Mike Rutherford did once joke, in an interview with a motoring magazine, that Fading Lights was written about the electrical system on one of his Range Rovers...
"A clever person would edit this out" (bonnet release) No! I think I speak for a lot of people who love seeing the nitty-gritty actual everyday use of a car instead of overproduced beauty shots that add little to simply seeing the car in question just drive by.
I had 4 Range Rovers over the years - a new 1990 HiLine was my last (how time flys) -- ALL had problems - HA - but I still kept purchasing new ones. ALL required MORE power. And I fitted anti-sway bars to all (that somewhat limits the wheel travel when off-road - but made them not so prone to causing 'sea-sickness' to the passengers) Have a nice day all. CHEERS from AUSTRALIA.
HA - you must be a glutton for punishment Philip. I'm actually thinking about looking for one of the last of the classic series to restore - HA - but this time with at least double the power (HA - or more - nothing exceeds like excess - HA).
For my money, this is the best Range Rover of the lot. Those red rims are on point, cor. In excellent condition in spite of her high mileage too. The fuel bills would bankrupt me in short order, but I'd love a V8 one regardless.
My dad has had 3 of them. Currently running a 1993 which I think would be one of the last classic body. Use to go touring round Europe in one when I was a kid.
@@julienbee3467 as he mentioned in the video they got antiroll bars and stiffer suspension by 93 so I found it less comfortable then the 86 one he had before but far less body roll. Still a very nice vehicle to be in. Was going to borrow it this summer for a road trip.
I had a 1996 Classic (sold alongside the P38A replacement for a couple of years), was excellent. It had an engine swap for an isuzu 3.9 diesel. Loved it. Never had the reliability issues that seemed so common.
Great entertaining video as always! Many thanks. By luck the Giant Test in the November 1990 ish of Car Magazine had an RR Vogue SE just exactly like "yours" except a manual trans - up against a Discovery V8i 5dr, a Land Cruiser VX and a Shogun V6 5dr - they all wanted to drive home in the Vogue SE. But the V8i Disco won on value for money and its Conran interior! Oh, and by the way Ian, Car Magazine, October 1989 had an article on "your" Daihatsu Mira XX Turbo - they liked the Suzuki Alto Works RS/X! Best wishes.
interesting that the Vogue SE is the same year, 1990. Harry Metcalfe seems to have collections of old car magazines too - great for looking up how cars were when new! How much did the Range Rover cost in 1990?
@@mseymour892 - I was inspired to check my old 'Car' mags: and yes, it's just the same Vogue SE as HubNut's and they have the same findings - ie they liked it. Very good review by HubNut. 'Car' listed the Vogue SE at £31,949, the Disco V8 at £20,470, the Mitsubishi at £20,259, and the Toyota at £27,401.
Such cool cars, liked them anyway but really took to them after watching Soup’s stunning resto video. Great road test Ian! The colour coded alloys are sooo early 90s 🥰
I can confirm late '80's Metro's also used those stalks too (or at least my old 1989 Metro Advantage did). Can you imagine a manufacturer today using the same stalks on their top of the line SUV, as well as their lowly supermini?
Great car! I remember hitchhiking in the UK back in 1991 and getting a ride in one of these. We were standing at a roundabout and the driver just smashed the Range Rover on the grass on the side of the road and picked us up. I loved the interior and the effortless wafty ride 👌
The rear vinyl came about when they were unhappy with the less than flat appearance of that aluminium panel. Therefore they covered it in vinyl to disguise this. The stalks do light up like the Austin Rovers. When I was a YTS apprentice, I put too much force on one of the stalks when removing it. I managed to pull the glass fibre strands out and spent hours trying to put them back in! DUH
Takes me back to 1987. 22 years old,my friend also 22 borrowed his parents 86 C reg vogue manual,and I borrowed my parents 1968 rolls Royce silver Shadow. We went for a ' cruise" through Dunstable and a quick run to Barton in le clay. We swapped cars a couple of times and I was surprised,considering how different the car were,how similar they drove. We decided the best compromise would be the range rover with the rolls engine,manual box and rolls grill on the front. If only we knew we had almost designed the cullinan some 40 years before rolls Royce did.
The original Rangie was a design classic icon. Its simple lines and utilitarian design was form for function not form over function like the newer designer handbag Rangies. They had a steel framed bodyshell (and ladder chassis) with aluminium outer panel skin. It actually caused corrosion having an aluminium skin on a metal frame as the steel would eat the aluminium through electrolysis, especially at the bottom of the doors where water would sit making the perfect electrolysis bridge. Thats why old crusty Rangies and old Discos have flappy lower door skins that pull away from the steel door frame, I remember as I used to work on them in the bodyshop when younger. The aluminium kept the centre of gravity low for a tall vehicle with high ground clearance. I like the original Rangie and old Discos, they were actually quite cool designs, and even better today with them becoming rarer. Just check that ladder chassis and outriggers for advanced rot if thinking of purchasing one.
Remember being sent on a course many years ago. Can't remember anyhing about the course but the train down was hauled by a Class 47 and I got a lift home in a Vogue SE. So well worth while. Thank you HubNut.
