Range Rover Sport

[micko1964]

Hi ,first post for me.I am looking to buy a used Range Rover Sport,years 2005 t0 2007 are in my price range,i would prefer a supercharged model.Can someone tell me the differences between the sport and other variants?have been a defender owner since 1996 and currently have a 110 traytop and a 2011 defender 90 that will be sold.The rangie would replace the 90 , has only done 13000 in 2 years,any suggestions would be helpful as I know very little about Range Rovers.Thankyou

[Homestar]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.:). I have moved your request to the D3/D4/RRS forum. The Range Rover Sport is based on the D3/D4 chassis, so the forum for that vehicle is here.:)

There are lots of good, like minded souls here that I'm sure will be able to point you in the right direction.

Cheers - Gav.

[gghaggis]

Hi ,first post for me.I am looking to buy a used Range Rover Sport,years 2005 t0 2007 are in my price range,i would prefer a supercharged model.Can someone tell me the differences between the sport and other variants?have been a defender owner since 1996 and currently have a 110 traytop and a 2011 defender 90 that will be sold.The rangie would replace the 90 , has only done 13000 in 2 years,any suggestions would be helpful as I know very little about Range Rovers.Thankyou

The Sport 2005 ~ 2009 is a short wheelbase version of the Discovery 3. They are mechanically almost identical - the Sport has slightly tighter suspension and different control arms. It has less room inside than a D3, but the cabin layout is different - more "sporty".

The Supercharged is a 4.2 ltr petrol V8 - fairly brisk, but you won't like the fuel consumption - think around 18 ~ 20 ltr/100km, and only an 80 ltr fuel tank. It's not a tourer (at least not over here in Oz). It uses Brembo brakes.

If you're comparing to a similar aged Range Rover Vogue (L322), the Vogue is a bigger car on a completely different chassis. Early years didn't have all the electronic "trickery" of comparable year RRS, but by 2006/7 they were more or less equivalent.

Cheers,

Gordon

[micko1964]

thanks fellas,learn something new every day:Di don't do many kms as away 6 out of 12.just want a bit more comfort and zing for towing my boats on the odd time away.open to all advice

[Nomad9]

Hi Micko,
So a Defender to a Sport, the chalk and cheese comparison even seems a little light on. You are going from a Defender which only recently got power windows in the front only and central locking to a machine full of electronic wizardry. I recently had the windscreen replaced on my Defender, $295 fitted, windscreen with rain sensors, genuine for my sport about $4k fitted, that's what I was quoted.
Air suspension, HDC, DSC terrain response, Can bus system, if you are up for it you won't drive a better vehicle. defender out on a trip of adventure, red dust that just finds its way in, easy just hose it out and off you go again, sport, lush carpets, better seals, air con and not flaps, all good, however dust does find its way in. You can't really use the garden hose on the Sport.
It very much depends on what you are going to do and how much you are prepared to accept in depreciation. Try and get a bull bar, designed for the sport in Australia made by a leading 4X4 accessory manufacturer. Any leading 4X4 accessory shop will throw stuff at you for the Deefer. A good bomb proof truck that will go anywhere, and get you back.
The sport you wouldn't be more comfortable sitting at home in your arm chair. I have been playing with the dilemma you are and I have ended up with something different unfortunately. I loe Land Rover and everything they stand for which includes the people you meet on LR forums. However, on the side of the road with a broken fuel pump belt lying on top of a hot engine trying to figure out how to get the new belt on is not a pleasant place to be. On your own, bearable, wife, kids end of the day.......your views change sometimes.
You have an interesting decision ahead, I wish you the best of luck.

[Rich84]

However, on the side of the road with a broken fuel pump belt lying on top of a hot engine trying to figure out how to get the new belt on is not a pleasant place to be. On your own, bearable, wife, kids end of the day.......your views change sometimes.
You have an interesting decision ahead, I wish you the best of luck.

Has the broken fuel pump belt actually happened to you? Never heard of one breaking... I'm surprised that you had a spare too... Not something I carry around in my spares box! (maybe I should...)

I must admit I had slight reservations about reliability myself when I purchased mine a year ago (after a year and 50k now the only thing that's actually broken on mine has been the EPB which has only just recently started the 'screech', otherwise just maintenance) - I have a TDV6 Sport which has been all around Australia now with 195k now on the clock, fantastic car, best car I've ever owned! Can't think of a more versatile vehicle - it's great on road - beautifully smooth ride, REALLY quiet, loads of room, TDV6 has plenty of get up (I had a 500hp Audi S4 prior to this, so it's not like I don't know what a seriously fast car is) and it's economical too! I'm a 28yo living a bachelor kind of lifestyle, pick up mates and drive with the rangie packed to the rafters with people quite a bit. It's the car of choice for towing the camper to wherever we're going. Everyone loves it and it has become an institution in my social circle (half of my closest mates have the rangie in their profile pics on FB!!) where there is not a single other LR or in fact another Euro at all with the exception of my other car which is an Audi A4 quattro - all Toy/Nis/Mits and one Ford Ranger. Will sit on 140 towing our 1500kg fully laden camper with 5 people and full interior, and still use far less fuel than the Jap cars.

Chicks love driving it. They will purposefully not drink just so they can have a drive of the Rangie! It's true what the others say - let your girl borrow it and she'll not want to give it back!

