Buying an L322 Vogue

[pikey]

Am looking around for what's available at the moment and came across a possible two today but not sure on either one. I thought I would ask the question though:

For pretty much the same amount, either a 2004 Autobiography with 20k miles or 2005 facelift Vogue with 75k miles (slightly lower asking price).

My thoughts are along the lines that whilst the Autobiography's very nice, the Vogue is also at a standard of luxury that is exceedingly high. But the 21k miles sounded far more appealing than 75k.

Am I along the right lines? Should I go for a facelift if it's available? Is 75k quite chunky? Is the autobiography "nice" but not really a premium on a 5 year old car?

I think I probably want an early facelift at around 50k

Any comments appreciated

[pikey]

Interesting: going to the dealer's PH ad now shows the 05/facelift/75k car at £2k less than it was when I saw it.

That now makes the decision a no-brainer, except I think a 75k miler isn't that desirable!

[RiccardoG]

I was seriously considering a 2002 Vogue with 72k miles just this weekend. My reasoning is that as things go wrong on these cars anyways its best to get one with more miles so that the key items have been replaced (things like suspension bushes & air springs, brakes, etc). I've put the purchase on hold now as I got cold feet thinking about how many things can go wrong. A warranty is around £1k from WD.

Personally I don't like the Autobiography ones as I find the dual tone interiors a bit garish so am only considering the Vogues. I am pretty sure that the only difference is trim details, not equipment levels (ie: Vogue = AutoB).

[RedLeicester]

An Autobiography car could just have custom wood... doesn't have to have a two-tone interior.

My 05 facelift Vogue is on 54k now with nothing major happened as yet, don't see 75k is that much of a big deal for the right price, and they later cars are much nicer than the early ones. Just check it's had the diff recall.

[pikey]

I thought the diff recall was before the MY06 come out? (ie. would have been done)

[RedLeicester]

pikey said:

I thought the diff recall was before the MY06 come out? (ie. would have been done)

Yes... he said 05...

[pikey]

BAHN-STORMA said:

Are they petrol or diesel?

Petrol

[RedLeicester]

V8s....

[sybaseian]

pikey said:

BAHN-STORMA said:

Are they petrol or diesel?

Petrol

Hi Ben,

I've just got back from a nice trip to Bordeaux - 4 adults and a top box (2000 miles round trip) and averaged 19mpg on the empty French autoroutes at a steady 70-80mph. Excellent for comfort and the olds in the back were very impressed with the effortless and relaxed travelling. Had to fit side steps as getting into the rear seats was a bit of a struggle for the mother in law (in her 70's) and it's a bit high even on access height.

These vehicles are very under valued (especially early this year when I bought mine, but seem to be raising in prices a bit now). I was lucky to find a very good private example (autobiography) that had just been serviced and very well looked after with low mileage and a full dealer service history. If you are going to buy one avoid Sextons (big 4x4 dealer) as they are over priced - had a look at a number of their offerings and was not impressed with the presentation of the vehicles (told they would fix everything that I'd pointed out to them but it would have been a lot of money to fix broken vents, etc, etc) and the sales guy I spoke too was no St Teresa.

Just like buying a TVR - go for the condition and how well it's been looked after. There is a load of information on these sites about what to look out for and what does go wrong:-

http://rangerovers.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=2

http://www.rangerovers.net/rrmkiiiremedies.html

[pikey]

Thanks Ian, that's really helpful.

By the way, we live in London-ish and the Rangie would be a second car that wouldn't be used much. It'd be a dog / shopping / station / long distance car, replacing a current car that's much smaller. I have a concern that we might find it too big for these small roads - ie. parking / width restrictions / passing people on a narrow road.

Is the excellent driving position something that allows you to get used to this or is it just a complete pig? One of the reasons I don't drive the 997 in London / to supermarkets / etc.. is because the low-speed visibility / awareness is poor.

[RedLeicester]

I actually find the Rangie easier to place on the road than our A8 - in fact for runs into London despite the A8 been an even better long distance cruiser, I take the Rangie for precisely that reason: you can see over other traffic, yor wing mirrors tend to pass above other cars so in reality you and squeeze into gaps you'd be surprised by, and the all-round visibilty is excellent.

