....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:

1. Opel Manta GT/E fitted with a 3 litre Opel Monza engine (I6)
2. BMW E36 325i Sport Coupe (I6)
3. BMW E28 730i (I6)
4. BMW E32 735i (I6)
5. Rover 827 Hatchback (V6)
6. Jaguar XJ40 3.6 (I6)
7. Range Rover Classic 3.5 EFi (V8)
8. Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE (V8)
9. BMW E38 735i (V8)
10. Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE (V8)
11. BMW E38 740i (V8)
12. Range Rover Classic 3.9 Vogue SE (V8)
13. Range Rover P38 2.5 DSE (I6)
14. BMW E38 735i (V8)
15. Range Rover L322 4.4 Vogue (V8)
16. Range Rover P38 4.0 SE (V8)
17. BMW E38 740i (V8)

Many of those I have owned have overlapped eachother and at one count we had 6 cars in the household when you count the girlfriends two mini's!!

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

That led to only two makes really....Land Rover and BMW.

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....

Should have had a P38. Loads about and you now better than most how to fix them. That said, the oil burning Freelander 2 is a nice bit of kit but ... no v8!

Am I really reading this right you've gone and got a freelander, but that don't go with your big macho image





needs must you got to do what you got to do,
is Alan sending you the dress back

Should be fun watching him get in and out. A bit like Jaws unfolding out of a little Fiat.

I was thinking that he is a big lad

should have bought an evoke, then we really could give you stick !!!!!!!

Mate if you want me to come and help you whip the tranny out of the L322 and stick in a new TC I will. When I say whip the tranny out I don't mean evict Alan.

holidaychicken said:

Mate if you want me to come and help you whip the tranny out of the L322 and stick in a new TC I will. When I say whip the tranny out I don't mean evict Alan.

Click to expand...

Really appreciate your kind offer Andy, but the TC is the tip of the iceberg of the odd jobs needed to be done, and costs are mounting. It sucks, but that is the deal....I am Range Rovers biggest fan, but even I know when I need to call it a day.!!!

Stay tuned for the photos of the latest 'new to me' piece of Midlands fantastic finery....just finishing uploading them now.

Good for you mate, I should never have bought mine in the first place let alone keep spending cash on it, look forward to seeing the pics of your new toy

But a P38. They are cheap, simple and in derv guise, reliable (touch wood). You probably want to boost the suspension in the drivers side, I don't think they are designed to take that much man in them.

PART TWO......Most people are afraid of change because it forces them outside their comfort zone. (go there it’s not that uncomfortable)

So, the photos have finished uploading and I have had me tea.

I am sure you chaps are all gagging to see the new piece of Solihul that will adorn my drive, it is a big change from the Range Rover which are plush, comfortable, powerful, big, brash and basically the best thing in the world, so when I was looking at replacements Freelanders didn't seem to even compare to the 'standard' I had become accustomed too.

We did look at P38's but whilst they are 'relatively' simple and parts can be cheap enough, we both agreed that they are still complex, temperamental beasts and currently we do not need the 'stress' of fault finding on such a complex piece of British Engineering!

So....the search continued....Freelanders abound and vast in number, simple vehicles (aside from the IRD), cheap parts, cheap to run, simple to maintain and repair.The Td4 engine is quite a good engine if you get a good one and will keep chugging on.

So, I guess you are all wondering what this 6'3" , 24 stone chap did buy after wading through all the Freebies that were available?!

Take a good goosey gander and the new arrival.......ain't she a beauty?......

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Did you Bastids really think I would by a fecking Gaylander....?????

Shame on you.......

very nice Saint

you barstool! nice bus!

Yay Saint is sane again, nice wagon mate

now bugger off to the defender section...

nice ant,had my fair share of 90/110/127 & lightweight loved em all, sadly not enough creature comforts for me + theres loadds of thieving t***s round here

ant sold this tdi 6 months ago would have done you a treat

Nice one Ant.

Hope you will still be coming on here to share your knowledge and wisdom!

Pete

That's certainly cheap and simple but not the most comfortable at your size unless you take the bulkhead behind the seats out and maybe move the driver's seat left a bit to get your shoulder in!

We just wanted to see the pics of you squeezing into a freelander in a dress



like the new motor proper job.