Madness - Wanting an L322 Range Rover!?

You can't be worrying about the potential problems / costs otherwise your best not buying one

I know some people who have owned theirs for 5+ years and not had any mechanical issues over that time. But on the other hand, others are not so lucky...

If your getting a facelift model at least get a 2007 onwards and I would get the tdv8 diesel model

There's a lot more reliable cars out there to buy for the same / cheaper cost to the range rover

But no other car makes you feel quite the same about it


Good luck !

I'd agree with Hippo,

Go for the TDV8 if you can....much more capable of pulling 2 1/2 tonne of car.
The feeling of driving a rangie cant be beaten....when it's behaving itself..... which is seldom the case.

+1 to all the above....

If you are having 'issues' with its perceived reliabilty and the potential for an eye watering repair bill, a Range Rover isn't for you...

I will never put anyone off buying a Range Rover, I am one of the brands biggest fans, but I will urge people to go into ownership in the same way decent folk go into pet ownership as there is a lot of responsibilty involved....

You wouldn't get a dog, then when it gets sick baulk at the Vets bill and put it down (unless terminal obviously) no - you take on the responsibilty of cost and ongoing care....same for a Range Rover....

It will breakdown it is one of lifes inevitable things....so you must be prepared to either DIY your own maintenance and repairs, get hold of your own Diagnostic device to help with the electrical niggles and be prepared to suffer the parts prices or have deep pockets for the garage bills....

A Range Rover in fault can empty a healthy bank balance rapidly - fact of life with such a complex and expensive vehicle.

BUT on the flipside:

They are awesome to own, sublime to drive and a sheer joy to behold...you won't get the same feeling driving anything else...the Range Rover is one of those vehicles that just makes you deep down inside happy.

I have owned BMW's, Jags and a few other inbetween, but nothing feels like a Range Rover....

Yes they are frustrating when they breakdown - on my first day of my L322 I had an ABS sensor fault causing a shutdown of the DSC, HDC, ABS, EAS, CBC, EBD et al systems that rely on the ABS signal.....very pant wetting, but it is part of the ownership...everytime that message centre boings and a message pops up is a heart stopping moment...but is part of the ownership experiance.

Don't be put off by the doom mongers - but if you are thinking of running one on a shoestring, think again....

As for long journeys across other countries...aslong as you know your vehicle, speak the lingo, can find a garage to do the repair work on such a complex car and are knowledgable enough not to get ripped off by Johnny Foreigner - go for it...

Remember a Range Rover is a way of life....

Saint.V8 said:

+1 to all the above....

If you are having 'issues' with its perceived reliabilty and the potential for an eye watering repair bill, a Range Rover isn't for you...

I will never put anyone off buying a Range Rover, I am one of the brands biggest fans, but I will urge people to go into ownership in the same way decent folk go into pet ownership as there is a lot of responsibilty involved....

You wouldn't get a dog, then when it gets sick baulk at the Vets bill and put it down (unless terminal obviously) no - you take on the responsibilty of cost and ongoing care....same for a Range Rover....

It will breakdown it is one of lifes inevitable things....so you must be prepared to either DIY your own maintenance and repairs, get hold of your own Diagnostic device to help with the electrical niggles and be prepared to suffer the parts prices or have deep pockets for the garage bills....

A Range Rover in fault can empty a healthy bank balance rapidly - fact of life with such a complex and expensive vehicle.

BUT on the flipside:

They are awesome to own, sublime to drive and a sheer joy to behold...you won't get the same feeling driving anything else...the Range Rover is one of those vehicles that just makes you deep down inside happy.

I have owned BMW's, Jags and a few other inbetween, but nothing feels like a Range Rover....

Yes they are frustrating when they breakdown - on my first day of my L322 I had an ABS sensor fault causing a shutdown of the DSC, HDC, ABS, EAS, CBC, EBD et al systems that rely on the ABS signal.....very pant wetting, but it is part of the ownership...everytime that message centre boings and a message pops up is a heart stopping moment...but is part of the ownership experiance.

Don't be put off by the doom mongers - but if you are thinking of running one on a shoestring, think again....

As for long journeys across other countries...aslong as you know your vehicle, speak the lingo, can find a garage to do the repair work on such a complex car and are knowledgable enough not to get ripped off by Johnny Foreigner - go for it...

Remember a Range Rover is a way of life....

Click to expand...

All too true

+100

Saint.V8 said:

+1 to all the above....

If you are having 'issues' with its perceived reliabilty and the potential for an eye watering repair bill, a Range Rover isn't for you...

I will never put anyone off buying a Range Rover, I am one of the brands biggest fans, but I will urge people to go into ownership in the same way decent folk go into pet ownership as there is a lot of responsibilty involved....

You wouldn't get a dog, then when it gets sick baulk at the Vets bill and put it down (unless terminal obviously) no - you take on the responsibilty of cost and ongoing care....same for a Range Rover....

