The issues (North American) with the Rover family is they were always a vehicle that needed to be maintained. When I moved back to Canada after being away over my teen and adult life I had the European attitude to vehicles.
There are two very distinct attitudes to vehicles between North Americans and Europeans from my own experience.
I'm 48 and vehicles haven't changed that much since 1987 when i got my license.
IN GENERAL not specific to you
European Attitude,
Choice of vehicles - Most vehicles that are brand new are only purchased by companies for sales people and executives, farmers, lease or for someone who will be having it for a very long period of time or a small city car.
Most families do not have a everyday vehicle and a toy vehicle.
Most 1-5 year old second hand vehicles that are on the market are ex lease which have a great service history and good body work. In the UK if you have damage when you return the lease you have to pay for it. this includes scratches. High mileage personal vehicles are not normally found as the cost of driving is so expensive.
Most 6-10 year secondhand cars are from end of lease or original owners whom have has it as a long term investment - Two type of status from these Very good or high mileage and needs work.
Most 6-10 year third hand vehicles are the second hand drivers trading in as an upgrade.
Full service histories which have been recorded on computer since the early 90's and previously by the service book with dealer stamp and signatures have always kept the price higher for second/third hand vehicles.
A high amount of vehicle owners who couldn't afford to send the vehicles to the dealer were maintained on a weekly, monthly basis. During my drivers test the instructor before we entered the vehicle tested me on the basics of a vehicle. Where is the Oil cap, Dip stick, washer fluid, radiator top up cap. Demonstrate a vehicle safety check before going on trips. (Lights, Breaks, Hazards). Show where the tyre pressure sheet is.
So in general people would do servicing to keep the value of their vehicle higher for resale.
The other reason for well maintained cars is the yearly TUV, MOT tests that if not passed the car is banned from driving on the streets
North American Attitude (Canada & US) not aware of how the rest of north america do it.
Choice if Vehicle - Most vehicles that are brand new are are between Personal and Lease options - In north america companies do not normally buy vehicles for sales or business but for technical and maintenance staff
Lease vehicle do have service history but are not under the strict damage return policy. Most of the lease vehicle I have seen returned are trashed after their lease period
The majority of families have multiple cars and some spare.
Most 1-5 year cars on the market are lease vehicle standard or higher than stipulated mileage or personal vehicles with high mileage and poorly serviced - not easy to find a lease vehicle that isn't trashed or needs care and attention.
Most 6-10 year second and third hand vehicles are in one of two categories - Parts donations or have been taken care of.
In general North Americans do not treat their vehicles as a long term investment but as a tool to be used and thrown away.
Remember this is My experience and may not be a true representation of how it really is.
I have gained this experience in North America from my my neighbours in 5 different locations, colleagues, vehicle groups i'm with and seeing the General state of vehicle on the road
BACK TO THE POINT.
The Rover family of vehicles
Rover = Cars (No longer in production)
Land Rover = Utility vehicles
Range Rover = Upper crust and wannabees
Land Rovers were designed to be the work horse and were always maintained by the Farmer, Miner, Military person on a daily basis as it was a tool
Range rovers were designed to be on a regular expensive service where problems were fixed.
The problem came of unreliability in North America is because North Americans are not accustomed to servicing Land rovers on their own on a daily / weekly basis ( Like Harley Davidson) People who own a range rover deserve what they get if they do not keep up regular servicing.
Land rovers problem is that they try to sell a vehicle that is specked to the north american market which is not sold to anywhere else in the world. 5ltr V8 petrol, SCV6 petrol - what else do you expect??
Sadly we come to today. LR and RR have merged into a blob of gooo designed for the Asian market where anyone over 6ft2 1.87m do not fit into the cars and they all look the same. Unfortunately they rely on TATA to keep on throwing money to keep the trendy market vehicles together. they should just retire the Land Rover mark as all vehicle now look like Range Rovers.
There are two very distinct attitudes to vehicles between North Americans and Europeans from my own experience.
I'm 48 and vehicles haven't changed that much since 1987 when i got my license.
IN GENERAL not specific to you
European Attitude,
Choice of vehicles - Most vehicles that are brand new are only purchased by companies for sales people and executives, farmers, lease or for someone who will be having it for a very long period of time or a small city car.
Most families do not have a everyday vehicle and a toy vehicle.
Most 1-5 year old second hand vehicles that are on the market are ex lease which have a great service history and good body work. In the UK if you have damage when you return the lease you have to pay for it. this includes scratches. High mileage personal vehicles are not normally found as the cost of driving is so expensive.
Most 6-10 year secondhand cars are from end of lease or original owners whom have has it as a long term investment - Two type of status from these Very good or high mileage and needs work.
Most 6-10 year third hand vehicles are the second hand drivers trading in as an upgrade.
Full service histories which have been recorded on computer since the early 90's and previously by the service book with dealer stamp and signatures have always kept the price higher for second/third hand vehicles.
A high amount of vehicle owners who couldn't afford to send the vehicles to the dealer were maintained on a weekly, monthly basis. During my drivers test the instructor before we entered the vehicle tested me on the basics of a vehicle. Where is the Oil cap, Dip stick, washer fluid, radiator top up cap. Demonstrate a vehicle safety check before going on trips. (Lights, Breaks, Hazards). Show where the tyre pressure sheet is.
So in general people would do servicing to keep the value of their vehicle higher for resale.
The other reason for well maintained cars is the yearly TUV, MOT tests that if not passed the car is banned from driving on the streets
North American Attitude (Canada & US) not aware of how the rest of north america do it.
Choice if Vehicle - Most vehicles that are brand new are are between Personal and Lease options - In north america companies do not normally buy vehicles for sales or business but for technical and maintenance staff
Lease vehicle do have service history but are not under the strict damage return policy. Most of the lease vehicle I have seen returned are trashed after their lease period
The majority of families have multiple cars and some spare.
Most 1-5 year cars on the market are lease vehicle standard or higher than stipulated mileage or personal vehicles with high mileage and poorly serviced - not easy to find a lease vehicle that isn't trashed or needs care and attention.
Most 6-10 year second and third hand vehicles are in one of two categories - Parts donations or have been taken care of.
In general North Americans do not treat their vehicles as a long term investment but as a tool to be used and thrown away.
Remember this is My experience and may not be a true representation of how it really is.
I have gained this experience in North America from my my neighbours in 5 different locations, colleagues, vehicle groups i'm with and seeing the General state of vehicle on the road
BACK TO THE POINT.
The Rover family of vehicles
Rover = Cars (No longer in production)
Land Rover = Utility vehicles
Range Rover = Upper crust and wannabees
Land Rovers were designed to be the work horse and were always maintained by the Farmer, Miner, Military person on a daily basis as it was a tool
Range rovers were designed to be on a regular expensive service where problems were fixed.
The problem came of unreliability in North America is because North Americans are not accustomed to servicing Land rovers on their own on a daily / weekly basis ( Like Harley Davidson) People who own a range rover deserve what they get if they do not keep up regular servicing.
Land rovers problem is that they try to sell a vehicle that is specked to the north american market which is not sold to anywhere else in the world. 5ltr V8 petrol, SCV6 petrol - what else do you expect??
Sadly we come to today. LR and RR have merged into a blob of gooo designed for the Asian market where anyone over 6ft2 1.87m do not fit into the cars and they all look the same. Unfortunately they rely on TATA to keep on throwing money to keep the trendy market vehicles together. they should just retire the Land Rover mark as all vehicle now look like Range Rovers.
