With the Range Rover moving up to the super-luxury market in the early 2000s, Land Rover found itself with a gap in the market. It was a gap that was partially filled by the Discovery also becoming a bit posher, especially in its third generation with the Discovery 3, but there was still a gap there for those who liked the previous Range Rover but simply couldn’t afford the new one.
Enter the Sport. Introduced in late 2005, the new scaled-down Range Rover had the looks and charm of the Range Rover proper, but was smaller, lower and – critically – was based on the new semi-monocoque platform of the Discovery 3, making it quick and easy for Land Rover to develop.
It filled the gap between the Discovery and the Range Rover perfectly and very quickly became a popular model in its own right.
This Range Rover Sport was bought new in 2008 by its current owner who has used it as both a business vehicle and the family car ever since.
During his ownership, the Range Rover was initially looked after by Lookers Range Rover in Chelmsford, Essex, before passing into the care of a highly respected local 4x4 specialist who has maintained it ever since.
As it has been owned from new, the history of the Sport is known from Day One and the vendor is keen to point out that it has been meticulously maintained as he and his wife have had to rely on it as their regular family transport.
It has covered 118,000 miles and has been serviced at least once a year. The vendor has decided to sell as he and his family are now looking for an electric vehicle and no longer need such a large car.
The Range Rover Sport comes with a selection of bills and receipts showing that it has been maintained properly and in a timely manner throughout its life.
Most of the bills come from a 4x4 specialist in Essex, with a few main dealer documents along with the original handbook and service wallet.
The registration number currently on the car will be retained by the vendor and the car will be sold as a 57 plate, with the registration number it first had when it left the dealership in January 2008.
Java black is by far the most appealing colour for a Range Rover Sport and the paint finish on this example still looks really good 13 years on.
It's not perfect: there's a small stone chip for example on the nearside rear wheel arch, but for the most part it's in stunning condition and looks terrific for its age.
All of the plastics and trim are in good order although the alloy wheels do show some signs of discoloration. They're not damaged though and could be easily refurbished if you felt the need.
Overall, this is a great looking car and one that has been clearly well looked after, with no signs of rust on the upper body.
The cabin of this Range Rover Sport is a lovely place to be. It features sumptuous oatmeal , with dark ash wood cappings setting off the upmarket cabin very nicely indeed.
All of the fixtures and fittings are in superb condition and the leather trim, with Alcantara inserts, shows minimal wear, proving that this car has been cared for properly throughout its life.
A particularly nice feature is the factory option Harman Kardon stereo, which offers terrific sound quality and was a highly desirable extra back in the day.
All of the dials and switches work as they should including the air conditioning and heated seats, while all of the dashboard warning lights extinguish immediately once the engine is running.
At the rear, a split tailgate affords easy access to the boot and the load bay is very clean and tidy.
Power comes from Land Rover’s 3.6 litre TDV8 engine which was developed by Ford as essentially an extended version of the TDV6 found under the bonnet of the Discovery 3.
The power plant develops 268bhp, which is enough to make the Range Rover feel pretty lively. It's also quiet and refined with plenty of mid-range acceleration.
As the service history shows, it has been properly looked after, so it's no surprise to discover that it runs smoothly and with no apparent problems.
The gearbox works fine in both high and low ratios, as does the adjustable air suspension which works alongside Land Rover’s ‘Terrain Response’ system for the optimal off road setting. It was the height of tech back in the late 2000s and still works perfectly today.
There are several Range Rover Sports on the used market at the moment and because of their age and buyer profile, the quality among them is massively variable. If you take a punt on the small ads then it's very difficult to know what you might find.
Take a bid on this example, though, and you know that what you're getting is a properly maintained, cherished and well-loved car that has been owned by just one family from new and has been looked after with no expense spared.
It's a very rare find and is the perfect purchase if you're after one of the best first generation Sports on the market.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Please see our FAQ's here and our Terms & Conditions here
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Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
More about buying with us
2008 Range Rover Sport TDV8
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