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....For the first time in almost 17 years I will find myself Range Rover-less and for nearly 20 years....without a vehicle powered by a V8 engine.
My vehicle history since I started driving is thus:
But since my first Range Rover, I have always had a V8 and one of them has always been a Range Rover.
As our living costs increase, our time and disposable income (what there was of it) decreases, Costs of having kids increases, the relative value of our income decreases, we find ourselves looking at the L322 and making a hard and painful decision, she has to go.
The only issue is what to replace her with....
The stipulations were thus:
I love Big Bimmers....comfort, style and speed all rolled into one, but it will be the same as the L322, costly to repair and complex (the L322 is a BMW in a posh frock after all)
So that left the Green Oval....
Now I don't have much cash and the current state of the L322 with its dodgy gearbox drone means it is not worth a huge amount, means I have little in the way of cash to spend on it's replacement, which I need to get before I part with the L322.
So off to Autotrader (other vehicle sales websites are available) and put in Land Rover and my maximum price.....
As you scroll through the list you realise the only things in your price range are Freelanders and Rusty Discos that will drain your wallet just as fast as the L322 while you try and get rid of the tin-worm.
Oddly, as you come to terms with the fact that Freelanders are cheap and plentiful, meaning you have a vast choice of trim, spec, colour and style , they become more appealing....beggers and choosers as they say!
Do I want a blue one or a black one? One with the big bullbar style bumpers? Sport styling or sensible 4 door? Oh, look, there's one here with knobbly tyres on, that looks like it could manage the Tesco Car Park alright!
Do I want a petrol model or a diesel? Can I handle people calling me a Gaylander owner? Will I get untold amounts of grief from friends, colleagues and you fine fellows on the forum for selling the L322 and going the 'Hairdresser' route?
I thought, we are all one family under the Green Oval umbrella, what does it matter what the model name plate says......they will ultimately understand and hopefully forgive me and still accept me as one of their own.
So today I drove over 105miles (210 miles in total) to look at another one of Solihuls finest, only this one doesn't have a V8 engine, not even an I6.....it has 4 cylinders and burns oil.....it also has knobbly tyres and is a sensible 4 doors, it's black and is cheap to repair, fix and buy......
'This is the one' I thought to myself, 'this is a bit of me'.....'this is the new me'....'the sensible and more practical me'.....
Parts are cheaper, repairs are simpler, yeah its not a Range Rover but it still sports a Green Oval badge, they won't hate me or deride me for it......
So I bought it........
Part Two will be posted shortly......once I have sorted the photos out....
My vehicle history since I started driving is thus:
- Opel Manta GT/E fitted with a 3 litre Opel Monza engine (I6)
- BMW E36 325i Sport Coupe (I6)
- BMW E28 730i (I6)
- BMW E32 735i (I6)
- Rover 827 Hatchback (V6)
- Jaguar XJ40 3.6 (I6)
- Range Rover Classic 3.5 EFi (V8)
- Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE (V8)
- BMW E38 735i (V8)
- Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE (V8)
- BMW E38 740i (V8)
- Range Rover Classic 3.9 Vogue SE (V8)
- Range Rover P38 2.5 DSE (I6)
- BMW E38 735i (V8)
- Range Rover L322 4.4 Vogue (V8)
- Range Rover P38 4.0 SE (V8)
- BMW E38 740i (V8)
But since my first Range Rover, I have always had a V8 and one of them has always been a Range Rover.
As our living costs increase, our time and disposable income (what there was of it) decreases, Costs of having kids increases, the relative value of our income decreases, we find ourselves looking at the L322 and making a hard and painful decision, she has to go.
The only issue is what to replace her with....
The stipulations were thus:
- Cheap to buy
- Cheap to run
- Cheap to repair
- Simple to repair
- Something I understand and can work on confidently without needing costly garage prices
- Something I already have experience and knowledge of
I love Big Bimmers....comfort, style and speed all rolled into one, but it will be the same as the L322, costly to repair and complex (the L322 is a BMW in a posh frock after all)
So that left the Green Oval....
Now I don't have much cash and the current state of the L322 with its dodgy gearbox drone means it is not worth a huge amount, means I have little in the way of cash to spend on it's replacement, which I need to get before I part with the L322.
So off to Autotrader (other vehicle sales websites are available) and put in Land Rover and my maximum price.....
As you scroll through the list you realise the only things in your price range are Freelanders and Rusty Discos that will drain your wallet just as fast as the L322 while you try and get rid of the tin-worm.
Oddly, as you come to terms with the fact that Freelanders are cheap and plentiful, meaning you have a vast choice of trim, spec, colour and style , they become more appealing....beggers and choosers as they say!
Do I want a blue one or a black one? One with the big bullbar style bumpers? Sport styling or sensible 4 door? Oh, look, there's one here with knobbly tyres on, that looks like it could manage the Tesco Car Park alright!
Do I want a petrol model or a diesel? Can I handle people calling me a Gaylander owner? Will I get untold amounts of grief from friends, colleagues and you fine fellows on the forum for selling the L322 and going the 'Hairdresser' route?
I thought, we are all one family under the Green Oval umbrella, what does it matter what the model name plate says......they will ultimately understand and hopefully forgive me and still accept me as one of their own.
So today I drove over 105miles (210 miles in total) to look at another one of Solihuls finest, only this one doesn't have a V8 engine, not even an I6.....it has 4 cylinders and burns oil.....it also has knobbly tyres and is a sensible 4 doors, it's black and is cheap to repair, fix and buy......
'This is the one' I thought to myself, 'this is a bit of me'.....'this is the new me'....'the sensible and more practical me'.....
Parts are cheaper, repairs are simpler, yeah its not a Range Rover but it still sports a Green Oval badge, they won't hate me or deride me for it......
So I bought it........
Part Two will be posted shortly......once I have sorted the photos out....
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