Range Rovers - Best of the bunch to buy????

What happened to the Forerunner idea Chris :-)

Chris,

I had one of the 1986 model with 5 speed and injection and wished I had it as a play vehicle as it only had 180k on the clock when I sold it in 2001. I got $8k at the time which was probably a reasonable price as a trade in. Yes, wish I still had it again.......

The purchase price is what a gear box or transfer case rebuild normally costs, and the standard axles and crown wheel and pinions become more brittle with age, [heat and cool process]

Not what you would call the ideal cheap runabout.

Chris I owned a 1977 Rangie for 8 yrs.
I have had 6 Jap 4wds since then and never kept them this long.
They get to you in a big way,you can sit next to most modern trucks and know that you have a machine just as capable,with a better suspension than most,and disc brakes all round.
The engines are as smooth as silk(how many V8s can rev out to 5000 rpm plus)
But they are thirsty,expect 14 mpg as normal.
At 200,000 expect some timing chain stretch,but basically the engines last well beyond this.
The gearboxes are robust,but a large amount of backlash exists due to the constant 4wd.
Spares are expensive for stupid things like trims etc,but many alternative parts are available.
Like most Rovers they thrive under abuse,but will drive you crackers if you are a perfectionist and worry about every oil leak.
As hack for your business,and a weekend toy, you would be satisfied as long as no major mechanical fault exists in your purchase.
Best to have checked by a 4wd specialists who knows Rovers,not the local garage.
They are easy to work on in the engine dept,but gearbox and transfer cases are big heavy units,and this is the one area that could cost big bucks.
The manual is the best bet,as the autos are slugs to drive and cost mega bucks to repair.
Rovers are best described as enthusiasts vehicles,if you are one,join your local Rover club and have fun and support.
Regards

For what its worth - I had an 82 Rangie manual 4 speed. Went through the Kimberley, and NT with no trouble apart from picking up some dirty fuel. The V8 was very smooth and did everything asked of it. Everything was standard pretty much except I replaced the shocks with Bilsteins, had a set of extractors fitted, and new rubber. Replaced it with a GU - in some ways I wish I still had it for hacking around the place. I had it serviced regularly by MR Automotive at Redcliffe who specialise in Landrovers and they didn't charge like a wounded bull! Most Rangies start off in life never leaving the tar (generally speaking) but I definetly would get any your thinking of buying checked over.

Cheers

Hi Chris M, to start off with, I am one eyed and love those LRs but consider this. If you are planning on keeping the Rangie for a while and then selling it off, you will most likely get your money back as they keep there price and in many cases now actually gain in value.
Next LRs have the highest survival rate of any 4WD on the market, 48% of all LRs made are still going and thats more than double that of the next make of 4WD and when you take into account that they have been around longer than almost all the rest this makes the 48% an even better investment reason. New 4wds of other makes are falling by the way side at a much quicker rate and I don’t know the costs of repairs involved with any older 4WD but I bet they all have a similar cost factor but few will keep they value like an LR will.
Just some food for thought, Regards

Chris,
I've done what you are think of doing, you won't regret it, my GU is used for all the special trips and I use my 86 Rangie carby 3.5 L for all the rough stuff as you can see by my second photo. I've spent very little on my Rangie, new starter motor, rear locker, springs, shockers, BFG muddie tyres a compressor and a UHF radio. And that's it I've drawn a limit, spending no more, I think that's important. Fuel economy, oil leaks and water are the downsides I've found, spares are comparable if you find a good supplier, the truck itself is awesome, I would not hesitate buying another one they are great fun. Yes I've got a few dents and scratches but that's all part of it, one quite bad on in the door after the excersise in the photo actually.
If you're not using the Rangie all the time the economy overall isn't that bad but in soft sand and mud the numbers start to look a bit average
Do it............

Crhis ,when I first responded to your query,I was actually looking at a Rangie purchase myself.
Previously I owned a 1977 model,and today I have just bought a 1976 2 door for $1500 (this 15 yrs after selling the 77 model).
So there you go,its in good order with 200,000 on the clock and has had a head job,centre diff overhaul,new timing gear and water pump(I know the seller).
I cannot wait to renew the relationship I enjoyed with the last.
The 3.0 ltre Gq is now the long distance tourer,and the Rangie the club activity vehicle.
Is this not the very best of both worlds-go for it,you only live once.(did james bond say that?)
Regards

Chris, I just sold my 83mq about 2 months ago and bought a 80 rangie and am very happy with the purchase, even though I had to replace the front g/box seal not cheap as i had the clutch changed and rear oil seal done at the same time, but still very happy, even though mine doesn't have the rover engine in it any more (holden 308) parts are cheap as long as you look around search the web that sort of thing. an example of this I had to replace my rear disc pads rang around local landrover/range rover places in sydney roughly $95 a set, repco $73 Rang a company in Tassie $55 a set plus $13 air freight, had them there 2 days later because I rang at 4:30 at night they couldn't get them out until the next day all up $123 for front and rear pads, I bought my rangie for $3200 came with 12 months rego 4 new 31" tyres, dual fuel, rear maxi drive, dual alternators and batteries engine driven air comp. So I very happy with mine and the best thing is if your not in a hurry to buy one and there is one local offer a price and they don't come at it just tell them another will come by and may be better.

Hope this helps
Dixie