Like the new Avatar Craig despite saying I would replace it I still have the CAM TECH Badge on the rear on my 4.4 It looks good mate

I'd wager that the majority of people have not got a Scooby Doo between the original L322, the mid life Facelifts, the latter ones and the different specs, badges, exhaust tips etc. I'd imagine that to many people a Range Rover is... a Range Rover.

Some owners won't want to wait until they can justify buying the 'real thing' end of line Facelifts and so they will commission professional upgrades at a fraction of the alternative cost.

You could apply the same logic reference buying the last of the line L322 instead of the L405 (Perhaps "the Jones's " will then be sniping that "they obviously couldn't afford a new shape Range Rover"); and then there are the hypothetical arithmetic conundrums:

* Buy an immaculate off the shelf professionally completed 2010MY facelift for £14k

** Source a bodywork immaculate £8k or £15k L322 and spend approx £4k on said facelift

*** Spend £40k to £50k on a latter, factory facelift model L322

**** Spend £80k upwards on the L405

Many enthusiasts might never be able to manage the latter 2 examples and understandably so.

Re the latter 2 examples - A number of private/ non finance option buyers, regardless of personal circumstances, might never see the justification or need to put such an amount of 'their own money' into one car.

A number of people, whether the car cost £6, £16 or £26k might well be perfectly comfortable spending in the region of £4k on a tasteful and proper upgrade.

IMO @ Supershuttle was spot on when saying "only Range Rover cognoscenti... are really aware of the changes."

Most owners or facelift speculators are perhaps not trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear or "keep up with the Jones's " but RR enthusiasts who have done their sums and have come up with the correct answer for them at that particular time

^ Agree and if it puts a big smile on YOUR face then who cares what anybody else thinks

Gazellio @ Prestige Cars wrote:

Like the new Avatar Craig despite saying I would replace it I still have the CAM TECH Badge on the rear on my 4.4 It looks good mate

To face lift or not to face lift!?

I asked my wife the very question and I was told that it would take more than a facelift to sort me out

I must admit my comment was slightly tongue in cheek - and on this forum I've seen some beautifully done examples of earlier cars facelifted. It just wouldn't be worth the money to me - just a personal view - as (for a start) anyone who judges the worth of a man by his car is beneath contempt IMHO - and as someone else said - the only way most people can date a Range Rover (even a classic) is by the numberplate.

^ As I said I am sure most do it for personal pleasure/smiles people that care to much about other peoples cars or what they do with them need to get a life.

I think that people who stick plastic bits on their cars to make them look newer are the ones who need to "get a life"

That's different opinions for you.

People do it because they'd like to give the impression of driving a newer, more expensive car. How many face-lifted L322s don't have an eBay-special "cherished" plate in an attempt to hide their age?

For many that perceived image is important - to pretend otherwise is disingenuous.

I like the look of the face-lifted 2009-2012 model, it is only a body kit that LR designed to update their cars anyway. I have no problem in updating my car if the workings underneath are reliable. Do the facelift haters completely change their clothing wardrobe when they want to try a more fashionable modern look. Of course not. Besides updating the car rather than getting rid of it is better for the environment and less vain than buying a new one just for looks.

Some people see it as vanity or cheating but I say each to their own. I have collected the parts and will be doing it when I have time. Financially it makes a huge amount of sense. Only snobs would expect someone to have to pay the £20-£30k difference if you want the new shape.

Aftermarket body kits are a different matter as some are hideous, but then again each to their own, it is their car so they should be able to do what they want to it. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

Gazellio @ Prestige Cars wrote:

^ Agree and if it puts a big smile on YOUR face then who cares what anybody else thinks

 
RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s
(wife thinks I'm nuts - prob right, too)

Flashman wrote:

less vain than buying a new one just for looks

I understand the mechanical improvements over the older models and would love to buy one if I could justify the expense, but my current car works fine and the same DNA as the new ones, I like the more modern 2009-2012 LR bodykit upgrade look, although the 2002-2005 is also smart, but I am a little bored of it and would like to get my hands dirty with some DIY mods.

It is not as if you are being fraudulent to upgrade things (unless you sell it as the newer model), most of the general public and even some Range Rover owners would not even notice the change and some manufacturers actually promote it. BMW openly sold upgrade kits for people wanting LED rear lights etc.. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

I think it's good the general feeling of the thread is people should do what they like so long as they enjoy it.