As a young apprentice in a Jaguar, Rover, Triumph main dealership, I remember the very first Range Rover arriving to be sold. As an apprentice, it was my job to de-wax, polish and pre-delivery inspect the thing (under the gaze of my betters). That first one was Sand Gold, if memory serves me aright? It had the 'hose down' interior that had plastic moulded seats, rubber 'carpet' mouldings, no power steering and a huge steering wheel. It was the two door design that had two interior door handles, one for the front and one for the rear seat passengers and that huge flap on the outer door edge that you pulled to get in from the outside. They came with a four speed, manual gearbox and from recollection, about 90mph top speed. You could literally drive at top speed down the road with one side on the verge, ditch drains and all, without a moment's concern. I later drove a newer version, with power steering (and maybe a five-speed box... can't remember) that a mate owned, and could get it doing four wheel drifts with all the tyres howling on local B-roads... traffic was far lesser in those days and everyone drove faster anyway back then. Beyond their truly horrific thirst, they still remain amongst the most memorable and loved of the cars that have crossed my path during my life.
Back in the day, I used to get no more than 9 mpg in our V8 Range Rover. But the noise alone was worth every single burned up penny. Brilliant cars. Flawed, but absolutely brilliant.
Mr HubNut Sir, you do excellent videos, I could listen all day. I had 2 of these 3.9s and IMHO, these were the best looking of all the Range Rovers before or after including the modern rovers that i simply cannot take to (or afford). The 3.9 made a beautiful noise, refined and yet potent, and they cruised at high speed without tracking with two live axles. You are spot on ref LSD of rear axle, i had a 4.6 HSE and it pinched spinning rear wheels with ABS and in my experience, was the best off road vehicle I ever experienced. It would have completed this model, great work man keep it up
Great video,took me back to working on one of these when I was a mechanic. The steering arm was very bent after the customers off-roading adventure. Sorted with the gas torch and a vice. Loved it that the whole body rocked when you revved it. The little switches next to the storks look very similar to the ones on my old series 3 Allegro!
The president of the company where I worked in 1990 owned one of these when they were newly introduced to the Canadian market. I got a chance to ask him about it, he said the Range would rescue his wife's Ford Explorer when it got stuck, but that you had to accept the reality that on any given day something, usually electric, wouldn't work. On Tuesday it might be the right passenger window, on Wednesday it might be a brake light, of Friday the central locking, etc... but always something. At the time, and in fact since 1963, the original luxury SUV, the Jeep Wagoneer (V8 engine, permanent AWD, beam axles, sound familiar ?) was the smarter choice. The Range Rover was certainly more handsome and had a better sitting position, but the Wagoneer could do what no Range Rover could: keep working reliably day after day.
Cracking video, my Dad used to have an early 1984 inVogue but he didn't realise what he had (Not a car person) he only bought it for towing. It had the 3.5 V8, ran when it wanted, not when we wanted it too. There was also an incident down a lane where a Lorry was met and the RR didn't want to engage reverse - Lorry driver not pleased. Despite this, it still gets talked about fondly, it towed with ease and was really comfortable.
I do like the older Range Rovers...got a chunky design and the colour and sound of that one is lovely. Cant bear the new ones...the ones mum takes the kids to school in! Beautiful scenery, although that road looked bit scary.!
I've had two RR P38 and am on my second RRC and can honestly say there's nothing built in the last 25 years that I would replace it with. I am immensely fortunate to have one of the rarest, ie incredibly reliable and yes it is certainly a martyr for the drink but the ride is so rewarding you often forget you're using a 50 year old design. The visibility is excellent due to both the cabin height and skinny pillars and although it may not be the quickest 0-60 you certainly feel the momentum of two tons hurtling down the road. What a great car!
Brill vid.... Nice to see a good example of a Vogue SE, (special equipment) so far ive only driven my 95 SE soft dash,. Would like to drive an older example! Keep them coming 👍
@@matthewhemmings735 I believe they were used on Morris Marina and one or two other vehicles as well good to know we've got a wide variety of spare parts available even if it's not for a Range Rover. The interior door handles and lock buttons are also used in a defender, the earlier Range Rovers are different and are like trying to find hens teeth !
I have a 92 model year. Paid £136 for it. Had it about 8yrs. Just for off roading. Only used it 3 times. Starts on the button, had no key, so made it a button system, works a treat. Exhaust ends at the centre box, barks to say the least. It does need a blower motor though.
So glad you put up this video, it brings back memories of when I was in NZ in 2017. Visited Te Mata Peak at sunset, heavy rain, hail and sunshine all within a few minutes. The cars pretty good too :)
I was lucky enough to buy one in navy blue from a pro golfer in the UK back in 1999, spotless and sweet running, it wafted me around for years completely trouble free, top motor.
Beautiful range Rover I remember my disco I had in Spain was rubbish at towing a caravan it was a 2.5 diesel and would not tow in 5th wish I'd found one of these in Spain my favorite of the range brilliant video Ian
Can I ask, was your Disco a pre TD5? I have a TD5 Series II and it great for towing. We've towed everything from car trailers to caravans. The 200, 300 tdis were a bit rubbish and asthmatic.
