RE: PH Buying Guide: Range Rover (L322)
Friday 1st February 2013
Land Rover’s upwardly mobile aspirations for the Range Rover finally went into orbit with the arrival of the third generation model L322 in February 2002. Where previous Range Rovers mixed off-road ability with comfort, the L322 pushed comfort and luxury to the fore, though it also retained the full spread of off-road ability expected of a Range Rover.
Pre-2009 cars featured simpler headlightsIn April 2009, the supercharged V8 grew to 5.0-litres and 510hp yet offered slightly better fuel economy of 19.0mpg and lower 348g/km carbon dioxide emissions. A year later, the 3.6 TDV8 engine was replaced by the 4.4-litre unit with parallel sequential turbocharging to deliver 313hp, 516lbft and 30.1mpg - making it the first factory Range Rover to exceed 30mpg. Land Rover also took the opportunity to fit the new eight-speed auto to the TDV8 and restyle the front end with daytime running lights that curve around the headlights. Improvements to the Terrain Response system were also introduced, with the addition of Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control.
PH Buying Guide: Range Rover (L322)
We explore the pleasures and pitfalls of last-gen Rangie ownership
This was also the first Range Rover model to ditch a separate chassis, instead using a monocoque design that heralded a shift in Land Rover’s thinking. The L322 also ushered in a new style for Land Rover, penned by Don Wyatt, that we can still see the effects of today in the L322’s replacement, the L405. As such, the L322 now competed against luxury saloons such as the Mercedes S-Class, as well as other SUVs, which is why the car has become beloved by so many for its dual-purpose ability.
Search for Range Rovers (L322) here
Longer, wider and taller than the P38A it replaced, the L322 has a 2880mm wheelbase, generous cabin space and comes with permanent four-wheel drive in all models. There's also an automatic transmissions for every version, initially a five-speed ’box that was then superseded by a six-speeder for the 2006 model year, with an eight-speed auto for the diesel from 2010.
To begin with, Range Rovers came with BMW-sourced engines in the shape of a 184PS 2.9-litre TD6 turbodiesel and 4.4-litre V8 petrol with 290hp. These engines lasted until the 2006 model year when the V8 was replaced with a Jaguar-derived 4.4-litre V8 with 306hp, while the flagship was now powered by a supercharged 4.2 V8 developing 400hp. A new 3.6-litre TDV8 took over from the TD6 and offered 272hp and a heft 640Nm of torque.
Pre-2009 cars featured simpler headlights
There’s a choice of HSE, Vogue, Vogue SE and Autobiography versions of the L322 Range Rover, which go from luxurious to downright sumptuous. There is also a wide variety of prices, going from £6000 for early, high mileage cars all the way to £80,000 for one of the last L322s before the L405 took over at the start of 2013. You can also spend even more on tuned models from the likes of Overfinch or Kahn, while armour-plated models command yet more based on their level of protection. However, we’ll stick with the standard models here that so many PHers use for a huge number of roles and reasons.
Owners Note:
"The best analogy I’ve ever heard for the ownership of a RR is: Ownership is a lot like being a drug addict. When you’re on a high, everything in the world is great but it takes more drugs/money each time to get that same high."
Dave Brennan
Buying guide contents:
Introduction
Powertrain
Rolling chassis
Body
Interior
Search for Range Rovers (L322) here
Discussion
Mine has been very reliable. In six years and 70k miles since I bought the car, with the exception of some early issues covered by the LR warranty it has only needed routine servicing. There are a lot of pattern parts available that all keep the costs down as do the interchangeability with BMW service items. I have also been amazed at how the dealers will discount heavily on service costs, I recently negotiated the basic oil service down to £99 at Stratstone, they also MOT it for free and for the last two years its gone straight through. In fact when I look at the repairs/parts its needed over the cars life and less components have failed on it than on my same age Porsche 996 Turbo despite having done a third of the mileage.
