Recently Purchased Used Car - The Money Pit

[Pokerface]

Three months ago bought a beautiful 2012 Ranger Rover Sport with low mileage. Excellent price from a dealer. After the 45 day warranty bought new snow tires, will need new summer tires, rear brakes had to be replaced, front brakes need to be replaced in spring, tire pressure monitoring system had to be replaced and now a cracked windshield that will be replaced next week. Have not had a single week without a warning light or cracked windshield staring at me. Too bad but will try to sell soon. The thing is I traded in my X3 because I did not want to invest anymore money in it. LOL

Anyone else had such a nightmare?

ps: sorry, I posted in wrong section and not sure how to delete.

[Aeternus]

Cars in general is massive headache if you ask me, both with new and used cars.

Used cars = costly repairs.
New cars = depreciation and fear of scratches and dents.

[RacingJim]

I've heard before that Range Rovers can be money/time pits. I think all premium cars can be like that though to be honest, especially once they're a few years out of warranty. I think you can get unlucky sometimes with a bad one though and it sounds like you might have got unlucky.

I'm 2 years into a 3 year warranty with my car, it's not needed a thing doing, you can guarantee everything will go after the 3 years is up.

[casinobonusguy]

My father has owned Land rover/Range Rovers since the 1960s so really surprised to see these complaints but I suppose there is always lemons in all makes and models.

[nwalker]

My father has owned Land rover/Range Rovers since the 1960s so really surprised to see these complaints but I suppose there is always lemons in all makes and models.

I don't think he has a lemon. By the looks of it he purchased a 4 year old car and all the consumables Brakes/tyres etc were about due to be changed, which is about right given the age and possible mileage.

You should always make sure that when your buying a second hand car that you check that all the major items have recently been changed. Brakes, discs, Cam belts, Water Pump etc. If not you'll end up with the burden of doing it yourself. So either negotiate the price down or go find one that has.

The windscreen should be replaced under insurance if its covered and the brake sensor, well that's just bad luck.

[Pokerface]

You are absolutely right about buying a second hand car. I bought from a reputable dealer and thought that things would have been looked after. Certainly there are maintenance items that need to be looked after and perhaps I just bad luck. Next time I will be more careful and ask the right questions. For example I did not ask about the brakes nor did they volunteer the information. Fortunately the windshield will be covered with only a $100 deductible.

A very good lesson learned when I sell it soon and buy something different.

[DaftDog]

You are absolutely right about buying a second hand car. I bought from a reputable dealer and thought that things would have been looked after. Certainly there are maintenance items that need to be looked after and perhaps I just bad luck. Next time I will be more careful and ask the right questions. For example I did not ask about the brakes nor did they volunteer the information. Fortunately the windshield will be covered with only a $100 deductible.

A very good lesson learned when I sell it soon and buy something different.

You've just resolved the major problems you had so why risk the possibility of new problems with another purchase?

[Syndicate]

Was the salesperson an ex affiliate manager?

Joke apart - I've noticed in the past that once something goes wrong with a car, everything falls apart. I've been leasing cars for the past 12 years, but even that's not the answer.

I've got business colleagues and friends who only rent cars, because it cuts out all the bother. We are moving to Munich in February, and i'm going to do exactly the same. The last time i was in Germany it was a massive waste of time changing tyres/wheels for winter and summer, and it's something i want to avoid!!

Three months ago bought a beautiful 2012 Ranger Rover Sport with low mileage. Excellent price from a dealer. After the 45 day warranty bought new snow tires, will need new summer tires, rear brakes had to be replaced, front brakes need to be replaced in spring, tire pressure monitoring system had to be replaced and now a cracked windshield that will be replaced next week. Have not had a single week without a warning light or cracked windshield staring at me. Too bad but will try to sell soon. The thing is I traded in my X3 because I did not want to invest anymore money in it. LOL

Anyone else had such a nightmare?

ps: sorry, I posted in wrong section and not sure how to delete.

[zalozite]

There is many good used cars. The prices sometimes are several times lower and if the car is good, why you need to buy new one and to invest in it big money?
What im talking about:
- new car standartd model sedan for example Audi A4, BMW 3, Mercedes C class new is near 35000 euro, when look at mobile.de or some other car markets, see that the same car 1 or 2 years old is 20000-25000 euro. What will happened on this car for 1 or 2 years.. Its like new if 1st owner change regular consumatives and are normal driver. So this 15000 euro i can make for example repair of my home or buy a garage for example .
Dont you think so?

