Learn Me Range Rover

In particular the original Range Rover. Anybody have any experience with these?

I know somebody who's selling a 1991 for $800. It runs and drives but has a little rust and needs tires. He's owned it for 5 years and has only needed to do a tune up and a water pump. Other than that, he hasn't had any issues except a minor interior light issue. It's been his Chicago winter beater.

I'm not going to get it, but I just want to know if these are unreliable as they have been made out to be? Are the Rover V8s good engines?

Mine has been great since I replaced the engine....hmmmmm

In reply to aussiesmg:

That one has the Supercharged 4.6 right?

How's the mileage? I can't imagine great.

"A little rust", yeah, right.

You do know that they've got a steel frame that's cladded with aluminum panels, right? And the rustproofing wasn't that great from the factory.

Check very carefully for holes in the steel structure, missing trunk floors and other small details. Also check the two-part hatch, chances are that it's somewhere between bubbly and holey.

The Rover V8 is notorious for eating cams if the oil isn't changed very regularly and the transfer box likes to get stuck in one position - usually High, but check that you can get it out of High and back in. They're also not very powerful but make up for it in fuel consumption. The one I had in the UK for a short time, I ran on CNG (it had already been converted) as that lowered the running costs from "atrocious" to "stupidly expensive", being approx 1/2 price of petrol over there.

The front main swivel joints (can't recall what they're called, but they're obvious - it's the part that rotates and carries wheel spindle when you turn the steering wheel) on the axle need new seals regularly, otherwise the oil/grease in in the joint will leak out, with expensive consequences. Basically if the joint looks dry, chances are you'll have to look at it.

Edit: In the UK, the "thing" is called a swivel ball assembly.

Also, if it doesn't mark its territory, chances are other fluids need topping off.

Electrics - well, make sure the stuff you'll need is working as it's unlikely to have all electrics working.

Also, I wouldn't touch one with air suspension - they always leak and if it goes wrong, you'll more or less have to converted to coil suspension as fixing the air suspension is painfully expensive.

I did some research for myself and I saw that even the newer Range Rovers don't get better than 16 mpg hwy AND require premium fuel.

What the crap?

With a 20 gallon tank, I can't see getting over 250 miles out of it before a refill and with $4.05 for premium, hells no.

They look cool, but even a drastically used one is still for a rich persons wallet.

16mpg sounds about right, but that might be UK gallons, at least for the old ones.

They really drink like the proverbial pissed fish. But at least parts are cheap (well, in the UK, don't know about the US) as there's a healthy demand for them.

sounds like of those vehicles that NEEDS LSx power

I'm not sure the transfer case can take the torque. That said, there's a coachbuilder in the UK whose name escapes me at the moment, and they (used to) put SBCs in Range Rovers.

isn't the old rover 4.5l v8 a buick motor? they are really sensitive to being overheated, and will lunch headgaskets if done so.

it is a gm motor originally..... 3.5 to 4.6 all based on the gm all aluminum v8 from the 60's

I'd really like an early 2-door model.

Also, Aussie's Rangie is straight-out baller . Bright yellow, just ridiculous .

KATYB wrote: it is a gm motor originally..... 3.5 to 4.6 all based on the gm all aluminum v8 from the 60's

AKA the Buick 215.

Given that GM produced it for about three years and then Rover built it for 45, I think it's a Rover engine by this point

Overfinch is the tuner that makes the beastly Rangies. They're very capable off road and cheap, so it's a good choice if you want to climb rocks. For a daily driver, though, I'd call 'em a bit expensive and fragile.

well.. sounds like the answer is as close as your nearest rockcrawler store. Swap the engine, trans, and diffs, and you get american reliability with that beautiful british body and interior.

Personally, I still want a land rover.. not a range rover

Their core is reliable... but the electronics (particularly all the stuff inside), not so much.

They'll almost always get you to where you need to go, but it's a matter of whether or not the electric memory seat has suddenly decided you're 5'2" or not.

Relatively cheap to maintain as long as you aren't trying to keep it in showroom condition. As a winter beater, probably not that expensive as long as you aren't concerned with all the doo-dads working.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to aussiesmg: That one has the Supercharged 4.6 right? How's the mileage? I can't imagine great.

Yep 4.6 Supercharged (Cameron Concepts) Vitesse SSE.

I got 15 mpg on Premium on the road to the Mitty.

Since I had her fixed it has been trouble free, however the next round of repairs includes, radio, cruise, headlight wipers, and headliner.

Amazing ride, and quality has made it worth it so far.

interior