There really are nt many cars that can do what a RR can. I have wafted the family down to the south of France in comfort, pulled tree stumps out of the garden, towed big agricultural trailers, waded flooded roads, smashed through snow drifts yet will cruise on the motorway at 80mph like an S class. I can't see a reason why I would ever sell it, I now run it on all terrain tyres, have the proper land rover tow hitch big bike rack and the G4 expedition roof rack which turns it from a limo to a defender. I recently took it green laning with a friend in his defender and it did every challenge he through at it, yet I sat in comfort with heated seats and a harmon kardon stereo.
I highly recommend them!
There really are nt many cars that can do what a RR can. I have wafted the family down to the south of France in comfort, pulled tree stumps out of the garden, towed big agricultural trailers, waded flooded roads, smashed through snow drifts yet will cruise on the motorway at 80mph like an S class. I can't see a reason why I would ever sell it, I now run it on all terrain tyres, have the proper land rover tow hitch big bike rack and the G4 expedition roof rack which turns it from a limo to a defender. I recently took it green laning with a friend in his defender and it did every challenge he through at it, yet I sat in comfort with heated seats and a harmon kardon stereo.
I highly recommend them!
Take the Plunge they are Fabulous Vehicles
Im on my second personal TDV8 Vogue, the last one had 125k on it when it left us, i cannot fault them and i have a wide choice of vehicles to choose from for a day to day driver.
The older Td6 diesel was a little noisey and not particularly quick although only because it has to work quite hard to haul 2.7 tons along with 180bhp, but we had a remapped Td6 for a while and it was a revelation compared to the standard Td6, it felt like a 50% increase power and much much more willing to rev. It felt as quick as a TDV8 and an improvement in Fuel consumption from 23mpg to 26 mpg avg.
A TDV8 will give an average of 25/26 running about in congested surrey, and on a decent run at 85-ish mph about 30 and iv'e seen 32 at a similar lick, but the weather changes this, any wind or blustery conditions and this can see 5 mpg shaved off these figures at these speeds.
Peoples biggest preconceptions with Range Rovers is always "Thirsty buggers aren't they" etc and "they are not very reliable are they" etc. couldn't be further from the truth.
I've driven all of them and owned dozens and dozens and they are Superb vehicles, The LM (Full Size) model 2002 onwards are what i would consider almost economical considering the size and weight, and we have had virtually no Reliability issues, they just need sensible servicing by someone who knows what hes doing.
Like any Top end vehicle you need to budget anualy for a decent service.
In fact reliability has been no worse than any quality German brands, maybe except some of the early 2002 models which suffered with a front diff recall and water ingress through boot side window onto the sat nav drive unit.
Fuel Consumption for models as follows, day to day running around including short motorway/trunk road stretches, driven sensibly
4.4 V8 Petrol, 18 mpg running about ,23 on a run
TD6 std Diesel, 23 running about, 27 on a run
Supercharged Petrol, 14 running about, up to 23 on a run but more likely 20/21
TDV8 Diesel, 25 running about, up to 32 on run
They are supremely comfortable and probably have one of the best driving positions of any vehicle of any type period, they also give a superb view of the road and scenery, So whats not to like ?
Oh yes, a Sports car they are not, although some models will accelerate like one.
One word of warning the Range Rover Sport is a very different Beast from the Full Size (Vogue) and much more cramped inside, and in Petrol form at least thirstier in day to day real world driving than the equivalent engined Vogue Full Size model.
I can only put that down to its Stiffer set up and more cocooned (sporty) driving environment and in V8 form at least (Petrol or Diesel) the Sound track, it makes you or wills you to drive it faster/more aggressively hence the reduction in MPG. (They weight slightly more than the Vogue believe it or not)
I Briefly had a Sport Supercharged, it was Horrendous on fuel however i seemed to drive it, although that was generally more aggressively than the Full Size Vogue models, and they literally eat front suspension bushes and ball joints. So you'll be changing those every 10k at least.
im just rambling now but if you've ever been tempted by a Rangie they are not as bad as people who have never had one make them out to be !
Im on my second personal TDV8 Vogue, the last one had 125k on it when it left us, i cannot fault them and i have a wide choice of vehicles to choose from for a day to day driver.
