Thinking Of Buying a Used 2003 Range Rover...

but I hear they have tons of problems and are expensive to fix. General thoughts?

Should I buy an X5 instead?

 

X5 is going to be the same in terms of repair and maintenance. The RR might be a little quirkier, but since the 03 RR was made by BMW, you will experience similar repairs and quirks. It will boil down to preference in the end. 03 is not the best year to choose from, as this is the first year the L322 was out. The first model year will always have a few more problems than the later ones. I would recommend an 04 or 05, or if you want to splash the cash, the 06 will be the best option. Good luck with your search.

 

Doesn't the 06 have a craptastic ford engine? Ford is crap.

Are there better forums than this? This is painstakingly slow.

 

Well, if your are going to be impatient. I wouldn't recommend getting a Land Rover... FYI the engine in the 06 to MY Range Rovers are made by Jaguar and are the best engine ever made for Land Rover in my opinion. Only the V6 LR3s used the Ford engine.

 

LRScott is right, the engine is a Jaguar engine and not a Ford engine, however I think the best engine ever made for Rovers was the Rover V8 like the one found in my Range Rover. But the Jag V8 is a wonderful engine.

 

I tend to agree with you GSD in some ways. I like the engine in mine, it suits it. But we own a Jaguar XJR and that engine is just amazing... Super reliable, efficient and powerful. The problem I have with the Rover V8 is that it was derived from GM. The Rover V8 is simple and easy to work on, but has its little "issues".

 

Personally I don't like the look of any other Land Rovers besides the range rover so its the only one I will buy. I'm looking to spend about $15,000 on a used range rover so what kind of engine problems are common?

I test drove a 2001 and it was slow, drove like a bus, and the brakes were weak. Then I drove a 2003 and it was more like driving a European sportscar like a beamer. I liked it a lot.

What years used the Jaguar engine?

 

2003-2005 BMW engine. 2006-Current Jaguar engine. The 2003 was a first model year, I would look at a 2004 and up. I agree LRScott, I used to own a XK8 and the engine was superb, however I am a big fan of the Rover V8 as well.

 

The BMW engine was prone to head gasket failure from time to time (usually due to the owners never changing the fluids). They can also have transmission problems due to the transmission being "serviced for life" which is a bunch of crap, so make sure the fluid was changed. Make sure all other fluids have been changed regularly and you should be fine. Inspect the air suspension for functionality as well as the condition of the air springs. Take the one you wish to buy on a LONG test drive if you can, and try to go through the functionality of everything. Also make sure the front differential recall has been done. When everything passes your tests, take it to a dealership or trusted mechanic for a full inspection (this is when you'll find out if the seller is bluffing about the recall). Most importantly make SURE the rover was well taken care of. I would much rather have a well taken care of RR with high miles than one with low miles that was beat to hell.