Thread: Service and running costs Merc vs Jag.

Originally Posted by jakewire

Thing is they aren't that expensive to buy, A ss commodore of Ford SV is a comparable price.

There's a reason for that. That's why we have 4 broken Rangies sitting at work, luring in further Euro crap.

Anyone would think no one in Europe ever went anywhere.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Anyone would think no one in Europe ever went anywhere.

Average lifespan of a car in UK is 7 years. These things aren't designed to last more than 10 years.

No shit, we actively hide Saabs. As soon as one is sitting outside, another twerp in a flat cap trots in and declares "ah I see you work on Saabs, I have a..." And we all die inside

Volvos awd have been notorious for having a lot of gear box problems. Not sure if they are fixed now. A mate was looking at buying one and went back to a Subaru .
There is a big turn over of cars in U.K. As lot of the market is company cars for lease that then go onto the market after a few years.
And a lot of the old ones are rusting out with the salt put on the roads in winter.

What every you get see if you can get your own diagnostics tool, they can be surprisingly inexpensive and save you a tonne of money.
Read any fault codes that cone up, Google them, then tell your mechanic what to look at.
That way you can fix faults before the become problems, and if you do have problems can fix it right the first time.

Originally Posted by Tommy

There's a reason for that. That's why we have 4 broken Rangies sitting at work, luring in further Euro crap.

Out of interest, what model/age Range Rovers cause you the most grief?
My brother in law has recently bought a 2007 L332 Supercharged, got a 3 year mechanical warranty with it. Saying that hasn't had an issue yet.

What's a flat lander

Euros of that era had biodegradable wiring looms for "environmental" reasons. Merc's and beemers were the worst. Sooner or later they all fall apart and only to fix is complete rewire.

Originally Posted by cambo

Euros of that era had biodegradable wiring looms for "environmental" reasons. Merc's and beemers were the worst. Sooner or later they all fall apart and only to fix is complete rewire.

Oh dear, that's not good.

I've been through a fair number of Euros including some rocketships, and my strong advise is to avoid owning anything outside of warranty. All the main German marques have parts that warm up at $1K, then there's the labour rates..

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I'd personally go the Commode Door or Falcon. Everyone I come across with European vehicles is having nothing but issues and when they do it is difficult and expensive to get them repaired. A good idea is to check used vehicles of comparable age and see what sort of mileage is typical on them. If they are any good they will, generally, be out there clocking up the k's. A lot of the Euro stuff doesn't seem to clock up big k's, but the Just Holden' On's and Fix Or Repair Daily's do.

Like that classic old Landie stalwart's. I'd often hear how they were 30 years old and still going. Mainly because they couldn't be kept running long enough to clock up the k's and wear out.

I wouldn't get another commodore ..I've had 3 the latest is a 2011 sports wagon 3.6 ..the SIDI has a reputation for sludging ..the oil is usually had it by 7000kms but they say 15000k between changes ..it goes well 12 km /100 around town 9 on a trip ...they are known for throwing codes due to electrical sensors etc faulty... you need a code reader if you own one also the cam chain is a problem with earlier models ...even then they won't last past 300 .000 kms .. the VT VY are more reliable with the old buick motor ..and external belts which are easy to maintain ..these should see 1/2 a million kms if maintained ..most SIDi motors are stuffed well before this ..the VY series 2 would do 800 to a tank on the Perth to Gold Coast trip sitting on 110 with cruise control ..the SIDI well I wouldn't bother its to unreliable electrically .. ..getting a Camry next over the GM quality issues ...

My GF has the c200 1.6 diesel bluetec..2 years old 24thou ...its just had the sump removed & replaced as it developed a leak..blue tooth faulty ...fuel cap faulty .. ..faulty manufacturing ...the latest fuel fill up was 72 dollars Aust and the computer said range 1200 kms .. the 1.6 is based on a Nissan/ Renault motor tweaked by Merc ..very hard to get info on the web about Merc problems ...the cost of repairs is a wallet breaker

Pity really as you can by a decent looking walnut and leather 5litre Merc for mid to late teens
The look good, travel well and by all accounts go like stink
However, if they break regularly and it cost a fortune then just not worth the hassle
Might get lucky might not
Can't afford not.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Out of interest, what model/age Range Rovers cause you the most grief?
My brother in law has recently bought a 2007 L332 Supercharged, got a 3 year mechanical warranty with it. Saying that hasn't had an issue yet.

@Beetroot have whittled it down to 2 now. Waited 3 weeks for a fuel pump to arrive for one, which is fucking ridiculous. They are/were (roughly) 1 x 2005, 1 x 2007, 1 x2009, 1 x 2010. I call them Xmas trees cos of all the coloured flashing warning lights on the dash