@@PurityVendetta it was the 200 I think just wouldn't pull in 5th it was a left hand drive K 1992 registered in UK but I bought it on Spanish plates it was diesel I had
@@daniellee9015 Ah yes, if you can get a chance have a drive of the TD5. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's a strong and much more civilised beast. A friend who runs his family estate here in the UK swears by his for towing use and he also has a Range Rover 4.6? I think. Lucky chap 😊
I owned a 1975 3 door v8 in Oman. A brilliant off roader, although it suffered due to the climate. The Omani's called them crocodile 🐊 as there bonnets were always open and ready to bite!
I had to get over the fact you travelled to NZ to find a RHD that you allready have in the UK 🇬🇧. However, Welcome, the first ten years Range Rover changed little. You must be getting used to our metric instrument binnacle(s) that I have spoken of before. So glad you look quite at home around the R R centre console. BTW, one of my female second paternal cousins ten years my junior, is C.F.O of Jaguar New Zealand 🇳🇿, hope you enjoyed that little bit of trivia 😂❤
I had one of the last 1993 3.9i Range Rovers in Aus, before they went to the softdash update. Ran on airbag suspension, height adjustable. Velour seats, Was an awesome car,
Axle articulation was the thing that made the RR so good offroad. Standard, out of the factory, articulation was 27 inches IIRC. The ZF 4HP22 auto-box was a dream behind a V8. I converted my LR 90 to V8 4 sp auto in the 90's.
In 1992 I received the exact same car off the transporter, put it on the hoist for PDI and found the front diff leaking oil. Because NO gasket had been fitted. Off it went to the Dealer next morning for 2 days. Loved the colour back then HubNut, and still do ...
mmm... nice. Range Rover - the only car you'll ever need (apart from a back up car for the occasions when the Rangie is being fixed :-))Another top film Ian
So much nostalgia for me my dad had a 92 3 door in British racing Green 3.9 v8 (I think one of very last 3 doors built) and the stalks indeed were illuminated!
Thanks for the knees alert - I managed to shield my eyes just in time! I think with the sheer size of the windscreen, you can forgive a small triangle of doom - at least the washers worked for once. The folding rear wiper sort of made up for it, although we never actually got to see any rear wiper action (unless I missed it.)
It's a good time to buy one, what with fuel being so cheap. Just make sure you sell it on when lockdown ends and petrol climbs to £1.30/litre and upwards again!* *Please note, this is sarcasm
Where I used to live 20 years ago a neighbouring couple had Range Rovers, he a newish P38 with the BMW 6-cylinder diesel (which was forever giving problems) & her a 5 year old 3.9 V8 "Classic". We went out in the Classic one day & I was quite disappointed at how muted the V8 was even when she wound it on. But then I guess it would be, being sold as a luxury 4x4.
If memory serves from the Auto RR my dad had from 1988, and the manual discovery he had, the Auto's had the Viscous diff, that interestingly featured in the Freelander 1, but the manual RR and early disco's had a button on the centre console that locked the diff.
No, the viscous diff was also on manuals. The Freelander had a transverse engine and a very different layout. Range Rover Classic and Discovery 1 had a level for high and low range with a position for locking the diff.
@@HubNut I remember when I was a kid sitting in a demonstrator RR and when off road and it had a little red button on the dash with the transmission icon and it lit up. I wonder if it was a button, it's been about 25 years since that ride to be fair!
@@HubNut This was definitely a classic, the p38 wasn't released. I'm wondering if it was some kind of add on, the reason I remember is because it looked really out of place and the car was a Dealer demo car so knowing Land Rover in 1991 its not that odd that it would have something like that Also when lockdown is over and you wanted to review a Freelander 1 and 2 let me know. 👍
Brings back memories of my Range Rovers I had many years ago, first a 2 door model in Warwick Green, then a 4 door in Russet Brown when they became available and that was soon replaced by another 4 door model in the same color as the one in the video complete with color matching alloy wheels, all had the 4 speed manual gearbox (LT 95 I think). they were all great vehicles and 100% reliable.
Spen King was a superb engineer - the long-travel, softly-sprung suspension he designed for the P6 was a concept that really carried over well to when he designed the Range Rover and the suspension made it the car it was. How that bloke never got a knighthood is beyond me. David Bache deserved one too (no, I don't know how to pronounce it either). Mike
Friends in the late 80s in Saudi Arabia had an incredibly ratty, dusty, dented, abused and worn out example, (servicing always being a rather vague concept there) which we used a lot for dive trips along with desert bashing and mountain track treks. Nothing very luxurious about that example! As bits of the trim had fallen off, the rear 'RANGE ROVER' sign had deteriorated into one saying 'HANG OVER' - a rather risque name given the 'alcohol-free' nature of the country, perhaps. (luckily, the traffic cops probably didn't know what it meant.) 'Hangover' ran well enough as I recall, albeit with some interesting squeaks, clunks, groans, exhaust leaks and rattles.
