Must have lost my mind -Land Rover

[wrickem]

Having had 3 Rovers in the past, all problematic, leaky sunroofs, blown engines, brakes that went out, flooded footwells, I’ve always said “if I won one, I’d sell it fast”.

I am now eating my words

Through ordering circumstances, I ended up with 2 Broncos and couldn’t figure out which to sell. Bougie Outer Banks with lux/susquatch or Heritage, so I kept but didn’t need them both.

I really wanted a Defender in the ‘90’s, but with 4 kids, braces, vacations, sports, college coming up I never got one and gave up on that after the later Rovers we had were such bad vehicles.

Last week, I was passing the Land Rover dealership saw this one, did a U-turn and traded in the Outerbanks on the spot.

So far, off to a good start, it’s definitely a more polished SUV than the Bronco.

At least it has 5 years of full warranty and valet service.

Hopefully somebody here will say they had a great experience with a reliable Land/Range Rover

[Phillies8008]

Well, it's going to (potentially) be a great five years. Year six, however...

My brother-in-law loves them but admits that every time he buys one he's entering the Land Rover Lottery™. Maaaaybe it'll be great, maaaaybe it'll be a nightmare!

[Altamate]

Looks nice hope, it works out, JD power puts Land Rover bottom 5 in reliability for 2025, so fingers crossed.

[peterfromsd]

My wife has the new sedona package defender, well it has 12k miles now since purchasing new. My only gripes are the long oil change intervals (20k, but I change every 10k) and airbag light comes on due to the driver/passenger chairs moving it unclips the sensor? At least that's what they tell me.

[JABCAT]

Never been a fan, and their reliability ratings supported my decision to never buy one. I'm not a fan of the Bronco either, so as long as you're happy with your decision.

[jaffles]

I understand since TaTa bought Land Rover its been the best thing for the marc. I'll leave it there and wish you best of luck.

[Phillies8008]

If I had to have an SUV, a Land Rover or Bronco wouldn't be the worst thing ever.

I guess I'm on the outside looking in on this one, but I've always thought that the G Wagon is hideous. Unless I could immediately sell it, you couldn't give me one.

[ShocknAwe]

Could have gotten a land cruiser.

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Never been a fan, and their reliability ratings supported my decision to never buy one. I'm not a fan of the Bronco either, so as long as you're happy with your decision.

That’s why there’s so many different vehicles to choose from. Something for everybody.

Both Broncos have been 1000x more steady on the drive to the trails, and handle the trails as well if not better than all the Jeeps and 4 runners I’ve had for the trails here. The little I’ve had this Defender on the trails so far, it’s been a champ.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by wrickem

Like this one?

I don’t really like to leave home with it, unless I’ve got time to pull over and fix whatever happens. Her trail days are long gone 😂

I think he meant a Toyota Land Cruiser.

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I think he meant a Toyota Land Cruiser.

Lol, yeah, I read “Cruiser” but I guess I’ve got “Rover” on the brain.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by wrickem

Hopefully somebody here will say they had a great experience with a reliable Land/Range Rover

Did you buy 2 of them I hope?

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by vt100

Did you buy 2 of them I hope?

I’m not THAT much of a glutton for punishment 🤣

The funny thing with the 2 Broncos is that I’d ordered them both on the same day, I’d had 2 early allocations, with the intent to sell 1

They came in a year apart!

[eliphil]

Originally Posted by wrickem

Having had 3 Rovers in the past, all problematic, leaky sunroofs, blown engines, brakes that went out, flooded footwells, I’ve always said “if I won one, I’d sell it fast”.

I am now eating my words

Through ordering circumstances, I ended up with 2 Broncos and couldn’t figure out which to sell. Bougie Outer Banks with lux/susquatch or Heritage, so I kept but didn’t need them both.

I really wanted a Defender in the ‘90’s, but with 4 kids, braces, vacations, sports, college coming up I never got one and gave up on that after the later Rovers we had were such bad vehicles.

Last week, I was passing the Land Rover dealership saw this one, did a U-turn and traded in the Outerbanks on the spot.

So far, off to a good start, it’s definitely a more polished SUV than the Bronco.

At least it has 5 years of full warranty and valet service.

Hopefully somebody here will say they had a great experience with a reliable Land/Range Rover

I had no experience with LR’S until my wife asked about a Range Rover in 2019. Despite my reliability concerns we bought one and six years later the only problem was the seat massager which we fixed. It’s a great truck w very comfy seats and one of the great stereos I’ve ever heard in a vehicle. We are at 60000 miles and will likely keep for a few more years. Best w yours.

