Camp Rover

Choosing a RangeRover Classic cont.Photo by Gordon Kalio“I find it perfectly maneuverable;it doesn’t seem like I’m driving a big car”Rovers North has owned three Range Rovers.“Our first Range Rover was a grey market, twodoor 1980 RHD with a Perkins Diesel. Sincethen, we’ve had an ‘88 and now I have a ‘93with 120,000 miles. I’ve never, ever brokendown. It’s been incredibly reliable. I drive mostlyon bad dirt roads, on icy roads or duringmud season, and it’s unbelievable. I find it perfectlymaneuverable; it doesn’t seem like I’mdriving a big car. I haul a lot of stuff - farm feed,garden supplies, and the dogs travel with meeverywhere. I know the gas mileage is not terrificbut the car is so versatile.”Prospective Range Rover owners now ben -efit from the fact that the Rangie was not oftenthe only car in the stable, so they tended to havelow mileage. If the Range Rover was the onlycar, it often accumulated highway mileage - theeasiest on a drivetrain. A beneficial financingtrend coincided with Range Rover importation -the growth of leasing. Most leases came withmileage penalties if annual driving exceeded 12-15,000 miles a year. Usually, clauses also calledfor additional charges that encouraged adequatemaintenance. All of this means that there are agood number of well-maintained, good condi -tion Range Rovers on the market.Range Rovers are exquisite designs whosetautness and solidity can lull the typicalAmerican owner into neglecting necessary maintenance,and fool the inexperienced mechanic.Inadequate preventative maintenance likelymeans you will pick up the tab after your purchaseof the car. So look for a car whichincludes a maintenance history. Talk to the previousowner to determine where the mainte -nance was performed. Remember, maintenancetakes time and attention. If someone promisesthat your oil change and fluid check should takeonly 30 minutes, you’ll only get thirty minutes ofattention - and that’s not enough for qualitywork. Look for a car that’s been maintained by aLand Rover dealer or by a reputable servicefacility experienced with Land Rovers.Pete Van Schaack of the 4 x 4 Center,Williston, VT, says “don’t buy one sight unseenunless it’s been tested and approved by an expe -rienced and authorized dealer or shop.” DaveSangerhausen of Rovers North agrees and rec -ommends that you “ask to see the maintenancehistory if the Rover was dealer serviced. Goodservice is vital for Range Rover owners. I have76,000 miles on our ‘94 LWB, and I haven’t hadto do anything to it other than routine maintenance.I’ve not had any electrical problems, norany system problems of any sort. It has an unbelievableamount of room in the back seat, andwe can get our one-year old, Jack, in and out ofthe back seat with ease. We tow a 15’ traveltrailer, but I’ve also towed other larger trailerswith it. With its length, brakes, and power, itsphenomenal when it comes to towing.”All US market Range Rovers started withthe same basic engine, the tried and true 215cubic inch V-8. It began in 1987 at 3.5 liters,grew to 3.9, 4.0, and later, 4.2 liters. Everyonehas their favorites and preferences among theRange Rover engines. The V-8 has proved to beas durable as the classic 2.25 liter Series fourcylinder,but with a lot more power and smoothness.Rovers North has worked on engines routinelywith over 150,000 miles and no apparentweaknesses. High mileage engines need regularoil changes, every 3,000-4,000 miles, to assurelongevity. Have a compression check and leakdowntest performed to assess the condition ofvalves, piston rings, and cylinder bores. Smalloil leaks at the main seals and valve cover arenot uncommon, but warrant your attention.Discuss the results of these tests, and of yourother findings, with the staff at Rovers North tohelp you judge the best buy for your needs.Similarly, other systems have provendurable over the long haul. The automatic transmissionshave proven quite dependable. These,too, benefit from proper routine maintenance,which would include the changing of the transmissionfluids and filters. The transfer cases andswivel ball assemblies can be prone to leaks;determine the level in each by crawling underneaththe car, opening the cases, and stickingyour fingers in to determine fluid levels. Lowlevels are an indication that the car has not beenwell maintained. The hypoid oil in the axles,transfer cases, and swivel balls should be darkand clean, not milky (a sign of water) or gritty.While you’re examining the front end,check the power steering box for leaks; youmight need to replace the seals. Look carefullyat the front tires for signs of uneven tread wearthat could mean loose tie rods, front end misalignment,or other front end problems. All canbe repaired, but they should also affect the finalprice! The coil spring suspension of the RangeRover provides a superb ride, and with theclever axle design, great off road performance.However, springs can wear and your shouldcheck the car for level. The suspension bushings,rubber pieces that sit between the variousrods and arms, will deteriorate with time andallow the axles to shift slightly when underway.If, when you drive the car, it feels a bit