There are many things you need to think about when buying a used car. Is the seller you’re buying the car from trustworthy? Is the car as good under the bonnet as it looks on the surface? Is it worth the money being asked? Is it within your budget? Will it give you the performance you’re after?
But if you’re looking for a used Range Rover, you may also need to ask some questions about the following:
The Suspension
The Range Rover air suspension can be problematic. If the Range Rover you’re looking at still has air suspension, you may end up replacing it with more traditional spring coils. In fact, you’ll find that many used Range Rovers will have already had the air suspension removed. If the one you’re interested in is one of those, that could turn out to be a big plus.
The Electrics
The interesting part of owning a Range Rover is that they have idiosyncrasies that are found in some models and not in others. For example, in some models, the electrics are absolutely fine but in others, they can feel like they have a mind of their own. If you look online, you’ll very quickly find stories about strange things such as the automatic locking which kept locking and unlocking the doors until the battery ran out of power, even without the key in the ignition. Ask the seller if they have experienced any problems to the electrics.
The Gearbox
While the gearbox used by the Range Rover is a terrific piece of kit, it can have problems. If it does, it can be expensive to fix. The gearbox can have problems when it is serviced due to the vacuum operated system. Additionally, if your Range Rover has been mistreated in any way by a previous owner, such as spinning the front wheels, this can shorten the lifetime of the gearbox dramatically.
The Positives
While the above are the things you sometimes need to look out for in a used Range Rover, there are many positives which easily outweigh the potential issues. The Range Rover is such an iconic vehicle, and for good reason. Your field of vision is unsurpassed when driving a Range Rover, the interior and luxury extras are unbeatable, and while not a muscle car in the classic sense of the word, it is certainly a muscle SUV.
The Forums
Buying a Range Rover means you are never alone. There is a wealth of online information and plenty of owner forums where you can find information about anything and everything Range Rover related. Rather like the older-model Minis or VW Beetles, there is something special about owning a Range Rover.
Buying a Range Rover means buying a car for the style, the ride, and the sheer Britishness of it all. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask some good questions before purchasing your used Range Rover. Get your purchase right and you’ll never look back.
This is a collaborative post.
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