Currently have the 92 Range Rover County (Classic, 1st Generation) Range Rover with high miles. Runs good, leaks oil, perfect 4x4 system, nice radio, etc. It clunks and clonks, brakes are a little funny (great when they're working!) and needs a new headliner, upper tailgate, minor things. Most of body is aluminum, cannot rust. Found a 1996 Range Rover 4.0 for a good deal, 117k. Should I go for it? Pretty familiar with the Classic, the 4.0 has lots more electronics. Has anybody heard anything, know anything, etc? Good Rover forum like this one?


Thanks
TROVERMAN

__________________
________________________
2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
2005 Land Rover LR3 V8 SE
1999 Audi A8 4.2L quattro

I too have a Classic LWB, a '94. I was thinking about a the 2nd generation, and did my research, and well, they are computer heavy. So, if you live a ways from a dealer or a shop that uses TestBook your stuck. I would only consider a 98-99+ 2nd generation since mid '95-96 was the first year for the new body. I am still tempted to buy a '99-00 4.6 HSE but I'm saving $$$$ for a ring and then $$$$$$ to build a house. So, I'm going to keep my Classic this winter and might trade it in for some other 4x4/all-wheel vehicle like a 4matic or a TT, or another Range.

BTW, I test drove the new Range Rover, and it is even with a G-wagen in my book. It's a work of art, and an incredible machine. More reliable since BMW developed it, and not the old Land Rover. I just can't justify the expense right now for either.

My final advice would be that if you need a 4x4 keep your current RR, put some $ into it because the classics are becoming...well classic.

Shaun

Thanks for opinions, have decided to keep the Classic--now considering LWB! Am Currently looking in to a 25th Anniversary Edition 1995 County LWB. It has the "soft" dash but is still a Classic.---Shaun--how is the air suspension on yours or have you converted to coils??

__________________
________________________
2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
2005 Land Rover LR3 V8 SE
1999 Audi A8 4.2L quattro

Driving on the bumpstops with no suspension is about as much fun as having your landing gear stuck in the up position, it's even worse if your far from a shop or you house. I may be exagerating but you get the idea...

But to answer your question, I did convert to coils. I loved the EAS. However, I had the car loaded with film gear, and was headed off and I went over a curb (which triggered the height sensor, which must have been faulty) and the suspension was disabled. I live about 100miles from a LR dealer or anyone with the right equipment to reset the system, so I just converted to coils. I have all the original parts so at some time it could be converted back. I did all the work myself. Cost about $300+ for the kit with all LR parts.

If your looking for nice Rovers try Roversource
They have a nice Classic on there right now that is tempting!

A great Rover parts supplier and forum is Rovers North
A cheap OEM supplier that is cheaper than Rovers North is DAP-Inc.

I need to tune up my Classic for winter...need to also do brakes, exhaust and some little things.

For all the naysayers out there...Land Rovers are no where near as reliable as a beloved MB's. If you can turn a wrench yourself, most things are easy. The newer ones (2nd gen) are electronic heavy and are very propietary.

OTOH going through 2'+ of snow or wadiding through a stream is all the proof I need, as I don't want my MB's in that enviroment (unless a G-Wagen).

Let me know if you need any help.

Shaun

The Brits are famous for fish and chips and tea and scones but everyone knows that they can't build ANYTHING reliable transportation wise. MGs, Jags, Bentleys, Aston Martins, Triumphs, Land/Range Rovers, Rolls Royce. All of these cars - leak all fluids, have electrical shorts all the time, refuse to start sometimes for no reason, overheat, and generally require lots of expensive maintenance because of poor engineering mechanically. I will say one good thing about them though. They're all beautiful to look at, but as they say," beauty is more than skin deep". Save yourself many headaches buy a H2 Hummer and spend your time driving, not in the shop with your wallet open.

__________________
"I have spent MOST of the money I have made in my life on expensive women, expensive cars, and expensive drugs. The rest I just wasted." - Myself "Belief in the supernatural, reflects a failure in the imagination." - Edward Abbey "Give me a firm place to stand, and I will move the Earth." - Archimedes

We have a 1999 Range Rover County 4.0 with about 60k miles. It is fundamentally solid. It feels like it will always start and always go any where, but there's no guarantee that the wireless will work for the whole journey! We treat it like a tractor. My brother recently towed a 25ft tree for three miles--without a trailer. We also use it as a family car: it takes 5 to the races in comfort.

