There seems to be no shortage of people whose motoring ambition is to own a Range Rover. Notwithstanding the fact that they are huge vehicles, are sinful consumers of fuel and cost an awful lot of money to run, they are nevertheless seen by many as the embodiment of prestige and luxury.
It is hard to argue against the latter. There are few cars out there that can convey you in such luxury and comfort. However, if you are of a mind to buy one second-hand just ensure you are in a position to pay when things go wrong.
One is reminded of this by the tale of a Dublin businessman who has a four-year-old Range Rover with 40,000 miles on the clock and who has already had to deal with a very expensive inlet manifold problem and problems with the dashboard display system.
Range Rovers are highly technical vehicles and this is one of their selling points. Electronics abound (as they do with most luxury cars these days) but even diagnosing a problem can be an expensive procedure. Owners of current Range Rovers (from 2002 on) have complained of problems with ABS systems, intercoolers, air suspension systems and transmission shifting.
The current model is the latest incarnation of a car that has been around for more than thirty years. On a long journey the car is a dream to drive and has the capacity to glide rather than chug along. Its claims to being the most luxurious off-roader are well justified.
There are three trim options, SE, HSE and Vogue, but even the basic is luxurious. The engine options up to 2005 included a 3.0-litre diesel and a 4.4-litre petrol, originally supplied by BMW but since replaced with a modified Jaguar engine with the same capacity. Even Range Rover owners appreciate the cost of running a petrol version and most people opt for the diesel version. The diesel does not have an easy job moving this amount of metal but it is adequate and it is also reasonably economical. A more refined diesel has only recently been added to the range.
Not that Range Rover owners actually need it, but the car has a really fantastic off-road ability. Few of them ever venture onto rough terrain but they really should consider taking their vehicle to an off-road school just once to experience the engineering. Normal ride and handling are excellent for a car of this size and weight. The boot is very generous.
The Range Rover has a four-star rating in the EuroNCAP crash tests and was described as having a very strong safety cage and all doors could be opened by hand after testing. Pedestrian protection, however, was described as "dire".
Second-hand Range Rovers don't come cheap. A 2003 version with a 2.9-litre diesel engine, alloys, all electrics, leather upholstery, heated seats and all the gadgets you can think of and 80,000 miles on the clock is on offer for €59,000. A one-year younger diesel, with 44,500 miles on the clock is on offer at €62,950. The 2004 Vogue model with a 4.4-petrol engine, and with 23,000 miles on the clock is on offer for €72,950