In a field in Wales, hundreds of Range Rover and Land Rover models are just rusting away. For their owners, they became too expensive to keep running.
Hundreds of Range Rovers have been abandoned in the Welsh countryside, with many owners reportedly abandoning the expensive luxury vehicles because they are too expensive to maintain and drive.
The discovery of the cars has attracted attention and given rise to speculation about their fate.
The cars were discovered in a field in Wales by YouTuber Imstokze, who happened to stumble upon the scene during a long journey through the countryside. According to British media outlets such as The Sun, he had to travel for several hours to even reach the site.
Most of the cars are third-generation Range Rovers, but there are also several Land Rover Discovery models among the abandoned vehicles.
Although some of them appear to be in poor condition, the interiors are in many cases surprisingly well preserved. The wood and leather in the cabin still appear to be intact on many of the parked cars, even though they are outside.
The Range Rover was an extremely popular choice in England throughout the 90s and early 00s. Which they still are, to a certain extent. But the oldest of the cars have now in many cases ended up as burdens for their owners.
And because England doesn't have the same taxes on cars that the Danes are plagued with, the vehicles are more likely to be used and thrown away. At least when they get old enough.
'Bad' fuel consumption and high service and spare parts costs do not exactly make cars more attractive in a time that the British describe as a 'cost of living crisis'.
Some of the cars on site appear to have been bought cheaply. Perhaps to be repaired, resold and put back on the road. But there is just as much evidence that that plan has failed. And that the cars are now simply left to their own fate.
– It is unlikely that anyone will put in the effort to breathe new life into the cars, says YouTuber Imstokze.
He describes the finding as a reminder of how quickly car models can lose their relevance when maintenance and operating costs exceed the cars' value.
