RRS (L320) - should I talk my wife out of one??

[steveG]

Hi all,

So here's the situation....
SWMBO has a thing for the L320 and they are becoming increasingly affordable for her.
I'm generally more of simple mechanical guy, but not at all afraid of electronics etc.
I've got a pretty well equipped home workshop with 2 post hoist etc, and for the next 10 years at least plan to keep on doing my own vehicle servicing and repairs.

She's only does around 10K per year, and the majority of that is her work commute (20mins each way mostly country roads) and visiting the daughters and grandkids (currenty 12M-7yrs) - 25mins each way on freeway/country roads.

Whatever she ends up buying won't be used for touring or remote/hard trips - we've got the County or 120 for that. May get used for a little bit of medium towing (14' van) with enough seats to take a couple of g/kids away.

So the thinking is that if she got a L320 with up to 150K on the clock, in 10 years it would still only have 250K on it, and be 20-25 years old. Likely at that point worth stuff all and/or unsupportable.
Would most likely be a TDV6

Given all the above, am I just setting myself up for a world of pain maintaining it if she gets one (and therefore need to be actively discouraging), or would it actually be a reasonable fit for what she wants?

Love to hear your thoughts - particularly any of you that do your own maintenance?

Steve

[mtb_gary]

Hi all,

So here's the situation....
SWMBO has a thing for the L320 and they are becoming increasingly affordable for her.
I'm generally more of simple mechanical guy, but not at all afraid of electronics etc.
I've got a pretty well equipped home workshop with 2 post hoist etc, and for the next 10 years at least plan to keep on doing my own vehicle servicing and repairs.

She's only does around 10K per year, and the majority of that is her work commute (20mins each way mostly country roads) and visiting the daughters and grandkids (currenty 12M-7yrs) - 25mins each way on freeway/country roads.

Whatever she ends up buying won't be used for touring or remote/hard trips - we've got the County or 120 for that. May get used for a little bit of medium towing (14' van) with enough seats to take a couple of g/kids away.

So the thinking is that if she got a L320 with up to 150K on the clock, in 10 years it would still only have 250K on it, and be 20-25 years old. Likely at that point worth stuff all and/or unsupportable.
Would most likely be a TDV6

Given all the above, am I just setting myself up for a world of pain maintaining it if she gets one (and therefore need to be actively discouraging), or would it actually be a reasonable fit for what she wants?

Love to hear your thoughts - particularly any of you that do your own maintenance?

Steve

Steve

If the car has been well maintained up until the time you purchase, chances are it will see you and your family through many years of happy motoring. My only caveat on that is that the TDV6 will require the timing belts replaced. If they have been done prior to your purchase happy days. We opted for the TDV8 rather than the TDV6 because of the additional power as well as having timing chains rather than belts. Fuel consumption incidentally between a 6 and 8 is fairly similar.
I do the routine servicing myself, and after owning a heavily modified p38 the RRS seems fairly straight forward, especially with the on line resources available. My partner is the primary driver of our RRS during the week and she absolutely loves it.

[haydent]

only if its the tdv8 :)

[Tins]

Talk to Tombie. Mrs Tombie is getting one for Christmas.

[loanrangie]

Timing belt is no harder than a 300TDI and schedule is 7yrs/168k so don't let that put you off , should be able to find an RRS that has only ever done city duty and never seen any dirt or towing.
My wife doesn't like the size otherwise i would buy one tomorrow .

[Tombie]

Talk to Tombie. Mrs Tombie is getting one for Christmas.

She’s loving it….

[westy]

Hi All,
My wife has had 2 sports and loves them, the current one (2009 TDV6) was her own purchase. I couldn't get her into any other vehicle if I tried, we've had 110 county, 2 P38's, L320, Disco 2 td5 auto, ford falcon, ford maverick
She says she will NEVER get rid of the sport voluntarily Definately land rover addicted family

[ELF16]

Yeah i have to agree with mtb_Gary and say try for the 3.8l V8 Diesel if you can, much more power and fuel economy is only a little more the the TD6


My wife loves the RRS and wouldnt want to go back to the GU Patrol or even the Subaru Forrester we had previously, it drives more like a normal car even though it is 2.7 tons, plus she feels like a bit of a diva driving one, if range rovers are good enough for the royal family then they should be good enough for her

I am like you fairly mechanical minded and i was a bit concerned about all the electronics onboard but i have to say that most things can be sorted out myself. i have only once had to take it bakc to land Rover and that was to get the suspension recalibrated after putting in two new front airbag suspension.

Changing the oil regularly is fairly straight forward just getting the bash plate makes it harder than it needs to be, keep any eye on the radiator overflow as it tends to be a hot engine (very little air flow around the engine) if you have been driving hard dont just turn it off give it a few mins to cool down before you switch of and it should give you years of enjoyment

[Tombie]

Mrs Tombie loves hers now... We've done a few mods from stock..
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