A guy i worked with owned a land rover 109 , it was one of 12 proto types for the range rover as it had range rover axles and a v8 and a manual box. I think the axles were not as wide as the range rover. He used to cycle to work due to fuel consumption problems
You have had some really excellent driving experiences in your career as a motoring journalist, and later, a RUclipsr. You do often make me very jealous! Oddly I think that this one ranks up there, on the winding hilltop roads in New Zealand in an old V8 Range Rover with a lazy auto-box... Keep up the good work! :D
Love the range rover classic very nice maybe I will get to own one one day cheers Ian for showing this gem you've done it again brilliant video 👍 to you
I'm lucky enough to have two of these in Ardennes Green. A perfect design for a single vehicle. You can add a campervan and a sports car to cover all life's desires if you wish 😉
It used to be said that there were two manmade objects visible from space: the Great Wall of China, and the panel gaps on a Range Rover. Mine was an '86 with the old Torqueflite 3-speed and twin Strombergs. It was such a lovely drive. You could leave, say, the Bristol area for Aberdovey, or Keswick, or Ullapool, and get out at the other end relaxed and uncramped. Even on the commute, every drive was like a sightseeing tour.
Great video Ian, with your usual high level of information and technical description. I love the look of this version RR still to this day. Mu father had one of the LSE versions with air suspension. The suspension frequently broke down! But i still recall that unique driving experience these fantastic vehicles gave! If i could afford the fuel I would be tempted to run on of these....
Love the rangie, used far and wide, beautiful, hulking, spawned the disco, and almost always a v8 soundbite if it's a classic as it passes. Chronic drinker but what a noise you get....
At 14:05 the clunk could be the rear axle ball joint. Some of these are actually adjustable via a big screw in the top of it. Great video keep up the good work!
This car is on my bucket list and has been since I first saw one in the film "Pink Panther Strikes Again" I have sat in the original body of demonstrator car. The one that can be seen in the promo film "A car for all reasons"
Had the same model for 4 years in green. Back box rusted so stuck a straight pipe on, sounded "fruity" but quiet on a run. That and oil/filters was my extent of maintenance so 60k miles later Id say reliable and fun, toss up between who leaned the most in a corner.
Love the colour love the noise. A classic example of timeless design but only bought by very well off customers at the time. Sadly I could never justify a V8. Tdi for me with a manual and that diesel is a good engine and should double the mpg.
My family had 2 of these.one was a 2 door 3.5 carb and the other was a 5 door vouge efi.i loved the efi the carb version was sometimes very difficult to start because the carbs were not set up properly but when they were set up right it was a breeze to start.
Just working my way through your old road tests. Interesting to note it's actually much the same length and width as a current C-segment EV. Height is the major difference as is weight. For example a mark 2 Nissan Leaf 40kWh has the same amount of torque from zero rpm and weighs about 20% less as well.
We used to get them with the old 4 spd manual gearbox .. and bolt a 350 Chevy V8 in them. Was a straight swap .. side from some wiring and custom exhaust. I always thought it was the engine they should have been built with.
Your point about the long reach to the back of the boot is well taken...but I'm old enough to remember when station wagons (estates) here in the U.S. all had two-piece lift up window/fold down tail gate arrangements like the Range Rover. That was simply the way things were. Then came retractable window glass and in 1966 Ford introduced a two-way tailgate (quickly copied by the competiion).
Mike Rutherford did once joke, in an interview with a motoring magazine, that Fading Lights was written about the electrical system on one of his Range Rovers...
My family had one from 1991 - 2003. 3.5 V8 Vogue EFI.
Went all over Europe sat in the back of it. Very comfortable.
Such a genius piece of design, still looks classy now. A clean one of these would still look good pulling up outside a posh hotel, timeless design 👍
"A clever person would edit this out" (bonnet release) No! I think I speak for a lot of people who love seeing the nitty-gritty actual everyday use of a car instead of overproduced beauty shots that add little to simply seeing the car in question just drive by.
I had 4 Range Rovers over the years - a new 1990 HiLine was my last (how time flys) -- ALL had problems - HA - but I still kept purchasing new ones. ALL required MORE power. And I fitted anti-sway bars to all (that somewhat limits the wheel travel when off-road - but made them not so prone to causing 'sea-sickness' to the passengers) Have a nice day all. CHEERS from AUSTRALIA.
I'm on my seventh!
HA - you must be a glutton for punishment Philip. I'm actually thinking about looking for one of the last of the classic series to restore - HA - but this time with at least double the power (HA - or more - nothing exceeds like excess - HA).
For my money, this is the best Range Rover of the lot. Those red rims are on point, cor. In excellent condition in spite of her high mileage too. The fuel bills would bankrupt me in short order, but I'd love a V8 one regardless.
How much does petrol cost in The Land of the Long White Cloud?
My dad has had 3 of them. Currently running a 1993 which I think would be one of the last classic body. Use to go touring round Europe in one when I was a kid.
Is it very comfortable ?
@@julienbee3467 as he mentioned in the video they got antiroll bars and stiffer suspension by 93 so I found it less comfortable then the 86 one he had before but far less body roll. Still a very nice vehicle to be in. Was going to borrow it this summer for a road trip.
I had a 1996 Classic (sold alongside the P38A replacement for a couple of years), was excellent. It had an engine swap for an isuzu 3.9 diesel. Loved it. Never had the reliability issues that seemed so common.
Great entertaining video as always! Many thanks. By luck the Giant Test in the November 1990 ish of Car Magazine had an RR Vogue SE just exactly like "yours" except a manual trans - up against a Discovery V8i 5dr, a Land Cruiser VX and a Shogun V6 5dr - they all wanted to drive home in the Vogue SE. But the V8i Disco won on value for money and its Conran interior! Oh, and by the way Ian, Car Magazine, October 1989 had an article on "your" Daihatsu Mira XX Turbo - they liked the Suzuki Alto Works RS/X! Best wishes.
interesting that the Vogue SE is the same year, 1990. Harry Metcalfe seems to have collections of old car magazines too - great for looking up how cars were when new! How much did the Range Rover cost in 1990?
