4x4

[Wighty]

A forum member on the other side (blobsta) is selling what looks like a pretty good ML something for not a lot of money

 

[joderest]

The ML270 has been great, and still is, its just i am sure the tin worm or emissions will finish it at some point.
I have considered buying a Discovery 3 with damaged engine, as they sell so cheap, and having a rebuilt engine put in, but have been warned about their electrical gremlins. Its still an option.
Regarding a pick up type vehicle, wife has looked, but does not like the fact that there is so much behind her.
She does need ground clearance as some of the fields she goes into are a bit rough .
I will keep "The Lump" going as long as i can, its still only got 58,000 on it.

 

[joderest]

Just been doing some research on a VW, sounds like a good car, then you see stories of issues and i changed my mind again, but its still a contender

 

[sausage]

If you go and look at a well specced L322 Range Rover (up to about 2012), you might find that like me, suddenly there are no other options. There is nothing like them in terms of comfort, luxury, capability, presence, sense of well being from driving. This is not hyperbole at all, simple truth, there is absolutely nothing else like them, nothing.

TDV8s 3.6 or 4.4. are the ones to go for. They are easy to fall in love with and I have heard a few people refer to them like "teddy bears" - no idea what that is, but they do give an astonishing experience that I have never had in anything else. I came to an SL after my L322 and it took me a long time to find anything other than another RR that would fill it's shoes. The SL or a Bentley Conti GT were the only options I could find.

Watch this, Harry is a legend and knows his beans, "There is nothing other than a Bentley that gives the same feeling" :

The saying goes, the L322 is the best Range Rover ever, the L405 Is the better car, but not a better Range Rover.
Clarkson said the L322 TDV8 3.6 was the best car in the world. I think another well known pundit said the same.

3.6 TDV8
On a 4000 mile Euro trip I averaged 38mpg.
Junction 22-21 on M1 - 51mpg
Day to day average 27mpg

 

[Blobcat]

If you go and look at a well specced L322 Range Rover (up to about 2012), you might find that like me, suddenly there are no other options. There is nothing like them in terms of comfort, luxury, capability, presence, sense of well being from driving. This is not hyperbole at all, simple truth, there is absolutely nothing else like them, nothing.

TDV8s 3.6 or 4.4. are the ones to go for. They are easy to fall in love with and I have heard a few people refer to them like "teddy bears" - no idea what that is, but they do give an astonishing experience that I have never had in anything else. I came to an SL after my L322 and it took me a long time to find anything other than another RR that would fill it's shoes. The SL or a Bentley Conti GT were the only options I could find.

Watch this, Harry is a legend and knows his beans, "There is nothing other than a Bentley that gives the same feeling" :

The saying goes, the L322 is the best Range Rover ever, the L405 Is the better car, but not a better Range Rover.
Clarkson said the L322 TDV8 3.6 was the best car in the world. I think another well known pundit said the same.

3.6 TDV8
On a 4000 mile Euro trip I averaged 38mpg.
Junction 22-21 on M1 - 51mpg
Day to day average 27mpg

The L322 in V8 4.4 is one of the really great ones (when they're working...) my friend had one for a good few years - the ~£1,000 warranty he paid each year, more than paid for itself - he's recently changed to L405 - again in V8 4.4 format

 

[LostKiwi]

The biggest problems with Range Rovers (indeed any Land Rover) is the shocking reliability.
I've only ever had to use a yellow taxi to get home. Two if the times involved a Land Rover.
The 3rd was the e240 with a failed CPS.

As said, great when working...

 

[sausage]

The biggest problems with Range Rovers (indeed any Land Rover) is the shocking reliability.
I've only ever had to use a yellow taxi to get home. Two if the times involved a Land Rover.
The 3rd was the e240 with a failed CPS.

As said, great when working...

I know, I know That did make me laugh. The only issues I had with mine were ancillary items and a control arm. Oh, and the EGRs, oh, and....

With sincerity though, my RR drive train was faultless and this seems to be the most common experience with the TDV8s. I did have to fix the following items due to genuine failure: Rear wiper motor which is an Achilles heel. Also the remote control £25 for the rear entertainment, a heated seat element £300, I had to fix the rear parking camera ££2.99, TPMS valve £11, EGRs, £30, intercooler hose £25, Battery £100, 2x stereo speakers £30, and a side step £110. Plus the usual servicing. I did a lot of miles in it and had it nearly 5 years. It was 8 years old when I bought it with 60k miles. There are owners on FFRR that have clocked up 300k miles and many people without ever having an issue.

