Hi Mark,
I will now put on my tin hat and wait for things to be thrown at me in disgust, BUT I tow with a ford ranger. It is 4x4 and has some of the extras, leather seats, air con and electric windows, and is fine for me. It is also cheaper than many other 4x4's either new or second hand. I use it for my work, and there is loads of space in the back for everything, and your gear cannot join you on the front seat if you have to brake sharpish. all i do to clean the bak out, is park it on the slop of the drive and switch the hose on. OK, now everyone can say... you drive what???
I will now put on my tin hat and wait for things to be thrown at me in disgust, BUT I tow with a ford ranger. It is 4x4 and has some of the extras, leather seats, air con and electric windows, and is fine for me. It is also cheaper than many other 4x4's either new or second hand. I use it for my work, and there is loads of space in the back for everything, and your gear cannot join you on the front seat if you have to brake sharpish. all i do to clean the bak out, is park it on the slop of the drive and switch the hose on. OK, now everyone can say... you drive what???
'You drive what'
The forum has certainly calmed down of late, a 4 x4 thread and no snide remarks from the anti's.
I tow with a Honda CRV its got the best of both worlds. Regular car type two wheel drive when driving on normal roads, self engaging four wheel drive if you get stuck (has come in useful on several occasions now)I find it performs admirably, only down side is a small fuel tank.
The forum has certainly calmed down of late, a 4 x4 thread and no snide remarks from the anti's.
I tow with a Honda CRV its got the best of both worlds. Regular car type two wheel drive when driving on normal roads, self engaging four wheel drive if you get stuck (has come in useful on several occasions now)I find it performs admirably, only down side is a small fuel tank.
)Ken,
which power booster did you fit, and has it made any diferenec to mpg when driving solo/towing or do you use the extra power for no worse mpg?
Cheers
Clive
Personally V Class Mercedes rocks when towing.Leaves Discos for dead. And is more stable with lower C of G. My fave French campsite has more late arrivals due to disco break downs than any other brand car. They even get a huge discount on Land Rovers as they send around 50% of there Disco clients to the local dealers due to them breaking down!
I'm sure I'll get hate mail, but a big people carrier with lower c of g beats a figity 4X4 any day and punches a bigger cleaner hole for the van to follow through!
I'm sure I'll get hate mail, but a big people carrier with lower c of g beats a figity 4X4 any day and punches a bigger cleaner hole for the van to follow through!
I do not doubt the Mercedes is a very fine car in all respects. But any Land Rover has that certain something extra that makes it the only vehicle type to have such an enthusiasts movement.
There are no less than four well subscribed Land Rover based magazines out there and three annual events of which the amazing meeting at Billing is easily the best. No other vehicle type can boast such support. The Top Gear poll last year was won easily by Land Rover.
I am pleased for you that you like your car so much. But you should be aware of the problems that Mercedes had with the G-Wagon! Makes any Land Rover look very good in comparrison.
Finally please do not think of this as "Hate Mail" - I may have a different opinion to you but both are equally valid.
Lets try to keep emotion out of it can we please.
There are no less than four well subscribed Land Rover based magazines out there and three annual events of which the amazing meeting at Billing is easily the best. No other vehicle type can boast such support. The Top Gear poll last year was won easily by Land Rover.
I am pleased for you that you like your car so much. But you should be aware of the problems that Mercedes had with the G-Wagon! Makes any Land Rover look very good in comparrison.
Finally please do not think of this as "Hate Mail" - I may have a different opinion to you but both are equally valid.
Lets try to keep emotion out of it can we please.
- Mar 14, 2005
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If I were virulent, I would say that Land Rover has such a dedicated following because it is so unreliable. Owners need to be able to exchange information with other owners, that's why there are so many magazines and clubs. Probably the real reason, however, is that Land Rovers have been around in one form or another for such a long time. There are just so many of them around. The only other 4x4 which has comparable enthusiastic support is the Jeep Wrangler and the same applies there, too, although, for obvious reasons, it is less popular as a towcar.
I think with those of us that have older vehicles you are absolutely right Lutz. Having been in a SIII where the clutch slave cylinder failed (it was over 20 years old) we were delighted when a guy in a 3 year old Range Rover, turned round, came back, and then towed us to a safer spot and took us to a motor factors to get a spare. One and half hours later after much cursing the last air bubble was out and we continued our journey, coverred in DOT3 (or whatever it was). After hosing out the vehicle we hosed down ourselves.
The Range Rover owner was just as enthusiastic as we were. But if you want to have real FUN - you need an older one.
In my view - the three reasons for LR unreliability are - Lucas, Lucas and Lucas. If only they had bought in Bosch instead. It would be a totally different story.
The Range Rover owner was just as enthusiastic as we were. But if you want to have real FUN - you need an older one.
In my view - the three reasons for LR unreliability are - Lucas, Lucas and Lucas. If only they had bought in Bosch instead. It would be a totally different story.
Personally I cannot understand all the comments about Landrover reliability, maybe I have just been lucky. I have just passed on a Disco 1998 vintage Diesel Auto (the 50th anniversary model) to my oldest son. It has 170k miles on it and has only ever had routine servicing and a water pump. Still going strong and has never broken down.
Right with you there Graham - I would not have kept my RR for a decade and done over 100K miles in it if it kept letting me down.
