Land Rover 90 - Goodwill?

Hintza

My friend (of no licence fame) has Defender 90 57 plate and under 35k miles which looks as if the clutch release plate or bearing has gone. This vehicle was bought at auction as finance repossession so at this time its service history is unknown. My mechanic says it is a !!!!!!! of a job and at that mileage she should get some goodwill from LR.

My argument was that she might never escape from the dealership once she gets there and get hit with a bill for £1500 - £1600 (his estimate for the dealership).

Anyone got any thoughts on how LR would view this? (I know what I think )

cootuk

landrover themselves might have details of any service history, at least whilst it was in their network for servicing.

LandyAndy

A finance repo may never have been serviced. Then there's no guarantee of mileage.

Is it a pig of job because you have to strip out some of the interior because the 'box can't be dropped out and has to be removed via the cabin?

I think you'd be lucky to get much help on a 5 year old vehicle that could have had severe use and may have no service record.

captainawsome

LR defenders are made to be fixed in a field and are renowned the world over for being easy to fix. Take it to a specialist or another garage, it's not a specialist job like some car s. Goodwill on a wear and tear item? I really doubt it, really really doubt it. Manufacturers are fussy about changing clutches under normal warrenty and if abused and be destroyed in no time. Worth asking I suppose.

Hintza

Thanks all you have confirmed my thoughts. My guy was also talking about stripping out the interior. The real worry is she hasn't got the money for a huge bill at the moment.

If it was me I think I would make tentative enquiries with the dealership based on the understanding that it was just a diagnosis. I wouldn't be keen on them "stripping down" to inspect though as you really can't escape then.

Currently has to switch off at traffic lights and start the car in 2nd gear to get going (there is no clutch slippage).

LandyAndy

captainawsome wrote: »

LR defenders are made to be fixed in a field and are renowned the world over for being easy to fix. Take it to a specialist or another garage, it's not a specialist job like some car s. Goodwill on a wear and tear item? I really doubt it, really really doubt it. Manufacturers are fussy about changing clutches under normal warrenty and if abused and be destroyed in no time. Worth asking I suppose.

It's not specialised. It is time consuming and therefore expensive.

legionare64

35k on a defender ... it might have done it all on site or on a farm in low box .. Defender boxes come out underneath the car, only problem is they are heavy ... Discoverys come out through the car.
I have owned over 50 various landrovers from series ones through to TD5s and have a Defender and Discovery at the moment (just in case you dont think I know what I'm talking about).
Landrover franchised dealers charge approx £100 per hour inc vat ... You will get no goodwill on a 5 year old Defender unless you are the first owner and have used Landrover for all your servicing.

Trebor16

The worst that could happen when asking about a goodwill gesture is to be told "no". So there is nothing to lose by asking.

Hintza

legionare64 wrote: »

Why would someone with no money buy a 5 year old Defender unless he was capable of fixing it him self.

He is a she.

Her husband died last August aged 37 (she also has 3 young children) and at this time she is currently fighting to keep the house amongst other things and doesn't have £1600 to spend willy nilly on her car. She can and will get it done cheaper elsewhere. She also needs a decent tow vehicle.

legionare64

Hintza wrote: »

He is a she.

Her husband died last August aged 37 (she also has 3 young children) and at this time she is currently fighting to keep the house amongst other things and doesn't have £1600 to spend willy nilly on her car. She can and will get it done cheaper elsewhere. She also needs a decent tow vehicle.

So she took a chance on a vehicle at auction .. An expensive Landrover Defender .. The best option is to sell it and get something more affordable .. they arent worth that much less broken than they are working.

Hintza

legionare64 wrote: »

The best option is to sell it and get something more affordable

When you need a 4x4 "affordable" is not in the picture. As for Defenders they have pretty good residuals.

This really is not a discussion on the rights and wrongs of a particular car anyway, she is where she is and needs to get it fixed.