So I looked at most of that list. Thank you for providing. It seems like these are about the same prices that I am used to seeing. I am not as educated as you all, BUT I think spending a few extra bucks is totally worth it. You're right. I could easily find some yahoo on craigslist trying to get out from under one before it goes to hell for an excellent price. I look at it this way, for around 6k I get the color I want, a warranty and the peace of mind that anything that needed replaced/repaired has been. And it was done by the dealer rather than some random dude with a wrench and Youtube.

I would have dropped 1,000 on a paint job to get that white anyway. I really think I can get another 150k out of this one. Call me crazy, but the peace of mind is why I am driving to Nashville this weekend to hopefully buy this truck. Don't think I haven't done my homework. As of today, I've driven TEN of these. I've looked all over craigslist within a 200 mile radius. EVERY one I've driven from a private seller had dash lights, cracks, idled rough, old tires or SOMETHING that made me feel timid about the purchase. Could this be a "you get what you pay for" moment?

Yes. I need a ride immediately, but it's still not a hasty decision. I'm gonna need more than "hey here's one sitting in a back yard for $4,500!" to change my mind.
Listen, I posted here because I KNOW you all have more knowledge than I do. I appreciate all the help, I really do. I just don't really understand the "too high" argument when it's justified with other options that are essentially the same price or clearly low because the vehicle is going downhill.

Paul, if you can justify this argument with a true QUALITY vehicle that has new tires, service records, white, brand new parts, a warranty and has been cleared recently by Land Rover themselves, then I will HAPPILY pay you a finder's fee.

I have a 5 year old daughter. I need a reliable, safe daily driver after this Camaro is traded in. To me, the FEW extra bucks is worth that peace of mind. Maybe I'm nuts, but that's where my mind is at.

Thanks again for your input. I really appreciate it all.

-JM

 

Clearly you DIDN'T look at the list because comparable DII's were considerably less than what you seem to be dying to pay. The only trucks that were near the same price were '03/'04 DII's but then maybe you don't know the difference between the early DII's and those of the final two years.

Look you want to dream up every excuse to pay more. You don't want our advice, you want our agreement with your decision. You think that 'dealer certified' actually means something that's worth paying double what you should. Go ahead, do what you want, like I said earlier, there's an *** for every seat.

 

So, I agree with JM that tires are a plus, especially at 800-2000 depending.

Warranty, if that gives you piece of mind then that is worth something.

A few points:

What does that warranty really cover? Will they nickel and dime you with extras that are not covered? Is the warranty voided by anything, like you turning a bolt yourself? I brought my 96' in for a new gas tank under safety recall which was covered 100% by them, but somehow they called me mid install and said there was an issue with my fuel pump and wanted $75 to fix it.

Who was the previous owner/owners? Just because a car is dealer maintained does not mean it was done with diligence. Maybe the dealer changed the oil and filter, but at what intervals? Every 3k miles, 5k miles, etc. I think you get the point.

If you are dead set on it:

Get them go show you the Carfax and ask questions about each detail on the report.

Negotiate like hell. Get some free oil changes, car mats, car washes for a year, wiper blades for life, and grind them on the price. Look up the cars value on KBB.com and then if it's compatible to what they are asking, flat out tell them you don't pay retail. Grind, grind, grind. You won't offend them, it's the game they play, you won't beat them at it, but you can even up the score a bit.

Oh, and when it breaks down(which it will) call Paul Grant for the parts you need. The dealer will charge you an arm and a leg for parts. The only way to keep your rover going without selling a ******** is by buying used parts when they make sense and new parts when needed from non dealer sources.

 

Oh yeah, 1000 for a color change to white is what my son would charge you. A passable same color repaint around here is min 1500. A color change, meaning all the nooks and crannies(door jambs, under hood sections, etc.) will cost north of 3k. But I live in Southern California the land of Nuts and Fruits(and I mean the people) where rent is high and labor rates higher.

 

Abran. Thanks for weighing in. I live a couple hours away from the dealer, so when I drive out there, trust me I will be in grind mode.

I called and discussed briefly with them. The warranty details will be hashed out in person as well. I believe that purchasing one of these blindly off craigslist might be for some folks, but not for me. I want peace of mind and to me, that's worth a few bucks.

