Land Rover introduced the L405 Range Rover (Big Body as it is commonly referred to / FFRR in the UK) in 2013 in South Africa. I then enjoyed the privilege of driving one when LR had a launch day and since then I promised myself that I will get one someday.

About 10 years later I started earnestly searching for one and initially considered a white 2016 SVAutobiography LWB; however, though it was advertised in Autotrader, the dealer informed me that it was sold.

On a recent trip to Cape Town I noted an advert on Autotrader for a 2016 Range Rover SVAutobiography LWB SC with 12341 kilometres (yes 12341 kms). I decided to drive to the dealer to check if its not a printing error - however, lo and behold - there stood the car (at the detailer for ceramic treatment on bodywork) and the mileage is indeed 12343 (distance travelled from dealer to detailer's workshop is about 2 kilometres).

I checked the car to see if the odometer was perhaps "modified"; however, the condition of the steering wheel and driver seat as well as the fact that the car still smelled brand new confirmed the odometer reading. Without hesitation I told the salesman that I will take the car - we arranged that the detailer would finish his job, then the car would go to LR Constantiaberg for its 6th year service and then the car will be send to Pretoria by truck.

That was Monday, 7 November, dialling forward to Friday 10 November, salesman phoned me - baie benoud - and told me that LR Constantiaberg would only be able to service the car end of November. So the obvious thing to do was to fly down Saturday morning, collect the car and drive back to Pretoria.

First impressions (I did not test drive the car before I collected it), was the immediate response from lowdown and the ease with which it can put one in lots of trouble with the speedcops. Much quieter than the silver RRSC I have with a slightly harder drive - car is on 22inch wheels - but a lot less body roll.

So we arrived in Colesberg at around 19h30 that evening still feeling good to drive further; but sanity prevails and we slept over at Tzamenkomst just north of Colesberg.

Sunday morning came and so it was time for the rest of the road back home. Wife complained

that the seat is very hard - another sign of the low mileage of the car - but also because the seats has so many settings, it takes time to really get the seat right for one's specific preference.

Arrived in Pretoria and was still so fresh, we decided to take friends for a spin and coffee.

Was this unplanned purchase a good buy - time will tell- but thus far it is behaving well. Just still have to spend time with her as there are so many gadgets and features that it will probably take a day or 3 to just play around with all of it.

Very nice, and such low milage....

Same colour combo as mine but that's about as far as it goes...! 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-

Thanks Pete

Btw the odometer is in kilometers - thus it is 8767 miles

Enjoy...  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-

Fantastic looking car. I hope you really enjoy it! 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

I'm always conflicted with the LWB cars, on the one hand, they're a great drive - much more stable and assured than the standard L405, on the other hand, you need a driver so you can enjoy the size and comfort in the rear - but they're great to drive so why let an employee have all the fun?
The last time I did the Swakopmund - Pretoria trip was in the 'new' Discovery3, great at the time but not a patch on your new ride, I hope you have many happy kilometres!

Sssnapppp

I could happily spend some time in the back of one of those. Very nice both.  2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

#2

I can well appreciate the dilemma between front & rear, -but having pounded the m-ways for the last 40-plus years, if I could afford a good driver, it would be the rear for me everytime! Plus, very handy for the Pub!  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

Do what I did - have 2 sons and let them stay and work with you and then!!! Use them as your drivers

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

Sssnapppp

This is beautiful - but there is something wrong!!!!



It still has the original head unit and air con unit - I would have thought that those 2 items would have been replaced by now

Hmmmm happy with her for now sir… I’m not the biggest fan of touch screens! I like a button or dial 👍

I have installed ACP on an IDCORE box which I LOVE 💗

Done just more than 14000kms since we bought the car. Really love this car as it just eats up the miles in luxury and comfort and then some.

On our way back, towing a fully loaded 7 ft double axle trailer, had a blow out on one of the trailer tyres whilst overtaking another vehicle. The only indication I got was when I heard a “pop” but other than that vehicle was stable as I accelerated some more to get quicker past the other vehicle to get off the road.

Changed the tyre and found out at the tyre shop, which was about 15kms from where we had the blow-out, that the tyres dated back to 2007. Replaced 4 tyres (all that the dealer had available) so I could be more assured that we wont have any more issues with tyres.

AND THEN THIS HAPPENED ….

Driver of Figo hit 2 other vehicles before it hit the Range Rover so hard that it moved the RR onto the pavement next to it

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oh no, thats such bad luck. Lets hope it gets fixed quickly and well (at their expense) First time FFRR owner

Poor fatty, hope it gets repaired soon...  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-