It has been very reliable. It is very tough. Other cars crumple when they hit the RR (a 5 series touring needed 2grands worth of body work after hitting it, the RR none), yet it remains unblemished!! But it is quite simply not as good as a German car! No electrical problems, no air suspension problems, no big bills. The air con is useless, but they are all like that.

What it has is character. Tons of character. I love it. Here it is being used as a bar:

__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190

Yep, tons of character!

So far so good with ours. But when things break (and they will) why bother fixing them. Who cares if the trip computer doesn't work? Who cares if the electric aerial gave up the ghost months ago? Who cares that the cruise control went out? The car is a tool: use it as a leather-lined farm implement and it won't disappoint. If you want a metal posing pouch, get a X5!

__________________
JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190

Thats what kills me. I have a Saturn VUE; a plastic bodied "cute ute". Mine is a 4 cyl with front wheel drive and a 5 speed manual transmission. I regularly hitch up to 2,000 pounds of stuff to the back of it, it goes off road frequently in the summer, I regularly haul crap back and forth to my apartment in Toledo with it from Dayton (150 miles one way), and generally use the crap out of it. Then I look at my neighbors, with a Hummer H1 and H2 in the driveway, that both never leave the tarmac... what is up with that?!
~D.J.~

don't waste your time with old rovers. they are good at breaking down. get one of the new bmw ones or a classic. avoid the middle, especially the discovery

BTW if any one is looking at purchasing a new Range Rover, Discovery, or Freelander...I have $1000 Off MSRP voucher for any one who needs it, cause I won't be using it this year.

Shaun

Thanks for all the comments. Shaun: I live 1/2 hour away from DAP-Inc, buy many parts for my Classic there. After convinving myself to keep the Classic, I saw a nice 4.6HSE, and promptly unconvinced myself. They are beautiful to look at. Another place I found on the net is a place called "Roverland" and they have upper tailgates for $400. I will be replacing mine in a matter of weeks. They are a great vehicle. The Benz is my 1st German car. Right now, it leaks as bad as my RR, the difference being the Benz has 44k on it and the RR has 187k. Sure, the Benz is smoother, more powerful, etc, but I am unconvinced it isn't as good. I would NEVER consider an H2, why not just buy a Tahoe? They are gawdy and plasticky looking, and any Land Rover interior is better looking. They definitely are a tool, from hauling the family and towing. (Have towed 7,000 + lbs with the Classic.) Very nice inside, with auto-dimming mirrors, memory seats/ mirrors, sweet audio sys, etc. Being a sucker for nice-looking cars, will probably at some point buy a 4.0/6. Awesome off-road capability, very heavy duty and overbuilt. Routinely drive over 6' snowbanks and through unplowed throu-ways with 3' snow. Feels like driving on dry roads! The Benz is great, but will always be a Land Rover fan.

__________________
________________________
2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
2005 Land Rover LR3 V8 SE
1999 Audi A8 4.2L quattro

I have a 98 4.0 SE with 58k miles and it has really been pretty reliable. I take the precaution of having it dealer serviced and they are extremely courteous and treat me like I own a new one. I would like to own a new one but it is still too expensive for me at the moment.

Servicing and maintenance is not cheap but worth it to me to keep it in first class condition. Nobody believes it is almost a 6 year old car when they see it and ride in it.

So far, the only thing that has gone wrong was a major fusebox burnout under the hood which caused some severe electrical A/C problems and many parts required replacement. Cost was $2500 to fix it but dealer did it in 4 days and paid for a loaner for me.

I have just returned from a 1000 mile 2 day trip to Florida. The RR went really well on the Interstate and on the beach! Overall MPG was 15.7, not bad for a heavy car. The car is so comfortable on the interstate it is like riding on air (which, of course it does!) Great sound system, climate control is excellent (since its repair) and a real sense of security in heavy weather.

Not cheap to own, I agree, but when it is working right, there is not much to beat it.