They do have a bit of a footballer/drugrunner car stigma, so everyone expects that it's a softroader until you hit the same tracks as they do and get through with little apparent effort! Have taken it on tracks so steep and slippery that my rear passengers have bailed - too nervous to remain in the car! The car remained composed the whole time. How many cars can do that, and then look bespoke in front of a trendy wine bar a week later when it's all cleaned up?

I'd say test drive all of them before going the Supercharged, but if it's balls you're after why not stretch just that bit more for a TDV8? They're meant to be a brilliant drive and not scary fuel consumption like the S/C. Of course if I were in a position where fuel bills didn't matter I'd probably look at the S/C too, as it is going to be loaded with all the options.

[micko1964]

great info all,and I am not really fussed about fuel use as I do very few kms,also I will be keeping my 110 tray top for any camping/beach use

[Homestar]

So, if fuel isn't an issue, go find yourself a Supercharged V8 to test drive...:).

[Nomad9]

Hi Rich,
I replaced mine in the comfort of my own drive way / shed. Knowing what was involved and how I felt changing a tyre on my D3 on the GCR at around mid day with the flies, the sweat dripping and stinging in my eyes and just dealing with everything else when I would rather be driving. I did take the Coopers option for tyres so I do accept some of the responsibility.
In regard to the fuel pump belt no it didn't break, I just combined my experiences and placed myself on top of the engine instead of replacing the tyre.

The only job that really tested my metal and willingness to live was replacing the EGR valve on the LH side of the engine, f**k what a job that was, never again, sorry about the profanity, I have done some bad jobs on vehicles in the past, this was up there with replacing the throttle cable on a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle..... ho hum. Getting the dipstick tube back in again....... gee whizzer!!!!

[Rich84]

Thanks Nomad :D Now that you've said that I bet the LH EGR will be the next thing to fail on mine :firedevil:

[101RRS]

Thanks Nomad :D Now that you've said that I bet the LH EGR will be the next thing to fail on mine :firedevil:

Blank them

[Rich84]

I have an '08... If Bell's Auto gets out the dongles before I need to do one, I'll def blank them. So far so good though. I give the MAP a clean every service though as it does get oily crap all over it.

[101RRS]

I have an '08... If Bell's Auto gets out the dongles before I need to do one, I'll def blank them. So far so good though. I give the MAP a clean every service though as it does get oily crap all over it.

they can be blanked as long as the EGRs are still serviceable.

[Nomad9]

Hi Garry,
I was told on the late 06 - 07 on they couldn't be blanked. If blanked you get the engine fault light and the engine runs like a dog. I had seen somewhere on this forum someone leave the old EGR valve in place and put a new one in a plastic bag tied to the inner wing connected to the wiring. This seemed OK and a good idea just not a good selling feature.

[101RRS]

Don't believe everything you read - they can be blanked with no EML but the EGRs have to be serviceable. Of course most people only think of blanking when their EGRs have already failed and it is then too late.

[streaky]

As an enthuesiast you'll be happy with two Green Ovals on the drive...one for the ruff stuff/camping etc and the other for pure driving pleasure.

If you're going for an early 4.2SC Sport then make sure the service history is upto date and all the TSB's (Technical Service Bulletins) have been implemented. They are expensive cars to run but if you keep the mileage down and don't drive it hard you'll reap the benefits.
My 08 4.2SC has only 90,000km on the clock and hasn't had anything wrong apart from the electronic tail gate release motor failed a few months back.
Brake discs are expensive, the suspension bushes clonk on cars that haven't had the TSB's done, and a few other things...the electronic parking brake motor is a known failure too.

[Mungus]

Hi Micko,
I loe Land Rover and everything they stand for which includes the people you meet on LR forums. However, on the side of the road with a broken fuel pump belt lying on top of a hot engine trying to figure out how to get the new belt on is not a pleasant place to be. On your own, bearable, wife, kids end of the day.......your views change sometimes.
You have an interesting decision ahead, I wish you the best of luck.
Geez Marty, Please don't take offence, but story telling may mislead people. It misled me until questioned and clarified. Talking about RRS and you post this, which didn't even happen, instead it was a tyre change on a D3.:confused:

[Nomad9]

Hi Mungus,
You are correct, no offence taken, story telling when it wasn't actually the case isn't the right thing to do. Didn't mean to confuse people or discredit the brand. I have just sold my RRS in favour of another brand. One reason amongst some other lifestyle reasons was the "what would happen in the bush in an outback place if something electronic broke" I know it basically the same with any vehicle these days and one reason why eight months ago I bought a Defender. The Defender whilst being a TD5 with engine electrics was a tad more basic, (that has got to my understatement for the year) was to big a shock to the system, the original idea was to keep both, RRS and the Defender, financially OK for a short time, now it is just not realistic.

I suppose I was just trying to justify selling my RRS to myself in a public forum, a bit dodgy.........One day I will buy another one, I now regret selling mine it just had a presence which the vehicle I have now got hasn't got in the same way.

Good point Mungus.

[Fatso]

I have had my RRS for 2 yrs now and must say it has given me no trouble to date and is a joy to drive , mine is a Jan 2007 modle with 134ks and have done the belts and replaced the the brake rotors and pads, and do my own servicing . Sometimes the Tinternet can be more trouble than its worth in that people post their vehicle problems and no real positive things about their vehicles .

Lets face it, the prospect of failing to proceed is an event that can happen in any vehicle not just Landrovers , anyway the RRS/Disco is as much Ford/ZF as landrover .