HELP: Range Rover or Land Cruiser

[carbonmotion]

I'm currently trying to build a fleet of SUVs for use ferrying corporate execs from Australia's cities and airports to remote industrial sites in the outback over some rough horse and buggy trails and across uncivilized terrain. The local favorite is the TLC 70, but we're thinking about something a little more comfortable like Range Rover, TLC 200, X5M, Q7 or Cayenne? What are your thoughts? This is fleet needs to be up and running by early 2015.

 

[benthewraith]

I'm currently trying to build a fleet of SUVs for use ferrying corporate execs from Australia's cities and airports to remote industrial sites in the outback over some rough horse and buggy trails and across uncivilized terrain. The local favorite is the TLC 70, but we're thinking about something a little more comfortable like Range Rover, TLC 200, X5M, Q7 or Cayenne? What are your thoughts? This is fleet needs to be up and running by early 2015.

Choose something reliable, luxurious, gas efficient (though I don't think any of those would be considered "efficient") and affordable to your budget. If it saves $1000-$2000, that's per car. But you should also see how all of those vehicles perform off-road and make your decision based on that. From the people I've known with Range Rovers, they seem to need a lot of maintenance.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Land Cruisers are both quite rugged and very comfortable.

While I'm not familiar with Australia, I have worked in countries which might best be described as 'troubled', or unstable, where conditions were sometimes quite challenging. In these environments, the Toyota Landcruiser was always a firm favourite of internationals working in such places for the vehicle's invariable combination of rugged reliability and comfort.

 

[adk]

I don't think you'll want to deal with Range Rover's reliability issues when you're out in the bush.

 

[quagmire]

As ugly I find the Land Cruiser, it is the best of the bunch. Range Rovers are more luxurious, etc, but they are reliability nightmares. Land Cruiser will be reliable and offer a good ride.

 

[carbonmotion]

As ugly I find the Land Cruiser, it is the best of the bunch. Range Rovers are more luxurious, etc, but they are reliability nightmares. Land Cruiser will be reliable and offer a good ride.

The major problem with Land Cruisers is that the 70 series has a really rough ride. The 200 is a competitor to the Range Rover, but as you pointed out, it looks like shiet. Maybe a Porsche Cayenne or Audi Q7 will be better? I'm also looking at the BMW X5M.

 

[quagmire]

The major problem with Land Cruisers is that the 70 series has a really rough ride. The 200 is a competitor to the Range Rover, but as you pointed out, it looks like shiet. Maybe a Porsche Cayenne or Audi Q7 will be better? I'm also looking at the BMW X5M.

German.... May not be as unreliable as the Land Rover, but once out of warranty will be a bitch/costly to maintain. But, if you are willing to pay the costs to maintain a BMW, Audi, or a Porsche, I would go for the Q7 if comfort is of importance. The X5M is cool, but that will have a firmer/harsher ride since its setup for performance. And the Cayenne is just a more expensive Q7....

Land Rover would be my number one choice if it wasn't for the reliability.

 

[carbonmotion]

German.... May not be as unreliable as the Land Rover, but once out of warranty will be a bitch/costly to maintain. But, if you are willing to pay the costs to maintain a BMW, Audi, or a Porsche, I would go for the Q7 if comfort is of importance. The X5M is cool, but that will have a firmer/harsher ride since its setup for performance. And the Cayenne is just a more expensive Q7....

Just get yourself a fleet of H1's.... Maybe your clients will like to think they are in the military....

I looked in to that. Commercial HMMVEE variants are ridiculously expensive and the interior quality is shiet pure shiet.

 

[ijohn.8.80]

I'm currently trying to build a fleet of SUVs for use ferrying corporate execs from Australia's cities and airports to remote industrial sites in the outback over some rough horse and buggy trails and across uncivilized terrain. The local favorite is the TLC 70, but we're thinking about something a little more comfortable like Range Rover, TLC 200, X5M, Q7 or Cayenne? What are your thoughts? This is fleet needs to be up and running by early 2015.

Just a quick query if I can? You do know that this service is already on offer by multiple companies? Have you done extensive research to make sure you have a market? I know of existing companies that even specialise this service to just the Chinese and Japanese markets.

 

[quagmire]

I looked in to that. Commercial HMMVEE variants are ridiculously expensive and the interior quality is shiet pure shiet.

Yeah the interiors are crap. But, they do have a presence to them. Plus, would be able to handle the Australian roads. But, that was a joke mostly.

Like I my revised post said, Land Rover would be more first choice if it wasn't for the reliability. Because the rest besides the Land Cruiser are not really made for rough roads, etc. The Q7 would be the most comfortable out of the bunch, but the Land Rover and Land Cruiser would be the most capable.

And I should clarify, the 200 series Land Cruiser. Not the 70 series from the 1980's. Don't want to be ferrying clients in a 29 year old vehicle essentially.

 

[carbonmotion]

Just a quick query if I can? You do know that this service is already on offer by multiple companies? Have you done extensive research to make sure you have a market? I know of existing companies that even specialise this service to just the Chinese and Japanese markets.

