Buying a 2003 to 2012 RR. Which one is best?

As a former P38 owner which died a couple of years ago I now miss the RR comfort and want to buy another.

I hate the Chelsea Tractor style and also worry about the issues surrounding the later technology.

My budget is up to £8k so the question is what can I get for that money and more importantly how reliable are the later models?

Later models better....but £8k won't get much past 2008ish....TDV8 is the one to have...but the 4.4 version....but your budget won't stretch to that quite!

The 3.6 TDV8 is beleaguered with problems apparently...

I would look for a loved 4.2 S/C around 2007....but again £8k is at the middle-lower end of the spectrum....a nice 4.4 AJV8 powered 2007/8 is possible.

Later tech is expensive to fix so budget for repairs....

Avoid 2002-2006 Td6 models, and if you do want an earlier one 2002-2005 era as they are easier to maintain for the DIY'er....bear in mind that whilst easier, it will be more frequent!

I was thinking diesel because of the miles per gallon and mileage I got from my P38 over a decade.
I scrapped it at 245,000 miles but it had got so worn out and tatty.

The big petrol engines in RR seem to guzzle money compare to diesels.

I went through all the air bag/ suspension problems on my P38 plus had to replace the turbo. Apart from that it was a good comfortable car.

Modern RR tend to be so complicated that only a dealer can fix them.

I don’t like the later cars although the Vogue diesel model looks nice.

Is it a compromise?

Sorry but I would go for another P38
A V8 preferably

L322 Diesel Models - the only one to go for is the 4.4 TDV8 which is a bit of a gamble at £8k.....

The earlier 3.6's I'd steer clear of....

and the Td6 - whilst it is a good engine, the gearbox is made of soft cheese and will eventually fail, again and again and again....

Yes the Petrol models drink fuel, but it's a Range Rover - if you are concerned by mpg figures.....then a Range Rover (in any guise) is to be reconsidered.

I would agree with @oakey on this, I'd go for a sorted, low mileage, excellent condition P38, and have some money in the bank to keep it that way.....maxing the budget on a decent TDV8 and having little left for the first repair bill will only end in tears!

^^^^^^^ +1

Decent p38 and money in the bank sounds good to me

5x decent P38s I’d get. They’ll last while.

L322s are fixable yourself but you will need to budget for the typical airbag/bcm diagnostics units.
Interiors are beautiful.
You can get the same sort of engine in an early L322 as the P38 (3.0TD6) but I’d avoid that one. Get a TDv8

How many miles a year do you do? £8k would cover the head gaskets, new brake lines and air suspension on a P38 v8 and then you are sitting pretty, especially if you get one on LPG.

I would stay well away from diesel moving forward. Later RR need the Jag engine.

My problem with the P38 is I had one for ten years and as well as being old it now looks dated.

I see lots of RR’s in my price range but from what you all are suggesting they are unreliable money pits?

old pilot said:

My problem with the P38 is I had one for ten years and as well as being old it now looks dated.

I see lots of RR’s in my price range but from what you all are suggesting they are unreliable money pits?

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I wouldn't touch an L322 without quite a few thousand in reserve.

I took my p38 for its MoT test on Monday. The tester says he's seen so many newer Land Rovers with corroded brake pipes he now puts it down as an advisory on any over 6 years old. The reason is that the pipes are often hidden under plastic and they had a six year old one recently where the pipe had corroded behind the plastic and was weeping. Apparently it was where it went through a clip. He said the newer ones were worse than the old ones, especially after 2011 ish. Certainly the ones I have seen under have more corrosion than my old p38.

I bought a 2005 vogue with the ajv8. Whilst it is a lovely car to drive, quick, comfortable, good looking, everything really. It does seam to be very high maintenance, I wouldn't buy one if you don't want it to be a project to fix yourself.

old pilot said:

As a former P38 owner which died a couple of years ago I now miss the RR comfort and want to buy another.

I hate the Chelsea Tractor style and also worry about the issues surrounding the later technology.

My budget is up to £8k so the question is what can I get for that money and more importantly how reliable are the later models?

Click to expand...

All the new stuff is fraught with electrical problems plus rust and a fair share of mechanical problems. For £8K IMO you would be better off looking for a really good P38 which would leave you a good budget for fixing things.

old pilot said:

My problem with the P38 is I had one for ten years and as well as being old it now looks dated.

