Post by LeoRRC on Dec 3, 2010 23:49:41 GMT -5
So you think you have found the perfect Rover? Plenty of power, smooth body, elegance. The car lot has promised you everything is fine with the car and all the service has been done. Well has it really? Land Rovers, and Range Rovers require the owners to follow regular service intervals. So owners choose to skip these and this cause their Rovers to have costly repairs. In reality owning a Land Rover isnt much more expensive than a average car when regular service is done and the owner practices preventive maintence. Most people lack any knowlege of Land Rovers and car lots prey on that, other than your Land Rover Dealer never trust the car lot. Here is a protocol for buying a used Rover.
The Land Rover Discovery Series II or D2 in landy speak is the most common used Rover on the market currently. Affordable, reliable, and very easy to modified for off-roading the D2 is a great choice for those who are new to Rovers or enjoy the simplistic but rugged design. Being the most common also means there are many lemons to be had on the used market. So heres a protocol check list for test driving a D2.
First things first pop the hood. Check the coolant level if its low or even empty walk away then, thats the biggest sign of a vehicle lacking maintained. Next if check the engine oil level, make sure the oil doesn't smell burned or is milky. Check brake fluid and power steering fluid levels. When looking for leaks remember there isn't a Discovery on God's Green Earth that doesn't leak oil from around the valve covers. Look for major leaks and signs of botched repair jobs. Now move to the interior, sagging headliners are common and the felt on the door panels will more than likely be worn raw. The seats should be in good shape. Test them make sure they power in every direction. Check to see if the cup holders pop out and see if the road triangle is still in the back. Check the door locks and all the power windows/sunroofs. Start the Rover up and cycle the A/C through all the settings and then more to heat and do the same. Check the sound system. Now you can start your drive.
The Rover V8 should be smooth and peppy. Its not a race car but it moves itself pretty swiftly. Their shouldn't be any vibrations while driving, and no Mr. Salesman that horrible vibration at 45mph isn't the tires. Pull into a empty parking lot and do a panic stop, there shouldn't be any skidding. Come to a stop and put the truck into the "N" position on the shifter. The shifter in front of the gear shifter is to select low range. With the gear shifter in the "N" position it should push forward into low range without much fuss. Sometimes you have to rock the truck alittle to get it to go. If it wont select low range you are looking at costly repair. In low range drive around alittle make sure there are no poping noises or grinding. With the truck back in high range do a few tight turns right and left. There shouldn't be a vibrations when doing this, if there is a CV joint is going. The transmission should shift smoothly, buyer beware there is no "limp mode" on the Discovery. Car lots like to use this as a excuse to cover up a bad transmission.
The best advice I can offer is never buy a D2 with any warning/service lights on, there is no "oil change light" or whatever excuse the car dealer may use, just don't buy it. Don't be scared to walk away. For every bad D2 there is 50 good ones.
The Land Rover Discovery Series II or D2 in landy speak is the most common used Rover on the market currently. Affordable, reliable, and very easy to modified for off-roading the D2 is a great choice for those who are new to Rovers or enjoy the simplistic but rugged design. Being the most common also means there are many lemons to be had on the used market. So heres a protocol check list for test driving a D2.
First things first pop the hood. Check the coolant level if its low or even empty walk away then, thats the biggest sign of a vehicle lacking maintained. Next if check the engine oil level, make sure the oil doesn't smell burned or is milky. Check brake fluid and power steering fluid levels. When looking for leaks remember there isn't a Discovery on God's Green Earth that doesn't leak oil from around the valve covers. Look for major leaks and signs of botched repair jobs. Now move to the interior, sagging headliners are common and the felt on the door panels will more than likely be worn raw. The seats should be in good shape. Test them make sure they power in every direction. Check to see if the cup holders pop out and see if the road triangle is still in the back. Check the door locks and all the power windows/sunroofs. Start the Rover up and cycle the A/C through all the settings and then more to heat and do the same. Check the sound system. Now you can start your drive.
The Rover V8 should be smooth and peppy. Its not a race car but it moves itself pretty swiftly. Their shouldn't be any vibrations while driving, and no Mr. Salesman that horrible vibration at 45mph isn't the tires. Pull into a empty parking lot and do a panic stop, there shouldn't be any skidding. Come to a stop and put the truck into the "N" position on the shifter. The shifter in front of the gear shifter is to select low range. With the gear shifter in the "N" position it should push forward into low range without much fuss. Sometimes you have to rock the truck alittle to get it to go. If it wont select low range you are looking at costly repair. In low range drive around alittle make sure there are no poping noises or grinding. With the truck back in high range do a few tight turns right and left. There shouldn't be a vibrations when doing this, if there is a CV joint is going. The transmission should shift smoothly, buyer beware there is no "limp mode" on the Discovery. Car lots like to use this as a excuse to cover up a bad transmission.
The best advice I can offer is never buy a D2 with any warning/service lights on, there is no "oil change light" or whatever excuse the car dealer may use, just don't buy it. Don't be scared to walk away. For every bad D2 there is 50 good ones.