Has anyone regretted changing in any way at all (whether buying new L405 or used L405), including 'well worth the extra' beliefs?

Any benefit of hindsight 'if only' thoughts around changing, whatever those thoughts relate to?

Thanks

Nope, after 3 l322s both diesel and SC, I can honestly say the 405 is in a different league

My only 'regret' is not speccing an autobiography '14.5 SDV8 Nara Bronze for sale
'17 BMW 740e Msport Individual on order
'17 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 6.4 Hemi on order
'16 Bentley Continental GT V8S Mulliner Driving Spec
'07 Alfa 159 3.2 Q4
'05 Mini Cooper R50
'95 Volvo 850R modified to 400hp
'89 Jaguar TWR ed XJ-S V12 Convertible

The jump in used prices between say a 2012 L322 & a 2012 L405 does not IMHO give enough of a benefit...

I drive both on a weekly basis and as nice as the 405 is, it isn't worth £35K more and is considerably more fragile... All my humble opinion yes...

The handling is a quantum leap over the L322. It now drives like a car rather than a gallion in a gale and this alone would be worth the extra money for me. One can now drive fast on all roads if need be rather than just in a straight line. Braking is also significantly better. Paint finish and build quality is of a higher standard than the L322 but it is still not fault free. Drive them back to back and the L322 both looks and feels old now.

No regrets at all in terms of choice and spec. There is still no other car or other spec I would choose today.

Difference feels same as when changed from TD5 Disco to a FFRR years ago.....

Constructive replies from all, thanks very much.

Any thoughts on the main foibles and 'must have'/ one to have engine and spec please (my own interest 'only' extends to buying used L405). Apols if a thread already exists for all of this/ happy to be directed to it.

Must have - active suspension

If fuel economy is not at the top of your list and you value peace and quiet (with some serious power when you need to press on) then go petrol.

Personal choice.. Originally ordered vogue se with options... Inc Panoramic roof, Then due to Dealer going back on deal, and by changing dealer , managed to get Autobiography with V8.. Although think all look better with priv glass, the rear windows look to small without...

Erm, against popular opinion....we chopped our L405 for a D4. I still run a 3.6 L322 which has more character than the L405. Lovely car but no soul in my opinion. Loved the deployable steps didn't like the smaller feeling boot, pressing two buttons to get the heated seats on. Small things but enough to have no emotional connection to it. Had the D4 3 months now and no regrets. But I've come from Series III, 90's, 110's, D2, D3 before the 4.4TDV8 we had before the L405.

Late model L322 Westminster 4.4TDV8 maybe worth looking at (I had a 4.2 SC FFRR when we had the 4.4diesel and not really much to choose between them driving apart from the lovely SC whine!).

But, each to their own!

5.0 wrote:

Must have - active suspension

If fuel economy is not at the top of your list and you value peace and quiet (with some serious power when you need to press on) then go petrol.

+1 on Active Suspension and Petrol

Then +1 on everything stenh02 just said above.  l=Oo\________/oO=l l:OolΞΞΞΞΞΞΞloO:l

Current
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L SDV8 - 2013 - Indus Silver, on Almond.
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L V8 - 2002 - ex-2003 G4 Challenge Event Vehicle, Stage 3: Australia
RANGE ROVER HSE 4.4L V8 - 2004 - one-of-one Overfinch
RANGE ROVER P38a 4.0L V8 - 1999 - ex-2000 TReK Event Vehicle: South Africa

Previous:
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L TDV8 - 2012 - RANGE ROVER 3.6L TDV8 x3 - RANGE ROVER Td6 x1 - RANGE ROVER Classic 3.5L V8 x1

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

The jump in used prices between say a 2012 L322 & a 2012 L405 does not IMHO give enough of a benefit...

I drive both on a weekly basis and as nice as the 405 is, it isn't worth £35K more and is considerably more fragile... All my humble opinion yes...

Very interesting thread.
How is the L405 more fragile? I was hoping KLR would be moving in the opposite direction. (Mind you, it'll be a few years before L405s reach a price where I'll need to worry about this...

I personally think A, they are built to a whole different pedestrian safety criteria so are VERY flimsy front end wise... We have seen 5 or 6 tap the front end at approx 5mph writing off the front ends instantly! Not really good enough on a capable off road vehicle! B, the quality of the fixings used are poor! Most times you remove covers etc the clips snap off! Just small (ish) things but relevant!

The paint finish on several i have looked at in depth is to say the least poor for a $80K+ vehicle! including dirt particles in the paint finish! Having passed through both factory & dealer pdi without being rectified!

Owners (especially wives) are complaining about the heated seat function buttons being hidden in nav menu! The lack of sunglasses holders, storage and lack of boot space... So much so two of my customers have gone back to late model 322 5.0 AB's...

Don't get me wrong, i will own one one day... But all is not rosy with all the owners i meet!

Plus 405 ALL look the same no individuality like you can make a 322, all plastic looking and no shape like the older, yes they drive nice but I don't want a sheep looking car like all the others, I parked by a few over the weekend and had so many comments on her look and immaculate es and unusual look so there you go it makes me smile and when parked I could look at her for ages and it still looks better outside than any new 405 so that'll do for me!  _____________________________________________________
Zambezi silver Vogue Se unique

But lets be honest, the 405 does make the 322 look very old fashioned (in a civilised sort of a way) by comparison - which I suppose is no surprise given that its a piece of design that's circa 15 years old.

I still like the previous XJ Jag's (on the outside at least), but again, in reality very old fashioned by comparison.

Can't roll the back seats forward. Heated seats are a faff to switch on. No sunglasses holder, smaller-ish boot. Visibility not as good out back, worsened by tints. Other than that, great -really enjoying it. Fast enough, ride is like floating. 30+ mpg, quiet. Wished I'd gone for the signature audio, other than that no regrets.

Last edited by Pixelpower on 7th Apr 2015 5:12am. Edited 1 time in total