10 Worst Used Autos? Two Land Rovers Make the List (Post #435) 1/21/2014

Steven Lang has put together his own list of the top 10 worst used vehicles. You can visit it directly at THIS LINK (autos.yahoo.com). Its based on his own experience in the auto industry.

This is an interesting list and it has some very popular cars on it, VW Bug, Mini Cooper, and Jaguar S-types. I know my buddy JagGuy said his kids have had trouble with VWs of late. Engine failures with breaking in miles still left to be run. I saw a Mini Cooper in Mickey’s Garage just last week for a head gasket if I remember correctly. The job required the entire front of the car to be disassembled.

So with that lets review the Land Rovers…

4. Land Rover Discovery (Expensive parts. Expensive powertrains. Electronics that are apparently the spawn of Beelzebub.)
Who can argue with those failures? I have friends all the time asking me about Land Rover Discovery’s. I tell them straight, you will visit your mechanic if you buy one. There is a reason you can buy a 2001 Discovery II SE7 for under 4000$(US). Looks great in the driveway. Doesn’t look so great at the garage when you are writing a check for the latest repair which in the case of a transmission or transfer case could be more than you bought the vehicle for.

I am currently watching a 1997 Land Rover Discovery on eBay that has a 300 TDI under the bonnet. It will go for well over the Kelley Blue Book list price. I’m guessing at least 7500$(US). I’d love to own it, 31 mpg, are you kidding?!?

2. Land Rover Freelander (A cost-cutting exercise that went way past the bone.)
I’ve never owned one but I have heard the stories. I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw a Freelander on the road.

Every brand has their failures. Its funny he didn’t mention Range Rovers. The 1996-2002 model is terrible. These are easy to find at the 3000$(US) price point.

“Junk.”

“Don’t buy one.”

These are just two of the quotes I have heard from mechanics regarding the the Range Rover P38 or Mark II as they are also known. Yet, you can find champions of the model on many message boards.

My wife’s friends have a L322 or Mark III sitting in their drive way. They are considered “well to do” (Idiom) in Oklahoma. They’ve had two steering columns (used) put in trying to sort out a problem. at 2000$(US) each time their patience has worn thin. Beautiful automobile, a pleasure to drive, can’t start it to enjoy that.

My wife’s sister bought an L322 and had to immediately replace the center dash environmental controls. Beelzebub struck with a vengeance, twice. Thankfully her husband can turn a wrench and I think they escaped with relatively modest repair costs. (She’s a reader, correct me if I’m wrong on this.)

All this makes me wish for a simple and reliable vehicle with the marquee of Land Rover and reliability of a Willy’s Jeep circa 1945. I know I am inching every day toward a Series Land Rover knowing my concern once owning it would be going deaf from the noise at highway speeds and being unable to work on it myself from advanced age.

Just last night, Mrs. Okierover was watching the 1987 movie “Roxanne” starring Daryl Hannah (before she became a total wack-job) and the brilliant Steve Martin (if he was a British citizen he would have already been knighted…twice… once for Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid and a second for his work with the banjo).

They make a big point that the character C. D. Bales walks or rides his bike everywhere in the sleepy little town of Nelson where he is the Fire Chief.

Why???? They never really tell us until the final credits.

Look in his carport. Yep…he owns a Land Rover. Some days the deck is just stacked against you.

Thanks for reading and Happy Rovering.

9 Replies to “10 Worst Used Autos? Two Land Rovers Make the List (Post #435) 1/21/2014”

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