Advice sought on purchase of L322 4.4 TDV8

My understanding is the 4.4 plus 8 speed is a better choice if you can afford it
Gearbox needs servicing just like any other, needs to be smooth up and down through the box

UlstermanAbroad said:

Hi Guys

I'm starting to look for a tow car. To tow Defenders on a car transporter. One at a time.

I've 'tripped over' a 2011 Vogue SE that's on my doorstep and it's maintained at a Land Rover specialist that I know well. The catch is, it's done 170,000 miles, although the price reflects that. The seller is getting it MoT'd before I go to see it and it'll be prepared by the specialist. The sellers agreed for me to inspect the vehicle when it's being worked on.
I don't plan to do more than 10,000 miles a year and the vast majority of that will be motorway miles.

My query is. Should I beat feet as fast as I can. Away from such a vehicle. And instead, look at 3.6 TDV8s with under 100,000 miles? I have found one, that looks like it's been as equally well kept as the 4.4 TDV8. The kicker is, that it will involve a flight to go get it and then a long journey home. The cost isn't the issue. My variable mobility is though.

Any comments and advice gratefully received. ( Incidentally, I am familiar with RR Classics and Defenders, having owned both, but am not so familiar with the L322.)

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OK as long as you pay for recovery of a vehicle + trailer when it breaks down as it surely will

Personally the only L322 I would touch is the one with the Jag v8 in it. Look for corrosion as they're already showing the kind of decay an older P38 would show.

Grrrrrr said:

Personally the only L322 I would touch is the one with the Jag v8 in it. Look for corrosion as they're already showing the kind of decay an older P38 wouldn't show.

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Edited for accuracy

K. Thanks for taking the time to comment guys.

UlstermanAbroad said:

K. Thanks for taking the time to comment guys.

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They're all lovely cars but they're a hobby more than a practical solution at the kind of age we buy them.

That makes a lot of sense. Having run a 3.9 Classic for a while.

While I'm here. Any suggestions for a reliable or cheap to fix tow vehicle? Need it to do either thousand mile or two thousand mile round trips once a month.
No urgency, so will be cruising at 60 mph ish. Towing a Defender on a trailer.
Cheers.

UlstermanAbroad said:

That makes a lot of sense. Having run a 3.9 Classic for a while.

While I'm here. Any suggestions for a reliable or cheap to fix tow vehicle? Need it to do either thousand mile or two thousand mile round trips once a month.
No urgency, so will be cruising at 60 mph ish. Towing a Defender on a trailer.
Cheers.

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Toyota Land Cruiser, reliable but not cheap to buy. Cheap to fix as they rarely need fixing.

Cheers Datatek. Yup, I think that that was going to be my first option.
Worth the 'investment' though. If it's reliable.

UlstermanAbroad said:

Cheers Datatek. Yup, I think that that was going to be my first option.
Worth the 'investment' though. If it's reliable.

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I wish I had the means to buy one
Australian saying:- If you want to go into the bush, take a Land Rover, if you want to come back, take a Toyota.