The older Td6 diesel was a little noisey and not particularly quick although only because it has to work quite hard to haul 2.7 tons along with 180bhp, but we had a remapped Td6 for a while and it was a revelation compared to the standard Td6, it felt like a 50% increase power and much much more willing to rev. It felt as quick as a TDV8 and an improvement in Fuel consumption from 23mpg to 26 mpg avg.
A TDV8 will give an average of 25/26 running about in congested surrey, and on a decent run at 85-ish mph about 30 and iv'e seen 32 at a similar lick, but the weather changes this, any wind or blustery conditions and this can see 5 mpg shaved off these figures at these speeds.
Peoples biggest preconceptions with Range Rovers is always "Thirsty buggers aren't they" etc and "they are not very reliable are they" etc. couldn't be further from the truth.
I've driven all of them and owned dozens and dozens and they are Superb vehicles, The LM (Full Size) model 2002 onwards are what i would consider almost economical considering the size and weight, and we have had virtually no Reliability issues, they just need sensible servicing by someone who knows what hes doing.
Like any Top end vehicle you need to budget anualy for a decent service.
In fact reliability has been no worse than any quality German brands, maybe except some of the early 2002 models which suffered with a front diff recall and water ingress through boot side window onto the sat nav drive unit.
Fuel Consumption for models as follows, day to day running around including short motorway/trunk road stretches, driven sensibly
4.4 V8 Petrol, 18 mpg running about ,23 on a run
TD6 std Diesel, 23 running about, 27 on a run
Supercharged Petrol, 14 running about, up to 23 on a run but more likely 20/21
TDV8 Diesel, 25 running about, up to 32 on run
They are supremely comfortable and probably have one of the best driving positions of any vehicle of any type period, they also give a superb view of the road and scenery, So whats not to like ?
Oh yes, a Sports car they are not, although some models will accelerate like one.
One word of warning the Range Rover Sport is a very different Beast from the Full Size (Vogue) and much more cramped inside, and in Petrol form at least thirstier in day to day real world driving than the equivalent engined Vogue Full Size model.
I can only put that down to its Stiffer set up and more cocooned (sporty) driving environment and in V8 form at least (Petrol or Diesel) the Sound track, it makes you or wills you to drive it faster/more aggressively hence the reduction in MPG. (They weight slightly more than the Vogue believe it or not)
I Briefly had a Sport Supercharged, it was Horrendous on fuel however i seemed to drive it, although that was generally more aggressively than the Full Size Vogue models, and they literally eat front suspension bushes and ball joints. So you'll be changing those every 10k at least.
im just rambling now but if you've ever been tempted by a Rangie they are not as bad as people who have never had one make them out to be !
I love these L322 Range Rovers.
They look classy and suit any environment in which they may be parked or driven.
Sumptuous interiors, and like alot of people have said, one of the great all-round, 'do anything' cars that you can buy.
One day, I will own one!
Money no object - then a 5.0 v8 supercharged one.
Otherwise, a 4.4 TDV8 will do nicely. black, with off-white leather.
They look classy and suit any environment in which they may be parked or driven.
Sumptuous interiors, and like alot of people have said, one of the great all-round, 'do anything' cars that you can buy.
One day, I will own one!
Money no object - then a 5.0 v8 supercharged one.
Otherwise, a 4.4 TDV8 will do nicely. black, with off-white leather.
Having suffered from 2 Discos purchased new in the 1990s, I abandoned LR for Scoobydoos. Gearbox failure at 9 months old on one, turbo failure at 13 months old on its replacement. When the diff locks wouldn't engage at the top of Buttertubs pass, almost preciptating us over the edge, I rang LR tech dept. Was it snowing?. Yes. Ah well then, the snow gets into the difflock cable & it doesn't work. Well that's all right then. So in the 90s LR gearboxes failed, & the tailgates on RRs rotted out. Fast forward 20 years and...
Seems to be some real mixed experiences out there as I've got a 2003 HSE that's done 130k without having much wrong apart from the usual wear & tear. It is annoying that the tailgate has started to rust (LR DNA they obviously feel the need to have it running through all LR's) and the only time in 130k it caused a problem was when a coolant hose went right at the back of the block in France & I just couldn't get to it at the side of the road to carry out a temporay fix.
