What do you know about Land Rovers? (Updated with a pic of new ride)

Land Rover, like Jaguar, were part of the British Leyland group that finished up as the Rover group after Ford bought LR and Jag. The British motor industry was a mess with bad management and lousy industrial relations and a lousy workforce in general. Land Rover have been in just about every part of the world, and are probably the best of the British. Ford finally sold them (and Jaguar) to the Tata company of India, which is the world's fourth largest truck manufacturer, and the world's second largest bus manufacturer, as well as being a significant producer of cars.

They have had financial problems over the last year or so, but who hasn't.

I drive an older Discovery. Not up to the standard you guys might want, but it gets me around.
 
It has a reputation for ruggedness, but at that price......I wouldn't take it near thewoods!!! I drive light off-road out on woodsroads and farm field roads.....all year long. Snow and ice in winter,mud in spring, dusty in summer, wet and muddy in fall. (That means fairly rough dirt roads, but by no means heavy duty!) I have had mostly American (Ford and Chevy) 2WD pick-ups, plus one Toyota 4x4 Tacoma. One thing to remember. If you take it off road, you will damage it. Bumps, dings, broken tail lights, scatches from brush, etc..... The cost of parts is a serious consideration, as well as availablility.

The Land Rover is expensive for parts (when you can get them) and service. It may require shipment from England. (which may take months) Finding competent service will be difficult. (Joe down the street, hasn't got a clue)

Remember....an exclusive car requires exclusive parts and service. Buying it is one thing......Affording to own it....... can be more expensive in the long run. If you've got the bucks......by all means, get one.

Even though I have a comfortable existence, I don't kid myself into thinking that....I'm sumpthin' special. That's why I stick with the more common Ford or Chevy. (The Toyota didn't work out so well.) Bob
 
sigp220.45-
Don't be scared off by the naysayers. Parts are readily avaiable, as is service, you're looking at an '06, not a '66. In addition to your dealer, there are numerous LR parts houses that have been around for years and have comprehensive web sites with every part you can imagine available here in the states. I have yet to order anything from England for my 2000. Besides, an '06 with under 30k on it should have a good chunk of factory warranty left on it.

I'm off road with mine every day. Sure the paint has suffered, but that's how I use my vehicles. I've had no other problems than scratched paint for all of the time in the woods and on the shore.

Drive the car, give it a good look over, take to the local LR dealer to have it checked if there's one nearby, and buy it if you like it. They're great vehicles and the majority of LR owners will tell you so. However, it's apparent that people that have never owned one have plenty of issues with them, you should take their advice with a grain of salt.
 
Land rovers dont look like, handle like, nor get outta the way like Mustangs ... so I dont like em :p
 
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I had to drive a 500 mile round trip this past weekend, I took Rover because it has the best road manners, visability, room for stuff, and seating comfort of all my vehicles (don't ask, I am a car guy). And, I saw 2 late model mustangs getting the blue light special on the side of the road. Guess they "never saw it coming".

They handle better than most folks can believe, if you haven't driven one (tires MUST be inflated to specs) you gotta try one.
 
Get it. Don't be afraid to put some BFG All-Terrain TA's on it and take it off-road.

If you don't use it it will go bad. This is not a safe queen. Just like a gun, it was meant to be used off-road.
 
I love my SIII (license WRMBEER), though that is not the topic of discussion here. My kids learned to drive on it and how to do some car repairs. Unfortunately it now needs a clutch, a major surgical procedure that I have not yet faced. Have had some very memorable trips w/ the Land Rover club, but you need to be pretty self-sufficient and prepared to make repairs on the Series models. All parts are available. The curious might want to visit the Atlantic British website. Good luck. My friends w/ LR3s have been happy w/ them.
 
For 2 years in a row, several years ago, JD Powers & Assoc. listed the Land Rover as the WORST vehicle in America in initial quality.

You have to work really hard at producing a bad car/truck to achieve that rating.