Are there any specific questions that I should ask that have not been covered? Anything I should physically look for?

 

(As far as paint goes, I have a good friend with a shop and I would have painted it myself for cost of materials.)

And WHEN I have an issue, I will post here and hopefully Paul will help me out. I also hope Paul didn't take offense. I DO want your advice, but clearly there is a valid argument to Paul's advice. You get what you pay for. These $3,500 rovers are just waiting to break down. Hell, I drove one the other day and blew the head gasket ON the drive! They wanted $4,000. It was clean, blah blah blahhhh.

Do I want one that somebody has given up on or do I want to spend $900-$1100 more and get a dealer certified vehicle that I don't have to worry about???

Looking at the list of things the dealer has done, it far exceeds the price difference.

 

Who the f@#k said purchase it blindly off of Craigslist. I listed those trucks simply to show you that you're still overpaying for a truck.

Before I got in the car and drove a couple of hours I would know exactly what I was getting myself into.

Let me tell you about peace of mind. I have two customers who both purchased '04's about two years ago. One person bought a truck from the dealer. It was dealer certified and he paid a premium to get a bumper to bumper warranty. The total cost of the transaction was in excess of $12K. His truck was beautiful and he loves it dearly. Never the less, everytime I talked to him the truck was in service for one thing or another. Most were minor issues but the point is, if it weren't for the fact that he owned another DII, he would have been up the creek.

The other customer bought an '04 at the same time. It was an SE7 and it have some special off road package as well. The bottom line is that is was, going by sticker price, a much more valuable truck. The only issue was a bad air bag. He bought that truck for $4K. I see the guy all the time. He's never had any issues beyond normal service in the years he's owned the truck.

So, in the end, who got the better deal? I know who I'd pick.

 

Point is that in a way, I am a blind buyer. I am no expert on engines and aside from drooling over these vehicles, I know nowhere close to what you all know.

SO, I was speaking about myself. Craigslist is FULL of shady *** people. We all know this. If I were in the market for a Camry, craigslist might be ideal. With the known issues on these, you are going on someone's word. Frankly, I don't trust that enough. I want service records. I want a warranty. I want to walk my *** back there and speak to the mechanic. I want peace of mind...

Lastly, you make that sound like it's an everyday occurrence. Sounds like your bargain hunting friend got lucky and your other friend did it the right way, to me.

 

All the things the dealer has done????

Head gaskets by 130K miles in nothing uncommon. In fact it's recommended they be changed before that time to avoid any complications.

A new modulator AND a new shuttle valve??? The shuttle valve is inside the modulator SO did they really replace the modulator with a new one or did they just replace the shuttle valve? You better get a full copy of the service history because right there, I smell something fishy.

A new A/C compressor. That's a nice addition. They so seldom go bad on these DII's that I have dozens of good working used ones I offer for sale for $40 including shipping (demand is so ridiculously low).

So normal maintenance was done and there are no lights on the dash. We still don't know if you actually are getting a warranty or what that might entail. We also still don't know what you'll be paying. The dealer price is $6500 while you're hoping to walk out the door saving $500 and paying ONLY $6K.

I just love how every one of the trucks I listed were just waiting to fail but this one had the magic of a dealer certification to insure it will last another 100K. I'm sorry man but with each and every post you make your ignorance of what owning a Land Rovers is like becomes more glaringly clear.

I'll be as blunt as possible, your father may be an ace mechanic but unless you intend on hiring him full time, because it doesn't sound like you like to get your hands dirty, maybe a Land Rover isn't the right choice for you. Words like peace of mind and reliability especially when mentioned in conjunction with a dealership aren't things we Land Rover owners normally look for when we buy our trucks. We know, full well, these are tempermental beasts that require a lot of attention and they are never cheap to own. Some people learn that the hard way, others are more prepared for the reality.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like it's all a wash, financially. IF I found one on CL for 4k, I am convinced that in a month or two I'd hit 6k fixing all the **** the buyer didn't want to which is PRECISELY why they are selling for so cheap anyway. Do the math. $3,500-4k for the craigslist deal. THEN a full inspection, tires, probably paint, roof rack, head gasket, etc. Not to mention the headaches. NO. I am not looking for someone to agree with me. I am looking for someone to give me a VALID reason this is a bad idea. With all due respect, you have not done that, Paul.