So we bought a Range Rover
“Wait, what? You bought a Range Rover?” Yes, we bought a Range Rover. “Really? A Range Rover?” Yes, a Range Rover. The big one. It’s grey or green depending on what time of day you look at it. And it’s fun saying that we own a Range Rover.
Of course, nowadays you can pick up a 1990s Range Rover for less than the price of a tiny Kia. But those weren’t particularly good cars, and have aged rather rapidly. No, the best Range Rover of all time is the one developed under BMW ownership, launched in 2003 and continuing till 2012 virtually unchanged. We picked up a 2005 Vogue for less than the price of a Toyota Camry.
So if you could afford a Toyota Camry, that too with a bank loan, should you buy an older Range Rover instead and rule the road? Not at all. Maintaining one of these things is a whole other ballgame. Part of the reason we bought one is to see how much it costs to run one beyond the warranty period. While we picked up a really good example, it’s only been a week since we dropped the cash to buy it, and some issues that we thought were “minor” are turning out to be pretty freaking expensive to fix.
While we’ll talk more about those issues later, do we regret buying it? Not at all. The amount of presence it has on the road is worth it.
Ironically, Land Rover Middle East never thought we were important enough to invite us to their launch events, and even refused to give us a long-termer back when they were handing these out like fruitcakes to now-dead magazines. But we still love the Range Rover, and have now put our own money into one. This is going to be an interesting experiment on the costs of running a high-end luxury car.
Comments
mitch
Love this car. I nearly bought one few months back. After I’ve done my homework, I changed my mind fearing costly maintenance, malfunctions and time spent trying to fix them.
I’m gonna watch your ownership close as I still might buy one in the future. This is the most elegant 4×4 money can buy. Well done!
assassin
Huh not again. For the second time, you got a plate number similar to mine ??
https://www.drivearabia.com/myride/media/kunena/attachments/68/Sharjah-20120806-00205.jpg
chuck
except for the first digit…
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
You mean you copying my code too now, haha. And when’d you get an old Explorer. I mean new Expedition.
royer
Congrats.
mdhussain
Congratulations…Would love to hear more about it.
ronnie
Congrats!It is a surprise buy,all the best.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Indeed, a very random decision, just like all my car buys. Thanks all.
AbuDhabiCars
Congrats
Interior pics pls ^^
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
The interior is not as super-clean as the exterior. So we’re going to restore it using various services, and write about it. We’re scouting for places already.
Joe
Hey mash, is that your S2000 in the backgroud of the third pic????
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Whose else would it be? haha
Ali-baba
I’m looking forward to the updates on cost of maintenance!
Jazeem
1st- congrats.
Range rover is mostly a heart’s buy for many of them. cuz they are known for reliability issues but still ppl buy.
i hav heard many sayin n read many reviews stating that RR was better wen it was handled by FORD and less reliability issues compared to the bmw period.
and i feel they are right cuz there is a huge price gap btw 2006 model vs 2007 model used RR, the difference margin is 2x than 2003-4-5-6.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Actually it’s the other way round. The BMW engine is “said” to be more reliable than the early Jaguar engines that came afterwards. Everything else is the same. The only reason later models are more expensive is because they have the facelifted front-end, which is all most people care about.
mitch
BMW engine is more reliable than Jag when it comes to RR, before and after. The problem with the RR comes from its electrics, many, many sistems to back up the posh options, however not the most reliable. Its ok while under warranty but after its finished its costly….parts and all that.
I came to the conclusion that if Im not willing to pay for a new one I won’t get one for now. An older RR didn’t give the peace of mind I need for using the car on a daily basis and not having to rent a car while mine is getting fixed. Also, the car seemed slow to me but it didnt bother me. RR is about elegance not racing alas some dudes on the road failed to see that.
Anyway, Im waiting to see where you’re experience is going? If you promise to take care of the car and not fix it in Sharjah I might buy it from you. 🙂 I like that color.
asif
Hey Mash, Congrat!!you might now get a long-termer Range Rover from LR Middle East i guess….
Panzer
A true lemon caar…..
built by english and managed by indians…. hahha haha hah
this too much
Nero
Stick to your 1985 Tercel, brother. And be sure to move over when you see one coming behind you.
chris
supercharged engine?
are you sure its not just a vogue sticker and the real deal? hehe.
this is a sticker country and im sure you have checked that it is a legit vogue.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
The Vogue is a trim level that has been carried on for decades. It does not signify what engine it is. At that time, there was only one engine anyway.
Hassan I.
Where is the review?
You wrote an article to tell us you bought a car man!!
