05/06 Range Rover HSE Sport - What to look out for?

JohnCleary

I've been looking at Range Rover Sport HSE's in the 05/06 range, 2.7l V6 engine, they're becoming quite affordable. Friend just bought one and I likey, a lot... I do pull the odd trailer and i'm sick of getting lends of jeeps.

I realise the economy is pretty dire on these, in around the low 20MPG around the city (which I wouldn't be doing - I walk into town)

Question is, what to look out for? I know nothing about Range Rovers apart from any time I drove one or pulled a jeep with one it was a nice drive.

Are there any major flaws with this age/engine/jeep?
What extra's should I be looking out for (obviously more extras = more desirable)

Cheers folks.

E39MSport

Hi,

Nice looking yoke. Owned and sold a 06. But there are far superior vehicles out there.

Anyhow, what to look for (from memory and other forums): -

- Driveline shunt; can't be fixed apparently (noticable thud into gear when accelerating from a slow coasting speed - say slowing down for ramps etc)
- Anti Roll bar bushes go every c. 10k miles. Pain in the ass and can be expensive over time. had mine done twice in 12 months.
- Tailgate rattle - needs aligning and a fix appled to lock
- Lock mechanism in rear doors go and doors can't be opened
- Paint dribbles
- Interior rattles
- Lower ball joints (need replacing every 30k)
- sh1t quality wiper blades - was fixed in '08
- Brackets on air compressor break causing noisey compressor
- on board computer throws wobblers from time to time

I had all of the above problems (most of the common ones)

Other possible problems: -
- Drivers seat can move a bit - needs new seat chassis
- suspension compressor can go (expensive)
- turbo failure

Check out rrsport.co.uk and see all the moaning.

Things to want: -
Harman Kardon Full sound upgrade
Stormer wheels or HSE Vogues (boggo ones are manky)
Fridge
Heated rear seats
Luggage cover
RRS Mats
Alpaca seats
Sat Nav (standard on hse I think)
Rear sound controls and headphone jacks
Watertight warranty

As I said, fantastic to look at and a nice drive if you don't have silly +20" wheels and don't pay attention to the noises.

Build quality is a BIG issue with them. FFRR is MUCH Better.

Have fun.

JohnCleary

Wow, thanks so much, this is exactly the info i'm looking for.

I realise that every car has it's problems, the thing I fear is that with a RR they could be expensive fixes. Thanks for the link to the specialised forum - I think i'm gonna register and have a good long read over the coming weeks. Having said that, if i'd done that before buying my 320d, i'd have never bought it and in fairness the car hasn't given me any bother (i re-built the turbo out of caution last year which wasn't a big deal)

E39MSport

No problem. Good idea to read up.

I see where you're coming from with regard to over-researching possibly putting you off. Take it from me as an ex-owner and someone who is very particular
abou t their cars. They are pretty poor relative to the competition, especially for the money. However, as you say, they are quite affordable these days.

Not sure but I think the service I got for mine was over 300 notes and that was a standard one. Mileage isn't as bad as you think, you'll get 25 I'd say about town. I remapped mine and got it to 32 with 45 extra horsies and loads more torque.

Cheers,

Grimreaper666

What about a BMW X5? I've had a Range-Rover and a RR Sport and there's no way i'd buy another, on my second X5 and couldn't praise it highly enough.

Victor_M

Can I ask what FFRR stands for E39Msport?

Fully fledged Range Rover? Guess

E39MSport

Full Fat

Henry Ford III

A huge financial risk. I know a chap who has a relatively late model petrol version (madness) and has had to replace the gearbox and a lot of the suspension.

By his own admission it's an absolute money pit.

nightster1

buy the L322 model, i've had 90,000 miles of pure comfort in my HSE for the last six years, good maintenance and they'll go on forever.....

E39MSport

I'd say that the ZF 6 speed auto box along with the V6 Ford lump are the best things about it along with the look. Don't think they give too much trouble however some of the earlier ones suffer from driveline shunt but this apparently is software related.

