The Rover-Landers of BC

Welcome!

There was a post recently about the same topic. We don't always agree on things, and you'll get any number of suggestions, but you should be able to dig through the BS and get some real opinions by perusing the postings here.

Check this one out first:

http://www.roverlanders.bc.ca/roverforu ... php?t=3894

cheers, Dave

Personally, I would steer clear of the 1997 to 2002 Range Rover, also known as a P38a. They had a similar drivetrain to the Discovery and to earlier Range Rovers but that's where the similarity ends. The air suspension is prone to problems (also is with older Range Rovers and Discoveries), and the electronics are known to drain your wallet faster than a 3" hole in your back pocket — especially on the early years of that model, 1997-1999. Although they're lovely to drive, and look great, I'm sure you'll get a couple of the guys that own them confirming that they're not cheap to maintain.

I still would recommend a well kept 1998 or early 99 Discovery as your best all round modern Rover. I have a late 99, a Discovery Series II, and while I've been extremely happy with it, and it's taken me everywhere, it is a little more complicated electronically with little added benefit, and it also has a longer overhang at the rear which does get in the way regularly while off-roading.

Dave

Can't vouch for the disco's but yea ... 2000 Range Rover 4.6 Rhino Edition (Bosch) - $19K purchase, $11000 (not a typo) in repairs, parts and maintenance over almost 3 years. It's also known as the "full meal deal" and it still needs some stuff replaced. When it's all said and done (another $5000) I should have a newish running truck.

The 2003-2005 Bmw engines are not much better and it wouldn't surprise me if the brand new ones now have the same or similar problems in a couple years.

Numbers aside, I got out of a snowdrift that I got stuck in and couldn't go forward or reverse with a push of the air-suspension button. :D

More awesome info on Rangies of all years here:
http://www.rangerovers.net/

I have been looking for a Range Rover classic for a few months now, also in the $5000 range. 1990-1994 ish age.

I have been a Landy owner for the last 5 years so I know roughly what I am getting into. But even then I have not been able to find a decent truck yet in that price range.

I am looking for an unmolested, rust free truck. They are out there, but so far I haven't found one that I would buy. The few I have looked into have been great looking on the web, but up close they looked like they would quickly become money pits.

So I don't want to discourage you, you can get a good truck at that price if you keep looking, but dont expect a $2000 truck from Craigs List to spend much time outside the workshop for the first few years I think.

Ray

Hi Andrew

Personally I have had three Range Rover classics and a Disco 2. All three of my RRCs were 1988 models and I favour that year as I find they have simiple electronics, a great ride, nice visibility and lots of off-road capability. It is getting hard to find those trucks in really good shape as they are getting pretty long in the tooth and sometimes parts are a little tough to get. If you shop wisely $2000 would probably get you a decent RRC of that vintage but you need to be a careful shopper as they are prone to structural rust, weak head gaskets and leaky steering (all of which can be expensive or at least annoying to repair).

My current driver is a 2001 Disco 2 SD. It's a base model so no sunroofs and not too many frills. Frankly, after putting on a set of more agressive tires and a little initial mechanical work I have found over the past year that I really like the D2. I used it for an all around driver, go to work, shopping, the usual around town stuff but also lots of highway runs and some heavier duty stuff like hauling a flatbed trailer (I towed a VW Rabbit on a UHaul trailer 4500lbs total over the Malahat recently with no trouble) and though I wouldn't try going on long trips or very fast with it with a really heavy load I have moved my 25 foot boat and trailer (figure 6500lbs) without trouble. I am not afraid to take it off road as well. While I am not claiming it is as good as some of the trail-prepped rovers out there it is still pretty good and keeps up with the rest of them for they type of wheeling I do (logging roads, trails, the occassional mud pit) and in the heavy snows we had last December it was unstoppable unless I wanted to stop and then the ABS worked flawlessly.

The other nice thing about the D2s is that they seem to be popular with the soccer mom crowd (that's where I got mine) so they are often reasonably well maintained and don't get much abuse (I don't think mine was ever in lo range 4X4 until I got it.... had to spend some time loosening-up the shifter at first).

I do know one fellow here on the island who regularly drives a P38 rover including some light off-roading. It cost him a pretty penny to get the rig up and running correctly but it is a sweet ride and watching the air suspension working correctly off-road was a thing of beauty!

Good luck in your search, Rob
Ladysmith

Firstly, I don't mean to discourage.
I just don't think your budget is realistic for the vehicle you want. Also what do you want it for? Weekends, outings, offroading, camping (One of THE BEST camping trucks, BTW) or daily commuting, etc.? I get about 14.4 mpg and I spend about $400 -$500 a month on fuel. I commute everyday about 1.5 hrs. round trip. I also travel to Abbotsford twice a week at least, 2 hr round trip. Just the driving is exhausting.

But honestly the only thing on that list I have replaced is the air-ride and I didn't put coils on - $1200 for the whole rebuild.

Some other small things that I have replaced (not including labour):

-belts $75
-rad expansion tank $100
-UJ's $50-$100 ea. (4 req.)
-good ole fuel pump $367-$622 usd. (depending on vin #)
-wheel bearing hub assembly $372 usd (4 req eventually)
-rad top hose $150
-Brakes $150 genuine (4 req.)
-battery $100
-tires $variable
-SAI pipe $300 (2 req.)
-a few dash lights here and there.

$2400 for a head gasket incl. labour. Any thing more than a head gasket and you are right, better off with a new block.

Needed to be done to my truck:
-muffler $300
-iac valve, i think? $167
-throttle body heater $?
-clock :) $80
-heated windshield $200 w/glass insur. ($1200 w/o)

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_ima ... _large.jpg

shop wisely and do your homework, you will be very happy with one of these.
Eric

You get used to the MPH its not so bad at all. The local ones are $7500 plus right now and probably need some work still.

If you are going to seriously look at one, see if you can get a knowledgable club member to tag along...

:D I know a exceptional technician too.

Meh, its a $400 part, I think ... and a pain to install. Some are covered under warranty from what I recall.

http://www.rangerovers.net Should answer most, if not all your questions.

did it run nice? where abouts?
Eric

Just got this one in as an email. Don't know if it's legit or not, but might be worth following up...

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To whom it may concern,

My name is Jared Bullock. I own a 1997 range rover 4.6 red vitesse edition. The research i have done tells me it is a very rare rover but not much else. I was wondering if you knew anything about it? I have had many people ask to buy it but have no idea what a fair price would be to ask for it. It has 165,000 miles on it and i love it to death but am starting a family and my wife wants me to get something more fuel efficient and easier to maintain. If you can help please email me at [email protected]. Thank you.

Jared Bullock

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Don't email me about it as I have no more details.

thanks, Dave