do i upgrade to a 2003 model L322?

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anorakmark

anorakmark

Active Member
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Location
Kent
Do I or don't I.
Thinking of upgrading to a 2003 model l 322 TD6. Keep hearing loads of horror stories on these models like front diff failure and auto box failure and I'm thinking should I stay with my faithful p38. She has had her usual ups and downs but nothing too serious. She will be staying I'm the family with the wife but do I go for it or an I heading for a motoring:confused: nightmare. Any L322 advice would be great. From what I've been hearing most seen to think its best to stay with. My p38 .:confused:
 
That's what I keep hearing. Everybody says stay with the P38. Diff and gear box failure some what frightens me, let alone the cost of air bags.
 
L322 any day !
Once you have had one you will realise why you will never want to go back to the P38.

Think about it, look on the range rover section... 90 percent of all threads are p38 problems not L322 ! The reality is the l322 is less problematic ;)

Yes there more expensive on parts but there soo much better so it's worth the expensive.

Go test drive one and tell us what you think :)
You will love it !
 
Is this a head or a heart question?

If you've fallen in love :lvheart-121: then you might as well buy it because, if it's not a dog, that's what you're going to do.

If it's a head question then, would you rather own one of the first of a new run of cars or one of the last of a long run? If you are going to end up with a pair of Rangies then why not have them as similar as possible? A fault on one could be traced on the other, parts could be swapped to prove it.

:D
 
I really shouldn't comment having just done the self same thing.....swapped a '99 DSE P38 for a 2003 4.4 V8 Vogue on gas.....

The drive is sublime, the engine is sublime, the looks are awesome (some hate it - some love it - its a marmite car without a doubt).

Yes they are complicated, but then so were the P38's when they came out, yet given time to understand the complexity and processes the various systems go through, they will be just as understood as the P38's are now....

The front diff problem was solved in the post 2006 models, and a service bulletin issued in 2008 for the pre 2006 models, this involved having a CV joint fitted to the front of the front propshaft to ease the stress of driving at obscure angles and damaging the diffs....

The Gearbox issues are documented, and I would hope that a well maintained example with good service history has been looked after and any remedial work would have been carried out.

When i got my, I had a slight niggle that was traced to an ABS sensor (£17.60+VAT from a main dealer - not bad eh!!) so that was changed, the washer pipe fell off the pump, that was a faff to get back on - hidden behind the wheel arch liner - wtf!!!

Had the ride heights recalibrated at Land Rover yesterday as she was sitting 2.75" to low, the previous owner obviously tried to make it look sporty!! that cost me 0.75hrs (£90)....and she rides so much better now.

Would I do it again - swap a P38 for a L322 - Yes, I had the opportunity - I took it, as a previous member on here posted when I was considering it - One Life, Live It.....

The Diesel P38 was doing 26.2p per mile, the L322 on gas is returning 25.7p per mile so far so as long as I can keep doing the same fuel costs, I'm happy, the girlfriend is happy, and alls right with the world again....:D:D:D
 
2.0_hippo said:
Looks are far better than the p38 IMO

Just look at the p38 interior ??? Nasty and dated lol
Click to expand...

The P38 interior isn't up-to-date but it's still a nice place to be. The leather quality seems better than the L322s I've driven.

Of course these things are subjective, last week I parked up for a round of golf, when I came back I had a RR Sport on my right and a L322 on the left, I must say the P38 looked so much classier, the other cars looked like rapper mobiles. If I want to stick with Rangies I'll have to buy one at some point - but I just don't like the bling. I never much liked the 5 door classic (always prefered the 3 door) which is probably why I never loved my classic. The proportions of the P38 are just right. Both other rangies had low-profile tyres - what's the point!? If you're not going to go off road and you want a nice interior, you may as well buy yourself a Jag! :confused:
 
StuckAgainSteve said:
The P38 interior isn't up-to-date but it's still a nice place to be. The leather quality seems better than the L322s I've driven.

Of course these things are subjective, last week I parked up for a round of golf, when I came back I had a RR Sport on my right and a L322 on the left, I must say the P38 looked so much classier, the other cars looked like rapper mobiles. If I want to stick with Rangies I'll have to buy one at some point - but I just don't like the bling. I never much liked the 5 door classic (always prefered the 3 door) which is probably why I never loved my classic. The proportions of the P38 are just right. Both other rangies had low-profile tyres - what's the point!? If you're not going to go off road and you want a nice interior, you may as well buy yourself a Jag! :confused:
Click to expand...


All down to personal taste I guess.
Although I still think the l322 is a better looker than the p38, although both are very similar the p38 is now looking dated
 
Take a test drive and see what you think. Whilst the TD6 is a better engine than the P38 diesel, for an expensive car (when new) its still not very good.

We changed recently and stayed with a low mileage P38 having test driven a few L322's. I wasn't prepared to pay over £10k for a RR so the ones we tried were all high mileage and pre 2004 and found not a lot of difference, if any, than the 2002 P38 we went for. I like them both inside and out so there were no issues there. Added bonus of a P38 is much cheaper spares and much easier DIY in comparison.

Just make sure you test drive a gassed L322 as well as the TD6, you'll find it much more user friendly.
 
Datatek said:
P38 every time, the electronics on the L322 are just stupidly complex, parts are expensive, plenty of failure items, not to mention corrosion.
Click to expand...

Datatek my good reliable friend, you have got me re thinking as I trust your sound advice.
Could you detail a little on the corrosion problems & electrical problems. Still keeping my P38 2.5DSE would not sell her just fancy an L322 but ???? I am having doubts, so bloody confusing. Wammers where are you I'm sure you will hit the nail on the head:confused:
 
anorakmark said:
Datatek my good reliable friend, you have got me re thinking as I trust your sound advice.
Could you detail a little on the corrosion problems & electrical problems. Still keeping my P38 2.5DSE would not sell her just fancy an L322 but ???? I am having doubts, so bloody confusing. Wammers where are you I'm sure you will hit the nail on the head:confused:
Click to expand...

Corrosion/blistering all round the trims, water leaks into the electronics in the boot, problems with the folding mirrors, steering column motor mechanism failing, door handles failing, probs with sat nav, touch screen, and phone installation, gearbox at 85K kilometres, problems with the aircon.
Just some of the problems my mate has had with his.

In addition, EAS problems are quite common, one airbag for the front costs as much as a complete set for the P38. They also have problems with suspension bushes.:eek:
 
2.0_hippo said:
Don't be scared ! Lol
Very easy to DIY work on them, just a lot of people are scared to touch them
Click to expand...


Thats 1 thing i am not afraid of, a bit of DIY. been around cars and bikes since i could walk. yes, its a long time ago lol.

i was looking on the friendly car sales site and found 2 L322's, both with g/box probs. both under 5k. was tempted, very tempted. but now looking at an 02 plate with FDSH, and all bags and comp recently replaced at dealer. just knocking on 5k too.

hope its still there when i come over to UK, SOON!
 
I forgot to mention, the seat base covers are made in cheap and nasty translucent plastic that is painted, instead of self coloured plastic. The paint peels off and they look really ****ty.
 
Anything L322 up to 2005 seem to be ****. Better with a late model P38. For the simple reason they cost far less to repair.
 
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