Knowing when to avoid buying

[4x4]

I was at the local car auction last week where I saw several Discos and took a liking to a lovely low mileage Disco until I looked underneath...

[Tannaton]

Is that a D3 as well isn't it?

[Odysseus]

People who have owned Land Rover products seem to fit into two diametrically opposed camps. One group saying they’re amazing and another saying they’re unreliable, poorly made money pits. There’s seemingly nothing in between.

I’m afraid as the former owner of a Range Rover I fall firmly into the second category. Avoid. Buy anything else!

[AB-UK]

Originally Posted by 4x4

I was at the local car auction last week where I saw several Discos and took a liking to a lovely low mileage Disco until I looked underneath...

Spent a lot of time on boat ramps!!!!!

[green van man]

Originally Posted by Odysseus

People who have owned Land Rover products seem to fit into two diametrically opposed camps. One group saying they’re amazing and another saying they’re unreliable, poorly made money pits. There’s seemingly nothing in between.

I’m afraid as the former owner of a Range Rover I fall firmly into the second category. Avoid. Buy anything else!

While I appreciate what you mean I fall firmly into the first category with caveats. For me nothing later than a D1. Yes it will need welding, but it's a hobby that will keep you out of the pub. Parts are cheap as chips, the exact opposite of volvo. Use them for what they were designed to do and they are wonderful cars. Mechanicaly they are very reliable, mines got 200k under its belt and without hesitation I would take it anywhere. Any car is only as reliable as it's maintenance allows it to be, I do the maintenance required to keep it reliable, as I do my volvo.

Paul.

[Gazdkw]

I'm going to see a 2010 xc70 tomorrow. 143k miles, full service history except one thing, not record of timing belt being changed.

Do you think it would be a deal breaker? It's not to say it's not been done, just no record of it.

Everything else seems great. Previous MOT's good, service history good (except the timing belt)

[Clan]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Pretty much identical cars apart from body shape

Similar not identcal :
All the suspension components are different , heavy duty .
rear subframe unique .
The engine is the old type it does not take on the V70 modifications from 2007 onwards .
Centre console panel and dash unique to the XC90 ,
Seats different with the mechanical changes .. they alone probably weigh 180 kg ..

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Clan

Similar not identcal :
All the suspension components are different , heavy duty .
rear subframe unique .
The engine is the old type it does not take on the V70 modifications from 2007 onwards .
Centre console panel and dash unique to the XC90 ,
Seats different with the mechanical changes .. they alone probably weigh 180 kg ..

Sadly never got the twin turbo D5's or Sensus....

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Gazdkw

I'm going to see a 2010 xc70 tomorrow. 143k miles, full service history except one thing, not record of timing belt being changed.

Do you think it would be a deal breaker? It's not to say it's not been done, just no record of it.

Everything else seems great. Previous MOT's good, service history good (except the timing belt)

No, it wouldn't, if the car's good.

[green van man]

It would of been due at 108000 miles along with a second auxiliary belt and tensioner, however book says 108000 miles or 10 years whichever comes sooner... I have experiance of a dealer ignoring the time element and saying you don't need to change it you have not done the miles, so a dealer working the other way and saying it does not need it yet it not 10 years old is quite possible in my book.

I did mine this year at 10 years and 75,000 miles, including the service cost was £520 to give you some idea and a bargaining position.

As ever, unless there is proof it's been done assume it has not. Son in law took a dealers word a cam belt had been changedone on a saab he baught, 18 months later it snapped totalling the engine.

Paul.