I didn't ever worry that it would not get me home, and hence I was happy to go all over Europe in it.

Naturpark Föhrenberge, south of Vienna.

 

[LostKiwi]

I know, I know That did make me laugh. The only issues I had with mine were ancillary items and a control arm. Oh, and the EGRs, oh, and....

With sincerity though, my RR drive train was faultless and this seems to be the most common experience with the TDV8s. I did have to fix the following items due to genuine failure: Rear wiper motor which is an Achilles heel. Also the remote control £25 for the rear entertainment, a heated seat element £300, I had to fix the rear parking camera ££2.99, TPMS valve £11, EGRs, £30, intercooler hose £25, Battery £100, 2x stereo speakers £30, and a side step £110. Plus the usual servicing. I did a lot of miles in it and had it nearly 5 years. It was 8 years old when I bought it with 60k miles. There are owners on FFRR that have clocked up 300k miles and many people without ever having an issue.

I didn't ever worry that it would not get me home, and hence I was happy to go all over Europe in it.

Naturpark Föhrenberge, south of Vienna.
View attachment 72365

Before we bought the R Class we did consider an L322 but opted not to go down that route (even though MrsLK works for JLR).
We ruled it out for reliability concerns, road tax and MPG reasons. In every respect the R in 350 CDI form bettered the 322 and has similar on road performance (similar acceleration, higher top speed, similar power). We don't need a huge towing capacity (2200kg is enough) nor do we need off road capabilities. £ for £ the R was also better value in terms of age and mileage.
Granted not as nice inside but still very pleasant and the load capacity knocks the Range Rover for six!

 

[EmilysDad]

.... I had to fix the rear parking camera ££2.99, ....

That was cheap ... or a typo

 

[Rotorhead500]

If you go and look at a well specced L322 Range Rover (up to about 2012), you might find that like me, suddenly there are no other options. There is nothing like them in terms of comfort, luxury, capability, presence, sense of well being from driving. This is not hyperbole at all, simple truth, there is absolutely nothing else like them, nothing.

TDV8s 3.6 or 4.4. are the ones to go for. They are easy to fall in love with and I have heard a few people refer to them like "teddy bears" - no idea what that is, but they do give an astonishing experience that I have never had in anything else. I came to an SL after my L322 and it took me a long time to find anything other than another RR that would fill it's shoes. The SL or a Bentley Conti GT were the only options I could find.

Watch this, Harry is a legend and knows his beans, "There is nothing other than a Bentley that gives the same feeling" :

The saying goes, the L322 is the best Range Rover ever, the L405 Is the better car, but not a better Range Rover.
Clarkson said the L322 TDV8 3.6 was the best car in the world. I think another well known pundit said the same.

3.6 TDV8
On a 4000 mile Euro trip I averaged 38mpg.
Junction 22-21 on M1 - 51mpg
Day to day average 27mpg

Soon very nearly ended up with a 322 TDV8 (4.4) this time round... twas a lovely thing, and drove sewwwperbly!

Was just running costs, and that What If Voice, that deterred me in the end!

My brother had 2 RRS (current & 1st gen) for 4yrs apiece... never missed a beat.

 

[sausage]

Well, Merc vs LR in a reliability competition is a foregone conclusion isn't it ?

That was cheap ... or a typo

£2.99 for a generic one from ebay and time with a soldering iron and screwdriver. Just 2 or 3 wires to solder IIRC. Very easy.

 

[sausage]

Before we bought the R Class we did consider an L322 but opted not to go down that route (even though MrsLK works for JLR).
We ruled it out for reliability concerns, road tax and MPG reasons. In every respect the R in 350 CDI form bettered the 322 and has similar on road performance (similar acceleration, higher top speed, similar power). We don't need a huge towing capacity (2200kg is enough) nor do we need off road capabilities. £ for £ the R was also better value in terms of age and mileage.
Granted not as nice inside but still very pleasant and the load capacity knocks the Range Rover for six!