[wrickem]

eliphil that’s exactly what I was hoping (but not expecting) to hear. Thank you, It gives me hope and I’m glad that yours is a good one, many more safe miles

I loved our 2015 Range Rover, but it hated me just like our others.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by wrickem

ThatÂ’s why thereÂ’s so many different vehicles to choose from. Something for everybody.

Both Broncos have been 1000x more steady on the drive to the trails, and handle the trails as well if not better than all the Jeeps and 4 runners IÂ’ve had for the trails here. The little IÂ’ve had this Defender on the trails so far, itÂ’s been a champ.

I do hope, for your sake its like the Freelander 2. That has to be LR most reliable car and for what it looked surprisingly spacious and capable. I had one for 8 weeks because on day 2 of new ownership of my TDCI Defender 130, it got flat bedded back to Land Rover. Yes I though by buying new I could out smart the curse, but na.

There is no doubt the Defender is a capable car, pre or post update. But for me when a company could not work out what was wrong with their most basic model, and it took the threat of strapping painters trestles to the roof of their loaner to communicate better, confirmed I was not buying another.

I had some great times and went some amazing places in that Defender, but sold it because the problems returned. The Mitsubishi Pajero I bought to replace it has been every bit and more of the Land Rover. Like to the point of what was I thinking. Shame they stopped making them.

None the less the greatest thing about Defender is when you've had enough of its shit, there is always some die hard believer willing to take it on and off your hands. I do hope my negative remarks don't turn into your worldly experience. I glad, or hope, or understand they finally stopped it leaking after 70 years of development.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by wrickem

eliphil thatÂ’s exactly what I was hoping (but not expecting) to hear. Thank you, It gives me hope and IÂ’m glad that yours is a good one, many more safe miles

I loved our 2015 Range Rover, but it hated me just like our others.

hahaha...."it hated me just like al the others." Thank you for the laugh. A good minute's worth.

Now I've stopped laughing, its the first bit "I'm glad that yours is a good one". Thing is they should all be good, not just the odd one.

Us believers once stood around a camp fire chatting about how good hand made was. But then you realise some hung over demoralized guy is off to work in the dark, cold and rain that is half the year. To stand on a endless production line of repetition and noise probably next to a guy he doesn't like. No wonder there was no grease on the transfer case input shaft that welded itself on to the motors output shaft. Or there is 1/3 turn of backlash in the diff. Its not the car really, its the poor guy and probably a good dose of English " I think you'll find we know best".

Then recently I met a guy who was pulling the body of his 2015 Range Rover, to replace the turbo he was quoted 12K to do. Removing bodies to work on cars seems to be a bit English, its certainly not cost effective for warranty which is very English, but does seem a sure way to devalue a car and keep turnover moving.

[wrickem]

jaffles I guess it’s a love/hate thing.

Now I’m also laughing at the owner’s manual saying automatic car washes are not recommended ”. I hand wash all my vehicles 8 mo/year, I like my cars to look like nobody was ever transported in them, but in NJ winters, they all go through an automatic one once a week to “take a layer off”. This one will too. I’m envisioning parts flying off.

[jaffles]

Does it have bits hanging off it? I never really thought about it until a mate said Defenders have junk hanging off them everywhere. Nowadays you see maxtrax, jerry cans, roof racks etc hanging off most 4x4s. Guess that all started with the series 1.

[wrickem]

jaffles - Nope, just the normal antenna on the roof, spare tire cover and mud flaps.

No side packs, ladders, racks, tents, monkeys or anything else hanging off. Anything for trails that can’t fit inside, I’ll have to do without.

[jaffles]

Been working a sausage sizzle all morning and a new Defender rolled in same colour as yours. Its wheels were painted the same as the body. Didn't mind it actually, wheels colour that is. It had a ladder and some box hanging off the side, that looks a bit odd to be honest.

Is the suspension hydraulic, air, or hows that work. Must go up a bit in 4x4. What size donk, number of gears etc. Give us some specs on the new car that hopefully doesn't hate you. Or I can stop being lazy and google it.

[eliphil]

Originally Posted by wrickem

eliphil that’s exactly what I was hoping (but not expecting) to hear. Thank you, It gives me hope and I’m glad that yours is a good one, many more safe miles

I loved our 2015 Range Rover, but it hated me just like our others.

Ps great on our NJ roads