There are some good garages out there - I trust my local independent. Bills always seem very reasonable and they are happy to show you old parts replaced and show/discuss any future potential issues brewing.

Funnily enough they mentioned about recent Landover's having major issues during / post lockdown with the way the battery management works on them.

Edited by Big John on 19/10/2021 at 20:01

Having worked so many years in the trade, why do you think I only buy new cars with manufacturer's warranty ?

In 50 years I have only rarely enjoyed any remaining part of a maker's warranty, and have not yet needed to call on one. I take the view that any warranty is an insurance policy, or basically a form of gamble. And we all know that overall the bookies win, not the punter. I may have been lucky, but I think my policy has certainly been cheaper. On the other hand my job has only occasionally depended on reliable transport.

It is not just main dealers who are fleecing their customers. the whole industry is rotten.

Codswallop. There are still plenty who don't fleece their customers.

True, but it's often difficult to know which indies are the good dealers and which aren't. I find it increasingly difficult to trust internet-based reviews, and even taking evidence from friends and neighbours isn't always the best, as people often cover up their own mistakes (i.e. saying a poor outfit is good) or they are unaware they are being fleeced, just at a lower cost than at the nearest main dealer.

Occasionally a long-standing indie that has had good word of mouth locally for many years is available. Sadly, in my area, none of those that I would want to trust the maintenance of my car with, only a well-regarded indie Alfa specialist!

Sadly the news may not be fake in their case, though there must be some RR cars that don't fail all the time ?

See Freelander example above.

Probably not the way to bet unless the stakes low though.

Freelander is The Dog and Lemon website sample report, perhaps as a service to the community.

Scary read

dogandlemon.com/sites/default/files/land_rover_fre...f

Autocar just voted the Land Rover sport the 2nd best SUV you can buy behind the Q5 Audi. Funny old world.

My neighbour and our local farmers used to both own Discovery diesels bought new around 13 plate.

Both suffered catastrophic engine failures with the only warning being an oil light coming on then bang.

My neighbour traded his in to the Main Dealer for £2500 but the farmers decided to have the engine rebuilt which involved lifting the body off the car.

£9000 later the car ran for a fortnight and then the same again even though the farmer was on the lookout for low oil pressure.

Having decided never ever to buy another JLR product he bought a 10 plate Hi Lux which has as expected been faultless even though it gets a tough life crossing fields to check on the sheep flock. He even posted letters in the NFU Magazine warning other readers.

Land Rover are a testament to the power of brand long after reality has overtaken.

The cars are now superficially attractive - all the gizmos and go anywhere reputation.

But it is 30 years since the "go anywhere" badge had real meaning - overtaken by "new" boys on the block like Mitsubishi and Toyota.

Every now and then I am tempted - and then read a thread like this!