squirrely,make clunking noises under gear changes, youmay find cracked bushings underneath the car.Try turning the wheels side to side and watchthe car body; does it move when the car is notin motion? Again, you might have bad bushings.Once replaced, the handling of the Range Rovercan feel transformed.The Range Rover braking system worksvery well, but four wheel disc brake systems areinherently more expensive than the Series drumand shoe setup. Look not only at the brakes inoperation, but also at the condition of therotors. Have they been scored and turned? Arethey thick enough to last another turning? Again,preventative maintenance of the previous ownercan save you money in the long run.The Range Rover has more steel piecesthan the Series Land Rover, and some RangeRover parts seem to corrode more than anyonewould like. The rear lift gate seems the mostprone to rusting; rocker panel pieces can rust,too. Check the wheel wells, front and rear, andthe door jamb in the rear door latch area, carefullyfor any corrosion; also. Replacement partsare easily available, but as prices of RangeRovers rose, they drag parts prices up withthem. Recognize that Range Rovers have alwaysresided at the premium end of the new car pricespectrum, and that parts replacement costs willbe higher than lesser vehicles.Pete Van Schaack of the 4 x 4 Center inWilliston, VT, said “that customers often ask usto help them find ‘94 -’95 models, which willcost them between $10 - $15,000. If at an auction,we can’t drive the cars, then we look forsigns of body damage, crawl underneath andlook for leaks. We’ll run the engine, listen fortransmission and driveline clunks, looseness intie rods, swivel balls and wheel bearing. Onolder cars, we also check that you can lock thecenter differential; often, people never usedthem. We have people who will drive into ourshop for a repair in the winter and haven’tlocked the center differential, even in a snowstorm.Also, on air spring models, we listen forthe compressor running while the car is underway;if you can hear it, there may be a leak inthe system.”Prices for Range Rover Classics now reston par with prices for restored Series vehicles,and reside well below those for Defender models.Discussions with Land Rover Centresrevealed that 1987 - 1989 models will fetchfrom $4,000 - $8,000 at the dealer; those priceswon’t let you buy a new Kia or Daewoo SUVassumingyou wanted one at all.Unique Range Rover models have a follow -ing all their own; the ‘89 Hunter, with its lessplushinterior and unique exterior markings,will fetch a higher price. The ‘91 Great DivideEdition also has a unique following.An online search of “Blue Book” prices forthe SWB [short wheelbase] models suggestedthe following prices:Year Private Sale Dealer Retail1990 $5,038 $6,1751991 $6,344 $7,6311992 $7,330 $8,6271992 $7,952 $9,4241993 $9,273 $10,8301994 $11,102 $12,6881995 $13,703 $15,549These prices assumed reasonable mileageand good condition cars; prices will be slightlyhigher for low mileage, LWB or special editionmodels. Some enthusiasts prefer pre-’91 modelsbecause they lack the Boge air suspension systemsand have coil springs all around.Since Range Rovers, particularly those after1991, found themselves in competition with lux -ury cars that were stuffed with amenities, theRange Rover came filled with verydelightful accessories and comfortableaccouterments. From power windows to heatedseats to ABS and air suspension systems. thecomplexities of these Range Rovers mean thatyou have to pay attention to the condition ofthese systems. Try each and every one of them;while they’re ruggedly constructed, they’re notinexpensive to replace. Make certain they allwork before you consider a purchase. Also,many first owners preferred not to work ontheir cars themselves, and that some non-func -tional systems lacked only some TLC; the RoversNorth BBS and other Internet sites are filled withstories of Range Rover repairs completed withjust a wire brush, patience and elbow grease.The value of Range Rover ownership isintensely personal, but it’s hard not to fall forthe engineering, style and immense competenceof the vehicle. The sales success of the RangeRover in the US means there are plenty of RangeRovers for sale. Mike Smith of East Coast Roversays “they can be as tough as a Series truck; Ibought an well-maintained ‘87 with 100,000miles, and I proceeded to put on 35,000 milesof no-maintenance, on and off road driving. Isold it to an owner in Chicago where it’s still inuse. Be careful, though, not to jump into a luxury4 x 4 and assume that it will have Chevy partsand repair prices. If you’re willing to do maintenancework yourself, you can really enjoy yourRange Rover.” Pete Van Schaack of the 4 x 4Center notes that “there are many Range RoverClassics in daily use in Vermont. We have hundredsthat come in for routine maintenanceevery year.” In summary, be fussy and particularand you’ll reward yourself with an elegant,rugged vehicle that will transport you for a longtime with great delight.© 2001 Rovers North Inc • 1319 VT Route 128, Westford, Vermont 05494-9601, USA • 802.879.0032 • e-mail rovers@together.net • www. r o v e r s n o r t h . c o m