Well, Merc vs LR in a reliability competition is a foregone conclusion isn't it ? A well looked after RR is not so bad, it will cost, but as long as it is looked after should be great for high miles. They are great at MPG on the motorway, but less so with the kind of driving on B roads.

 

[sausage]

Soon very nearly ended up with a 322 TDV8 (4.4) this time round... twas a lovely thing, and drove sewwwperbly!

Was just running costs, and that What If Voice, that deterred me in the end!

My brother had 2 RRS (current & 1st gen) for 4yrs apiece... never missed a beat.

It was the "What if" that led me to sell mine. In the end I felt "Better the devil I know" and kept mine throughout a few periods when I was considering to change it. Eventually that "What If" got the better of me and here I am back with my second MB and to be honest, less car related worries/concerns...at the moment.

 

[A.J.]

Which is hilarious as they’re limited to 60mph on dual carriageways and 50mph on normal roads

Are you sure about that ? The only reason a van is restricted to 60mph is because there are no side windows to the rear of the driver. Ford overcame this with their Escort Van some years back by putting those small windows in the rear panel to the rear of the driver/passenger door. That window problem doesn't exist with a pick up truck

 

[EmilysDad]

queueing in traffic a Dodge Ram pulled along side me ..... it towered above my ML!

 

[rorywquin]

I know, I know That did make me laugh. T..............

But you won’t find a Range Rover (or any Land Rover) here.....Simpson Desert Australia......

 

[LostKiwi]

But you won’t find a Range Rover (or any Land Rover) here.....Simpson Desert Australia...... View attachment 72366

You will.
It'll be sitting with the hazard lights flashing and a couple of skeletons nearby....

(And I know a few people who have personally taken Defenders across the Simpson,).

 

[Blobcat]

Are you sure about that ? The only reason a van is restricted to 60mph is because there are no side windows to the rear of the driver. Ford overcame this with their Escort Van some years back by putting those small windows in the rear panel to the rear of the driver/passenger door. That window problem doesn't exist with a pick up truck

Yes, because the U/L weight is >2,040kg so it puts it into the same limits as vans 50 on single carriage ways, 60 on dual carriage ways and 70 on motorways

 

[rorywquin]

You will.
It'll be sitting with the hazard lights flashing and a couple of skeletons nearby....

(And I know a few people who have personally taken Defenders across the Simpson,).

I’m sure there were a few people foolish enough to try that in a LR. You must know every person in the world that has done that trip in a Defender. Suzuki Jimny’s were more common and pretty good in thick sand.

I did ~8 years of touring the outback (whenever I could) , beach driving on weekends, Fraser Island etc (in my Land Cruiser) and honestly cannot recall seeing a LR anywhere. There must have been some but too far and few between to recall (maybe masochists with a point to prove) .

I’ve also spent a lot of time driving a LR (my father's touring the Okavango delta (60s & 70s) and also in the military) . Give me a Land Cruiser anytime.

IMO upto the 60s LRs were good (no real competition) until LC’s came along in the 70s. I’d never take a LR or RR on a proper off road trip.

 

[LostKiwi]

I’m sure there were a few people foolish enough to try that in a LR. You must know every person in the world that has done that trip in a Defender. Suzuki Jimny’s were more common and pretty good in thick sand.

I did ~8 years of touring the outback (whenever I could) , beach driving on weekends, Fraser Island etc (in my Land Cruiser) and honestly cannot recall seeing a LR anywhere. There must have been some but too far and few between to recall (maybe masochists with a point to prove) .

I’ve also spent a lot of time driving a LR (my father's touring the Okavango delta (60s & 70s) and also in the military) . Give me a Land Cruiser anytime.

IMO upto the 60s LRs were good (no real competition) until LC’s came along in the 70s. I’d never take a LR or RR on a proper off road trip.

Defenders were ok through to the end of the 300TDi (mid 90s). Fully mechanical and robust in my experience. The only issues I had with mine were a blown head gasket, broken CV, broken front propshaft and chassis rust.
To be fair that was a 20 year old Defender that was abused regularly and once those things were fixed was totally reliable.

The military used Land Rovers to do the first West to East crossing of the Sahara back in the mid 70s.
Tom Sheppard was a regular tourer of the Sahara in a Defender till he switched to a G Wagen for its more consistent mpg (his book Quiet for a Tuesday is a great read about his travels in the G).