At least write something ………..
Geordie Expat
I had a 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE in the UK, which had 60,000 km on the clock when I bought it from a main dealer.
I did around 80,000 kms in 3 years or so, and loved it. Fabulous engine, great road presence, superb comfort and fast, too – always great fun blowing away the hot-hatch hotshots who had no idea of the power I had on tap!
HOWEVER: the BMW V8 runs at 108 degrees C and at high pressure compared to the Jag V8, and the cooling system has a well-deserved reputation for self-destructing at around the 7-year / 100,000 km point – i.e. outside even an extended warranty.
If it does fail, as mine did, the only solution is to replace everything – and I mean everything – associated with cooling. I had the heads skimmed as a precaution, too, and the repair bill exceeded Dhs 30,000 (equivalent at the current exchange rate) by the time I got it back on the road. Ouch…
Shortly afterwards, the front nearside CV joint exploded and immobilised the car…another Dhs 5,000…
I sold it not long afterwards, with 140,000 kms on the clock; it was still fabulous to drive, but I’d lost confidence in it.
Curiously, and contrary to my expectations, everything that failed on my RR was made in Germany by or for BMW – I had no trouble with any of the Solihull bits and no electrical problems to speak of.
So, if you’re a true petrolhead, it’s a car you have to own, at least once – but buy a used one without a warranty with great care and your eyes wide open – and expect big bills…
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Thanks. Something to watch out for. The water pump was already replaced on this car though.
bunkie79
think this will be a really expensive experiment. I have seen a guy who had that suspension fail the car was resting on the wheels one morning.
mitch
My mate has a RR only 3yrs old and 35.000km. So far, one suspension had to be replaced and also the electric side mirror stopped working. I know another guy who’s had RR’s for many years but he can afford a new one as soon as his car is out of warranty.
Come on Mash, start telling us your car’s problems and what did the previous owner had to replace/fix.
hamad
Hey guys, why isnt anyone asking the exact price and mileage; isnt this is a study for consumer benefit???
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Haha. More updates will be in the next story, after the car comes back from the dealership.
Ahmad AL-Nashash
luxury cars cost alot to maintain, my father gave me his older bimmer 7 series (model 2000) and it is costing me a fortune to keep it in top shape.
latest repairs:
ABS control unit – 1800 AED
computer re-programing – 300 AED
Cam sensor – 800 AED
front rotors – 650 AED
L/R control Arms & wish bones – 600 AED
MAF sensor – 800 AED
tyres – 2000 AED
this all does not include labor charges, haha but nevertheless when you say a model 2000 car with halogen lights, cruise control, voice control, and all the other fancy gadgets you find in cars these days you will still love it. and it looks AMAZING!
congrats on the roony guys, let us know how it goes.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Interesting list. Dealer serviced till now?
Ahmad AL-Nashash
all regular servicing such as oul changing and car check up and diagnostics and programing is done at AGMC in sharjah. i buy the parts i need from the them as well and get them fitted at John’s Auto workshop also in sharjah.
“if something is broken, dont fix it, change it” – i went by this ideology when getting work done on the car.
Prado
i never understood why luxury cars cost so much to maintain…. technically we assume to be built by highly skilled workers, top notch parts, technolgy etc and yet we these cars fall apart in a relatively short time…i would actually expect to have wear and tear after a prolonged use… dont get me wrong i understand why their parts are expensive and labor but what i dont get is why the wear and tear in a relatively short span…. the gap should be much longer…
Ahmad AL-Nashash
i think it’s because there are many little gadgets and parts that go into luxury cars to make up the big picture. so the more parts the higher the chance for things to go wrong with them. but the thing about these cars is that the engine and transmision complain about nothing for a long long time, its the other smaller parts and the tech put into these cars that will give you a headache.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
The Range Rover is a mixed bag. The leather, body paint and wood are in great condition. I shopped for a newer Cadillac and it was in pathetic condition already, even though dealer-serviced. However, the Rooney interior has lots of parts painted in that rubberised crap paint that Audi loves to use. And just like in the Audi, it is peeling badly.
Prado
i hear you..
but some of the stuff like electric mirrors? as … really? what rocket science is involved there?…
some times i think it just a scam by manufacturers on rich people bcos they can simply pay more…lol
Ali-baba
The technology gap between regular mid sized japanese cars for example compared to High end german cars is closing. Soon, the high end manufacturers will need to invent new ways to make luxury buyers feel pampered and unfortunately this is going to result in even further complications and break downs. I’m happy thar regular cars are becoming better and better and more technologically advanced