About new car garanty: Many things not include garanty, so it depends on dealer, but i think used one is better alternative for your money.

[DanHorvat]

I prefer used cars myself, better value if you can spot a good one. New cars can be much much worse if you discover a major defect and then enter the legal battle with the manufacturer / dealer. (and you paid the "new" price)

But I agree they're money pits in either case.

[ocreditor]

It's always better buying used car by all means, you can choose from a wide range of cars and models by your budget, also what Dan is referring to is very important factor!

[Pokerface]

I ask myself the same question. There have been so many problems I kind of wonder what's next? Certainly need to put some thought into this one. Definitely won't buy brand new but perhaps newer again.

[sweetbet]

If I was going to buy a used car, it'd have to be not too old and definitely not from a dodgy used car dealership. The last used car I purchased was from a government vehicle auction business. It was awesome. The car was almost brand new but at a much cheaper price.

[Renee]

The last car I had I bought brand new and owned it for 10 years before I sold it last year and bought another brand new car.

After all the problems I had buying used cars, I'd never buy another one. I also keep my cars for a long time though. If I was only going to own the car for a couple of years before selling it I wouldn't bother buying a brand new car. Or if it was a specialty car, like an EVO or something. I can't imagine I will have any need to get rid of my current car for the next 10 years either.

I have also had some pretty good luck with my brand new cars. My last one was a 30k car which I managed to talk them down to 20k because a new model was coming in. And my new car I bought last year is a 40k car which I got for 32k because I know someone who works at the dealer. The immediate resale value of my current car out the door is 33k (which is what they are going for on the car sales sites) so I actually paid less than it's current market value.

[Casinorep]

Never owed a Range Rover, but I've heard that British cars are notorious for having electrical gremlins. Of course this varies on manufacturers, year, trims etc..

[GCG]

I bought a car 5 years ago (e46) for EUR 4990 which is now 15 years old. Had some big repairs new clutch for 1500, discs + brake lines 900, coolant reservoir 300 and a few minor things. I can not afford a new car...........

[sparky1]

I find the quality of new cars and cars, in general, has gone down in the last 20 years.I can remember being able to buy a used car for a few thousand and it would last you 5-6 years. My last was a 2007 Camry, total garbage compared to early models. It is a real shame when you consider the investment!

[nwalker]

I find the quality of new cars and cars, in general, has gone down in the last 20 years.I can remember being able to buy a used car for a few thousand and it would last you 5-6 years. My last was a 2007 Camry, total garbage compared to early models. It is a real shame when you consider the investment!

You can't honestly be serious!

You can't compare new cars from 20years ago and now. You get so much more for your money these days will all the tech and add ons that come as standard. Build quality IMHO is better. Today's cars don't rust are safer and engines last 200k miles plus.

[Renee]

You can't honestly be serious!

You can't compare new cars from 20years ago and now. You get so much more for your money these days will all the tech and add ons that come as standard. Build quality IMHO is better. Today's cars don't rust are safer and engines last 200k miles plus.

Have to agree. My last car was a 2005 lancer vrx and the only reason I got rid of it was because it had high kms from me driving 2 hours to and from work every day for 5 years and it was a fuel guzzler. It was either get a new car or run it into the ground and I figured I'd save more money by buying a new car now while the old one was still worth some money. My new car is a 2.5L and I am managing to get around 600-700km per tank. My last car was a 2.4L and I was lucky to get 400-450km per tank.

That car did fly though and I miss it a lot. Nothing like driving a sports car.

[MrBinaryAff]

Have to agree. My last car was a 2005 lancer vrx and the only reason I got rid of it was because it had high kms from me driving 2 hours to and from work every day for 5 years and it was a fuel guzzler. It was either get a new car or run it into the ground and I figured I'd save more money by buying a new car now while the old one was still worth some money. My new car is a 2.5L and I am managing to get around 600-700km per tank. My last car was a 2.4L and I was lucky to get 400-450km per tank.

That car did fly though and I miss it a lot. Nothing like driving a sports car.

Should've got yourself 2.0 tdi, they are powerful, yet economical.