Ever bought something then regretted it?

On or around Mon, 28 Nov 2005 12:38:48 +0000 (UTC), "Andrew Cooke" enlightened us thusly:

[snip]

bummer, but then again, a 10-year-old jap 4x4 could have simialr problems and cost you a mint in parts to put right...

chap I know bought a 93 toyota surf thing, Just spent big moolah on getting the head gasket and head sorted...

LR dealers are expensive. Hunt a decent independent who knows LRs, there are quite a few about.

What area are you in?

Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Hi Andrew,

look upon it this way (as I am going through similar!)

1) once you find a nice cheap independent service place, you wont let them go 2) yeah, ok, a few niggles, but once they're sorted, they will niggle no more for some time if they've been done properly 3) I bought what on the outside looked like a tidy swb shogun for my mother in law. It came with an MOT that had a long time to run. When I popped it into my local (Douglas Motors in Wolston nr Coventry) garage, they put a prohibition notice on it because the chassis was made of papier mache!

So the jap stuff is just as prone to problems.

My v8 Disco is currently at the hospital in swanley. Just after i'd bought it, i thought "xfer box sounds a bit loud, wonder if there is any oil in it?" I managed to get a litre in (and the book says it holds 1.7!) then I checked the diffs, despite taking 4 hours to undo the drain plugs and fill plugs, i then found used engine oil (yes honestly!!). Again I sorted.

Then I got the bits to do the camshaft (thanks Richard at Beamends) well, it took me a week to do what should take about an hour - the oil drain plug took 5 hours to get off, the viscous fan took about 7.

Well, I gave up, and booked it in to see uncle Barry.

Well, the day before it was due to go in, SWMBO went to move it on the drive and it wouldn't go. AA said overfuelling, prolly airflow meter. So had to get it relayed in.

That was last wednesday, and with a bit of luck, tomorrow I get it back, with a stout dose of open wallet surgery - but do I care? no - why not - because I just love the sound of the v8 and the disco is a fine example of the beasty.

So dont regret it, just look upon it as preventative maintenance, oh and find a good indy garage asafp.

Si

Just spoke to dealer, diff lock mechanism is seized up and might need replacing and door latch is shot, £150, can live with that.

Coolant leak is a water pump gasket at £15 + £200 labour, ouch! Worse still, they reckon something nasty is causing it, e.g. head gasket, if this is the case they reckon £800-900 at which point I will be looking for a discreet arsonist! or more likely a decent lawyer to sue the trader that sold me it last Monday!

A.

Drive/ have it relay'd to me in Morayshire, North Scotland, I'll do the head gasket for a fraction of that!! (Last one I did cost the bloke £150, with a new set of bolts as well.) Oh, and the water pump gasket I'll replace at the same time for another tenner!!! Let's face it, what they're ripping you off in labour would more than cover your fuel and accommodation......

Badger.

When you bought it, did they put that lovely phrase "sold as seen" on the bill?

what condition was it sold as?

To of only had it a week and to have these sorts of issues - get the landrover dealer to do a report, and then have a chat with trading standards - they can be a very effective tool if used properly.

Si

The wording in the ad reads

" It is mechanically excellent and drives just as it should. Underneath is very solid with no signs of the usual 'rot' and is also free from oil and coolant leaks. The only faults on the vehicle are purely cosmetic"

stay

away

from

main

dealers

Find, as others have said, a local, competent independent Land Rover specialist. Like:

I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth my while caving in and simply following the lead of so many round here and trying to get my motor serviced by The Warren - it's 50 miles each way, but for the level of recommendation he comes with it's probably worth it.

Question is, does he actually have any available time with all the

101ers in Yorkshire monopolising him?

P.

Anyone used Stables 4x4 Centre on Harrogate Road, Pool-In-Wharfedale?

They claim to be an independent LR specialist with Discoveries being their forte.

Andy

Defo get the LR dealer to do a report then, and whilst waiting, have a chat with trading standards.

They cannot hide behind phrases like "sold as seen" on the receipt either - that only covers for things like windscreen wipers that you

**CAN** see.

Si

I have a workmate who bought an '89 shogun some five years ago for 5k. Everyone told him it was a dud but he would not listen and would not return it. When the MOT ran out it was obviously going to fail due to chassis rust. There was so much welding and mechanical work needed and he had also been well and trully stiched up on the finance, that he could not afford to get it fixed at the time. Of course it only got worse and it is still lying there waiting to be fixed, which it never will. It is 5k's worth of Japanese scrap which he had only six months of use out of. Counting the finance cost, I believe he has paid nearly 9k to watch it rot away.

Huw

A series 3 land rover perhaps ?

any way at £2900 that Disco was surely too good to be true.

People are always saying to me, why don't I get rid of my landie and get something a bit cheaper and more comfortable to run, but at the end of the day you get what you pay for and there are no real bargains out there.

I could have spent twice as much, and still end up with a heap of rust. My landie with a replacement engine is going to be around for some time yet, never mind there is always something that needs doing for the MOT.

You'll have a bit of a wait for anything unusual - and need to book at least 4 weeks in advance for general stuff. Can't even get my own in by jumping the queue :-(

Do give me a shout if you're thinking of visiting The Warren. I'm only 50 yards away and always have good coffee brewing :-)

Tell them what the main dealer has said. Ask them what they think.

Ask them to give you an idea of cost. After a little basic psychology you should be able to sus out whether they see you as a potential valued customer who will keep coming back - or - a quick twit-hit.

Mother wrote: > I'm only 50 yards away and always have good coffee brewing :-)

Aye, Eventually. The first time I came by, you were a hell of a lot further away..... ;-) Steve

i'M TAKING MY lANDIE IN THIS WEEK FOR THE REAR CROSSMEMBER REPLACING, THEY DO SEEM TO KNOW LANDIES. i PRESUME YOU MEAN 'tHE dICOVERY CENTRE'

-- Subaru WRX Range Rover LSE (Bob)

'"gimme the f*ckin' money"

WTF!