Here's a thought that keeps hitting me: what are the benefits in getting a Yeti over a 3 year old Range Rover?

The Yeti and Range Rover are similar in so much as they are comfortable and capable off road and with both being diesel automatics.

The advantages of the Yeti that I can think of:-

- low weight: 1500kg v 2300kg

- smaller size: same footprint as a VW Golf makes city parking and garages easy

- fuel economy: 37mpg v 20mpg (realistically)

- lower running costs: parts and labour should be much less than Land Rover and being newer, should last longer

- sportier drive thanks to the low weight and independent rear suspension

The advantages of the Range Rover I can think of:-

- higher ride giving better off road clearence and better views accross hedges and other cars

- even more comfortable ride thanks to air suspension and taller suspension

- quieter ride and better seats

- greater sense of occasion and feel good factor

- more luggage space

- better towing ability

- better 4x4 capability

For me, any 4x4 capbility is enough with snow tyres, I don't tow anything, the luggage space of the Yeti can take 4 full sized suitcases with 5 people and the spare wheel in it (enough!), the ride of the Yeti was acceptable, so it all boils down to the quieter ride (the difference between wearing ear plugs and not over a long journey?) plus the great views plus greater sense of occasion of the Range Rover versus the more practical size and economical Yeti.... Some would also raise the social acceptability of the Yeti versus the bad ecological image of the Range Rover, but if we all thought like that, we would be all pressured into driving city Greenine Fabia estates....

What do you think people? A no-brainer option for the Yeti?

If you disarm the 3 year old TDV8 Range Rover on costs grounds, what about a 2004 V8 petrol Range Rover for only 9500 pounds versus 23000 pound Yeti? 13000 pounds will surely go a long way and the V8 N/A petrol engine should be less trouble long term than a turbo diesel with DPF.

Hmmm.... I welcome your thoughts....

I work for jaguar land rover, So I am going to wax lyrical about the range rover as it truly is a brilliant car. And the money you can pick them up for now is completely mad. Now is the time to buy one and live with one.

Also, took a TDV8 on an autobahn to Southampton docks to fix some cars at the yard before being shipped abroad. The car sat completely poised and comfortable at speeds only achievable on the autobahn, mr policeman and returned 32mpg, not bad considering traffic jams, along with the sheer size of the thing possibly sharing the aerodynamics of a brick. Only thing holding me back would be reliability problems (pretty common, apperently) I only work with development really so don't often see this side of things. Also parts can be a nightmare and bloody expensive.

Interesting thought.

We had a P38a 4.0 and it was "one word" very thirsty! Especially city driving. Having said that we didn't get rid of it because of the economy, we knew about that, and could happily live with that because of the "comfort per mile" you get.

However, we finally replaced it with an X5 because things are getting old and it has become less and less reliable, fuse box started melting etc. We also decided we can live with replacing the suspension airbags every 2-3 years.

£9500 for a 2004 is brilliant, and also that BMW V8 should last a long time. However, if its running costs you are thining of, how about the classic version.

Pick up one built before (I think) 1993, then you don't have to worry about suspension airbags with nice looks, fantastic engine, cheap tax (old bands) and a really good one would cost no more than £5k. What's more, it will appreicate in value when not many good'uns are left!

Yeti:

cheaper insurance

cheaper road tax.

But if money was no object I'd have the RR tomorrow.

I had a Classic back in the 80's when they weren't.

I loved my 2 door, but, it had heavy duty suspension all round, which was fine when you had 5 people on board and a washing machine in the boot (Yeti can't do that), but solo was painful. With normal suspension it would be much better.

fuel consumption for my 3.5l petrol carb model was on average about 15-17mpg. Worst was 11mpg when towing a caravan fast across country - drivers don't generally expect caravan to overtake them. Best was coming back from Durham down the M1 at about 55-60mph when it achieved a best of 21mpg.

I seem to remember it only had a 4 speed manual gearbox.

Same engine, in a higher state of tune in the Rover SD1 with a manual 5 speed gearbox would return 30mpg easy.

I sold it as I was made redundant.

Mike

Yeti:

cheaper insurance

cheaper road tax.

...cheaper tyres?

...cheaper spares?

...cheaper servicing?

...cheaper dealer labour rates?

tom

Cheaper yes, but the old classic can be worked on by any Tom, D**k or Harry.