I see lots of RR’s in my price range but from what you all are suggesting they are unreliable money pits?

Click to expand...

Even if you can DIY the new ones are money pits.

So by the sound of things all the horror stories are true. Maybe I should abandon the idea and go for a Volvo XC90?

I forgot to mention I live in rural Norfolk so I need a 4x4.

I owned one of the early two door RR, a classic and a P38. All were pretty reliable apart from the door hinges on my 1971 giving up.

So all the Rangies in my bracket will cost me a fortune to repair.

old pilot said:

So by the sound of things all the horror stories are true. Maybe I should abandon the idea and go for a Volvo XC90?

I forgot to mention I live in rural Norfolk so I need a 4x4.

I owned one of the early two door RR, a classic and a P38. All were pretty reliable apart from the door hinges on my 1971 giving up.

So all the Rangies in my bracket will cost me a fortune to repair.

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Think carefully about an XC90 have a look at the problems on the internet, I believe the electronics are the same Ford CAN Bus system as the L322 Range Rover.
Never a good idea to go for looks over utility in cars or women If you want reliability Hyundai, Kia Mitsubishi or Toyota.

I think everything can cost a fortune now. I was reading recently that someone needed a new £1000+electronic box for their XC90. It had to be bought brand new as second hand wouldn't work. Also I don't think the gearboxes are great. I was in the same boat as you at the beginning of the year so did a bit of reading.
Shogun's pre 2006 have dodgy fuel pumps
XC90 as said
Touareg Worse than range rover
Land cruiser £15,000 min for anything leather <100,000 miles
Patrol so rare I didn't bother reading up on them.
Ssanyong underbody rust
I didn't read much beyond 2005 as I didn't want to pay £570 tax.

ANY RangeRover will need bit of the budget held back for repairs. It comes with the badge
All L322 are getting on a bit now.

old pilot said:

So by the sound of things all the horror stories are true. Maybe I should abandon the idea and go for a Volvo XC90?

I forgot to mention I live in rural Norfolk so I need a 4x4.

I owned one of the early two door RR, a classic and a P38. All were pretty reliable apart from the door hinges on my 1971 giving up.

So all the Rangies in my bracket will cost me a fortune to repair.

Click to expand...

I know we all put horror stories, but that is the nature of Green Oval owners. We love the marque, but unlike many others, we are honest, to a fault, about them. Any marque, at the price range you have, will have issues. The difference is, here, we will tell you. Wander over to VOC, and it's almost a sin to ask for help. I should know I spent a long time on there, trying to get help with my various Volvo models, and, in the end gave up.
I have now had the Golden Girl for 10 years, yes I have had issues, the biggest issue, a new engine, was down to an incompetent mechanic. The gearbox fiasco was down to two faults, with similar symptoms, appearing together. The brake pipes are a horror story, but anyone who reads these pages, now knows to get them checked.
My first three years were almost a dream, with nothing but basic maintenance. The next three were a nightmare ( see above) , the last four have been 'normal' , Green Oval, wear and tear. Things happen, of course they do. The Golden Girl is now 18 years old, I'd be an idiot not to expect to renew parts. However, the biggest issues, causing her to be off the road, were caused by those working on her. So get a decent Indy and you'll be fine.
I sometimes like to think those of us with the original L322s, are the advance party, our experiences helping those who come after us. You now have the benefit of those experiences.
Just like the wealth of knowledge on the P38, someone had to start somewhere. The wealth of knowledge , on this site alone, that people now have on the L322, and is freely shared , is what makes them seem like something to steer clear of. Personally, I would say the knowledge, and the honesty, is a reason to buy.
Oh and if it helps, I live so rural, I am almost off-roading just to get home

We have had our 4.4TDV8 since 2013 (my how time flies).
I always find with forums when you search you only find the problems but that’s the nature of a forum to help others fix things.
Our personal experience is very good, it has always been serviced well and I would say has probably not cost anymore overall than any other brand. A few things that would not be considered normal for the age, but those that seem common to the model.
We don’t do huge mileage at the moment, but have done and it has been out of the country on many occasions and back under its own power Towing for many of those miles too. You never hear of the miles some put in with no problems.
Keep looking for a good one they are out there, save a bit more while your looking. As has already been said you know what to steer clear of.
Happy hunting

J