Piston Slap: "I Don't Wanna Be a Dream Killer, But…"
James writes:
Dear Piston Slap,
My mom wants to get a Land Rover and asked me to do some research for her. Right off the bat, I didn’t think this was a good idea due to reliability issues. I’m not sure if she would want a Range Rover or an LR4, but she would probably get a pre-owned one from Carmax. I get the impression that the LR4 is less reliable than a Range Rover.
She and my dad live out in the middle of nowhere, so there would be no Land Rover dealers close by. The nearest one is 86 miles from home. Their house is on a dirt and gravel road that does get extremely muddy and treacherous. They also have a large Weimaraner that they want to take with them on long road trips to New York.
Before my mom got the idea that she wanted a Land Rover, she was seriously looking at a Honda CR-V or Pilot. I don’t want to be a dream killer, but I need to know if Land Rovers are generally reliable, and if not, what would be a good alternative that offers true utility for muddy roads and large dogs.
Sajeev answers:
Go with your gut feeling: of course Land Rovers are not reliable!
Well, that was easy.
Now for the alternative mode of transport: bouncing between a Landy and a Honda CUV/crossover (not SUV) is two extremes I wouldn’t consider for your application. If you live on a dirt/gravel road in the middle of nowhere, get a real SUV with a more sophisticated 4WD setup. Maybe a Subie, maybe a Jeep. While its not on par with an LR4’s luxurious design, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is probably the best of both worlds.
Don’t get an average CUV, you might get stuck in it. And for heaven’s sake, don’t get a Land Rover: it will break often and you might be stranded in it too! For different reasons than the CUV, naturally.
While I normally hate to use manufacturer’s marketing lingo, a “trail rated” Jeep is probably the best bet here. Off to you, Best and Brightest.
Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry.
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The problem with used or CPO European cars is you don't know where they've been. That's true of all cars, but you hear over and over how European brands don't the have reliability issues in Europe like they do in the U.S. Consider the short commutes and cooler climates Land Rovers usually see in the UK. Are you in a south western state? Is your used Land Rover from southern California? Done time on the 405? With lots of 80 mph escapes to the Palm Springs with the A/C on max?
Sajeev, I just happened on this site, although I'm not a regular reader, and have to say I'm disappointed by your article. As a blogger/journalist and presumed car enthusiast, you should be embarrassed to have provided advice that is based on outdated stereotypes. You possibly swayed someone from enjoying a vehicle that they might prefer to others and is in fact very reliable. Contrary to the lingering myth, modern Land Rovers are quite reliable cars, as is most any car sold today. Sure, V6 Freelanders and P38 Range Rovers had some major weak spots, but those haven't been produced for close to a decade. I have owned nine Land Rovers over the years and have only had one that caused me anything more than what I would consider normal issues, a 2000 Range Rover. In fact the rest have been more reliable than other cars I've owned that have a much better reputation for quality. My current Land Rover is a 2006 Range Rover that just turned 100k miles, with no problems other than replacing the radiator at 80k. Impressive record for any car, not to mention one as complex as it is. And it drives like new...not a squeak, rattle, or leak to be found. Wish I could say the same for my BMW with 80k. In case you think this is an anomaly, or argue that Land Rovers still have higher than average number of repairs needed, look at the data...sure having a car that will, for example, statistically require 0.8 repairs vs. 1.5 repairs over time makes the latter less reliable, but is that really a big enough difference to sway a reasonable person, especially one who has any interest in cars, from driving the car they prefer? No. The reality is that no current production car can realistically be classified as unreliable - they're all that good. Anyway, it would be great if, as an auto enthusiast/writer, you shared up-to-date, non-dramatized opinions, rather than lore.