How the mighty fall!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Irrespective of how they look, what are they like as a general car and an off road car? I assume they are better than most other manufacturers offerings in both leagues?

 

Big luxurious heated seats, good visibility, great stereo, heated screen and washer jets.

Diesels are economical-ish and quick enough if chipped, V8s are fast but thristy. Lpg is a good compromise if its sold in your area.

They are awesome off-road in the way that all Range Rovers are, later ones have traction control on all four wheels but even without they'll go where you point them, proper tyres help though.

 

Maintenance wise, they are voltage sensitive so a new battery and/or alternator will cure most electrical issues.

The air suspension contains a lot of rubber but it can all be rebuilt for about £450 in parts.

Like all LRs it will need suspension bushes and such.

They rust a lot less than classics as well.

 

Hmmm.

 

Against all advice, a Mate bought a 2.5tdi one of these last year. It worked well for 6 weeks and then developed a pull to the right. It could not be cured and it's a common issue apparently. A colleague of his had one and Land Rover spent around £3500 replacing everything trying to get the turd to drive in a straight line. They gave up, bought the car back and auctioned it. Just shit. Avoid.

 

The diesels are utter dogshit - have you ever driven one? They wouldn't pull a greasy stick out of a Dog's arse, do about 22 mpg and they can't be 'chipped' as they use the old Bosch DDE2 system. All you can do it put a bodge resistor in the ECU wiring to raise the pump pressure. Then they blow up. That engine was designed to pull a 3 or 5 Series, not 3 tons of Solihull landfill.

[Pete-M]

I don't rate the 2.5 diesel ones, but that's hardly a surprise. Gutless, noisy and slow.

 

Used to be able to average 23 mpg from 4.6 P38s on a long run. 13-14 in town.

 

L322s vary massively for fuel consumption. The BMW V8 ones I've driven have always been annoyingly thirsty. I can't get more than 12 in town, 18 on a run from one of those. The Jag V8s seem to get closer to 15-24 mpg. TD6s do between 24-30 depending on how much you actually want to get there. TDV8s are quick and smooth enough to almost be justifiable over the petrol ones. I got 20 mpg in town from one, which I thought was pretty bloody good.

 

I'm waiting for the supercharged ones to get cheap. I have to have one of those.

[AnthonyG]

Mercedes M class are very council now, particularly with the chrome bars and running boards. Built in Alabama by hillbillies. Getting a dinosaur to attack and slowly destroy one is the best thing you can do with it!

[messerschmitt owner]

My Transit is £200 a year, while a Tourneo with the same engine is £245.

my 416cdi 4.6 tonner is £165 pa as it is a private HGV! Go figure!!

[scruff]

Comparing 4x4s of the same era, a Land Cruiser 4.2 is a WEAPON compared to a P38, especially a diesel 2.5DT. I know someone who shopped his V8 RR in for one when they were new as he was fed up with the Rangie being in the dealership all the time. The drop in luxo-comfort was worth it for the reliability and it being the boss of anything it towed apparently.

 

I have one of those new Defenders here at the moment - it likes a drink, my Series is much better on fuel.

[scruff]

Yep, and on the same route to-and-fro work. Isn't really a fair comparison as one is a fully loaded double cab and the other a SWB truck cab. Series has RR diffs, overdrive and a Tdi and so will go faster than the 110 with it's speed limiter.

110 is doing about 25mpg which is what LR say in their press bumpf; the (much lighter and 2wd on t'road) Series averages 31 no matter if you are nailing it or driving like a granny.

[scruff]

Hell no! Turned the pump up a bit too. Have spare gearboxes and halfshafts at the ready....

[dollywobbler]

Must admit, I'm feeling the Landy-love at the moment and have my eye on a 90 pick-up 2.5NA that amazingly isn't OMG THOUSUNDS A PAAAOUNDS. Won't be quick, but I do tend to specialise in slow cars...

 

Wonder if there's any metal left in the bulkhead of this thing...

[scruff]

Shouldn't be too much of a slug Ian. A good service does them wonders! It will nicely suit your new lifestyle too, especially with this season's must-have, an Ifor Williams sheep shed