Consumer's Reports list them as used vehicles to avoid, and the 2005 and 2006 are listed as 'much worse than average' in reliability.

Areas that were worse than average, or much worse than average, in 2005 and 2006 are: drive system, fuel system, climate system, suspension, brakes, engine cooling, paint/trim, body integrity, body hardware, power equipment, and audio system.

Wow: looks like they are real TROUBLE.

With so many SUV's on the market, you can do MUCH BETTER for the same amount of money.

ANYTHING made or engineered in Japan will be VASTLY superior in reliability.
 
goldenlight said:
For 2 years in a row, several years ago, JD Powers & Assoc. listed the Land Rover as the WORST vehicle in America in initial quality.

You have to work really hard at producing a bad car/truck to achieve that rating.

Consumer's Reports list them as used vehicles to avoid, and the 2005 and 2006 are listed as 'much worse than average' in reliability.

Areas that were worse than average, or much worse than average, in 2005 and 2006 are: drive system, fuel system, climate system, suspension, brakes, engine cooling, paint/trim, body integrity, body hardware, power equipment, and audio system.

Wow: looks like they are real TROUBLE.

With so many SUV's on the market, you can do MUCH BETTER for the same amount of money.

ANYTHING made or engineered in Japan will be VASTLY superior in reliability.
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What year model LR do you own? What specific problems have you experienced?
 
I'm still considering it.

As far as it not being made in the USA, my "American Made" Uplander was made in Mexico, and the "Made in America" Suburban I traded in on it was made in Canada. I think I'd rather support the Brits.

If I get it it will be used off road, since my oldest is taking my F-150 with him to college. Its either use this or not go hunting - not an option.

I drove it yesterday and liked the way it handled. My main concern is a lack of a Land Rover dealership here in my little town for repairs. The closest one is likely to be in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, three hours away.

Thanks for all the input - keep it coming. And thanks for the good wishes, Barb. My wife is still sore but feeling better.
 
sigp220.45 said:
I'm still considering it.

As far as it not being made in the USA, my "American Made" Uplander was made in Mexico, and the "Made in America" Suburban I traded in on it was made in Canada. I think I'd rather support the Brits.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. The Brit's are our loyal allies. What puts a bug up my butt is seeing all these younger people driving Mitsubishi's. They have no idea Mitsubishi made the Japanese Zero's that attacked Pearl Harbor and killed over 2400 American's that December 7th. Good luck with the Land Rover. Good luck hunting too!
 
Japanese buddy of mine, ex NYC, retired to the Big Island, HI, very rural area, and maintains his late '70s model LR which he bought new way back then. He gets parts by mail order and does the work himself. He's a tuna buyer by trade, but a handy guy. He loves the car.

Me, after going through an Italian Lancia, which broke down constantly and overheated in traffice, and a couple of BMWs, nice cars but expensive to service, I drive a Lexus/Toyota SUV. I don't know how to maintain cars on my own.

My thought is that if you know how to maintain cars, replace parts and such, and like the car, go for it!
 
Q: What do I know about "Land Rovers"?
A: They cost alot of money, they do not have a good reliability record.
 
Don't walk, run away. If you want tough, get an older Montero. They're on the news in every 3rd and 4th world country.
 
It's been a few years since the Brit's owned Range Rover, Tata has owned them a couple of model years now. And I'm no expert, but Range Rovers and Land Rovers are slightly different models in different price ranges. Rover has gone through what Jeep went through, with each owner installing their engines, the early ones actually used a GM designed V6 (purchased under license agreement) once used in Jeeps as well. then Fords and BMW's. So when you look up reliability reports it's hard to compare them. Have you checked insurance rates as well? They are scare in salvage yards, so most all parts will be new. I'm not sure how long Tata will produce parts for the older models they did not have a hand in producing.
 
The Land Rover the popular family vehicle all the world over!

land-rover.jpg


land-rover-nation-1.jpg
 
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