Range Rover
Can you buy Range Rover luxury and style for sensible money?
Words by Mark Slack
Amongst luxury, four-wheel-drive vehicles Range Rover has always possessed a particular hold over buyers thanks to a combination of all-terrain ability and sheer luxury. Over the last few years this has been somewhat dented, to put it mildly, by reliability issues
Although the Range Rover was initially a utilitarian workhorse it long ago evolved into the height of luxury and sophistication with prices now starting from £105,000 for the full-size model. In answer to my title question there are a couple of ways to have affordable Range Rover luxury. One is to possess very deep pockets, the other is to look at classic models. You still need a continency fund in terms of running a classic Range Rover, but there’s a certain cachet nowadays to running a modern classic.
The third generation L322 – manufactured from 2001 to 2012 – has garnered much attention of late thanks to its more original looks, build quality and lack of too much technical wizardary to go wrong. Some well-known owners – Jeremy Clarkson and former EVO magazine owner, and highly rated YouTuber, Harry Metcalfe – have certainly sparked wider interest. One of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s L322 sold at auction last year for £160,000.
Over its lifespan the L322 came with a BMW 3.0 V6 diesel, a 3.6 V8 diesel and finally a 4.4 V8 diesel. Petrol power plants are a 4.4 V8, then a Jaguar derived 4.2 V8 Supercharged and finally a 5.0 V8 Supercharged. The well regarded FullFat4x4 YouTube channel, that I highly recommend for its variety of walk round videos, no nonsence practical demonstrations and model advice, favours the 4.4 TD V8 power plant that covers most usage scenarios, although the 3.6 TD V8 gains favourable comment too.
All have their many positives, and negatives, but the diesels are the most popular given their economy. They arguably have more potential issues than their petrol engine mates, but the financial effects of the fuel consumption on petrol models verges from catastrophic to bankruptcy.
Bodywork is generally reasonable but the rear door arches are a well-known corrosion point, as is the tailgate and subframes. Mechanical maladies can be varied so a very healthy contingency is recommended.
You can find L322s from as little as £2,500 but buy the very best you can afford. I would say £12-15,000 buys an example to be proud of and its charms will gradually hook you in to long term ownership. The more original your L322 the classier it will look and the more admiring glances it will attract.
There is something particularly special about a classic Range Rover in that it doesn’t have the same often negative connotations of the newer models. Supremely quiet and comfortable they lack all the annoying modern interruptions of technology, but remain an immensely safe, luxuriously practical and stylish family holdall with an excellent network of specialist suppliers and garages.
Words by Mark Slack
