Hi All

I am planning to buy a Range Rover and thought I'd sign up here and get some advise from all you nice people.

I have a budget that can stretch to 30k for the right car. I'd ideally like a diesel. I have been looking around and am still slightly confused about which one to buy.

It appears that I can have a late P38 for around 15-17k. However the diesels are meant to be very show and underpowered which make the petrol ones the only real option.

Since I have the budget, I could also opt for the new Rangie (02 onwards). In fact I have seen a 03 3.0 TDV6 HSE with 36k on the clock for around 30k at a land rover garage.

In your opinions, would it be better to spend the money getting the newer one or save the money, get an older P38 and use the saving to fund repairs and petrol?

All opinions and advise is welcome.

PS - I am based in Beds, so any local garages etc would be useful to know.

If you can afford £30k, get the L322! There is absolutely no comparison between the two.

P38's are loosing money FAST, the L322 is pretty hefty on depreciation (but what big car isn't?!) 'tho nowhere like as much as the P38 right now. Speaking of which, if you want it to retain any value, get the diesel. The modern diesels are 10 times better than the older ones. Obviously if you don't care about running costs then the V8's are the ones to go for in terms of refinement and turn of speed, but that is the only area they are better in.

Make sure you get a decent warranty with it - the main problems with the L322 seem to include broken front diffs and gearboxes - neither being cheap to fix - make sure the warranty covers the length of the time you plan to own the vehicle.

Lots of problems with the older 4.0 and 4.6 V8's on the P38's - requiring the block to be replaced in many cases.

Matt

Thanks for your reply.

I have been advised the same by another P38 owner who I know quite well. Obviously running costs and mainly breakdown protection is a concern area for me, thus the diesel.

This is where I hope that the wealth of knowledge and experience of forum members will be useful.

Currently the main dealer prices for L322's are about 2-3k over private sale prices. Anything older than a late 03 plate is out of warranty on a private sale which I feel is a bit of a risk given than the early L322's are the most likely to have problems. Used cars sold by main dealers come with a years unlimited mileage warranty and recovery so would provide some safety net.

Would you recommend buying from a main dealer or is a private purchase backed up with a warranty the better (and cheaper) option?

Thanks

Would you recommend buying from a main dealer or is a private purchase backed up with a warranty the better (and cheaper) option?

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Despite my distaste for LR main dealers, I (personally) wouldn't even consider buying an L322 on a private sale. If you do, get a LR specialist to check it over and make sure all is ok, and then get a warranty - you can get them online, but check for their exclusions and their specific requirements for servicing, which often exceed the manufacturers own recomendations.

An extended official LR warranty I would say is the best way to go. If you can find an L322 at a LR specialist that would be better than private and obviously cheaper than main dealer, but the majority of them are still in the dealer network.

I have to say that the majority of LR dealerships are terrible, but I have used the one near Heathrow (Ashford) to buy a new vehicle and service my older Disco, and they were pretty good. Although now I look I think they have changed hands since I used them, so if they are as good now I'm not sure!

Check www.rangerovers.net - lots of useful (if American) information on there about all generations of RR's.

Matt

Have you considered the new Disco at all? The TDV6 in the Disco is a better engine (for a Land Rover) than the TD6 available in the RR, plus you'd be able to get a newer vehicle.

RR TD6 174bhp 390Nm torque 0-60 is 12.6s,
D3 TDV6 187bhp 440Nm torque 0-60 is 11.0s. (same torque as the V8 RR!)

Much as I love RR's, the Disco is a lot more practical in many ways, and has left its agricultural background far behind. Certainly well worth considering against a RR IMO, and likely to retain more value long term.

Matt

I think at the end of the day its a difficult one to advise on, sure people can tell you the pro's and con's of each model and the different engine variants but at the end of the day you need to get yourself in a vehicle and drive it, infact drive as many as you can and as many different types as you can. If your departing with 30K you want to be sure you've got the right one. Your mind is probably telling you diesel is the sensible route but your heart is telling you v8.

Thanks again for your replies

My whole fascination with this 4*4 world started last month when my wife and I rented a Defender in Africa and spent 2 weeks in tht bush. The off roading capabilities and the whole 4*4 driving experience is a lot of fun and has led me to explore buying one.

I have pretty much ruled out all mini-4*4 except the freelander (which I think has character). Among the larger ones, I have ruled out everything except the RR, Disco and the X5.

I have driven the Disco 3 and was amazed by the TDV6 engine. The Rangie is in another league and I had braced myself for the higher running costs (fuel, servicing, insurance, tyres etc). However some research with dealers points to warranty cover costs of around 1500 per year (comparable figures from BMW for the X5 are around 600 per year) which has frankly shocked me to no end. Its one thing parting with 30 grand and another to say that I have to cough up another 1500 per year just to cover me for breakdowns that shouldnt happen in the first place.

Perhaps the Disco isnt going to be quite as expensive and unreliable to run. Then again I might be wrong.

One thing is certain. I am both dissapointed and extremely confused.

As the previous poster said, drive many vehicles as you can and at the end of the day buy what is best for *you*. Although, whatever you do, don't buy an X5!! Much as I love BMW's (I've had 7!) the X5 has little off-road ability if you are at all interested in that, and in my opinion has a poor image because of the type of people who tend to buy them.

Those warranty costs are very high - have you tried the third party companies such as Warranty Direct? You can get instant quotes online from a variety of companies - just make sure they cover everything you need/want them to and don't include any penalising clauses regarding servicing other than following the manufacturers own recommendation.

Personally if I had 30k and wanted a good 4x4 I'd be looking at the best spec 06 plate Disco TDV6 I could find - six months old and still well under manufacturers warranty. You could probably even get one and be able to put aside a few thousand for extending the warranty later on. (Actually, I would really get a Defender, but that's not the type of thing you are looking for so I discounted that!)

Matt

However the Disco does not quite have the effect of a Range Rover not even the new disco3. If you can afford a Range Rover then you are in a class that no other vehicle can come close to. However it is your descision at the end of the day. Good luck with your new car whatever it may be.

Well, that is indeed true. I have to admit buying my P38 for largely that reason (aside from a huge love for anything LR) The RR was a vehicle I had always wanted. However, my next LR will be a Disco not a RR!

Matt