For the longest time, I didn't understand SUVs, crossovers and trucks. Didn't care at best, and frowned upon them at worst. Huge, heavy, expensive to run, mostly ugly. Some respect was reserved for the ones capable off-road, like your Defenders, G-wagens, Wranglers, Land Cruisers, etc, but again, it was not my area of interest, and definitely didn't understand the appeal of using one of these monsters in a city, when there are perfectly good luxury sedans if you're after luxury, and perfectly good wagons if you're after practicality. And even don't get me started on "sport" SUVs.
Funny how that works, just a few years later, and I'm totally focused on getting a massive SUV to daily in the city, and frankly, couldn't care less about it making any sense.
So here's my new "Full Fat" Range Rover L322 Vogue, 3.6 TDV8. This could get expensive 😬
The newest car I have ever had and my first ever Diesel. It's got air suspension, absurdly long options list, it weighs more than 3 other cars I own, combined. Interestingly, it's shorter than my LS400, and less than 10cm wider, so not really any harder to maneuver in tight spots. Maybe even easier, thanks to it being so square, and with driver position so high up.
The way I arrived here is by process of elimination. After realizing I can't afford a new Jimny, I narrowed the scope to Land Rovers. I didn't want anything too classic and I wanted a certain level of comfort, as this will be now handing the duties of LS400. I feel like I lived Disco2 through Matt already, so I didn't want that
Then I crossed Disco LR3 off the list due to its DIY-unfriendliness (body on frame, among other things), and crossing off RRS because it's really an LR3 under the skin. Then removing all Petrol RRs due to eye-watering consumption figures. The P38 reportedly has an appalling BMW diesel, so L322 Diesel is the most rational choice. Early TD6 BMW diesels are apparently rather lazy, and plagued by many issues, the biggest of which is an over-stressed transmission. And post-facelift 4.4 TDV8s are still too expensive. Thus 2006-2010 3.6 TDV8 is what it has to be, and that's what I got.
It's one of the most effortless driving experiences, to my taste. Not fast fast, but still surprisingly quick for a living room on wheels, especially off the line. I love the interior and the driving position. And how "chunky" and solid-feeling everything is, but still covered in premium materials. Not a fan of the outdated infotainment and the navigation. Gotta see what can be done about that.
They say it's very competent offroad. Although the knowledge pleases me, it's not very likely that I'll be ever doing any hardcore offroading with it (I've got a rusty Panda for that), but it would be quite interesting to do some "green-laning". It came with a "venture cam", which is a little wireless camera, sitting in a charger-dock in the glove box, that you can give to a passenger (or mount somewhere) and it will send a video feed of a terrible analog quality to the screen in the car. Love it.
This one is mechanically sound, has been serviced well and documented. It had quite a bit of rust in the sills, starting from rear arches (typical spot for them), and on the trunk lid, but it has all been well repaired prior to my purchase.
Of course, it's a JLR product, so it's never totally without faults. The seat heaters don't work (the seat cooling does work, though!). I'm also pretty sure it has a fuel burning heater (Webasto), which is configured as auxiliary heater only, so only works when the engine runs. Except it doesn't seem to work at all. Diagnostic tool is giving a code for circulation pump, so that could be the reason. After I fix it, I want to see if I can program it with the IIDTool (came with the car) to allow pre-heating. The reversing camera is also working intermittently. And when it works, it's rather shit. Got an aliexpress replacement of far better quality on the way.
At first I wasn't sure about white, but the more I look at it, the more it feels like the best color. I ought to take better photos though.
P.S. Title inspired by Dave.
Funny how that works, just a few years later, and I'm totally focused on getting a massive SUV to daily in the city, and frankly, couldn't care less about it making any sense.
So here's my new "Full Fat" Range Rover L322 Vogue, 3.6 TDV8. This could get expensive 😬
The newest car I have ever had and my first ever Diesel. It's got air suspension, absurdly long options list, it weighs more than 3 other cars I own, combined. Interestingly, it's shorter than my LS400, and less than 10cm wider, so not really any harder to maneuver in tight spots. Maybe even easier, thanks to it being so square, and with driver position so high up.
The way I arrived here is by process of elimination. After realizing I can't afford a new Jimny, I narrowed the scope to Land Rovers. I didn't want anything too classic and I wanted a certain level of comfort, as this will be now handing the duties of LS400. I feel like I lived Disco2 through Matt already, so I didn't want that
Then I crossed Disco LR3 off the list due to its DIY-unfriendliness (body on frame, among other things), and crossing off RRS because it's really an LR3 under the skin. Then removing all Petrol RRs due to eye-watering consumption figures. The P38 reportedly has an appalling BMW diesel, so L322 Diesel is the most rational choice. Early TD6 BMW diesels are apparently rather lazy, and plagued by many issues, the biggest of which is an over-stressed transmission. And post-facelift 4.4 TDV8s are still too expensive. Thus 2006-2010 3.6 TDV8 is what it has to be, and that's what I got.It's one of the most effortless driving experiences, to my taste. Not fast fast, but still surprisingly quick for a living room on wheels, especially off the line. I love the interior and the driving position. And how "chunky" and solid-feeling everything is, but still covered in premium materials. Not a fan of the outdated infotainment and the navigation. Gotta see what can be done about that.
They say it's very competent offroad. Although the knowledge pleases me, it's not very likely that I'll be ever doing any hardcore offroading with it (I've got a rusty Panda for that
), but it would be quite interesting to do some "green-laning". It came with a "venture cam", which is a little wireless camera, sitting in a charger-dock in the glove box, that you can give to a passenger (or mount somewhere) and it will send a video feed of a terrible analog quality to the screen in the car. Love it.This one is mechanically sound, has been serviced well and documented. It had quite a bit of rust in the sills, starting from rear arches (typical spot for them), and on the trunk lid, but it has all been well repaired prior to my purchase.
Of course, it's a JLR product, so it's never totally without faults. The seat heaters don't work (the seat cooling does work, though!). I'm also pretty sure it has a fuel burning heater (Webasto), which is configured as auxiliary heater only, so only works when the engine runs. Except it doesn't seem to work at all. Diagnostic tool is giving a code for circulation pump, so that could be the reason. After I fix it, I want to see if I can program it with the IIDTool (came with the car) to allow pre-heating. The reversing camera is also working intermittently. And when it works, it's rather shit. Got an aliexpress replacement of far better quality on the way.
At first I wasn't sure about white, but the more I look at it, the more it feels like the best color. I ought to take better photos though.
P.S. Title inspired by Dave.
I love it! It makes me want one ...