OK. good enough reason to buy the Yeti.

That is what I'm doing

Mike

PS didn't realise the website was PC till it replaced D**k with ****

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by rockhopper

Dont forget the image that the range rover has :-

Chelsea tractor.

Mums car for the school run.

Safety aspect

Its not as safe for other people than you think - Accidentally hit a pedestrian & its like them hitting a flat wall.

A small child / person walks behind you, & you cannot see them because the car is so high off the ground making reversing over that person a real danger.

Euro NCAP ratings are not that good considering the 'safe feeling' these give ( feels solid / chunky).

We live in a country that allows freedom of chioce - Good luck in yours.

Again we are not comparing like for like. To me, this comparison is like comparing a Flavia with an Octavia. The Yeti is a very different beast to the RR probably more like the Rav 4.

For example a new RR starts at £67,495

Chelsea tractor.

Mums car for the school run.

Safety aspect

Its not as safe for other people than you think - Accidentally hit a pedestrian & its like them hitting a flat wall.

A small child / person walks behind you, & you cannot see them because the car is so high off the ground making reversing over that person a real danger.

Euro NCAP ratings are not that good considering the 'safe feeling' these give ( feels solid / chunky).

I have to agree with this. A Range Rover is great for the driver and their passengers but they are lethal for everyone else on the road. I can look anyone in the eye with my Yeti and defend it without hesitation. I could not do that with a Range Rover. Personal opinion only.

A small child / person walks behind you, & you cannot see them because the car is so high off the ground making reversing over that person a real danger.

That's why all Range Rovers have for some time had both back and front parking sensors as standard and a rear colour reversing camera that is clear enough to see things easily.

Here's a thought that keeps hitting me: what are the benefits in getting a Yeti over a 3 year old Range Rover?

The Yeti and Range Rover are similar in so much as they are comfortable and capable off road and with both being diesel automatics.

The advantages of the Yeti that I can think of:-

- low weight: 1500kg v 2300kg

- smaller size: same footprint as a VW Golf makes city parking and garages easy

- fuel economy: 37mpg v 20mpg (realistically)

- lower running costs: parts and labour should be much less than Land Rover and being newer, should last longer

- sportier drive thanks to the low weight and independent rear suspension

The advantages of the Range Rover I can think of:-

- higher ride giving better off road clearence and better views accross hedges and other cars

- even more comfortable ride thanks to air suspension and taller suspension

- quieter ride and better seats

- greater sense of occasion and feel good factor

- more luggage space

- better towing ability

- better 4x4 capability

Here goes...

I drive a June 2008 TDV8 Rage Rover Vogue SE and my wife has a 2 month old Yeti. It is the 2WD version though.

What you choose should (IMO) depend on what you want the car for.

If I did less miles I'd have a Yeti or something similar myself... although having just found out a Yeti wing mirror complete and fitted is £384 I am having second thoughts.

The RR is great for long distance, supremely comfortable, has an amazing feel to it and has lots of very nice features that are included, like the parking heater that can warm up the car before you drive it, defrosting all the windows in the process.

It's also expensive to keep on the road. Figure something like £500 for a service, £450 for road tax and a big bill if anything goes wrong out of warentee. And parking the thing in town can be a real pain due to it being 5m long and 2m wide.

It is when all is said and done quite flash. And because of that it's also expensive to run. Second hand values may look good, but they are at an all time high currently and when the new model comes out in 2012 you'll probably lose 5k to 8k in six months.

The Yeti is still comfortable, more economical, (although I average 28mpg in the RR) and easier to park.

On the downside (flame proof coat on) it is just another car in reality, even though it's a nice one. In a regular colour like silver or dark blue they blend into other cars in the car park. But at least they fit in a space and you can open the doors!

I see the advantages of the RR mentioned above, but they are pretty much irrelevent. If you need a bigger luggage area or a bigger towing capacity you wouldn't be considering a Yeti anyway.

If I did less miles I'd not have the RR.

If I had a smaller disposible income I wouldn't have the RR.

The RR is better offroad, but it's also big and a Yeti would go 80% of the places the RR would. For what ability most people need the RR is overkill. A 4WD yeti is more than enough.

At the end of the day we are comparing chalk and cheese. Far more vehicles are in the 4x4 scale between the RR and the Yeti.

