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Chapeau! Velo

Member Since: 22 Jul 2019
Location: Down South
Posts: 115

‘Massive Car’ my 07 Tonga Green TDV8 Vogue Experience...

I bought this on a bit of a whim last Jul as project car. My last project car was a Jag XJ (X350) and that happily did the weekly commute up the A3 to work. I changed jobs so I thought I’d do something new in the vehicle dept.

I always fancied a FFRR and I particularly liked the L322 owing to its retro looks so when a Tonga green 3.6 TDV8 popped up at an auction I thought I’d take a punt! I must admit, I broke every car buying rule out there, I didn’t inspect it properly; it had 130k on the clock and a patchy service history; brake discs were obviously done in with corrosion; there were more lights and warnings on the dash than notifications from Donald Trumps twitter account and the air con didn’t work. On the positive, it was all there (inc the parcel shelf) the Tonga bodywork was rot and damage free (albeit filthy) and the sand interior wasn’t that bad (again filthy). Plus it had 6 months mot so I could drive it home.

The hammer price with commission was really really cheap, so cheap in fact that it’s recycling value was probably more - so what did I have to lose!

Here’s an early picture, post jet wash I might add - I find the country, un pimped look quite endearing; especially when I found out that the Queen has one in the same colour way

The 200 mike drive home was interesting, it was clearly underpowered and sweltering (no air con) and it had an odd sticky ignition on start up which produced the random error code generator - no two error codes appeared the same! That and half the interior trim fell off (I exaggerate slightly, just the housing around the rear view mirror, the sunroof rubber on opening and a disintegrating seat belt buckle housing).

On closer inspection, the reason why this vehicle was underpowered was the rather predictable turbo issue: carbonated veins and the actuator not cycling on the LHS turbo. I think the previous owner just gave up on it and probably traded it to get rid, this would also account for the knackered brakes owing to being unused which ties in with the MOT history and mileage.

Anyhow, I thought that this old girl was too good for the recyclers so decided to keep her and forged on. Fortunately (!) it was only the LHS turbo that was stuck and it hadn’t affected the rest of the power train - out it came, and in went a recon one with some new intercooler hoses and away we went. New pads and disks all round was next with new brake hoses on the rear and the sticky ignition switch was just that, a sticky ignition switch, that’s been changed and we are all, seemingly, warning free (for now). The air con intercooler has a leak so refrigerant gas is all over the road somewhere but I’ll try and get that sorted next week.

The car probably owes me just over 6k (inc purchase price) in the first year if ownership, that includes a full service and a new set of wheels that Tinman kindly sold me last week. It’s my children’s favourite car (they call it massive car (we have big car and little car too)) and my wife’s face is always priceless when I tell her that something else is broken - she just wishes I would stick to tinkering with retro bicycles vice cars. Anyhow, a pic below with my new 21” rims - hopefully not too OTT as I want to keep this relatively reserved, it is green (and did I mention that the Queen has one....) after all.

Last edited by Chapeau! Velo on 21st Aug 2021 11:41pm. Edited 5 times in total

23rd Jun 2020 9:47pm

mjdronfield

Member Since: 04 Nov 2011
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 7793

2011 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 Buckingham Blue

They look well in green. If it’s good enough for Her Majesty.....

2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

23rd Jun 2020 10:04pm

Haylands

Member Since: 04 Mar 2014
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 8190

2014 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Loire Blue

Very Nice... Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

23rd Jun 2020 10:22pm

gettingold

Member Since: 03 Apr 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 285

Lovely car and a great write up. Not sure on those rims though. Just saying visiting from www.rrsport.co.uk

24th Jun 2020 5:42am

TomV8

Member Since: 25 Sep 2017
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 107

2004 Range Rover Vogue 4.4 V8 Bonatti Grey

Fantastic car, thanks for writing about it. Great that you are giving it the TLC to get it sorted. Very best of luck with it. 2004 L322 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonatti Grey
(205,500 miles and counting.......)

24th Jun 2020 6:12am

Chapeau! Velo

Member Since: 22 Jul 2019
Location: Down South
Posts: 115

Thanks guys, i must admit that there are plenty of old pros on here that know their way around an L322 and are happy to share their experience. I’m not one of them! I don’t really know one end of a spanner from another and even if I did I wouldn’t have the time or capacity to do anything about it!

So cheers to all the enthusiasts out there who need to throw hope (and some money) at a problem and still enjoy messing about in their cars - Be it a necessary daily driver, a concourse showpiece or, at my end of the spectrum, a total pile that you hope won’t bankrupt you by the weekend. Indeed, I look forward to spending money on fuel in the vein hope I might drive it somewhere other than the garage!

24th Jun 2020 7:02pm

Sandyt

Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Wraysbury Windsor
Posts: 2257

2007 Range Rover Supercharged 4.2 SC V8 Buckingham Blue

Enjoy I have nearly 200k on mine still makes me smile and love the fact that your children like it

24th Jun 2020 8:01pm

Chapeau! Velo

Member Since: 22 Jul 2019
Location: Down South
Posts: 115

The thing that was bugging me about the rear aspect of the car was the TDV8 badge. Chrome lettering on a sparkle silver background just doesn’t work on a green car that sports a dark grey Vogue, bonnet and tailgate RR lettering; it just jars. Only one thing for it:

Halfords rattle can and 30 mins effort later, and:

BOOM! one dark grey TDV8 badge - not a precise colour match but good enough for govt work. Apologies for the dirty rear end and the reflection that reveals all of the

that needs taken to the tip.

Last edited by Chapeau! Velo on 25th Jun 2020 10:04pm. Edited 1 time in total

25th Jun 2020 7:45pm

Tinman

Member Since: 22 Mar 2017
Location: kent
Posts: 1188

2017 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Silicon Silver

Looks very nice

25th Jun 2020 9:42pm

Gyre8

Member Since: 14 May 2017
Location: Wolverhampton
Posts: 259

2006 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 V8 Tonga Green

Mine says hello.

25th Jun 2020 10:24pm

Chapeau! Velo

Member Since: 22 Jul 2019
Location: Down South
Posts: 115

Hmm, swirl wheels look good. I like those side steps too.

26th Jun 2020 6:37am

Chapeau! Velo

Member Since: 22 Jul 2019
Location: Down South
Posts: 115

I installed some car shades fitted blinds to the rear 3/4 of the car today (no sun protection glass). I must say, I am really impressed. They fit snug and work well - which surprised me as I half expected them to be a PITA to fit and would look totally once done. Pleasantly surprised.

Last edited by Chapeau! Velo on 29th Jun 2020 8:54pm. Edited 1 time in total

29th Jun 2020 7:08pm

Bl4ckD0g

Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: 127.0.0.1
Posts: 1322

2010 Range Rover Autobiography 5.0 SC V8 Santorini Black

Looks like a future classic. Great colour combination; only one where I like beige seats and see through windows.

Very classy.

29th Jun 2020 8:39pm

Chapeau! Velo

Member Since: 22 Jul 2019
Location: Down South
Posts: 115

I put the supercharged grill on and now I’m not so sure. Should I swop back to the original 4 bar version? I must admit, I do like the 21” 405 wheels in that style vice the originals.

29th Jun 2020 8:53pm

Philip

Member Since: 05 Jan 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 2564

2019 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Aintree Green

The solid bar grille is much nicer.

29th Jun 2020 9:06pm

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