Without getting bogged in to too many details, I can affirmatively say our present transportation needs can't be met by contractors. Oh, and the clients aren't asian.

 

[ijohn.8.80]

Without getting bogged in to too many details, I can affirmatively say our present transportation needs can't be met by contractors. Oh, and the clients aren't asian.

Aah, now suspecting UAE client base for your venture!

If that's the case, I now understand the focus on luxury! Wouldn't a fleet of lux helicopters be more to their suiting?

 

[carbonmotion]

Aah, now suspecting UAE client base for your venture!

If that's the case, I now understand the focus on luxury! Wouldn't a fleet of lux helicopters be more to their suiting?

Haha, our sites are located in the middle of no where, so if you want to helicopter in, you have to also invest in local maintenance and refueling network, which can be a pain.

 

[ijohn.8.80]

Haha, our sites are located in the middle of no where, so if you want to helicopter in, you have to also invest in local maintenance and refueling network, which can be a pain.

Too true! It's a complicated situation, that could be solved in several ways, including creation of local employment in remote regions. I wish you all the best with it.

 

[mcmul]

Range Rover. Next?

 

[Huntn]

Are these vehicles built on truck or car chassis? If looking for rugged, a truck chassis might be more appropriate. I recently purchased a Toyota Highlander, it's on a car chassis and it rides very nicely on paved roads and gets slightly better gas milage than the full blown SUVs. How it would do off road, I don't know.

 

[ReallyOldGuy]

Not sure what the 200 series is, is it the Lexus 470? I have had almost all the vehicles you spoke about over the past 7 years. The big LC is by far the best and most comfortable with an H2 Hummer very close. The Range Rover was beautiful but not reliable. Porsche will beat you senseless, Q7 is very nice but will not handle off road very well. Drove all of these on rural mountain roads in Tennessee. Good Luck

 

[Tilpots]

Land Cruiser. They're freaking fantastic. It will give the impression you know what the hell you're doing. And they'll arrive at the destination. Double bonus.

 

[quagmire]

Not sure what the 200 series is, is it the Lexus 470? I have had almost all the vehicles you spoke about over the past 7 years. The big LC is by far the best and most comfortable with an H2 Hummer very close. The Range Rover was beautiful but not reliable. Porsche will beat you senseless, Q7 is very nice but will not handle off road very well. Drove all of these on rural mountain roads in Tennessee. Good Luck

200 series/70 series is the generation of Land Cruiser. The 200 series the latest generation of the LC. The 70 series is the generation dating back to the 1980's.

Sort of like how people refer to different generations of the Jeep Wrangler being the YJ, TJ, and JK.

 

[juanm]

I'm currently trying to build a fleet of SUVs for use ferrying corporate execs from Australia's cities and airports to remote industrial sites in the outback over some rough horse and buggy trails and across uncivilized terrain. The local favorite is the TLC 70, but we're thinking about something a little more comfortable like Range Rover, TLC 200, X5M, Q7 or Cayenne? What are your thoughts? This is fleet needs to be up and running by early 2015.

I traveled around Australia for a year in a Mitsubishi Pajero, doing quite a bit of offroad, but nothing too extreme. Pretty much what you'll do, I'd say. Also with me was my wife, whose exigence on comfort for long distances is probably on par with that of you future customers!

My thoughts:

Keep in mind you'll have to invest into quite a few accessories to make them suitable for the outback. I'm thinking long range tanks, upgraded suspensions, and above all, a roo-bar (getting stranded in the middle of nowhere because a big red went through your radiator doesn't sound very executive-y). Also a secondary battery system, CB radio, maybe a snorkel, stuff like that... Ideally in outback Australia you'd want to travel in convoys, but if that's not possible, you HAVE to have a minimum to be able to save your company's reputation.

LC 70-series: they are like Defenders, comfort wise, but have the reputation of being more reliable and they have readily-available parts in Australia.

Cayenne, X5, Q7... : You'd have to upgrade the hell out of them to even consider using them in the outback because they are made for german autobahns. Parts wouldn't be too hard to find, since there are already a number of these in circulation in large cities, but they are a very bad choice (in my opinion) if you want to drive to isolated places.

Pajeros are okay, but smaller and even in their most expensive trim I'm afraid your clients will expect something more luxurious.

You didn't name the Mercedes G series. Is there a reason for that? Its reputation as a luxury offroader is already well established.

If I had to pick a car in your list for myself, it would be the Land Cruiser 200 (in Sahara trim)

One possibility you didn't mention that would fill the bill perfectly is the Lexus LC570. It's basically a rebadged Land Cruiser 200-series, with luxury accessories added to it, like sidesteps. It's not very popular in the outback because of its price but, mechanically, it's very similar to the LC 200, so most important accessories will be available off the shelf and it's got the qualities you'd expect from a high end Lexus.

I'm so jealous, I love driving in the outback!