Hi guys, long time lurker looking at a petrol L322 Range Rover, but with eyes wide open. Thought I'd come here to ask a few budget questions and real life use questions. Having travelled up to a thousand miles a week at times, I now find myself working 2 miles from my house so I can walk or cycle weather dependent, and fuel is not an issue if I buy a big v8...and why wouldn't you? I won't be looking to change for about three months, but just trying to educate myself on potential pitfalls and positives.

My budget is likely to be around 7k, I am no stranger to cars having owned literally hundreds over the years, but I would want to make a commitment to whatever big bus I buy...(I am looking at Cayenne 4.8 and, believe it or not, as a lifelong volvo fan, the v8 xc90, but the Range Rover appeals most !)

Is my budget realistic for a 4.2 sc? These seem to have the best reputation for mechanical reliability? I am aware whatever I end up with needs to be bought on condition and provenance over everything but there seems to he such a confusing array of petrol Range Rovers for sale at all sort of prices. I am not a fast driver so don't NEED an s/c but it would seem foolish not to invest in the one most likely to stay together?

Where should I check for rust? Are these cars as bad as some say for corrosion, and is this the reason some are so cheap? I think in my head I'm thinking that I'm not bothered about the cars age, and would rather have one with good history, low owners and maybe even higher miles as long as it wears them well, than a younger car with less miles and a patchy history. I have heard say the older pre Tata cars are more resistant to rot, is this true?

Finally, alternatives...have any of you been in my position, considering a few different marques? If so, why dod you pick the Range Rover and have you regretted it? Looking at some of the tales of woe on here suggests you need deep pockets to keep one in fine fettle, but that's surely true of any premium car you buy for a fraction of its original cost. I do have a niggling feeling that a 300 quid a month Kia Sorento would fulfill my needs and cost less in the long run...but where is the joy in that? Sorry for the daft questions, and thanks in advance for any answers.

Sound reasoning...

Range Rover is a "I want one" purchase, if you can make the man maths work for you, you won't regret it...

Don't scratch the itch and you will...!!

If you've bought that many cars you will know how to pick a good one... read the owners manual, available in the WIKI (link top right) and get to know what the car does, check absolutely everything including low box and suspension settings, go for a long test drive and ask lots of questions...

If you hear the phrase "They all do that" then walk away...

Have fun finding one...  Pete

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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-

After the challenge you outline of buying a good one without corrosion and well maintained, I think the biggest factor on the long term costs is whether you are able to do the servicing and maintenance work yourself. There’s no shortage of lads on here who do loads to their FFRRs. I’m not one of them I’m afraid, so paying others to do the work can get expensive and you’ve also got to find someone who is happy to spend the time and effort on them. I think a lot of garages are under pressure to get cars in and turned round quickly. That’s not always an L322.

My other suggestion would be don’t compromise on the spec of the car you go for. There are a lot of them out there. They are all going to cost a bit over time. So get the one that is the perfect colour and interior, so you don’t end up doing a load of work on one and then swapping it for another and having to start again.

Very best of luck with your search 🤞 2004 L322 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonatti Grey
(205,500 miles and counting.......)

Thanks so much for your reply, cars like this are always an emotional buy, it's just keeping your heart in enough check that it doesn't cost you your bank balance/relationship/sanity, delete as appropriate, hence am trying to find out as much as I can!!

Thanks, I'm no spannerman sadly but use a decent local mechanic who has always seen me alright over the years

Read the WIKI... loads of info and will empower you with knowledge....  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-

There is no particular reason why these cars cost more than any other car to maintain. Ultimately it is just a car. But with performance models may also come performance parts for brake callipers etc.

I'd say the L322 is a class above the alternatives. I was looking this time last year for a cheap but large vehicle that is comfortable enough to take us on a few long journeys back to the Netherlands and still provided some level of luxury and refinement. I didn't want to go overboard as the plan was to sell in a few months as we were looking to emigrate but then Covid 19 happened

But yes I went through the following;
- Porsche Cayenne: looks very dated, rear space great, but overall a bit utilitarian of that age/price.
- VW Touareg V10: same as Cayenne really
- Volvo XC90: Nah, just nah although it is practical it just doesn't do it. Too much of a mum childminder car like a Zafira
- LR Discovery: Too costly, too utilitarian of a similar prices model.
- Audi Q7 V8: Very old looking interior and very cramped. The B&O sound system didn't impress me either.
- Mercedes GL: I've had the newer X166 from new in AMG form and didn't like the look of its predecessor but otherwise a capable car.
- Range Rover L322 - Incredible value for money, presence, power etc. Absolutely love it.

But getting a good supercharged for that kind of money, 12 months ago that would have been easy...Now, I'm not so sure and you'd be buying at the top of the market. Give it a few months and I think you can find a better MY2010+ for not much more...

Thanks, I agree re prices, I watch them and I'd say Range Rovers have been affected more than Cayenne. I have owned two front engined Porsches and loved the mechanical integrity of them but having read a lot about Cayenne it seems for every problem an L322 may have had there is an equivalent headache with the Porsche, but without as many specialists and with much more expensive parts!! Having been in both cars, for me the Porsche felt more solid, more engineered, but the Range Rover felt more special!!

I won't be making a move, if indeed I do, for at least a few months, hopefully things will have calmed down proce wise by then, and I would consider an n/a petrol as long as it was a jlr v8 and not the BMW as these do seem to have more issues, or is that internet nonsense? Thanks for all the replies, I will keep on dipping into the forum to improve my knowledge.

hello Gbn69, it seems that you have the itch to buy an L322.

I have owned a 2006 TD6 for three years now ( My first and only Land Rover vehicle to date ) and I stress that I do not have any knowledge / experience of V8 versions.

BUT what I would like to say is this - I was looking for a re-placement for a Nissan Navara Outlaw, which was bought from me by Nissan because of the terminal chassis problem. ( Otherwise the truck was perfect ) I was not looking for a RR and had never considered buying one before. I went to see another vehicle at a small dealer, was not inspired by the car, and saw the RR at the back of the lot. Walked over to it, looked very good, and at 12 years old had FSH, and only 78000 on the clock

Went home, did a bit of research, went back for a test drive, the guy seemed genuine, and I ended up with it for £8500.
Got home, pleased as punch, sat on the drive with a friend supplied RR buyers guide and the handbook and started to wonder what the hell I had just done since then, I have lost count of the hours I have worked on it, and spent quite a bit, but luckily, with no major problems -

Hence - Not one regret, and love driving it, once you have a fatty ( Even one like mine, not a cracker like Bl4ckDOg's Black magic example ) you will not stop smiling like a Cheshire cat.

i have the 4.2 and it has been bullet proof rust just starting on wheel arches think the only way to sort it is to cut the rust out. down side 13-14 mpg round town