My New Mexico trip is looming and I still don't know which car to take

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
07/30/2020 at 09:49 • Filed to: The Hot Mess

I’ve posted about this before: Which car to bring on a 1600+ mile, three week work trip to New Mexico. The obvious, safe choices would be a rental or the Volvo, but safe never really excites me and I’ve had WAY too much seat time in rentals coming up.

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Summary

The crux of the argument is: Comfort vs Offroad

Land Rover:

Large and spacious

Known entity

Allows for on and off clock offroading

But...

Loud on the highway

16MPG on a good day

Unidentified vibration may be difficult to fix

Cruise control doesn’t work great

Jaguar:

Excellent to drive

22 MPG+ on highway

Comfortable

Needs a Win

But...

Not completely sorted mechanically

Not the most trustworthy vehicle

Closes the door on offroad fun

New Developments

Since last writing some things have changed. The Jaguar went into limp home mode due to a suspected discharged battery, but the incident has shaken my confidence in the otherwise willing Jag . Additionally a fault in the CD changer caused the Nav and climate control to go out temporarily, the accessory port fuse keeps blowing even when nothing is plugged in , and if I start it after it has sat for a few days it lets loose an epic cloud of smoke out the tailpipe .

None of these things are dealbreakers... but they are minor worries.

The Land Rover isn’t all sunshine and rainbows either. Mostly the vibration has gone from “annoying” to “worrying”. New steering damper will be in today and if that doesn’t fix it I’ll either need to double down on finding the problem or concede the battle to the Jag.

On the human side, New Mexico has implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all out of state travelers. It doesn’t apply to me, which is... a thing, but it does mean that my friend Taylor rightly going to pass on driving up for offroading on the weekends. Without him will I still do it? Seems less likely.

However , a new co-worked expressed interest (actually just strait up invited himself... but in a nice way) in tagging along for offroading during the trip. If one wants to join I could probably rope a few others in too, which could make for a fun weekend. Annoying that we’d have to wear masks the whole time, but we’re pretty much used to it at this point.

HOWEVER all state parks are closed to us dirty out of staters, though I have no idea if/how that is enforced, so we’d be limited to federal land... which honestly is what we’d usually hit anyway so I don’t see that as much of an encumbrance . If anything state parks are more likely to have things I/we could do in the Jaaaag so it sort of encumbers that rather than the Landy.

Blegh.

Progress on Repairs

The Jag is doing pretty good. I went ahead and splurged for a tint and I have the rear shocks in hand. I’ll either pay to have those done or give it a go myself, depending on time.

Given that it is now blowing smoke (sometimes) out the back, I might opt to change the valve cover gaskets (likely cause? ) before I take off, but I need to decide quickly. Also I have questions about those parts prices...

Also also this is the first car I’ve seen the valve cover gaskets not sold as a set... Looks like I can get all the seals I need for the about $150, which will go down in history as the most money I’ve ever paid for a freaking valve cover gasket kit.

The Land Rover is about 15 minutes away from a new steering damper, which should solve most of its immediate problems. However I really think I should drop the headliner to fix the leaking roof rack before entering New Mexico in m onsoon season. Also it sure could use new brake fluid... and maybe pads... and new plugs wouldn’t hurt... and I should really fix the rear lock actuators too.

With the exception of the headliner, none of these are things I couldn’t bang out in a weekend so....

So which are you going to take?

Right now I’m wrenching like I’m taking both.

The safety and utility of the Land Rover is appealing, as is having the option to get out of the city for a while. That said, I know myself and if given no external prodding I really don’t see “leaving my hotel room” on the weekend as a thing I’d do and the Landy’s lack of top end power can get really tiring on these trips. (No worse than any given rental car, mind you.)

The Jag makes more sense in a lot of ways but man it sure has been acting up lately. I get it new exhaust and the CD changer shorts out. I get it a new tint and the gearbox throws a code. I do a full tune up and it starts smoking. This thing is acting like a spoiled child and I’m not into it.

So... uhhh Volvo?

No!

Well... maybe...

DISCUSSION (33)

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:01

Uh, Volvo... because...

I just came down the Sangre de Cristo range from Colorado Springs the back way, BTW. I always forget how gorgeous Angel Fire is in the summer.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Large and spacious

Known entity

Allows for on and off clock offroading

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Loud on the highway

16MPG on a good day

Unidentified vibration may be difficult to fix

Cruise control doesn’t work great

Risk of spontaneous over-heating

Risk of spontaneous over-heating warping heads in seconds

Risk of spontaneous over-heating at any moment at altitude on long grades

Risk of Land Rover...

dogisbadob > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:06

$264 for one valve cover gasket? WTF?

Should’ve gotten Beck/A rnley from Rock Auto

Arrivederci > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
07/30/2020 at 10:06

Agree. It’s been a minute since I’ve been out in NM or that part of the country, but my memory of it is lots of very vast spaces without any stuff. Meaning, lots of space potentially without help.

