which rover to buy?

FourByLand

Expedition Leader
MUSBJIM said:
Trey -

With all things considered, I would go with the RRC. I have a 91 RRC (Great Divide) I've logged 270K miles (owned since new). At the time I chose the RRC over the Defender because it would be my daily driver providing more ride comfort and cargo capacity on long road trips/excursions, while still proving to be very trail-worthy. Also, you don't get quite as road-weary on long trips in a RRC.

I imagine you could find a decent RRC for a fair price (<$5K) leaving you some money to budget for a nice build-up.

...I'm just saying...

That's very cool that you have owned it since new, Jim. Great testament!

:088:
 

MattScott

Approved Vendor
MUSBJIM said:
Trey -

With all things considered, I would go with the RRC. I have a 91 RRC (Great Divide) I've logged 270K miles (owned since new). At the time I chose the RRC over the Defender because it would be my daily driver providing more ride comfort and cargo capacity on long road trips/excursions, while still proving to be very trail-worthy. Also, you don't get quite as road-weary on long trips in a RRC.

I imagine you could find a decent RRC for a fair price (<$5K) leaving you some money to budget for a nice build-up.

...I'm just saying...

Being a single owner vehicle, have you experienced less problems?
 

repete

Observer
Be aware of rust on the classics.
bottom of A pillers
bottom of C pillers
Rockers & floor pans
upper T-gate
lower rear corners/along the bottom of the lower t-gate.
Just look over one well b-4 buying. I drive mine 100 miles a day, and wouldn't trade it for anything!
 

RonL

Adventurer
If I was looking at buying a RRC, 1995 long wheelbase. The 1995 had 8" more room in the second row and the Discovery dash panel.

Go to this website, it has everything you need to know, http://www.rangerovers.net/ This is where I got the pictures from.
 

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czenkov

Adventurer
You should be able to find a decent RRC for less than $5k these days although 100k+ miles should be expected. I did see one on a local site w/ 60k miles for $3800 so they can be found - not sure if they were original though i.e. rebuild.

They can also be found for $15k+ with unusually low miles. (Bear Valley)

When I was wanting one, have never owned one but they sure drive nice, (I ended up with a '97 LC w/ lockers) I was warned that the 1995 RRC had some stuff that was unique to it making parts pricier and harder to find. Not sure as to the validity of that statement but seems reasonable.
 

Cambo

Adventurer
I have owned both the Disco and RRC. I now have a 1995 LWB and would vote for that particular model and year. The 95 has the 4.2 V8 which has a considerable amount more power than the 3.9. The extra 8" in leg room is fantastic! Especially if loading kids, and if you have small children you can pack a lot of extra gear on the floor in front of them. Another reason for liking the 95 is of course the Disco dash. Much more user friendly, nicer looking and more comfortable. Plus you can easily get those two large cupholders in there. As far as parts, these are plentiful and a lot of the parts have cross references so you can buy them pretty cheap at the local parts store. Not to mention if you need drivetrain or engine parts you can get them from a RRC or a Disco since most of those parts are interchangeable. Lastly, you can find these pretty inexpensive if you look for ones with broken air suspension or a broken transfer case. Those are the two things I would recommend swapping out anyway. Good luck
 

MUSBJIM

Observer
Being a single owner vehicle do you experience less problems?

Since I do mostly solo excursions I implement a pro-active/aggressive maintenance schedule (religious on oil/filter changes, same with drivetrain components, same with belts/hoses). At the first sign of any leakage, wear, fray I repair/replace parts as warranted. When the head-gasket needed replacing at 155K miles, I rebuilt the original 3.9L to 4.2L.

This has always been a SoCal car, rust has not been an issue other than the usual upper tailgate rust spot. If I've gone through any mud obstacles, I always give the undercarrigae a good hose-off at first opportunity.

In light of this, the car has proven most reliable with no breakdowns (knock-on-wood).
 
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LC/LR4Life

Adventurer
RRC is such an elegant, and off road worthy vehicle at the same time. Rover should be chastised for getting rid of it from the line. Since Tata owns Rover now, maybe they will bring back some sense to Rover and get it back on line, and maybe even import some 90s and 110s to the USA.
 

Navman

Adventurer
LC/LR4Life said:
Since Tata owns Rover now, maybe they will bring back some sense to Rover and get it back on line, and maybe even import some 90s and 110s to the USA.

Please, please, please!! We all have our fingers crossed on this one.
 

Navman

Adventurer
wickedcj said:
...im looking to purchase a used rover to ...hopefully one that is dependable.

The first thing to learn about Rovers is that the word dependable cannot be used in the same sentence as Rover, unless the word not is precedes it.

Once your mindset is correct, you will then be happy with the times that it is sorta dependable and not so dissappointed when you're fixing it.

That said, we bought a '96 D1 at 50k, did a lot of fixin' the first year, and it has been very reliable since. We are now at 150k on the clock and still going strong.
 

gjackson

FRGS
The first thing to learn about Rovers is that the word dependable cannot be used in the same sentence as Rover, unless the word not is precedes it.

I have to say that after owning 4 Rovers dependable is a word that can be aptly applied. Here I have to differentiate the company from the product. I can depend on my Rover to get home (any of them). I cannot depend on the company for putting the vehicle together correctly in the first place. But then the latter is a very short term problem which, if resolved correctly, will allow spades of the former.

cheers
 
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Chucaro

Adventurer
My first LR was a 109 V8 3.5 1978 model. First breakk down @ 270.000
Second LR a Disco 1998 tdi300 sold with 185.000 Km not break downs
Now I have a RR Hiline 1988 more than 245000 Km and is going just fine, need replace a seal on the transfer case.
Rule number 1 with LR is ignore the oil leaks
Second rule do the correct preventative maintenance and services and they will go for ever.
They are a machine and they can break down as my old FJ40 used to do.

Cheers
 

LC/LR4Life

Adventurer
Oil leaking should NOT be considered normal. If you replace your gaskets with quality new ones, and before installation put Red RTV silicon gasket maker on both sides of your gaskets (a thin layer will do), you will not have any leaks after torqing to spec.
 

Chucaro

Adventurer
LC/LR4Life said:
Oil leaking should NOT be considered normal. If you replace your gaskets with quality new ones, and before installation put Red RTV silicon gasket maker on both sides of your gaskets (a thin layer will do), you will not have any leaks after torqing to spec.

When I say ignore them is because is a normal fault in the LR (like in the old English motor bikes), so when considering purchasing a LR a oil leak have to be spected. Fix them will be part of the rutine maintenance.
I ignore them when they are minor leaks and the work to stop them is a big job like remove the gearbox and transfer case.
That is my experience with more than 500.000 km in this vehicles.
Cheers
 

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