This is me last Sunday...

Thanks CT17 for the useful comparison!

When you say the RR is better for longer journeys, do you mean quieter as well as comfort from the seats?

(I find all cars way too noisy above 70mph and have to wear ear plugs, which is a pain... so being quiet at 85mph would make me happy..)

How much money does one need to account for servicing and fueling a Range Rover TDV8 over 10,000 miles would you say?

The Range Rover is my dream car, but common sense nearly has me pressing the order button for the Yeti, but the lack of a sunroof gives me pause...

...perhaps in they will allow it in January 2011.

...perhaps Range Rovers will collapse in price making one too irresistible...

Ever so slightly OT but does in some way answer the size debate and how dangerous these (lovely) cars can be to other road users. These are the steeds of neighbours around the corner from me. Amazing that these devices were designed to convey the same species! Look how small that Mini looks!

But even in saying that I think the RR a lovely, lovely timeless car. Would not say no to one at all - if I could afford to keep it on the road. I've heard about a company in the Midlands somewhere that will convert any of the first ones into new look ones for about £3000. So get a £9,000 one, add new lights and bumpers, a personal plate (to hide the real age) and voila you have a £70,000 RR.

I've heard about a company in the Midlands somewhere that will convert any of the first ones into new look ones for about £3000. So get a £9,000 one, add new lights and bumpers, a personal plate (to hide the real age) and voila you have a £70,000 RR.

A few people in RR circles have done this and then got a nasty surprise.

If/when you tell your insurance company they say it's modified... in some cases that's £500 a year more on your insurance.

And it doesn't increase the resale value because of this.

Thanks CT17 for the useful comparison!

When you say the RR is better for longer journeys, do you mean quieter as well as comfort from the seats?

(I find all cars way too noisy above 70mph and have to wear ear plugs, which is a pain... so being quiet at 85mph would make me happy..)

How much money does one need to account for servicing and fueling a Range Rover TDV8 over 10,000 miles would you say?

The Range Rover is my dream car, but common sense nearly has me pressing the order button for the Yeti, but the lack of a sunroof gives me pause...

...perhaps in they will allow it in January 2011.

...perhaps Range Rovers will collapse in price making one too irresistible...

When I say better for longer journeys, I mean the fact that a TDV8 is doing about 1900rpm at 70mph. It is practicaly silent and with the radio on low you'll have a hard time hearing any mechanical noises at all. Just a bit of tyre noise depending on the road surface and possibly a little wind from the wing mirrors. Mine is as quiet at 50mph as it is at 100mph. It's a bit strange because you can accelerate briskly, but there is no increase in noise other than the diesel V8 burble under hard acceleration. When you come off the power (or build up a bit more slowly) it's back to an uncanny kind of quiet progress.

My wife compares it to the Fast Forward button on the DVD player. Everything goes faster, but there is no external noise/vibration to get the feeling of going faster. It feels the same at pretty much any speed.

On top of that you have very comfortable seats with nice soft good quality leather that adjust in a lot of ways. Get an SE and they are not only heated, but cooled as well.

Financially for 10k miles in a TDV8 you'll be looking at.

Years Warentee if out of manufacturers = £800 (or keep a few grand spare)

Years Road Tax = £435

Annual or 15k service = £500

Fuel at 25mpg = £2,200 (assumng £1.20ish per litre)

Plus you'll probably be looking at depreciation of between 4k and 6k a year on a three year old one.

Total including depreciation will be between 8k and 10k a year plus insurance which can vary like with any car.

Usually between £400 and £1200 extra for insurance.

It's not cheap.

You'll be lucky to get a decent TDV8 for less than 30k.

You must go for one that's been looked after. If it's three years old or less it must be one owner with full main dealer history.

Some dealers specialise in abused stock tarted up. They are well know in RR forum land and we all steer well clear of them as many buyers get huge bills after a few months...

Further info: www.fullfatrr.com

The proper Range Rover is called Full Fat. Hence FFRR, to seperate it from the Range Rover Sport which is a less practical Discovery with a RR badge at an inflated price over the Disco.

Hope this helps and I didn't ramble on too much...

very informative, thanks

(crosses fingers that next car might be a Disco)

Edited 11 November, 201015 yr by 'daiking'

A few people in RR circles have done this and then got a nasty surprise.

