By George Collins (Zinhead) on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 12:00 am: Edit

We all know that the original Range Rover is a classic. Both luxurious when new and quite practical when old, original Range Rovers will continue to see years of service.

With a new all independently sprung RR due next year, I was wondering what the legacy of the current Range Rover will be. I don't think many off roaders will call it a classic. After all, it has way too many electronic doodads to be an expedition vehicle, nor is it as good off-road as a Classic or Disco. The sophisticated electronics make the vehicle more expensive to maintain, and less desireable for home mechanics who tend to flock to simpler to repair LR vehicles. There is little if any aftermarket support for the vehicle in terms of off road equipment.

So what happens to all of these Yuppie luxo barges now that they are not the latest thing? I would think resale values will plumet once the new model comes out. They will no longer hold the status that drives thier current buyers, and the off road crowd will shy away from them.

By PerroneFord on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 08:38 am: Edit

Resale value for them is keeping pace with Discos of the same year (at least for the older ones) so the market seems very weak at best. But I suppose they will be snapped up by plenty of folks who want the "Range Rover" gracing their driveway, and don't really care about taking it off-road.

Enthusiasts won't touch it, but not because its not a capable truck. In fact, it has better stock articulation than the classic with airbags. But as you mentioned, there is just too much electronic stuff for it to be reliable as it gets older. The aftermarket is indeed soft and I expected to see more things for it as it got older and cheaper, but that really hasn't happened. Perhaps more will happen when the new model is introduced.

I do think it is the least loved Land Rover to date, and that is pretty sad.

-P

By mike on Wednesday, December 05, 2001 - 09:24 pm: Edit

a "new" body style range rover in stock trim will out perform both range rover classic and disco 1 and 2 in stock trim offroad. Hands down. I have seen it time and again in maryland.

By Craig on Wednesday, December 05, 2001 - 10:00 pm: Edit

Got to beat the piss out of vitesse 4.6 at Trek 97. Like mike said, in stock trim, it will laugh at classics, D1's and D2's.
Sure would like to get my hands on some of those carbon rear radius arms.
Ditch the EAS, and the rest of the gizmos really don't scare me.
There is a salesguide here w/ a 02 4.6 HSE, w/ 31x12.50x16 boggers for offroad use. F'n amazing in loose terrain/ hillclimbs.
my .02
Craig

By Ron Ward (Ronward) on Wednesday, December 05, 2001 - 10:31 pm: Edit

I was at Camp Rover East in May in Tennessee and the king of the hill all weekend on the 3 and 4 level trails was a 4.6 HSE Callaway (bought by a nice older couple in Atlanta from Bear Valley). It's stock street tires walked over stuff my medium duty left and ATs had to take a running start at. Amazing. The whole time the guy driving was sitting in air conditioned comfort while the CD played and his wife sat there with the dog in her lap.

Ron Ward

By PerroneFord on Wednesday, December 05, 2001 - 11:02 pm: Edit

Ron,

Are you locked on either end?

-P

By Andy Nix (Andy) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 01:28 pm: Edit

My 4.6 is amazing off-road. I just put some 31's on it, and it's awesome. I've broken the right front drive shaft, and that's about all (off-road)The air suspension isn't bad at all, when it goes out, I'll just replace it !! That's what it's all about. I don't prefer it over the Discovery, it's just different. My wife feels safe in it, and we don't plan on getting rid of it. I still have a place in my heart for the classics and disco's, but right now I can't afford another toy.

As far as price goes, aren't LR's notorious to sell for what they're WORTH ? If a Disco is worth 10k, than that's that.

Who cares what other people think, if you can get an inexpensive off-roader than do it !!! If the prices keep coming down, that means cheaper parts!