@@mseymour892 - I was inspired to check my old 'Car' mags: and yes, it's just the same Vogue SE as HubNut's and they have the same findings - ie they liked it. Very good review by HubNut. 'Car' listed the Vogue SE at £31,949, the Disco V8 at £20,470, the Mitsubishi at £20,259, and the Toyota at £27,401.
Such cool cars, liked them anyway but really took to them after watching Soup’s stunning resto video. Great road test Ian! The colour coded alloys are sooo early 90s 🥰
Were they standard?
Yes, they were standard I believe.
I can confirm late '80's Metro's also used those stalks too (or at least my old 1989 Metro Advantage did). Can you imagine a manufacturer today using the same stalks on their top of the line SUV, as well as their lowly supermini?
Yes, actually!
GM, Ford, Chrysler...... Jaguar, Aston martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce....
Lamborghini, VW etc etc.
Porsche have raided the vw parts bin for decades
Urrrrm yes VW Audi group.
Great car! I remember hitchhiking in the UK back in 1991 and getting a ride in one of these. We were standing at a roundabout and the driver just smashed the Range Rover on the grass on the side of the road and picked us up. I loved the interior and the effortless wafty ride 👌
Still better looking than any SUV ever made
Still running my soft dash iv had for 22 years
The rear vinyl came about when they were unhappy with the less than flat appearance of that aluminium panel. Therefore they covered it in vinyl to disguise this. The stalks do light up like the Austin Rovers. When I was a YTS apprentice, I put too much force on one of the stalks when removing it. I managed to pull the glass fibre strands out and spent hours trying to put them back in! DUH
Takes me back to 1987.
22 years old,my friend also 22 borrowed his parents 86 C reg vogue manual,and I borrowed my parents 1968 rolls Royce silver Shadow.
We went for a ' cruise" through Dunstable and a quick run to Barton in le clay.
We swapped cars a couple of times and I was surprised,considering how different the car were,how similar they drove.
We decided the best compromise would be the range rover with the rolls engine,manual box and rolls grill on the front.
If only we knew we had almost designed the cullinan some 40 years before rolls Royce did.
Buckingham Palace on Wheels!
No wonder Lizzie and Phill love them so much!
The original Rangie was a design classic icon. Its simple lines and utilitarian design was form for function not form over function like the newer designer handbag Rangies. They had a steel framed bodyshell (and ladder chassis) with aluminium outer panel skin. It actually caused corrosion having an aluminium skin on a metal frame as the steel would eat the aluminium through electrolysis, especially at the bottom of the doors where water would sit making the perfect electrolysis bridge. Thats why old crusty Rangies and old Discos have flappy lower door skins that pull away from the steel door frame, I remember as I used to work on them in the bodyshop when younger. The aluminium kept the centre of gravity low for a tall vehicle with high ground clearance. I like the original Rangie and old Discos, they were actually quite cool designs, and even better today with them becoming rarer. Just check that ladder chassis and outriggers for advanced rot if thinking of purchasing one.
Remember being sent on a course many years ago. Can't remember anyhing about the course but the train down was hauled by a Class 47 and I got a lift home in a Vogue SE. So well worth while. Thank you HubNut.
As a young apprentice in a Jaguar, Rover, Triumph main dealership, I remember the very first Range Rover arriving to be sold. As an apprentice, it was my job to de-wax, polish and pre-delivery inspect the thing (under the gaze of my betters). That first one was Sand Gold, if memory serves me aright? It had the 'hose down' interior that had plastic moulded seats, rubber 'carpet' mouldings, no power steering and a huge steering wheel. It was the two door design that had two interior door handles, one for the front and one for the rear seat passengers and that huge flap on the outer door edge that you pulled to get in from the outside. They came with a four speed, manual gearbox and from recollection, about 90mph top speed. You could literally drive at top speed down the road with one side on the verge, ditch drains and all, without a moment's concern. I later drove a newer version, with power steering (and maybe a five-speed box... can't remember) that a mate owned, and could get it doing four wheel drifts with all the tyres howling on local B-roads... traffic was far lesser in those days and everyone drove faster anyway back then. Beyond their truly horrific thirst, they still remain amongst the most memorable and loved of the cars that have crossed my path during my life.
Back in the day, I used to get no more than 9 mpg in our V8 Range Rover. But the noise alone was worth every single burned up penny. Brilliant cars. Flawed, but absolutely brilliant.
You did do a heck of a lot of filming while you were here -
You can certainly be proud of your work ethic!
Mr HubNut Sir, you do excellent videos, I could listen all day. I had 2 of these 3.9s and IMHO, these were the best looking of all the Range Rovers before or after including the modern rovers that i simply cannot take to (or afford). The 3.9 made a beautiful noise, refined and yet potent, and they cruised at high speed without tracking with two live axles. You are spot on ref LSD of rear axle, i had a 4.6 HSE and it pinched spinning rear wheels with ABS and in my experience, was the best off road vehicle I ever experienced. It would have completed this model, great work man keep it up
Great video,took me back to working on one of these when I was a mechanic. The steering arm was very bent after the customers off-roading adventure. Sorted with the gas torch and a vice. Loved it that the whole body rocked when you revved it. The little switches next to the storks look very similar to the ones on my old series 3 Allegro!