My thinking is that there are good ones and bad ones due to build. A mate of mine lives in the North of England and says he sees quite a few of them broken down after leaving the factory! I have the image in my mind of lazy hung over unionised old dudes throwing the cars together. Mine had paint dribbles on it from the factory. Not uncommon. Neither is a misaligned bonnet and other such basic things.

bazz26

I'd say a Disco might be less of a financial money pit than a RR Sport:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200941195463267
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200946195845883

Pros:
Available as a commercial vehicle so motortax is cheaper.
Less thirsty than a petrol but maybe of little relevance is doing tiny mileage.
Plenty of torque to pull a boat.
Maintenance and parts are probably not as expensive as the RR Sport.

Cons:
Commerical models are pretty basic spec wise.
Passenger models are probably just as expensive to buy as a RR Sport.
Disco is more designed as a workhorse than the RR.

pajo1981

E39MSport wrote: »

I'd say that the ZF 6 speed auto box along with the V6 VAG lump are the best things about it along with the look..

I thought the 2.7 V6TD was a ford/PSA unit?

unkel

pajo1981 wrote: »

I thought the 2.7 V6TD was a ford/PSA unit?

You thought right. It's built in the Ford plant in Dagenham, England, nicht Deutschland

CharlieCroker

E39MSport wrote: »

I'd say that the ZF 6 speed auto box along with the V6 VAG lump are the best things about it.

RRS doesnt use a VAG engine, the 2.7 is a joint effort between PSA (Peugeot use it in the 407 coupe and Citroen in the C6) and Ford (used in LR and Jaguar products)

E39MSport

yup, sorry, my bad, Mr. Ford twin turbo plant.

gibbon75

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd say a Disco might be less of a financial money pit than a RR Sport

Nope,as it is the same car under the RR Sport clothes...and the same problems too

Pdfile

JohnCleary wrote: »

I've been looking at Range Rover Sport HSE's in the 05/06 range, 2.7l V6 engine, they're becoming quite affordable. Friend just bought one and I likey, a lot... I do pull the odd trailer and i'm sick of getting lends of jeeps.

I realise the economy is pretty dire on these, in around the low 20MPG around the city (which I wouldn't be doing - I walk into town)

Question is, what to look out for? I know nothing about Range Rovers apart from any time I drove one or pulled a jeep with one it was a nice drive.

Are there any major flaws with this age/engine/jeep?
What extra's should I be looking out for (obviously more extras = more desirable)

Cheers folks.

its a range rover - avoid at all costs. Every single person i know hates them plus here a free tip for anyone out of work -

the electric windows especially the rear budge easy as the electrics fail regularly... alarm 9 timeso ut of 10 doesnt go off but the immob works. it would take 6 lads two minutes to take most of the easily accessible gear without make a slight noise.

This happens regular. If that and the lack of quality from the jeep alone doesnt detire you....

Best of luck... ?

Pkiernan

Like with the purchase of a speed boat, if you buy a RR, you will be happy twice. The day you buy it, and the day you offload it...

JohnCleary

This is what I was expecting to hear I suppose like I said earlier, if i'd researched the BMW before i'd bought it, I wouldn't have and i'm perfectly happy with the car.

The thing I fear about the RR is that fixing the thing might be a damn sight more expensive than the BM.

I think i'll keep on shopping... someone mentioned the X5 and I do like the look of them. I feel they're also less 'look at me' than the RR, and to confess the main attraction of the RR is that I love the look of them

E39MSport

Hi John,

To be fair, the RRS has a terrible reputation relative to the beemer. I'd bet that your research for your 320 would not have thrown up as many common serious issues as the RRS.

Cheers,
K

pburns

E39MSport wrote: »

Hi John,

To be fair, the RRS has a terrible reputation relative to the beemer. I'd bet that your research for your 320 would not have thrown up as many common serious issues as the RRS.

