R3mR ownership

[macabethiel]

Well I cant believe we have owned the Terrano R3mR Auto 2.7 TD for 4 years now without any major problems. All it has had apart from oil & filter changes is an alternator repair, the rear suspension arm bushes replaced plus some silicone vacuum hoses.

Its averages about 6,500 miles per year and 20-26 mpg still on the tyres I bought it with. Love the coil spring suspension all round and huge cargo area. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to replace it with when the time comes to let go. Not bad for a 1995(N) registered motor !

It might not be very economical fuel wise but the running costs when you add it all up are pretty good considering most 4 x 4 vehicles of similar size would depreciate more in a year than I paid for it! Reasonable VEL cost & insurance (NFU).
I like the look of the NIssan Murano but not sure about CVT on such a big engine. Might have to go for a Jeep or a Kia Sorrento/ Sportage or a Volvo V70 Crosscountry?

Anyone got any suggestions ?

[stinka]

Terracan are nice

But why not a late Terrano 2 Lwb ?

[Lazy-Ferret]

Having just left the Volvo Marque after owning 4 x 480's (inc Ltd ed), 2 x 240's, an 850 and a V70, I would say that unless you are going to stay pre 2000, when Ford took them over and ruined them, stay well away. They are not a patch on the "Good ol reliable Volvo" that our Dads talked about.

My V70 had all sorts of problems, which while Volvo in the USA were having to fix them, the UK Volvo;s were not getting the same attention. There were many "Known Issues" with the software, which the States got updated for free, but we had to pay for, including the one where when you came up to the Dartford crossing with a dart tag, after travelling at speed for a while, slowed down to go through the gate, and then as it opened you would stuff your foot down, start to pull away and then for the car to die just long enough for the guy behind to nearly smack you up the bum. The car would then go ok until the next time you slowed down again, in the mean time the guy behind thinks you are some kind of jerk who stops for no reason on the motor way.

Then there is the wheel bearing that went at 56K, well within the 60K warrentee. Book the car in, but they can't take the car for 4 days. Drop it off, on the Friday anyway, as that is the only time you can get a ride, and on the Wednesday when they get to look at it, you are informed the warrentee ran out on Monday (3 years), so you are not covered, and it will be nearly £700 for them to carry out the work!!!!

There are also many other issues, but too many to go into, which so ruined my love of the Swedish brick, you now have my pleasure on here as when the car was in for one of it's repairs, they lent me a Micra, which I was so impressed with, I looked into the Nissan Marque, and discovered just how happy practically every owner was with their so called Jap Crap.

DO some searches on "volvo v70 automatic gearbox problems", "volvo v70 hesitation on acceleration", "volvo v70 locking wheel nuts too tight" (Most were put on by Volvo garages), "volvo v70 wheel bearings problems"... Makes some scary reading, all of which I had the joy of discovering too late.

Something else is the engine management light comes on, caused by among other things the hesitation on acceleration, and stays on for the slightest thing, so you have to keep having it reset (last time I had it done, it cost £80 as apparently they still have to do a full visual system check before they can reset it), with the new MOT rules, that could get costly.

As you may guess, you are looking at a very dissatisfied EX Volvo owner here.

[stinka]

Vw tourag also a cracking motor and cheap now

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by stinka

Vw tourag also a cracking motor and cheap now

I like the look of the Taurag not sure what the automatics are like as this is a must might be worth some research on one of these.

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by Lazy-Ferret

Having just left the Volvo Marque after owning 4 x 480's (inc Ltd ed), 2 x 240's, an 850 and a V70, I would say that unless you are going to stay pre 2000, when Ford took them over and ruined them, stay well away. They are not a patch on the "Good ol reliable Volvo" that our Dads talked about.

My V70 had all sorts of problems, which while Volvo in the USA were having to fix them, the UK Volvo;s were not getting the same attention. There were many "Known Issues" with the software, which the States got updated for free, but we had to pay for, including the one where when you came up to the Dartford crossing with a dart tag, after travelling at speed for a while, slowed down to go through the gate, and then as it opened you would stuff your foot down, start to pull away and then for the car to die just long enough for the guy behind to nearly smack you up the bum. The car would then go ok until the next time you slowed down again, in the mean time the guy behind thinks you are some kind of jerk who stops for no reason on the motor way.

Then there is the wheel bearing that went at 56K, well within the 60K warrentee. Book the car in, but they can't take the car for 4 days. Drop it off, on the Friday anyway, as that is the only time you can get a ride, and on the Wednesday when they get to look at it, you are informed the warrentee ran out on Monday (3 years), so you are not covered, and it will be nearly £700 for them to carry out the work!!!!

There are also many other issues, but too many to go into, which so ruined my love of the Swedish brick, you now have my pleasure on here as when the car was in for one of it's repairs, they lent me a Micra, which I was so impressed with, I looked into the Nissan Marque, and discovered just how happy practically every owner was with their so called Jap Crap.

DO some searches on "volvo v70 automatic gearbox problems", "volvo v70 hesitation on acceleration", "volvo v70 locking wheel nuts too tight" (Most were put on by Volvo garages), "volvo v70 wheel bearings problems"... Makes some scary reading, all of which I had the joy of discovering too late.

Something else is the engine management light comes on, caused by among other things the hesitation on acceleration, and stays on for the slightest thing, so you have to keep having it reset (last time I had it done, it cost £80 as apparently they still have to do a full visual system check before they can reset it), with the new MOT rules, that could get costly.

As you may guess, you are looking at a very dissatisfied EX Volvo owner here.

Is the Volvo XC 70 any better or is it the same running gear? I thought the D5 engine was supposed to be really good ? Funnily enough I have rung up a number of traders advertising V70 4x4 s and have been told the gearbox is waiting for parts to the auto transmission unit so have not bothered to go any further.

Might stick with a Mercedes engined Jeep or if I find a good one a later Mercedes ML. Trouble is I know the ML has some issues like very expensive areas of repair such as the rear suspension. Even though I work at a Merc dealership and would get some discount they are an expensive motor if they go wrong. Even normal service items such as discs & pads are pricey not to mention the electronics.

If I could get a much newer R3mR with low mileage I would as I like the coil spring suspension and rack & pinion steering. I like having a timing chain rather than a belt. Not sure what the Mitsubishi & Toyotas are like.