Trommel wrote:

JohnnyDangerous wrote:

judging by the PM's ive had that was not a good move

How will I sleep at night?

Gazellio @ Prestige Cars wrote:

I have the funds to buy several brand new L322 if I so wished but get more pleasure from a 2006 V8 Conversion that looks like a newish L322. My choice as a dealer

Does seem a popular modification amongst "dealers". More seriously, how does trying to make a car look newer and more expensive than it is give you pleasure? It doesn't drive like a new one, so are those twinkly lights really worth £4k to you? Or is it a bit like people who wear a fake Rolex?

Where is the smile on the owner's face coming from? Presumably the knowledge that the uninitiated think he's spent more on his car than he has - an ego massage for the socially insecure perhaps? (I did wonder how long it would take for something like the "safer lighting" stuff to be trotted out). If it didn't make the car look like a newer model, who would spend 50% of the car's value doing it? Absolutely nobody!

For you as a trader it obviously makes sense to facelift them (demand is clearly there), but why is no-one prepared to admit why they want a superficial replica of a newer model? Like you, I see no harm in it but I am genuinely amused as to why nobody will come out and say it ...

Well obviously a lot of people do want to have the look/perceived affluence of driving a car that looks new because I know of 2 car dealers around my area that buy any reasonably clean FFRR and convert it to 2012 purely to make a profit(they actually pay a firm to do the conversion), clearly you are very well endowed in the trouser department and have no need of this 'feel good factor' which is of course why you bought a range rover to start with over many other capable vehicles that dont have the same 'status'. What business is it of yours why people want to do something to their car? Or to make derogatory remarks to those that chose to do this CEC, which in itself is a comical comment as it sounds like you are converting from a 2002 to council estate style, still this may be closer to a lot of average peoples perception, my FFRR is black with rear tints and stock 20" wheels I have lost count of the number of conversations Ive had in petrol stations etc where some very respectable gentleman (and ladies) have said 'Oh they are lovely cars but when I see one I just think drug dealer'!!! I remark don't you mean the smaller Sport and they say why would a drug dealer drive a smaller cheaper version. This is also echoed by a lot of my customers who drive sports cars like TVR, ferarri etc, quite often I get asked to drop them to either airport or station or into town and most remark on how nice it is but out comes the drug dealer bit and a lot even remeber the Essex Boys killed at rettendon and say dont take it down any snowy lanes.

Actually WHY did you buy a FFRR?  One day your life will flash before your eyes......................................make sure yours is worth watching!

Trommel wrote:

mjdronfield wrote:

I see what Trommel is getting at in his last post, but the comparisons are not quite right. You need to compare an older Rolex with a new Rolex, not the fake one. They are both still a Rolex......an earlier L322 is still a Range Rover, not a fake one

It's not a perfect analogy. How about a 1675 GMT with a 1655 Explorer dial, hands and bezel? Cheaper watch attempting to impersonate a more expensive one - ultimately less desirable than either.

But what if the fake Rolex keeps perfect time and is identical to the real IMO overpriced version ?? One day your life will flash before your eyes......................................make sure yours is worth watching!

ANY genuine Rolex won't keep perfect time, as it's a mechanical movement. Obviously they are accurate enough to be used for their chosen purpose, but if you want absoulte accuracy, buy a quartz watch, or better still one that gets its timing singal from a time source.
So, you then have the issue of why would you buy a LESS accurate watch at around 100 times the price?
Well, just like buying a prestige car, there are many other psychological reasons for doing so. To name but a few, the "feel good factor" of the buying experience. The feeling of personal satisfaction that your hard earned readies have allowed you to fulfill (in some cases) a very long term ambition etc etc.

There are a lot of similarities between the 2 buying experiences, but in the land of prestige watches, creating what's known as a "Frankenwatch" can, and often does, lower the value of the original item, but in car land it can add to the value, assuming the buyer likes what's been done. Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Casio Waveceptor. No batteries to change and nothing to do but look at the time and know that if i fall off my bike or anything the watch will likely be the last thing to break


Can anyone in glasgeeeeeeee see me n0b as i must be super well endowed as mines covered in muck still, has gaffa tape on one wing mirror, another cracked rear lense and looks far far removed from the Cheshire wag set with its MTR's and towbar on!!! Watch out Glaswegians, I'm trying to negotiate a street from a few 1oo miles away.....

 FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.


Last edited by kingpleb on 31st Dec 2012 3:32pm. Edited 1 time in total

glasgi?  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

now corrected  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Not much better, still don't know to which city you're referring to?  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

I'm in one of them at the moment thats for sure Weaving thru traffic isnt getting easier as all the shops close and people flee home to get ready before hitting the tiles! FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

I've owned an MG (in various guises) for @ 30 years, and been a member of the Owners Club, and been on many MG related events. Owners tend to fall into three categories:

1. Purists

It has to be just as it was when it left the factory, and in the same condition, otherwise you are not doing it right

2. Petrolheads

Customise it, stick a V8 in it, flare the arches, paint it a funny colour, put a roof on it, you name it, it's your car it is up to you

3. People

Own the car because it makes you feel good, but it is just a car, I'll do my best to look after it, but I might make some small changes to suit my tastes

I marvel at the ingenuity of the guys who manage to cram a Rover V8 into a Midget, I marvel at the effort put into and the beauty of a concours 1961 model, but like 95% of owners I fall into category 3.

Most enthusiasts, regardless or make/model are much the same.

I am undecided about the "facelifting" of older model L322's... the one in the ad looks a pretty good job, but I do like to keep my '02 looking outwardly more or less as it did when it left the factory (OK, black wheels, black badges, DRLs). The upgraded ones are just that, visually upgraded, they are still an old model underneath. I am sure however, if I bought a <2010 conversion of an '02, I would be proud as punch, and would still have the feel good factor.

The issue here is "why go to all that trouble, then sell it?" but we see this a lot in the car world, people spend huge amounts of money on their cars then have to sell for a variety of reasons at some loss to themselves. But unfortunately a £6K car plus a £4K conversion does not equal £10K in the marketplace.

I am now on my second nut and bolt rebuild of my MG, it won't be a standard colour, I won't be putting the bumpers back on, and I might do something silly about all the chrome, I am going to fit a non standard interior, non standard engine & gearbox, non standard brakes and a stereo (not even an option in 1962 IIRC). But it is mine, and will have more of me in it than before. I won't be selling it......having gone to all that trouble............  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

It's like pistonheads in here today

Totally now ? What are we on about now ???? ====================================

"Open Mike Night " sounded like a lot of fun until i found out i was going to an Autopsy

Feck knows mick, it's Hogmanay ffs, fancy getting pished?.

This whole post is as mad as a box of frogs.
Happy new year to you all. I hope all your conversions of well in 2013

 2020 Porsche Panamera Turbo Hybrid (V FAST)
2017 Range Rover Autobiography 5.0 V8
2018 JCW Mini Cooper
2018 Skoda VRS

What a mad thread indeed Happy New Year to you all

Just going for a spin in the CES........

Its had a lot of views in a few days though Happy new year to everyone im off in the pre CEC to get a chinese in a while, best hope the old girl gets there and back as its raining here.  One day your life will flash before your eyes......................................make sure yours is worth watching!