Gearbox's on the diesels seem problematic but then anyone who listens to LR's advice that they're sealed for life & you don't need to service them is asking for trouble. Apply a bit of common sense & change all the fluids on a regular basis and you'd be suprised how much longer things last! If it moves and has fluid in it eventually the fluids going to turn to crap!
There's loads of parts suppliers out there so servicing can be cheaper than you think, particularly if you're handy with the spanners. It's been said before about loads of cars but you have to remember these are £70k plus cars to buy brand new and it costs a lot to run any £70k car so go into it with your eyes open and you'll get a car that feels amazing to drive & is a pleasure to get in!
Oh yeah if you do get one, use it. They don't like doing 2 miles up the road to the school gates every day or sitting around until the snow arrives!
Gearbox's on the diesels seem problematic but then anyone who listens to LR's advice that they're sealed for life & you don't need to service them is asking for trouble. Apply a bit of common sense & change all the fluids on a regular basis and you'd be suprised how much longer things last! If it moves and has fluid in it eventually the fluids going to turn to crap!
There's loads of parts suppliers out there so servicing can be cheaper than you think, particularly if you're handy with the spanners. It's been said before about loads of cars but you have to remember these are £70k plus cars to buy brand new and it costs a lot to run any £70k car so go into it with your eyes open and you'll get a car that feels amazing to drive & is a pleasure to get in!
Oh yeah if you do get one, use it. They don't like doing 2 miles up the road to the school gates every day or sitting around until the snow arrives!
I'm on my 5th Range Rover with a very short stint in a Sport (two months then I got tired of that) and an X5 (which broke down constantly and nearly killed me because of steering failure). The Range Rovers have all been fantastically reliable. I did 80k miles in the last without problems and now have a Westminster which is the best buy of the lot (and 40k cheeper than the new model).
I have put 22k miles on my Jag-V8 petrol engined L322 in 16 months, and it has cost me the sum total (exc depreciation) of one £400 service and one £130 battery. It has taken me on several very long journeys, inc one day last year when my parents were in a crash and I had a 10-hour round trip to recover them and the contents of their car, and I can't think of another car I'd rather do it in. I've towed cars on 4-wheel trailers with it a few times, and it lugs my dirt bike round on the back on a rack. I purchased with my eyes wide open, and I would say that I can't see me changing this for anything other than another one.
I've had one of each model, from a three door 70s version in red then a green 4.0 P38. Superb at towing aything. The current one is a 2007 3.6 TDV8 which I bought for £37K when only nine months old and 18K miles(Oil was $200 a barrel at the time and people were just learning what the credit crunch was. LR dealers couldn't move any of them!). I've done 100k miles in it and it only ever let me down once - battery failure. Looked at ordering a new one recently and have been offered £14.5K trade in. That's pretty cheap motoring for a car that's as at home up to it's axles in East Anglian plough as it is pulling up at the Dorchester.
most people on here saying RR reliable,they will be if you bought it 3/4 years old, in my experience when they get to 8 years old the repairs could cost more than the RR. usual faults,Engine, Diesel,fuel pump,injectors,could cost £2,000,petrol,head gasket,head problems,£2,000 plus
gearbox goes at 90-120k cost £2-£2,2500, Air suspension £250 a corner,£1-£1500 for main units. Various suspension parts for Mot can be very costly. Interior ,dead pixels on radio/computer, drivers door card sags,(more expensive than you would think). exterior,rust on tailgate under glass,condensation in lights.
i would recommend buying one with a warranty,low amount of owners,and below 100k,ooh and keep 5 grand set aside.
gearbox goes at 90-120k cost £2-£2,2500, Air suspension £250 a corner,£1-£1500 for main units. Various suspension parts for Mot can be very costly. Interior ,dead pixels on radio/computer, drivers door card sags,(more expensive than you would think). exterior,rust on tailgate under glass,condensation in lights.
i would recommend buying one with a warranty,low amount of owners,and below 100k,ooh and keep 5 grand set aside.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff