Dont get me wrong. I love range rovers, i'm currently down to three now (P38 and two classics). When our new bundle of joy arrived last december, it was a realisation that the boxster had to go. having two 2 seat cars and the P38 as the only 4 door 4 seat car was impractical. i did consider getting a newer RR to add to the historic timeline collection, however, the L322 is not something that i afford bags of time to trouble shooting, I could have got a sport, but would probably eaten my face so ended up getting a Porsche Cayenne 4.5S which i enjoy smoking around in. However its an SUV, not permenant 4x4. the P38 i have had for nearly 7 years and have done in that time pretty much everything as routine maintenance, its only left me stranded once due to a failed water pump.
With the P38, there's nothing i could replace it for an newer RR? what will it give me apart from expensive headaches to gain what a, newer digit on the reg plate ? i also take comfort in the fact that the wife uses it as the baby carrier and if anything hits it, the likelihood of walking away are very high. Its an awesome car for towing heavy loads, very offroad capable. very. And with everything being done and on LPG its very low cost in maintenance. For example, when number 7 cyclinder leaked back in march i spent probably all of 500 in parts in doing the HG's and that was replacing every nut and bolt removed, new pulley etc. I also have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme for it. New Tyres all round, new discs and pads all round, Heater Matrix replaced (courtesy of Martyn) new viscous fan, new water pump, Airbags on Gen II arnotts (when they had the lifetime warranty) new o2 sensors, new cat, new rear boxes, it sails through an MOT every time. personally if i had an L322 i'd always be freaking out that the gearbox/steering column/ electrics would go on the fritz.
Sure, there are owners that have not had a problem with theirs, but as pointed out earlier, the L322's are coming into the affordable bracket and that means people want them for the marque nd not to throw money at, so things that need doing will be ignored and passed on the next 'sucker' on the log book.
Thie thing is with the RR its a highly capable off road vehicle with luxury facilities, its not a highly luxury vehicle with off road facility. These *are* complex permenant 4 wheel drive vehicle and need to be maintained as such and newer ones are becoming more and more complex. A RR getting stuck off the tarmac is more likely going to be the drivers offroad skills. Its not like an X5 where flat damp grass will cripple it. The P38 is know as the last the last of the proper Range Rovers for good reason and good examples are going up in value. Me, i'm loathed to replace it as there's nothing to replace it with.
We're realists here on LZ we read and help each other out on the problems we encounter. A couple of angelic people on this very forum have used their own time, effort and energy and gone out of their way to help me. Sure, if you want a newer RR go for it, join the melee, we'll all be here if/when something needs work.
Just go into it with your eyes wide open.