It will breakdown it is one of lifes inevitable things....so you must be prepared to either DIY your own maintenance and repairs, get hold of your own Diagnostic device to help with the electrical niggles and be prepared to suffer the parts prices or have deep pockets for the garage bills....

A Range Rover in fault can empty a healthy bank balance rapidly - fact of life with such a complex and expensive vehicle.

BUT on the flipside:

They are awesome to own, sublime to drive and a sheer joy to behold...you won't get the same feeling driving anything else...the Range Rover is one of those vehicles that just makes you deep down inside happy.

I have owned BMW's, Jags and a few other inbetween, but nothing feels like a Range Rover....

Yes they are frustrating when they breakdown - on my first day of my L322 I had an ABS sensor fault causing a shutdown of the DSC, HDC, ABS, EAS, CBC, EBD et al systems that rely on the ABS signal.....very pant wetting, but it is part of the ownership...everytime that message centre boings and a message pops up is a heart stopping moment...but is part of the ownership experiance.

Don't be put off by the doom mongers - but if you are thinking of running one on a shoestring, think again....

As for long journeys across other countries...aslong as you know your vehicle, speak the lingo, can find a garage to do the repair work on such a complex car and are knowledgable enough not to get ripped off by Johnny Foreigner - go for it...

Remember a Range Rover is a way of life....

Click to expand...

Thanks for an experienced/ heartfelt response and a mildly amusing overview/ pitch.

We can afford to run one and any cars I ever own are maintained to the highest order and kept immaculate inside and out (you would buy a car off me I promise... Lol) ...

I have never before had the time to do DIY maintenance, hence I've 'had' to use garages/ usually main dealers and on newer cars anyway (Landrover Disco 3 HSE, Audi Q7, BMW etc).

I have set myself an absolute max limit of £15k to buy a RR for now due to a 2 year 'project' I have just embarked upon. I will have a 'decent warranty' put on the RR too (if there is such a non LR warranty/ unless I find a £15K facelift at a LR dealer of course).

From what I've seen, £15k will get a 2005/2006 facelift TD6 Vogue with between 60 & 80k miles.. It won't get me a TDV8 for that price.

I'm not going offroad and am not bothered about a car that is slower off the mark (TD6) as long as overall its a decent 'touring' type drive once it gets going..

Remaps appeal to an extent but forum views on the resultant shortening the life of the gearbox does not appeal.

Fuel, road tax and insurance costs are not an issue for me. The 'issue' for now is purchase price and having my eyes wide open to actual things that go wrong and realistic maintenance costs...

What about the reliability of a 2006/56 petrol with 50 to 70k miles...? The prices for the same aged/ mileage/ spec petrol and diesel RR seem to be much of a muchness... I would like to keep the car a couple of years, do about 20k miles and get about £10k back in a private sale.. based on what is on the market now.. that does not seem a daft forecast.. if the car is looked after properly (I accept it is not an investment and that depreciation is the word).

Buying one of these would be a decision of the heart and not the head but.. I would like the most saleable car come resale time too hence my pondering over TD6 v petrol scenario (I would imagine that most people privately buying a 9/10 year old £10k RR would def have running costs in mind and would be more drawn to diesel)..

I might be able to learn some DIY and make time to do some myself/ almost sounds a fun challenge but that (rather I) will have its limitations too...

I used to be indecisive... Now I'm not so sure

Petrols usually fetch less than the diesels

Usually a petrol equivalent is at least 1.5-2k cheaper than a diesel is to buy second hand

Problem is, if £15k is your budget, is there money aside for repairs ?

2.0_hippo said:

Petrols usually fetch less than the diesels

Usually a petrol equivalent is at least 1.5-2k cheaper than a diesel is to buy second hand

Problem is, if £15k is your budget, is there money aside for repairs ?

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Could spend more on car if wanted but am being v strict with budget/ whatever I buy.. if it hit the fan, there is ample reserve for a repair but I don't want to go there if poss/ hence am trying to calculate the risk before buying to ensure foreseeable problems are/ have recently been dealt with and minimise the risk.. suppose if it was that easy everybody would be doing it!

There are several threads on this already but I will add this : Buying any pre-owned vehicle comes with a built in risk factor, no matter what make or model. Buy the best you can find for the budget you have, exactly the same as you would with any other veh. As I said on another thread asking the same thing, on an enthuisiast's site you will hear the bad as well as the good. Some on here have had hell with their vehs, some have had it good and others have found the middle road. Spend some time doing searches on here and you will find everything you need to know. Then go off with your eyes wide open and find the vehicle for you.
It comes down to one thing in the end: If you want an L322, buy one. Simples.

