Part II

OK, so here's my deal. After driving them and number crunching, I've narrowed the SUVs (for the wife) to the following. Keep in mind that I want to lease. Thoughts?

2005 Range Rover HSE (used) -
selling price used - $65-69K

Pros: best interior; bigger car justifies the more sluggish behavior of the vehicle (see RR sport below); BMW engine; 2005s got the upgraded Navigation
Cons: priciest (which is a big "con," see below); design that's a few years old; I'd have to lease a used one

Lease price: assuming a $65K vehicle, roughly $1100/month (courtesy of leasecompare.com).


2006 Range Rover Sport - selling price $60,900

Pros: coolest SUV right now; IMO, the best looking of the bunch; most options are standard (xenon, air susp; navigation).

Cons: no deals; crappy lease rates; no acceleration; drives like it's really 6800 pounds; interior is better than the LR3, but falls short of RR; limited room in the back; like a pig and feels as heavy

Lease price: about $10xx/mo including tax, minimal drive offs, 36 month lease.

2006 ML 500 - fully loaded: $58,500

Pros: Fastest; cool interior (with alcantara inserts); all of the techno-stuff you'd want including an auto rear hatch; options include air suspension; nicer interior than the RR sport; roomy in the back; best lease deal?
Cons: soccer mom image; less attractive on the exterior (although the ML 500s got square exhaust tips, riveted aluminum bumper treatments, and smoked taillights); definitely a more feminine car than the RRs;

Lease price: ? but probably less than $900/mo including tax, and minimal drive offs. (36 month lease)


My wife's far from a car nut, but I know that when she sits in the RR, she always says "wow." The RR sport and ML 500 get "very nice cars, I'd be happy with either." This SUV is for her, but I'd drive it on the weekends on family outings.

I really didn't want to spend much more than $800 (which makes the ML 500 attractive). That's a significant factor against the RR. But for a couple hundred more, I *may* be able to get a RR, and that's damn tempting. The RR Sport is sweet looking, but I don't think it's as good a ride as the ML 500, which was much more fun to drive. I also think that once the novelty wears off, I'd be pissed if prices were more negotiable and lease rates improved. The LR3 for example, is being discounted now.

Any thoughts -- based only on these three choices? Does anybody have leads on a new/used 2005 RR?

Thanks in advance, and any leads would be appreciated.

-Bobby

 

oops - meant to post this in off-topic, so mods feel free to move.

But ... I am looking to buy a 2005 Range Rover ....

-bg

 

I wouldn't touch a RR, my brother had one, what a POS. My 99' ML430 which in its own right was a huge POS was much better than the RR. Having owned the old and IMO poorly thought out launch version of the ML and the new unit body version, they are night and day. Save the money, opt for a set of rims and the ML is pretty attractive. The Benz is at least a nice driving car and the powertrain is very nice has to be very quick compared to an RR.

 

MB

 

Get the ML with the AMG Package with the nice 19 inch rims. OR... and a big OR... wait for the ML63 which will give a 996C4 a run for its money (esp with the AMG suspension tuning)!! with 500 hp at 6800 rpm

 

How's reliability of RR? If it's not a lemon, I'd not hesistate in getting that. ML is fine but no wow factor. Everyone has one! RR sport is supposed to be sportier than RR right? If your wife prefers RR, get the extra space then.

 

Go RR...I have a 03 Range Rover...most bugs were worked out by 05....I dont lik ethe looks of the ML...so its not for me. Drove the RR Sport and seriously thought of picking one up...but the car is noticeably slower than the RR....The jag engine is not as quick as the BMW engine. Plus the RR sport is really an LR3, body on frame, same weight as RR because RR is monocoque design....So its lighter and stiffer, and bigger....Price the new 2005 RR's the 2006's are on the lots and I got a NEW 2003 in late 2003 with the Oxford package, which is now the Luxory package, premium color combo for 67K....Sticker is 77K....So you can get a new one for 65-69k depending on the options...mine has EVERYTHING....oh and you want a 2005...I hear the Jag engines are having problems....

 

Just get the darn Cayenne!!! RR and MB won't handle anywhere NEAR the Cayenne, and most say the X5 doesn't either.

 

Thanks guys.

Funny with the RRs. New (2006), they're $76-80.

2005s go for $63-70
2004s go for $53-64
2003s for in the mid-40s.

They're depreciating at roughly $10K per year?

With the 2005s, I guess since we're still in CY2005, dealers are only knocking off a few grand on the used ones. Newport, do you have a RR contact?

A used 2005 RR at $60 would be a no brainer.

-Bobby

 

Where are you? I just did some REAL good negotiating. Also usually Land Rover gives the dealer a $5K bonus to get rid of 2005's...So Imagine, you get a 2005 stickered at 76...negotiate down to 70, add the $5k from Land Rover and you are at 65K...for a NEW 2005....A used one may be in the same ball park.....Thats how I got mine down to 67K for a 77K+ stickered car....Now they wont tell you about this $5K incentive, they will say that its below invoice...yadda yadda yadda.....I got mine from Newport Beach Land Rover and Mission Viejo Land Rover...funny story about buying 1 car from 2 dealers...but....No contact...I didnt like the salesmen that much....The most expensive car I ever bought and the worst buying experience...but I love the car...

 

MB or Cayenne S

 

You can't go wrong with a Range Rover Sport, I love mine. If you want size and want a deal the 2005 Range Rover is the way to go, at least you'll get the nicer navigation system but there are some nice upgrades in the '06.
Honestly though the way to go is a Range Rover Sport Supercharged. Exterior styling is cooler, more power, all the bells and switches, might as well try and get something that will please both you and your wife, might be a good compromise.

 

Get the 2005 Range Rover.....you both will like it better than the sport....The sport is nice, but only when not compared the the range rover. are either of you tall? I found the smaller cabin an issue for me. I am going to the Land Rover off road seminar this week for the Sport...I am trying to like it because I like the looks so much, but the faster, bigger, more solid, and roomier car feels so much better...If you were comparing an X5 or a Cayenne to the RR Sport, I'd say go for the sport, as long as a peppy car was not a requirement. The Supercharged is probably teh way to go, but I am really not sure about the Jag engine, it feels like it has so much less torque and the transmission must have drastically different gearing for my RR to feel so much faster than the new sport....just my honest opinion about the 2 cars...I really want to like the sport, I really love my RR...

 

Newport - I'm with you on this one. I REALLY want to like the RR sport because I love the looks. It's a novelty thing, but since it's the latest RR design, the new car effect creates a perception that it's better than the older RR design. But it drove very slow. I didn't like the Jag engine (and conversely, I love the BMW engine). I thought the interior was much nicer than the LR3, but sit in a RR and there's a marked difference. Two more potential deal breakers: I found the rear seat pretty crammed. And since the RR Sport is new, the lease deals stink - over $1000 a month for a $61K car. The supercharged engine would alleviate the sluggishness of the RR sport but that version is currently commanding a huge premium.

 

BobbyG, Like newport said there is room to wiggle on the Range Rover. There is $6,000 dealer cash available thorugh the end of September. Additionally, if you are looking to lease, BMWs are hard to beat. In know the vehicle is not the newest but the X5 leases really well. You can put your wife in a loaded X5 4.4 for less than $750 a month with $0 Down.