The president of the company where I worked in 1990 owned one of these when they were newly introduced to the Canadian market. I got a chance to ask him about it, he said the Range would rescue his wife's Ford Explorer when it got stuck, but that you had to accept the reality that on any given day something, usually electric, wouldn't work. On Tuesday it might be the right passenger window, on Wednesday it might be a brake light, of Friday the central locking, etc... but always something. At the time, and in fact since 1963, the original luxury SUV, the Jeep Wagoneer (V8 engine, permanent AWD, beam axles, sound familiar ?) was the smarter choice. The Range Rover was certainly more handsome and had a better sitting position, but the Wagoneer could do what no Range Rover could: keep working reliably day after day.
Cracking video, my Dad used to have an early 1984 inVogue but he didn't realise what he had (Not a car person) he only bought it for towing. It had the 3.5 V8, ran when it wanted, not when we wanted it too. There was also an incident down a lane where a Lorry was met and the RR didn't want to engage reverse - Lorry driver not pleased. Despite this, it still gets talked about fondly, it towed with ease and was really comfortable.
I do like the older Range Rovers...got a chunky design and the colour and sound of that one is lovely. Cant bear the new ones...the ones mum takes the kids to school in!
Beautiful scenery, although that road looked bit scary.!
I've had two RR P38 and am on my second RRC and can honestly say there's nothing built in the last 25 years that I would replace it with.
I am immensely fortunate to have one of the rarest, ie incredibly reliable and yes it is certainly a martyr for the drink but the ride is so rewarding you often forget you're using a 50 year old design.
The visibility is excellent due to both the cabin height and skinny pillars and although it may not be the quickest 0-60 you certainly feel the momentum of two tons hurtling down the road.
What a great car!
Enjoyed your video/humor, Drove my first RR wagon in 1982, They are pretty popular here in Texas ,usa,
Brill vid.... Nice to see a good example of a Vogue SE, (special equipment) so far ive only driven my 95 SE soft dash,. Would like to drive an older example! Keep them coming 👍
Door handles from a moris marina?😀
@@matthewhemmings735 I believe they were used on Morris Marina and one or two other vehicles as well good to know we've got a wide variety of spare parts available even if it's not for a Range Rover.
The interior door handles and lock buttons are also used in a defender, the earlier Range Rovers are different and are like trying to find hens teeth !
I have a 92 model year. Paid £136 for it. Had it about 8yrs. Just for off roading. Only used it 3 times. Starts on the button, had no key, so made it a button system, works a treat. Exhaust ends at the centre box, barks to say the least. It does need a blower motor though.
So glad you put up this video, it brings back memories of when I was in NZ in 2017. Visited Te Mata Peak at sunset, heavy rain, hail and sunshine all within a few minutes. The cars pretty good too :)
Carl Arrowsmith Heretaunga Plains-in a good year the soils and climate make this region the “Pearl of the North Island”.
I used to have this same model year, still probably one of my most favourite cars I ever owned, always regret letting it go.
I was lucky enough to buy one in navy blue from a pro golfer in the UK back in 1999, spotless and sweet running, it wafted me around for years completely trouble free, top motor.
love them. had an early two door with a leyland P76 engine. a great car on the back rd's in Northland.
So, my Maestro had a luxury car interior then 😂
Never had much to do with Range Rovers and never ever driven or ridden in one. So was an interesting vid. Thanks for sharing Ian. :-)
Beautiful mate! Wow - I love that model!
Thanks for making and sharing. Brings back memories! Terrific machines.
I am restoring a 1990 2 door 3.9!! I LOVE IT!!
Always fascinating, as they stopped selling the two doors in the UK in the early 1980s.
@@HubNut perhaps it's a csk. now theres a roadtest waiting to happen.
Beautiful range Rover I remember my disco I had in Spain was rubbish at towing a caravan it was a 2.5 diesel and would not tow in 5th wish I'd found one of these in Spain my favorite of the range brilliant video Ian
Can I ask, was your Disco a pre TD5? I have a TD5 Series II and it great for towing. We've towed everything from car trailers to caravans. The 200, 300 tdis were a bit rubbish and asthmatic.
@@PurityVendetta it was the 200 I think just wouldn't pull in 5th it was a left hand drive K 1992 registered in UK but I bought it on Spanish plates it was diesel I had
@@daniellee9015 Ah yes, if you can get a chance have a drive of the TD5. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's a strong and much more civilised beast. A friend who runs his family estate here in the UK swears by his for towing use and he also has a Range Rover 4.6? I think. Lucky chap 😊
I owned a 1975 3 door v8 in Oman. A brilliant off roader, although it suffered due to the climate. The Omani's called them crocodile 🐊 as there bonnets were always open and ready to bite!
I had to get over the fact you travelled to NZ to find a RHD that you allready have in the UK 🇬🇧.
However, Welcome, the first ten years Range Rover changed little.