If/when you tell your insurance company they say it's modified... in some cases that's £500 a year more on your insurance.

And it doesn't increase the resale value because of this.

True, but these people are a bit daft if they don't know that insurance works on perceived value. Put BMW 330i wheels on your 316i and thieves WILL think it is a 330i and would rather steel that over the 316i next to it. Do this modification to your RR and it is perceived to be a £70,000 one. So in doing this sort of modification you only fool the neighbours and have higher insurance. In our snobby society the extra insurance is just part of the deal for some people as a way to keep up (or ahead) of the Jones's.

CT17,

Just a couple of observations. I drive a fair bit in germany, where 70 mph is not the limit.

The SUV's in the left (fast) lane are BMW, Audi and then my littel Yeti. All the US derivatives and various Land and Range Rover models tend to stick to the right or center lanes.

The noice in the Yeti is almost non-exiostant up to around 90 mph, after which you can hear a little wind, buit not very much. RPM is in the 2700 range, but not intrusive noisewise at all.

The Yeti is a very comfortable and well powered Autobahnlokomotif.

CT17,

Just a couple of observations. I drive a fair bit in germany, where 70 mph is not the limit.

The SUV's in the left (fast) lane are BMW, Audi and then my littel Yeti. All the US derivatives and various Land and Range Rover models tend to stick to the right or center lanes.

The noice in the Yeti is almost non-exiostant up to around 90 mph, after which you can hear a little wind, buit not very much. RPM is in the 2700 range, but not intrusive noisewise at all.

The Yeti is a very comfortable and well powered Autobahnlokomotif.

I'll just respond to this as I think it's to me.

I also don't drive in the fast lane, which in the UK is just one of the lanes for overtaking.

I drive along at 60 to 65mph most of the time in what you would probably call the slow lane. The reason is because when I drive the FFRR it's such a comfortable relaxed place to be I never seem to be in a rush to get anywhere. Having tested the Audi and BMW before buying a second RR I can understand them being in a rush.

I know the Yeti is a good car, it's why we bought one, but it is noticably noiser than a FFRR at high speed. It's not intrusive as you stated. But it is noisier.

Bare in mind we are comparing two very different vehicles from very different price brackets. I am not saying the Yeti is bad. The RR even has laminated side glass to cut down on any (not just intrusive) noise.

I agree, the Yeti is very comfortable and well powered. It's better than every car in the same price bracket and some of the ones that are 5k to 10k more in my opinion.

But you can't really compare it fairly to something costing around 70k new that is famous for it's smooth quiet ride and quality interior.

Trying to claim a Yeti is like a RR in terms of drive quality is a bit like saying an Octavia is similar to a Merc S class. It is a different world but there is nothing wrong with that. The £50k price difference should mean something after all. A RR and a Yeti are two totally different cars.

A RR and a Yeti are two totally different cars.

True but the OP is trying to figure out if over three years he should spend for argument's sake £22,000 plus £5000/year on a new Yeti (thus say £37,000 over 3 years OR £10,000 plus £10,000 a year (thus £40,000 total) on a second hand Range Rover. It has nothing to do with comparing apples and pears here, it is about how to spend roughly the same amount of money.

True but the OP is trying to figure out if over three years he should spend for argument's sake £22,000 plus £5000/year on a new Yeti (thus say £37,000 over 3 years OR £10,000 plus £10,000 a year (thus £40,000 total) on a second hand Range Rover. It has nothing to do with comparing apples and pears here, it is about how to spend roughly the same amount of money.

I understand that but the conversation was beginning to go away from that and be slightly defensive about the merits of the Yeti. My point then was that you can not compare the drive and calm of a RR against a Yeti as one car has £70k worth of kit and the other has £20 worth, they are different animals. The Yeti is marvellous and wonderful but it can not offer the limo like experience of the RR. As others have mentioned the poster has to judge the maintenance and running costs, size of both cars etc.

If you want to stand out buy a Yeti. There was a little crowd around my Yeti in the car park at Tatton Hall in Cheshire - no one was looking at any of the many other tasty bits of 4x4 tin in the car park! Not sure how long the exclusivity will last though

Quite a long time with the current build queue!

Think I see as many Yeti's and I do Bentleys at the moment.