Unless you’re caravaning with your co-workers, then Landy.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Arrivederci
07/30/2020 at 10:14

Yeah, even the GSM coverage is spotty up through there. It’s pretty good on I25, but up in the country you’d want to see? There’s a lot of places where it could get ugly.

Good Land Rover service in ABQ and SAF... but you’d need to get the truck into town.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:15

No out-of-state visitors to state parks is being pretty strictly enforced. They’ve had staff at the main entry points checking tags and asking for further ID if you have an out-of-state plate. If you manage to get by them, the rangers are making rounds and having talks with anyone with out of state plates, and placing fines on windshields if they can’t find the owners. This last weekend the amount of out-of-state plates I saw at Heron Lake was wayyyyyyy down. I wouldn’t chance it.

The national forest is allowing campfires again starting this weekend. At least by me in the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests - I’m not 100% about the south . I camped on forest land a couple weeks ago when it would normally be really busy and it was fairly empty. Should be in good shape for your trip.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:21

Is Turo an option?

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > dogisbadob
07/30/2020 at 10:32

Haha yeah I’m not paying that for sure. Plan is to order from a UK supplier for less. Problem with Rock is they don’t have the spark plug rings needed to do the job and those are the things that are actually leaking...

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
07/30/2020 at 10:35

A rental is an option, but not Turo. Don’t want a rental for a variety of reasons.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
07/30/2020 at 10:39

I think that is a little unfair on the Landy. Fresh coolant, fresh cooling lines, fresh head gaskets, new radiator, warm weather thermostat, and digital temperature gauge with alarms set... Yes it COULD overheat, but it hasn’t in years and I do not go easy on it. I wouldn’t say no to a new fan clutch, just in case, and a new efan (or an efan conversion...) but here we are.

Also hooray AAA 200 mile tow plan.

MoCamino > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:42

There is definitely lots about Jaaags I don’t know, but smoke out the back at startup after sitting a few days doesn’t sound like a valve cover gasket problem to me. It sounds like valve guide seals

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/30/2020 at 10:42

Good to know! Thanks!

I respect the measures NM is taking right now, but also it is super annoying haha. I want to shout at them “BUT WE’RE THE GOOD PEOPLE! WE’RE ONLY TRAVELING BECAUSE WE HAVE TO! LOOK AT HOW MANY MASKS I BROUGHT!” but alas....

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > MoCamino
07/30/2020 at 10:45

Fair, but I won’t fix that so..... assuming valve cover gasket. Which is to say I know the valve cover gasket is leaking (probably small amounts of) oil into the spark plug wells, but I too find it unlikely that is actually making it into the combustion chamber. Either way the gaskets need to be done...

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:45

A Follow the trail pointed out, out-of-state is being enforced in state parks, but there’s a pretty limited amount of off-roading in state parks compared to the rest of the state being mostly federal land. Campfires are coming back online in Southern NM, too.

I you want a mini Oppo meet, there’s beer waiting for you in Las Cruces. I’m also open to some camping or off-road adventuring. If you end up bringing a non-Land Rover, I know a Pajero you could probably get some seat time in.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:47

I don’t mean to sound harsh on it... but we have owned (and they are both back behind the shop) TWO of that vintage and they both suddenly developed that failure mode. I actually blame the thermostat design, which under my theory “sticks”. So I have two Rover V8s back there with warped heads.

So, I’m coming at it from a position of “at a certain age” stuff happens. I still love those damn trucks, which is why I kept them both, but between the lousy mileage and noise, I’m not sure it’s the best scalpel for the procedure you’re about to undertake.

Either way, Good Luck! It’s lovely country.

kgman > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:50

I just replaced the u-joints on my Discovery, they were much worse than I thought on the front drive shaft. It’s much smoother to drive now.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > kgman
07/30/2020 at 10:52

Yeah that is my fear on mine as I know the u-joints can be problematic. I’ve checked mine every time I’ve been under the car and greased them semi-recently, but if the vibration persists I’ll probably take it to a driveshaft specialist and have them checked/ replaced.

dogisbadob > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 10:58

They do have sparkplug tube seals, but they’re listed under the ignition tab

Also, Mahle’s valve cover gaskets include the seals, but Rock only has the left one. The part number for the right is the same as the left, except replace the L with an R. Mahle VS50672R. Summit Racing has the right one, but with an expected ship date of 8/24. Rock Auto might have it back in stock at the same time.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
07/30/2020 at 10:59

That is fair. Actually now that I’m a few years past my head gasket repair it might be time again to see if I can find an uprated thermostat. IIRC someone was selling an assembly with allowed the install of an off the shelf “normal” thermostat rather than having to shell out on the LR OE ones.

Overheating is certainly the #1 nemesis of the Landy (ok... maybe #2 after rust) and I’ve experienced it first hand and come out the other side. Not a process I want to repeat by any means. In fact according to the carfax for this car it gets new heads every 60k miles, which is depressing.