You must be getting used to our metric instrument binnacle(s) that I have spoken of before.
So glad you look quite at home around the R R centre console.
BTW, one of my female second paternal cousins ten years my junior, is C.F.O of Jaguar New Zealand 🇳🇿, hope you enjoyed that little bit of trivia 😂❤
I had one of the last 1993 3.9i Range Rovers in Aus, before they went to the softdash update. Ran on airbag suspension, height adjustable. Velour seats, Was an awesome car,
Love them. Had a two door that was excellent in the wilds of Tasmania 👍
Cracking video, amazing scenery also, driven many of these over the years flawed by fabulous! , great to see a daily driver that hasn’t rotted out.
Axle articulation was the thing that made the RR so good offroad. Standard, out of the factory, articulation was 27 inches IIRC. The ZF 4HP22 auto-box was a dream behind a V8. I converted my LR 90 to V8 4 sp auto in the 90's.
That is a lovely Range Rover, thank you for this all the best.
I don't know why I love this design and vehicle so much :)
I always liked this car. When I was younger a neighbour had an original and an vogue se.
A great truck, with great commanding view from the Captain's seat.
The best part for me is the 3.9L HEART OF THE BEAST 😁
Some of the best down under scenery and driving this trip. Great driving position, running costs would make me wince.👍
Carl Jones I had a 4.0V8 Disco 2 that used 24 litres per 100km around town. 14 on the highway. Worst part is it was slower than my partners Corolla.
Wow awesome, who doesn't love the sound of a Rover V8 😍
In 1992 I received the exact same car off the transporter, put it on the hoist for PDI and found the front diff leaking oil. Because NO gasket had been fitted. Off it went to the Dealer next morning for 2 days.
Loved the colour back then HubNut, and still do ...
mmm... nice. Range Rover - the only car you'll ever need (apart from a back up car for the occasions when the Rangie is being fixed :-))Another top film Ian
So much nostalgia for me my dad had a 92 3 door in British racing Green 3.9 v8 (I think one of very last 3 doors built) and the stalks indeed were illuminated!
Great vid, that engine sounds sweet
An icon, unfortunately I have never driven it myself. Another beautiful environment that you drive through Ian, nice view up and down the mountain.
Thanks for the knees alert - I managed to shield my eyes just in time! I think with the sheer size of the windscreen, you can forgive a small triangle of doom - at least the washers worked for once. The folding rear wiper sort of made up for it, although we never actually got to see any rear wiper action (unless I missed it.)
Who else is going straight to Ebay looking for one of these 😄
Vast range of prices from shed to mint! ;-)
yes i am
It's a good time to buy one, what with fuel being so cheap. Just make sure you sell it on when lockdown ends and petrol climbs to £1.30/litre and upwards again!*
*Please note, this is sarcasm
Until you check the Road Tax banding ... ?
@@RobRandomVids You mean you can run it on Dettol after that?! ;-) ;-) ;-)
Where I used to live 20 years ago a neighbouring couple had Range Rovers, he a newish P38 with the BMW 6-cylinder diesel (which was forever giving problems) & her a 5 year old 3.9 V8 "Classic". We went out in the Classic one day & I was quite disappointed at how muted the V8 was even when she wound it on. But then I guess it would be, being sold as a luxury 4x4.
I can't imagine myself driving a Range Rover but it was another great test. Thanks :)
If memory serves from the Auto RR my dad had from 1988, and the manual discovery he had, the Auto's had the Viscous diff, that interestingly featured in the Freelander 1, but the manual RR and early disco's had a button on the centre console that locked the diff.
No, the viscous diff was also on manuals. The Freelander had a transverse engine and a very different layout. Range Rover Classic and Discovery 1 had a level for high and low range with a position for locking the diff.
@@HubNut I remember when I was a kid sitting in a demonstrator RR and when off road and it had a little red button on the dash with the transmission icon and it lit up. I wonder if it was a button, it's been about 25 years since that ride to be fair!
The P38 maybe had a button-operated diff lock. Many years since I was last in one mind you.
@@HubNut This was definitely a classic, the p38 wasn't released. I'm wondering if it was some kind of add on, the reason I remember is because it looked really out of place and the car was a Dealer demo car so knowing Land Rover in 1991 its not that odd that it would have something like that
Also when lockdown is over and you wanted to review a Freelander 1 and 2 let me know. 👍
Very nice ' old money ' video. I've had a few of these fantastic cars. Great presentation with tremendous scenery. Thanks ian.
Brings back memories of my Range Rovers I had many years ago, first a 2 door model in Warwick Green, then a 4 door in Russet Brown when they became available and that was soon replaced by another 4 door model in the same color as the one in the video complete with color matching alloy wheels, all had the 4 speed manual gearbox (LT 95 I think). they were all great vehicles and 100% reliable.
Thanks for keeping me sane during Covid19
What a lovely thing!
Very nice, I wish my 91 was in that great of shape
Nice drive. Looks like it was a beautiful day in a beautiful place.
Spen King was a superb engineer - the long-travel, softly-sprung suspension he designed for the P6 was a concept that really carried over well to when he designed the Range Rover and the suspension made it the car it was. How that bloke never got a knighthood is beyond me. David Bache deserved one too (no, I don't know how to pronounce it either). Mike
Amazing car, so classy and elegant. Great video, as always. And stunning scenery.
