
RangeRoller dt
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The trick will be finding a good example of whatever you choose.
Whatever it is at that age will need some sort of attention so keep back some of the budget for repairs and take into consideration when assessing the vehicle. You've had a DSE so youd know what to expect from a 3.0L TDi as its pretty much the same engine modernised with similar mpg. L322 are bit more picky but interior and looks are years ahead of the P38, problem with them is the gearboxes are crap but you can budget that in.
Whatever it is at that age will need some sort of attention so keep back some of the budget for repairs and take into consideration when assessing the vehicle. You've had a DSE so youd know what to expect from a 3.0L TDi as its pretty much the same engine modernised with similar mpg. L322 are bit more picky but interior and looks are years ahead of the P38, problem with them is the gearboxes are crap but you can budget that in.
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The bit I'm struggling with is the "nothing complicated" ask, I guess it depends how technically minded you are. So far I have been able to sort most of the issues I inherited myself and with the aid of others on here but I'm sure at some point that will change.
Henry_b
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As said a 2.4VM RRC if you want simplicity, but they're near impossible to find now.
A P38 is a more reasonable ask at your budget, you'll either get a tired TD6 or half a TDV8 for that budget
A P38 is a more reasonable ask at your budget, you'll either get a tired TD6 or half a TDV8 for that budget
gold rover
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Nothing complicated rules out the L322. £5.5k budget is about £4k real and £1.5k for anything not too expensive that might pop up. Which leads to pre 2006.
I've just looked on autotrader and there are only 6 with mileage under 200,000. There may be others on other sites but autotrader is a good guage.
As others have said your budget will get you a decent P38 or a ropey L322. Other option is up the budget and get a post 2006 L322, but they are still complicated beasties.
I've just looked on autotrader and there are only 6 with mileage under 200,000. There may be others on other sites but autotrader is a good guage.
As others have said your budget will get you a decent P38 or a ropey L322. Other option is up the budget and get a post 2006 L322, but they are still complicated beasties.
Datatek
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For your budget, you can get a dog of an L322 that will empty your wallet PDQ, or a good P38 that will empty your wallet at a very much slower rate unless you buy a V8.
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I'm on with that, 38' any day!
I have owned three Range Rovers over the last 30 years. First was a two door which had the dropped doors because of the hinges, plastic interior rusted tailgate and a roof that someone had sat on. That was an easy replacement as it was bolted on. Then came a classic and followed by a P38.
When that expired I posted on here about buying a newer RR but everyone put me off so I currently drive a 2008 diesel X type estate which has cost next to nothing in repairs.
I expect any diesel RR engine to run forever and the airbags will need replacing but what else can go wrong? There must be a lot of happy RR owners who just use it as a FWD country car.
When that expired I posted on here about buying a newer RR but everyone put me off so I currently drive a 2008 diesel X type estate which has cost next to nothing in repairs.
I expect any diesel RR engine to run forever and the airbags will need replacing but what else can go wrong? There must be a lot of happy RR owners who just use it as a FWD country car.
Henry_b
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Oh no no no no no no..
Not all diesel engines last forever especially modern units, in most cases a good modern petrol will run rings around a modern diesel any day, just because the emissions kit and fuel system is just far too complex for its own good.
In the L322's case the TDv8 in 3.6 form has turbo issues, EGR issues, headgasket issues plus a raft of other technicalities.
The L322, almost everything between the front/rear bumper will cause grief, the P38 much less so and the classic well, will fizzle but is generally the most "reliable"
RangeRoller dt
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Batteries, gearbox, transfer, ball joints, sus arms and bushes, EAS/HDC, front diffs, water ingress, immobiliser, cranks common on some models.
on a good one anyway
on a good one anyway
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IMO there are lots of happy RR owners (me for one) but, in a car with lots and lots of complex ecu's and fibreoptic's things will go wrong, especially in a 10 to 15 year old car.
So far I have been fairly lucky in that I have been able to fix the issues myself and with the help from other members on here, with the exception of the gearbox and torque converter replacement.
And while lots of people say the TD6 gearbox is crap mine has been fine since the rebuild at 104k miles (now on 125k). IMO this is probably because I don't tow anything, and I don't thrash it (very often
).If you can do your own spannering or are happy to donate your hard earned cash to a garage when things do go wrong then you too could be a happy owner.
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When ever I hear that I cringe as there is usually a hit list with repairs to follow. Unless it's driven once a year...
I will say and say to everyone who asks me about range rovers, the last proper built and none economically built range was the 38'.. And I know we have some nice examples owned by some dedicated owners... My pennies worth... Donkeys are the next big thing...
gold rover
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I'm still wondering what classes as "FWD country car".
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"Fun With Donkeys"