I would add that it's always wise to do as much homework as possible on a second hand vehicle before deciding to purchase it. Check out the service history, not just if the stamps are in the book but also check out that the 'garages' that did them are 'pukka'. Look at any receipts that are provided with the vehicle, they may point to an ongoing problem with it or may prove that the vehicle has been well looked after.
As for maintenance, servicing, etc., find a good local Indy garage...that'll save £££s on getting any work done by a LR main dealer. And most importantly, keep on top of the servicing and maintenance, the biggest problems will arise if you let those slip.

I bought my 54 reg TD6 Vogue (2005 model) last sept. It had 151k on the clock, the first thing I did was pop it into my local Indy, got a full service, gearbox oil and filter changed, and fettled any minor niggles as and when they arose. I do 600 miles plus per week, commuting to and from work (the RR now has 163k on the clock) and she's not missed a beat. Also done several big runs up to north eaast Scotland and back, runs down to Brum and back, without missing a heartbeat!

So in conclusion, if you really want a RR Vogue...go for it!! Just keep your eyes open, use your mind, not your heart, you'll know when you've found the right one for you!!


P.S. I LOVE MY RANGIE!!!

pld118 said:

Could spend more on car if wanted but am being v strict with budget/ whatever I buy.. if it hit the fan, there is ample reserve for a repair but I don't want to go there if poss/ hence am trying to calculate the risk before buying to ensure foreseeable problems are/ have recently been dealt with and minimise the risk.. suppose if it was that easy everybody would be doing it!

Click to expand...

Look
15k will buy you a lovely Range Rover.
However you are going to get a car that is 7/8 or 9 years old.
Do you expect it to be perfect?
You show me a 9 year old car that is perfect and I will show you 10000 that aren't.
If you have 15 k and want a newish good 4x4 buy an l200 mitsubishi.

Thats Bollocks said:

Look
15k will buy you a lovely Range Rover.
However you are going to get a car that is 7/8 or 9 years old.
Do you expect it to be perfect?
You show me a 9 year old car that is perfect and I will show you 10000 that aren't.
If you have 15 k and want a newish good 4x4 buy an l200 mitsubishi.

Click to expand...

Well Thats Bollocks...

I don't want a L200 or equiv...

I do want to buy the best RR that £15k will get me; and as near to 'perfection' as possible... An impossible task but aim low and the target will always be missed!

Its reassuring you say £15k will get a nice one.. Just using this forum to do my homework and be alert to what to expect.. and it's a pretty good forum from what I have seen.

Here's a poser for you all..

Facelift FSH 2005/2006 TD6 with 70 to 90k miles or

Pre facelift FSH 2003/2004 4.4 petrol with 40 to 60k miles?

pld118 said:

Here's a poser for you all..

Facelift FSH 2005/2006 TD6 with 70 to 90k miles or

Pre facelift FSH 2003/2004 4.4 petrol with 40 to 60k miles?

Click to expand...

facelift everyday !!!

your getting the newer electrical systems, updated interior and touch screen satnav remember

2.0_hippo said:

facelift everyday !!!

your getting the newer electrical systems, updated interior and touch screen satnav remember

Click to expand...

Ok ta

pld118 said:

Ok ta

Click to expand...

obviously, id recommend the TDv8 diesel as i mentioned before.

but like you said, its higher running costs... etc

but you will get the better and stronger ZF 6 speed gearbox (supposedly anyway, from what it seems there more reliable)

That sort of mileage on the TD6 is about when gearbox problems rear their ugly head thanks to "sealed for life" on the gearboxes. So it'd be worth keeping about 3k in reserve just in case yours lets go.

The airbags are also only good for around 8-9 years, so you might want about 1k put to one side for them.

May even be worth getting the diagnostic software, it can be had for about the cost of a full tank of fuel and for simple problems will pay for itself in no time. I'm no fan of the Chuckie RR so most def get a facelift. Although that petrol in such low miles would be a wise bet (even as a Chuckie) as the box hasn't been ruined by dirty oil yet.

I would say get the petrol Vee over the TD6, but with the TDV8, if you can find one in your budget, you'd be rude not to.

That all said, I've not made the switch yet (or intend to in the immediate future) so take my opinion with a pinch of salt, but if I had the choice of TD6 of Vee, I'd go Vee every day.

[edit: Although the gearbox on the first TDV8 is more reliable, it is still too delicate for the engine, the 4.4 TDV8 has an even stronger box, but even that is a bit on the delicate side.]

It's nice to see you boys doing ALL the work for this guy. You must all be in a good mood as normally you'd send them off to the search function :lol::lol:

gold rover said:

It's nice to see you boys doing ALL the work for this guy. You must all be in a good mood as normally you'd send them off to the search function :lol::lol:

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How do you know I'm a guy???... I am very grateful for the input of all...

pld118 said:

How do you know I'm a guy???...

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are you one of those "He / She's" ....

:behindsofa:

pld118 said:

How do you know I'm a guy???... I am very grateful for the input of all...

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Guy/girl/whatever. The comment stands.