Hi all,

I've recently become a member and I've read plenty of posts over the last few days, I'm stunned at the wealth of knowledge that you all possess. As such, and here's the million dollar question........ What do I buy?

I've finally seen the light and I'm looking at dipping my toe into Range Rover ownership with a car to last me 3/4 years. I've got a budget of about £10k, I've got a drive of about 20 miles to and from work 4 times a week with a 50/50 split of rural roads and motorway so what do you guys recommend?

Any advice is extremely welcome.

Cheers

Welcome! You are looking at an L322 for that money. You can choose petrol or diesel. I'd choose diesel myself for fuel economy reasons. There are 3 diesels.. 3.0 TD6 (2002-06), 3.6 TDV8 (2006-13) or 4.4 TDV8 (2010-13).
The 4.4 TDV8 gets best fuel economy. The 3.6 TDV8 costs less and has similar fuel economy.. they all have their own set of issues.
Personally, having had them all, I run a 3.6 TDV8 with a remap. It gets good fuel economy, it goes as fast as a 4.4 TDV8 (which you shouldn't remap, they say) and it didn't cost much, so can be kept and run as a second or third car. Great to have one. 2010 FF 4.4 TDV8 Vogue - Gone
2007 FF VSE 3.6 TDV8 - Gone
2011 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6- Gone
2003 FF TD6 Vogue - Gone
2006 FF TD6 - Gone
2007 FF 3.6 VSE - For sale
2011 FF 4.4 TDV8 - Current

Thanks TDSIX, I really appreciate your reply and the info.

I'm very new to the RR scene so is there anything in particular I should be wary of with the 3.6 TDV8? Obviously a full service history goes without saying and an oil change too I'm reading, but any info you may have on specific problems would be very much appreciated. It's mainly gonna be used as a daily commute but I'm sure I'll be more than happy to drive it as often as possible to wherever possible.

Can I ask what sort of MPG you return with a remap and should mileage be a massive issue to me?

Thanks again

You should get a really nice facelift 3.6 for that money. DPF might be a consideration. ie would it be problematic with the types of journey you're typically doing. I'm not sure - I have a non DPF so haven't worried about it - but I *think* all 4.4s are DPF and most 3.6s aren't. (Not sure about facelift cars though?) 2016 Skoda Octavia VRS Estate
<gone>2009 FF Vogue TDV8 Buckingham Blue</gone>
<gone>2015 BMW 520D SE (not my favourite car)</gone>
<gone>2009 D3 HSE Galway Green</gone>

Go for the 4.4 TDV8 better in every respect over 3.6. 8 speed gearbox thats bullet proof, shed loads of power, no need for remaps etc. I am of course biased, mines up for sale here https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/post539158.html#539158 and it's had everything done that needs doing, runs as sweet as a nut. BMW i3 Electric Car
2012 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8 (now gone)
2006 VW Touareg 3.0 TDi V6

I'm getting about 19-22mpg in my 3.6.
In a 4.4TDV8 you may get around 22-25mpg.

Others may get more, I can see 30mpg if I drive Miss Daisy or sat the motorway cruising at 70 for a time. 2010 FF 4.4 TDV8 Vogue - Gone
2007 FF VSE 3.6 TDV8 - Gone
2011 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6- Gone
2003 FF TD6 Vogue - Gone
2006 FF TD6 - Gone
2007 FF 3.6 VSE - For sale
2011 FF 4.4 TDV8 - Current

Around town, short journeys 2 to 5 miles I get low 30's on a journey eg Bournemouth to Gainsborough I get high 30's if I stick to 70 mph max, drop down to 60 mph max and 43 mpg. Brim to Brim shows the computer to be about 1.2 mpg optimistic. BMW i3 Electric Car
2012 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8 (now gone)
2006 VW Touareg 3.0 TDi V6

Just to give you an idea, I picked up a 2002 "poverty pack" L322 for £3k last week.

Vehicle had known knackered suspension which has cost £600 to replace both front struts and £100 for a door switch cluster from scrappers, plus £90 for 17x LED interior light upgrade and £500 for a GAP IIDTool

So that be £4290 all up (so far...) for a 128k miles FFRR with BMW V8 motor running on LPG, so £50 fuel (90 litres) LPG giving 290 miles range which equates to 30+ MPG petrol equivalent I reckon, which is very satisfying given I've been a bit lead footed, novelty factor etc!

Thanks guys,

Really appreciate you all going to the bother of reading and replying. I'm still a few months away from making a purchase due to being able to hand back my wife's Nissan, once that's done I'll be looking around with more than a degree of urgency........just in case she changes her mind!

I'll be doing a load more research into potential pitfalls, problems etc.. but to be honest I'm hung up on RR now anyway, just need to zero in on the right one. I'd like to go as new as possible just to give myself as much peace of mind as possible but if an older car with lower miles and a good history comes up then I could well be swayed.

Thanks again for all the replies, I apologise in advance for any stupid questions I may ask in the future.

AJGalaxy2012, that's a beautiful looking car and a lovely colour too.

We had a 07 3.6 TDV8 non DPF for 5 years and absolutely loved it! Actually regret selling it now  Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90

If I were buying one I’d try and get a 4.4 TDV8.

If you're only doing 80 miles a week, why not look at either a 4.4 normally aspirated petrol Jag V8 (rare), or a 4.2 supercharged petrol Jag V8? £10k would buy a very nice example (I paid £10,400 in the summer for a mint 4.2SC MY09, and I'm sure prices have dropped since then), and there are loads in the £5-8k range. Just avoid the rusty ones, plenty of info here on rust issues, particularly the rear wheel arches, sills and rear upper tailgate.

fanders

My problem here is that I would not want to rely on a "New Price £80k+ car" as a today "£10k daily commuter".

Yes I would spend less than £10K on something that is certain to get me to work every day, ...Toyota, yada yada. (I have one, cost £1500 bullet proof and quick)

and YES I would spend £10k on something that I can 'enjoy, have pleasure driving', but NOT having to use it whilst phoning in to explain my absence due to a seat module shutting down the spare wheel TPMS and hence giving an EML and restricted perf...

You don't buy one of these in this price point and not expect Trouble.

However, there is nothing better than smoozing along in a 4 wheel bungalow and waving to the pedestrians.  L322 3.6 TDV8 Vogue. 07MY
ML 320 7 Seat full leather etc. (The Black Pearl)

Appreciate the honesty RichM63...... as silent tears roll down my cheek!

Why is it that the one 'negative' reply to my plan for global domination driving a RR resonates more than all the others?

I'm clearly gonna have to have a serious think about what is my best way forward, as I said i don't cover that many miles per week so I was hoping that a well researched RR would suffice. I have friends with cars that were very expensive when they were new and over ten years later they're having little or no problems with them, as long as preventative maintenance is carried out at the correct times obviously.

Is the RR so different? If so, why?

Thanks again

I have had two L322 TDV8 3.6s...the first one written off by an idiot....between them I have done approximately 40k miles...I paid a bit to get both fully sorted when I bought them but since then they were both solidly reliable..the latest one has just needed a new alternator...could go on any car..but short of that..no majorly expensive problems and very little trouble.
Buy carefully and enjoy!