I think the big problem is just lack of attention to detail at manufacture - thankfully Ford have waved a big stick and things are improving dramatically. What customers (as opposed to enthusiasts) want is a car where the sunroofs do not leak, and if you have side windows in the roof they should not leak either. Then there is the problem of the dash peeling away as soon as the sun shines on it. Not a problem perhaps in the UK but those in sunnier climes found this irksome - even more so the lack of interest by the company in the UK to do anything about it.
As Lutz indicated enthusiasts will live with certain things, but the customers in general will not.
Most of the problems are detail problems. Frustrating when the factory produces probably the most versatile vehicles in the world but throws the creature comfort bits together with string and chewing gum.
BMW put a lot of quality into LR, and Ford will hopefully continue. The threat of taking Land Rovers manufacture to the US actually woke them up at Lode Lane. The US is loosing jobs to China hand over fist. As the US is the biggest market for Land Rover why not build them there if you get better quality and employ a "home" skilled workforce to do it?
Why put more money into something that does not have the ability to produce a quality product?
Hopefully the PAG group will make it work - but it came very close. Those that lost out last time were the Jaguar workers. Lode Lane is on probation.
I think the big problem is just lack of attention to detail at manufacture - thankfully Ford have waved a big stick and things are improving dramatically. What customers (as opposed to enthusiasts) want is a car where the sunroofs do not leak, and if you have side windows in the roof they should not leak either. Then there is the problem of the dash peeling away as soon as the sun shines on it. Not a problem perhaps in the UK but those in sunnier climes found this irksome - even more so the lack of interest by the company in the UK to do anything about it.
As Lutz indicated enthusiasts will live with certain things, but the customers in general will not.
Most of the problems are detail problems. Frustrating when the factory produces probably the most versatile vehicles in the world but throws the creature comfort bits together with string and chewing gum.
BMW put a lot of quality into LR, and Ford will hopefully continue. The threat of taking Land Rovers manufacture to the US actually woke them up at Lode Lane. The US is loosing jobs to China hand over fist. As the US is the biggest market for Land Rover why not build them there if you get better quality and employ a "home" skilled workforce to do it?
Why put more money into something that does not have the ability to produce a quality product?
Hopefully the PAG group will make it work - but it came very close. Those that lost out last time were the Jaguar workers. Lode Lane is on probation.
A friend of mine runs a Hyundai Terracan. I've travelled in it and found it to be great value for money, I think they're around
Hello Mark
All Terrano models are now discontinued and you may find a good deal. However, I don't know whether the resale value will be very good at the time of you selling it on. The Pathfinder has taken the place of the Terrano, but it is a big beast and you will need quite a parking lot to accommodate it!
All Terrano models are now discontinued and you may find a good deal. However, I don't know whether the resale value will be very good at the time of you selling it on. The Pathfinder has taken the place of the Terrano, but it is a big beast and you will need quite a parking lot to accommodate it!
Hi cant beat the Kia Sorento i have the diesel 2.5 ltr engine manual gear and it tows like a dream might be a little high on fuel consumtion but you cant have both very resonably priced as well
I agree entirely. We have owned various Landrovers over the years right from the S11 with a Perkins conversion,to an exmilitary S11A which had 24volt, complete with the radios! We had fantastic fun in those old vehicles. We've since had three Discos...two TDI's and a TD5. Next year, the Series 3. Excellent vehicles....but then we're just biased!!!!!
A friend of mine has a Discovery and found it very economical.......on three trips to North Wales it overheated and broke down on the return trip. Hey presto! The car and van had to be towed back to Manchester on all occasions saving a small fortune in diesel. You've obviously got to offset the cost of RAC membership against it, but he's still up on the deal.
Sounds like he bought a real dog - there are plenty about. One thing any car needs and LR's in particular is regular servicing.
If its a diesel then it is probably the radiator - especially if little or no antifreeze has been used.
If its a V8 then it sounds like the dreaded "porous block". But again it might just be the radiator. Interesting that it happens on a long journey as usually the above two things occur on short journeys as well - more so in congested conditions.
If its a diesel then it is probably the radiator - especially if little or no antifreeze has been used.
If its a V8 then it sounds like the dreaded "porous block". But again it might just be the radiator. Interesting that it happens on a long journey as usually the above two things occur on short journeys as well - more so in congested conditions.
- Oct 5, 2004
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Hi Alan,
The box I have is made by MAL Electronics (bought it off Ebay)although there are others on the market. Uses O.E. plugs and fits in minutes. Claims are for +30hp. There is a noticeable increase in performance, particularly at low revs although whether it amounts to 30hp I dont know. Driving the car as normal as possible without using the xtra performance too often, there has been around 2-3 mpg improvement.
Cheers.
The box I have is made by MAL Electronics (bought it off Ebay)although there are others on the market. Uses O.E. plugs and fits in minutes. Claims are for +30hp. There is a noticeable increase in performance, particularly at low revs although whether it amounts to 30hp I dont know. Driving the car as normal as possible without using the xtra performance too often, there has been around 2-3 mpg improvement.
Cheers.
I used to tow with a DAihatsu Fourtrack 2.8TDI. Fantastic vehicle for towing and have towed Discoverys, Fronteras and cars off wet/muddy situations with their caravans hooked up and I was still in two wheel drive. Very reliable with no parts required except for tyres in over two years of ownership. Solo returning approx 36mpg and whilst towing returned approx 30mpg. Still have vehicle but not towing at present as result of accident with Bailey Ranger 500/5 loosing its nearside wheel and causing major structural damage. No doubt when caravan is sorted I will be back towing again with Fourtrack. Very comfy for four/five people although a little rustic compared to more modern 4x4s. However it only cost
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