Friends in the late 80s in Saudi Arabia had an incredibly ratty, dusty, dented, abused and worn out example, (servicing always being a rather vague concept there) which we used a lot for dive trips along with desert bashing and mountain track treks. Nothing very luxurious about that example! As bits of the trim had fallen off, the rear 'RANGE ROVER' sign had deteriorated into one saying 'HANG OVER' - a rather risque name given the 'alcohol-free' nature of the country, perhaps. (luckily, the traffic cops probably didn't know what it meant.) 'Hangover' ran well enough as I recall, albeit with some interesting squeaks, clunks, groans, exhaust leaks and rattles.
Always like my Landrover/Rangerover models.
I fell in love with the idea of owning this car until I bought one and had to feed the beast with petrol. Great review as always.
I think the colour of yours suited the body better. I always liked the design of these.
My favourite vehicle since I first saw one in 1969!
A guy i worked with owned a land rover 109 , it was one of 12 proto types for the range rover as it had range rover axles and a v8 and a manual box. I think the axles were not as wide as the range rover.
He used to cycle to work due to fuel consumption problems
re split tailgate protrusion :Posh totty clambering into the back to get things out of reach thereby displaying assets was probably a design feature.
Oh yes!..well spotted on the school run.
You have had some really excellent driving experiences in your career as a motoring journalist, and later, a RUclipsr. You do often make me very jealous! Oddly I think that this one ranks up there, on the winding hilltop roads in New Zealand in an old V8 Range Rover with a lazy auto-box... Keep up the good work! :D
Love the range rover classic very nice maybe I will get to own one one day cheers Ian for showing this gem you've done it again brilliant video 👍 to you
I'm lucky enough to have two of these in Ardennes Green. A perfect design for a single vehicle. You can add a campervan and a sports car to cover all life's desires if you wish 😉
It used to be said that there were two manmade objects visible from space: the Great Wall of China, and the panel gaps on a Range Rover. Mine was an '86 with the old Torqueflite 3-speed and twin Strombergs. It was such a lovely drive. You could leave, say, the Bristol area for Aberdovey, or Keswick, or Ullapool, and get out at the other end relaxed and uncramped. Even on the commute, every drive was like a sightseeing tour.
Great video Ian, with your usual high level of information and technical description. I love the look of this version RR still
to this day. Mu father had one of the LSE versions with air suspension. The suspension frequently broke down! But i still
recall that unique driving experience these fantastic vehicles gave! If i could afford the fuel I would be tempted to run
on of these....
Limited "anit-roll" was provided by the front suspension arms via the 4 massive bushes and through the axle tube. It was very crude.
Love the rangie, used far and wide, beautiful, hulking, spawned the disco, and almost always a v8 soundbite if it's a classic as it passes. Chronic drinker but what a noise you get....
Gonna get some love this vid. Cheers HubbyN
Absolutely superb design and of course the underpinnings lived on in the Discovery.
The sound of the engine brought back memories of the PS2 game The Getaway which had real cars in it, including the Range Rover and Rover 75!
At 14:05 the clunk could be the rear axle ball joint. Some of these are actually adjustable via a big screw in the top of it. Great video keep up the good work!
This car is on my bucket list and has been since I first saw one in the film "Pink Panther Strikes Again" I have sat in the original body of demonstrator car. The one that can be seen in the promo film "A car for all reasons"
You made my Sunday, Ian! 👍👍👏👏
When range rover first came out i was born.
Born to buy one yipeee.
Had the same model for 4 years in green. Back box rusted so stuck a straight pipe on, sounded "fruity" but quiet on a run. That and oil/filters was my extent of maintenance so 60k miles later Id say reliable and fun, toss up between who leaned the most in a corner.
Never been a big fan of range rovers, but seeing this vid I have come away with a different point of view. (To quote Johnny cash) nice vid.
did Johnny Cash watch this vid ?? How do you know ?
It's a line from one of his songs, ie. A boy named sue.
Love the colour love the noise. A classic example of timeless design but only bought by very well off customers at the time. Sadly I could never justify a V8. Tdi for me with a manual and that diesel is a good engine and should double the mpg.
My family had 2 of these.one was a 2 door 3.5 carb and the other was a 5 door vouge efi.i loved the efi the carb version was sometimes very difficult to start because the carbs were not set up properly but when they were set up right it was a breeze to start.
Just working my way through your old road tests. Interesting to note it's actually much the same length and width as a current C-segment EV. Height is the major difference as is weight. For example a mark 2 Nissan Leaf 40kWh has the same amount of torque from zero rpm and weighs about 20% less as well.
"A clever person would edit this out" nah, have never come here for clever editing!
It's 2 a.m, this video is epic.
We used to get them with the old 4 spd manual gearbox .. and bolt a 350 Chevy V8 in them. Was a straight swap .. side from some wiring and custom exhaust. I always thought it was the engine they should have been built with.
Your point about the long reach to the back of the boot is well taken...but I'm old enough to remember when station wagons (estates) here in the U.S. all had two-piece lift up window/fold down tail gate arrangements like the Range Rover. That was simply the way things were. Then came retractable window glass and in 1966 Ford introduced a two-way tailgate (quickly copied by the competiion).