How reliable are Land Rovers?

[MBrown]

My Friend has a chance to pick up a 2003 Land Rover Discovery for $4500 with 125k miles. Are they reliable enough that 125k is fine?

 

[Jimzz]

They are so unreliable that I would not buy a new one, let alone a used one. European cars on average are not as reliable as most American and Asian cars and Land Rover is one of the worst in the European bunch on top of that.

Tell your friend to buy a good car/truck, not a badge.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It depends on how well it has been maintained. I would definitely expect some major repairs though in the future and parts are expensive. Probably budget a couple grand a year for repair expense.

They are really nice vehicles but they are expensive to repair and they don't have a great reputation when it comes to reliability.

 

[Mermaidman]

That's one of the worst used vehicle to buy.
Look here: https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motor...c-guide-10-worst-used-vehicles-222709616.html

 

[pauldun170]

They are very reliable once you replace the wiring harness and everything its connected to. Just remember that the suspension and steering rack will have to be replaced as well. Might want to check the transmission and the diff. Do all that and they are very reliable.

 

[alfa147x]

Very reliable. Look at how it can truck through the elements.

 

[iamwiz82]

The British are widely heralded for their keen knowledge of electrical systems in the automotive world.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The British are widely heralded for their keen knowledge of electrical systems in the automotive world.

Just make sure you have plenty of replacement wiring harness smoke.

 

[Midwayman]

To top it off supposedly they have just about the worst parts availability in the US. So when something does go wrong you get to wait for a part to be shipped from Europe.

 

[pauldun170]

Since no one has tossed in the obligatrory "pro" post

"Bro, I'm on my 3rd Land Rover. Each one ran beautifully over the 2 year lease. Current one has 15K on it. Not one problem."

 

[rstrohkirch]

That's actually a bit funny as my mom has a 2013 HSE on lease with around 15k miles on it. Has already been in the shop 2x for a total of $5000 worth of repairs.

 

[Zenmervolt]

My sister has an '05 or '06 LR3 HSE (they changed the name of the Discovery to LR3 for the US market in '04) and has not had any issues with it. However, routine maintenance has been just absurdly expensive and on that alone I would say to avoid them.

ZV

 

[halik]

My Friend has a chance to pick up a 2003 Land Rover Discovery for $4500 with 125k miles. Are they reliable enough that 125k is fine?

Not very. Dropping sleeve issues with that generation ( i believe the Jag engines has that issue, not the bmw ones), computer diagnostic are big money (over $1K last i checked) and all of them have air ride suspension, so you'll be needing Arnott struts eventually.

I would consider a Range Rover of that gen for $4500, but not a disco.

For what it's worth, my '96 Range sent a diff cage bolt clear through the diff housing while on the highway. Waited about an hour for AAA to dispatch a semi with airbrakes to tow it home...

 

[Ferzerp]

Land Rover, as a brand tends to come in at the very bottom of UK reliability studies.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

If you're on a budget and just need cheap reliable transportation then buy a corolla or civic. Always consider maintenance, wear items, depreciation, and mpg into the equation then you'll get a better sense of the true costs of owning said car.

 

[halik]

If you're on a budget and just need cheap reliable transportation then buy a corolla or civic. Always consider maintenance, wear items, depreciation, and mpg into the equation then you'll get a better sense of the true costs of owning said car.

Disagree; for whatever reason indians, asians and hispanics bid up the market on those cars to where there's no value. $10K for for a 5 year old civic with 120K miles is idiotic. You're way better off with some grandma's buick.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Disagree; for whatever reason indians, asians and hispanics bid up the market on those cars to where there's no value. $10K for for a 5 year old civic with 120K miles is idiotic. You're way better off with some grandma's buick.

What if you paid 18k for it new and can still get 10k after 120k miles and 5 years? Still a bad decision?

 

[Tweak155]

What if you paid 18k for it new and can still get 10k after 120k miles and 5 years? Still a bad decision?

That's a different end of the stick.

 

[halik]

What if you paid 18k for it new and can still get 10k after 120k miles and 5 years? Still a bad decision?

Still better off at $8K for a 40K mile fusion
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/ctd/4449198149.html