Cheers,
K

+1 on that...

The 320d may have issues (early ones anyway) but they pale in comparison with those listed for LR/RR products.

X5 would be a better bet I think and probably better on-road than even a RR but I can see the attraction of a RR or RRS. They look the business and the British journos salivate over them but as an ownership proposition they're a pile of poo I reckon...

JohnCleary

Crikey. Well thank's a lot for the info. It's better to hear this rather than buy one and be waiting for something (expensive) to go wrong.

I'm going to keep me eyes open over the next while, I wouldn't be making a move for a few weeks anyhow

junkyard

I'm on my fourth X5, my sister has one, three of my cousins and four of my friends have them and none of us would buy anything else, (apart from the Cayenne turbo S) I've owned Range-Rovers and RR sports and it's like going back 10 years as regards technology and handling and I won't even start on build quality and breakdowns.
Research your X5 well though, some previous owners have given them dogs abuse and didn't bother servicing them. Look out for oil leaks around the turbo, rear suspension bushings and subframe mountings, also check the gearbox, if it's a bit clunky taking off and slowing down. That said though i'd recommend them highly.

unkel

Family member bought a new RRS 2.7 diesel in '06 and changed up the next year to a new '07 (Celtic Tiger time )

Both have left him stranded needed to be towed away. And it wasn't because he ran out of petrol

That's not very good on a brand new car, is it? He's had no other major issues afaik.

Slidey

My giddy aunt but I think they are the most over hyped and over complicated heaps ever.

The rear suspension is a joke. So many bloody linkages, arms and brake pipes. Crazy.

Need convincing? Clarkson loves them.

nightster1

X5 owners beware of flooded roads! Recently a '09 got stranded in front of me, i had to go and pull him out with my RR. It turned out that his air intake drew in water and his engine needs replacing.

...stephen...

The best type to go for is the proper range rover. go for a tdv8 engine in vogue spec. And if you are thinking about the sport aswell the tdv8 is the engine to go for. Do not get the stomer tyres, as they are usless off road. And get a commercial if you are getting any of them. Same tax and insurance as a van. Go to the uk to buy it aswell. As the commercials in ireland have not been threated well, off road, salt water, towing traielrs with about 10t excess on them. damage panals etc just another awl work vechical.thrust me i know;)

groupb

unkel wrote: »

Family member bought a new RRS 2.7 diesel in '06 and changed up the next year to a new '07 (Celtic Tiger time )

Both have left him stranded needed to be towed away. And it wasn't because he ran out of petrol

That's not very good on a brand new car, is it? He's had no other major issues afaik.

I know a bloke that had his X5 towed up the hill out of his housing estate in the snow - by a range rover. I suppose it depends on whether you want a real 4x4 or a tall estate.

nightster1

depends on what you want I suppose, X5's and Santa Fe's and the like are great urban machines, just don't venture too much away from flat tarmac

junkyard

nightster1 wrote: »

X5 owners beware of flooded roads! Recently a '09 got stranded in front of me, i had to go and pull him out with my RR. It turned out that his air intake drew in water and his engine needs replacing.

Range Rover drivers just beware of everything else! I've been through fields, floods, snow and plenty of sticky situations without any failure on my X5s behalf, it's the drivers are to blame for getting stuck from any situation I've seen. Plenty of Range Rovers and RR sports being towed since the snow around here and some X5s too but I have seen people taking their 4x4s into places you wouldn't take a tractor or even a boat!! The trick is to know it's and your own limitations as a driver. I've owned four Range Rovers and three Discoverys and i would honestly say NEVER AGAIN.

nightster1

Agreed, people think they can go anywhere in 4x4's and that's how they get stranded. I know a man up a mountain with a tractor who recovers lots of 4x4 drivers, he says that they are the only drivers capable of getting up there and stuck. Regarding RR's, i can only go by personal experience, bought mine new in '04, never a bother, does what she's told, great comfort and luggage space!