[pikey]

BAHN-STORMA said:

Regarding parking, the face-lift cars have the rear parking camera as well... which is nice.

I didn't spot that. Useful to know.

[pikey]

btw, what is the width? On Google I have answers between 1863 and 2192mm.

[GKP]

From the handbook:

Width - 2191mm overall
Width - 2009mm with mirrors folded

Height (std) - 1863mm
Height (access) - 1820mm

Length - 4950mm

[sybaseian]

pikey said:

Thanks Ian, that's really helpful.

By the way, we live in London-ish and the Rangie would be a second car that wouldn't be used much. It'd be a dog / shopping / station / long distance car, replacing a current car that's much smaller. I have a concern that we might find it too big for these small roads - ie. parking / width restrictions / passing people on a narrow road.

Is the excellent driving position something that allows you to get used to this or is it just a complete pig? One of the reasons I don't drive the 997 in London / to supermarkets / etc.. is because the low-speed visibility / awareness is poor.

No problems at all driving and parking (front and rear parking sensors). On the way back from Bordeaux, we overnighted in Chartres and stay in a small bistro hotel by the Cathedral - all of the streets around the Cathedral are medieval cart roads with parking on/off pavements and extremely narrow. Driving in UK would be easy in comparison.

Regards,

Ian

[triggersbroom]

sybaseian said:

avoid Sextons (big 4x4 dealer) as they are over priced - had a look at a number of their offerings and was not impressed with the presentation of the vehicles (told they would fix everything that I'd pointed out to them but it would have been a lot of money to fix broken vents, etc, etc) and the sales guy I spoke too was no St Teresa.

+1

Anything from grubby to shoddy is my experience too.

[sybaseian]

sybaseian said:

pikey said:

Thanks Ian, that's really helpful.

By the way, we live in London-ish and the Rangie would be a second car that wouldn't be used much. It'd be a dog / shopping / station / long distance car, replacing a current car that's much smaller. I have a concern that we might find it too big for these small roads - ie. parking / width restrictions / passing people on a narrow road.

Is the excellent driving position something that allows you to get used to this or is it just a complete pig? One of the reasons I don't drive the 997 in London / to supermarkets / etc.. is because the low-speed visibility / awareness is poor.

No problems at all driving and parking (front and rear parking sensors). On the way back from Bordeaux, we overnighted in Chartres and stay in a small bistro hotel by the Cathedral - all of the streets around the Cathedral are medieval cart roads with parking on/off pavements and extremely narrow. Driving in UK would be easy in comparison.

Regards,

Ian

The only issue that I found on holiday was a blind French driver (Mr Magoo glasses!) didn't see my car and managed to crash in to me while we were stationary at a zebra crossing! - went straight down the left side of my car (dented wing, door, front bumper and front wheel) and trashed his car, Jo was driving and even moved right over to the side of the road so that he had more than enough room. I could see him driving down the road and looking at the parked cars on his side of the road and not at us, thinking he is going to hit us - came as a complete shock to him when he did hit us. Claimed the sun was in his eyes and didn't see us - check out the shadows, he was in shade from the buildings on his right until after he hit us!

Edited by sybaseian on Friday 18th September 21:12

[eliot]

triggersbroom said:

sybaseian said:

avoid Sextons (big 4x4 dealer) as they are over priced - had a look at a number of their offerings and was not impressed with the presentation of the vehicles (told they would fix everything that I'd pointed out to them but it would have been a lot of money to fix broken vents, etc, etc) and the sales guy I spoke too was no St Teresa.

+1

Anything from grubby to shoddy is my experience too.

I noticed their X5's were particulary highly priced, like even more than approved used from BMW!

[pikey]

Hear the Sextons4x4 comments but what about this?

http://tinyurl.com/nmtrrf

Is that price too high?

[pikey]

This is the sort of thing I like.. http://tinyurl.com/m62rj3 Being as much of a main dealer fan for whatever marque, I can't help but feel this is overpriced.