Overall I think the cooling systems on these are just poorly designed. The mechanical fan doesn’t quite do the job leaing the overworked and undersized efan to pick up the slack . Pair that with a funky inline thermostat that opens a little too late by default, shoddy aftermarket parts, and poor heat transfer between the block and heads and yeah... recipe for disaster.

MoCamino > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 11:00

Oh, definitely fix the gaskets if they’re leaking. I just don’t think it will fix the smok y startup. :)

newnamesameme > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 11:00

I have that exact pro-4x in the pic at the bottom. Take that if you have the choice. :) Its a pig but its a pig that will go everywhere reliably.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 11:01

I can appreciate not wanting a traditional rental for an extended road trip. Was hoping turo might offer something more enthralling but know nothing about them in practice.

As for the puff of oil on the jag, it’s probably a torn diaphragm inside the ccv valve. ( A common fault on older BMW's a nyway ) Not sure where it’s located on the Jag but could be bolted into the intake manifold or could be external.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > newnamesameme
07/30/2020 at 11:03

Lol the XTerra is my friend Taylor’s and yes, he loves it. I’ll be sure not to tell him you said that. His ego doesn’t need any more help :-P

Kinja'd!!!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 11:07

Yeah, exactly my points. I do love the vibe of those trucks but no vehicle has left me stranded more than those things over the years. Ugh.

There’s a weird historical twist that when Triumph did the Stag they chose NOT to use the corporate Buick 215 that BL owned the rights to, but did their own V8 design bastardized from another V6 project. It, TOO, had a strong propensity to over-heat and warp heads.

When I eventually get my green truck going? Redesigned uprated thermostat. Taurus style 3000 CFM e-fan. Aluminum upgraded radiator.

Given how hot (and yeah, it was hot in Raton, Santa Fe and LV the other day) it is currently? I might recommend going “hillbilly” and removing the thermostat.

I’m envious. I always drive through there “in a hurry” and I should really make a leisurely trip out of it.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > dogisbadob
07/30/2020 at 11:11

Oh hey look at that. Actually didn’t think to check elsewhere. O’Reilly has the whole set for $85 shipped with delivery by 8/1. Might be the way to go. A little more than Rock, but once you factor in shipping for both sides it comes out to be a wash.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 11:15

When trip planning for flights, one of the first questions is how the plans might be affected by weather delays and whether or not there are any critical events that cannot be delayed.

If I were in your situation, I’d stick with a rental simply because of the history and current condition of the vehicles available. If it was a vacation that might get delayed due to repairs, that’s a different story. But for work? It would not go well if I drove my personal vehicle, it broke down, and I missed work at a remote site because of it.

newnamesameme > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 11:23

Its a really useful SUV!

Regardless of what you drive i hope you get some time out on BLM land in NM. Its one of the most beautiful parts of the SW and thats saying something.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/30/2020 at 11:23

Fair and sensible, but when have I ever been either of those?

But seriously, if I were contemplating something like the Saab, which has never completed a trip without breaking down, versus the Landy and the Jag, which have never failed to complete a trip, I’d see the wisdom. There is certainly risk, more so with the Jag than the Land Rover, but at an acceptable level.

I do have vague contingency plans, mostly centered around ditching an ailing car for a rental and figuring it out from there, but if I thought needing that was as strong possibility I wouldn’t be considering either.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > newnamesameme
07/30/2020 at 11:25

For real! We’ve been out there twice and loved it both times.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/overland-adventures-in-new-mexico-trip-log-and-photo-1840783609

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/new-mexico-adventuring-1829634111

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 11:41

It’s a tough situation because our cases, while not as high as a lot of other states, have been keeping a record pace for two week straight now. But at the same time we have so much open public land - heck DeBaca county is so in the middle of nowhere they still haven’t had a single positive CV case. From a practical point of view it is safe to drive into the state and do outside things away from other people, enjoying the beautiful spaces that we have here. The problem is the few people who come to camp but don’t actually stay out of towns or keep from congregating in big groups at the state parks . So the governor just said enough is enough and basically locked things down.

CompactLuxuryFan > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 12:17

Rent a Wrangler?

arl > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/30/2020 at 14:30

It’s got to the the Landy...t he reliability of the Jag would be a big old “ no-dawg” from me.

Jeez, I can’t believe I’m picking a Land Rover for reliability . But compared to a Jag? Landy all day.

JMKarstetter > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
07/31/2020 at 00:18

Or stop by Norman and you can take my Land Cruiser, all the perks of the Land Rover, but only one of the downsides, it gets about the same MPG.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/04/2020 at 13:13

Man this comment got buried ! I’m down for a beer as long as we can secure an outdoor or unpopulated venue. I’m still (more or less) in full on quarantine mode and don’t see that changing in the next three months. We can play it by ear. I’ll get you my contact info as soon as I figure out how to do that. Or if you use twitter I use the same username there and you can DM me.