Hi Everyone,

I have always really liked thr RRS and finally am in the position to buy one, having researched on line decided the MY2010 was worth the extra money and fortunately a local garage had what looked ideal in close to my choice of colour combo.

It was early My2010 so 7 1/2 years old but one owner from new ( how many of these vehicles have had 5 owners in first 7 years or so - what is all that about?)

Anyway 66k miles, meticulous service history, really well cared for and far nicer condition than my 2 1/2 yr old Kia Sorrento I have had from new - oops.

Garage was going to service it and put a years MOT on it so paid deposit.

While waiting impatiently for my new pride and joy, did more research and one stupid thing I had not checked was cambelt or chain. To my horror not only a belt but should have been changed - SIX MONTHS AGO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rang garage as they had said they would service it, to advise garage it needed full belt service and guy said WE DO NOT REPLACE BELTS, and got pretty shirty to boot, when I said you are a Garage the car is technically undriveable as it has passed the manufacturers sage time limit for a major component so surely you have an obligation.

His response - "You checked the service history, it is your responsibility, if you want to cancel, send an email" and pretty much hung up. Wow.

So, I spoke to a Solicitor who advised me the garage was under no obligation to make sure the car needed any major service items in any way legally, however if the engine went pop due to cam belt failure I could take legal action regarding reasonable durability of a product.

YIPPEE, so with a destroyed vehicle I can then leap into a pool of piranhas for good measure.

I questioned solicitor that surely buy from a garage they are deemed to be an expert to be told if you asked for a car suitable for your 17 yr old son and they sold you a Ferrari you would have reason to complain.

I was really surprised and plainly you have to ask very pointed questions to a dealer or apparently you are supposed to be the flaming expert, so what next.

Rang my local Landy Indy who I have used for Disco 1 & 2 previously and they wanted £630 + vat for full belt service both cam and pump belts etc and they could do it in a week ( better than eye watersing £1350 the local Landy stealer wanted.) So I rang the nice but shirty man back at garage with a proposal- "As I have to pay for a full service the minute I pick up the vehicle, how about as a good will gesture rather than you servicing it which is a complete waste anyway knock a small amount off the vehicle towards the cost of the major service.

He was not very happy with my suggestion and moaned on that they need to check brakes to make sure vehicle is safe, I felt like saying it has just had an MOT and you don't care if engine locks up on outside lane of motorway at 70mph which could cause a fatal accident but I bit my tongue! He said he would speak to his colleague.

Four hours later, about 5.30pm still no call back from garage and looking on their website was shocked to see car back On Sale listed. Pretty shocked as I had not told them I was not proceeding with sale.

So a night of soul searching and pouring over Autotrader plus calling a few sellers, nothing really compared to car I had put deposit on. They were all higher mileage, more owners and far from my choice of colour combo (every RRS is so different.) And hardly any of them past the vital 7 yr mark had any mention of major cam belt service.

So next morning, arrived on forecourt for 9am and arrival of Mr Shirty, (my RRS was not on forecourt with a price label) who was very charming and greeted me and asked "if I had come regarding my suggestion" and I replied I was wondering when my car would be ready to collect? He said they could do a £100 off and I could collect that afternoon.

So a bit of a rollercoaster but I know have a fairly pristine RRS in Ipanema sand with Ivory upholstery and door cards and ebony dash and carpets. If I had ordered it new Nara bronze would have probably won but close enough.

So now the fun begins, so impressed with it so far just hope I don't live to regret not getting another Kia with its seven year warranty LoL

If the garage said they would service and MOT then I'd expect the belts done as not already done. If they can't do it then they should discount or send it somewhere that does. If their attitude is take it or leave it, then I'd leave it. They won't be helping you if something goes wrong during their liability period.

There are plenty out there and if the belts weren't done then it doesn't have a "meticulous service history" after all. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I've recently bought a 2011 RRS S/c. One owner. 45k miles.

When I went to test drive it they told me that it would go in for a service at Wimbledon LR. Which it did. The service picked up a Supercharge Kit and pulley issue and this was replaced. When I collected the car they gave me a copy of the service receipt. Just under £2k as other bits anrd pieces were replaced as well. They even swapped out the piano black trim for a dark wood from another model they'd just had come in.

If the guy won't give you the money for the replacement and is generally difficult to deal with, I'd steer(no pun intended) well clear.

I'd happily recommend the guys I bought mine from if you haven't bought yours yet.

Took me four months to find mine and the guys on this site helped me incredibly with their knowledge and experience.

Good luck. RRS 2011. 5L, S/c in Sumatra Black. She's lurvely.

To be fair the previous owner is in the clear as having had a quote from LR for 3 year maintenance package he decided to Part Ex his pride and joy just as the big belt service was due so he really had kept it meticulously maintained during his ownership.

Totally agree with both of you and disgusted by the garage but what shocked me was that legally they were doing nothing wrong which to my mind was awful.

Having sold a car and saying it had 12 months MOT and a service anyone who had no interest in a car beyond a means of transport could reasonably think that the car would not need to visit a garage for a year - yet they would be driving a ticking time bomb!!!!!!!

What made it worse was they have been around 30 years and originally a main dealer and their website promises advice and experience.

Their argument was that it was priced accordingly taking in to account the service required, what I didn't like was the underhand way of not mentioning it.

It was at a very good price and they could have added the cost of big service to the screen price and it would have still been good value.

I would have liked nothing more than to tell them to stick the car where the sun don't shine but I would have been cutting off my nose to spite my face.

I would have paid more money for an RRS with more miles, more owners and I could have spent a great deal of time looking for the right colour combo and condition when I should have been running my company.

So rightly or wrongly I decided it wasn't the cars fault and get it away from an untrustworthy environment.

It has been given a clean bill of health and the full belt change by my local Indy and it drives faultlessly (so far, after all it is a Land Rover LoL.)

A sleazy used car dealer? How is that a shock?

I think also there is a legal term in these cases and certainly applicable to all used car purchases - caveat emptor - roughly translates as buyer beware. Don't forget that when the belts are changed there is a pump to change for a modified one as well and that doesn't seem to have been mentioned. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

I had hoped consumer law had moved on a little but sadly not. Regarding fuel pump issue I am fairly sure that relates to the 2.7 and not the 3.0 which if the rear belt snaps it simply lacks fuel supply rather than any damage.

I had all parts replaced as recommended by my Indy, don't see point in scrimping and couldn't bear to be parted from my RRS for another 24 hour, loving driving it too much (very sad but looking for any excuse to jump in it.)