"Peak Range Rover (2006)" Harry's Garage. Two old farmers on why they think newer isn't better. What others are there?

[MikeInWimbledon]

The last two decades have all been about emissions, automation, hybrids and EV's.

Harry and his next door neighbour make the case for the QE2 spec Range Rover (2006). Great car, even without Lane Departure software

Are there others like it? MB, Porsche, BMW....

I'll bid S211 E500, 996 Carrera 2 or 4, 2006 Boxster, E39 530i (not even M5)

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[philnewmerc]

I would second those suggestions 100%. I'd add CLS w219 (the first and prettiest), Alfa Gulietta (only the turbo petrols) and any petrol Ford Focus/Mondeo. I like the L322 but with tax at ~£700 per year unless you go for a petrol it seems a bit wasteful. Also, new clean air zones will continue to kill their value so I don't think it's going to maintain it's already low value tbh...

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I would second those suggestions 100%. I'd add CLS w219 (the first and prettiest), Alfa Gulietta (only the turbo petrols) and any petrol Ford Focus/Mondeo. I like the L322 but with tax at ~£700 per year unless you go for a petrol it seems a bit wasteful. Also, new clean air zones will continue to kill their value so I don't think it's going to maintain it's already low value tbh...

Amen. Focus and Mondeo are still great cars on English roads

I don't understand why these old boys don't just buy a low mileage (60k) L322 for an extra £15k (net) and just run that?

This Galway Green petrol is a perfect example on 58k

Daft old codgers: know nothing about old motors.

 

[Londonscottish]

I'd go S212 E500. The nearest equivalent would be the S213 E43. But it has no V8, lots of extra drivetrain complexity, a harsh ride and bling-tastic red seatbelts.

I've been looking at XK's and have concluded a similar thing. I'd like a late XK 5.0. Big fat V8, decent ride, subtle-looking and no shouting. The XF that followed is just too in-your-face for me, has parpy exhausts, crashy ride etc etc.

Peak car = 2013. It all starts going to sh*t after that.

 

[philnewmerc]

I have to say, the idea that "newer is better" is one of the most pernicious lies in modern society. Only better is better, new or old has nothing to do with it.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Ah, but what would we do without the "Lane Assist" now demanded on all cars by EU regulations?

 

[OnlyV8s]

I drove a 2006 Ford Focus 1.3 recently and - hands down - it was one of the nicest driving experiences I've had in the last 10 years. It handled like a dream and just did what I wanted. So much so that I've now got an AutoTrader search out for a low mileage clean one. Getting back into something like that just makes you remember what it was like when drivers were actually in charge.

Same with a Ford KA MK1, there was no better car for central London living, but of course both fall foul of the ULEZ zone now.

Getting back in the C63 afterwards was officially a disappointment. Only the noise out the back remedied it. Most people will think I am mad but the Focus was literally THAT GOOD. Made me reconsider everything.

 

[OnlyV8s]

Now I'm started, here's my current annoyance list for the C class:

- Windscreen wipers will go at whatever speed they choose regardless how far I twist the stalk because it knows best.
- How long it takes to engage reverse gear
- How if I mistakenly put the indicator on, I can't click it off seemingly without indicating the other way for a few seconds.
- How on the air con 6 out of 7 is not powerful enough and 7 out of 7 is so noisy you can't hear anything anyone says. I've no idea what the Auto mode does.
- Same thing with the fogging windscreen and the Max button.
- How there's 3 clicks of the start button to go round in a circle and I can never work out whether the car is actually on or off
- How after I stop the car and spot a window is down, it won't wind up without clicking through the start button again (see above).
- Sometimes I'm sat waiting in the car and want the engine off but want to keep the air con on. It doesn't like this.

It's OK thought because I can have the interior lights in any one of hundreds of colours....

 

[Mactech]

I have to agree with the two old Cotswold farmers that the L322 is one of the nicest cars I have owned.


Mine was an event to travel in.
Where I differ from them, is that firstly I like clean cars and will not, and can not travel in a skip.
Secondly, as an engineer, I can not be doing with cars that go wrong. In the year I had the Range Rover it had three expensive trips to the garage. That's more than the total of all other cars I have had in 40 years, outside routine servicing. I could not live with that.
So I'm now back to German engineering and no garage visits outside routine servicing at two yearly intervals with two very different SUVs.
I'm currently happy with that as they cover all the bases, including one that does a very passable impersonation of a sports car, and doesn't even have lane assist or adaptive cruise!
I was also fond of my CLS, probably more so than the S Class.
But there never will be perfect car, there are far too many things that it should do well, but mostly, far too many opinions....

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I have to agree with the two old Cotswold farmers that the L322 is one of the nicest cars I have owned.

View attachment 142455

Where I differ from them, is that firstly I like clean cars and will not, and can not travel in a skip.
Secondly, as an engineer, I can not be doing with cars that go wrong. ld do well, but mostly, far too many opinions....

Amen on both points.
"Dirty car: dirty underwear" is my slogan
No-one tidy goes into Farming. It's not that kind of trade.

JLR have been promising more reliable cars for literally decades. When I meet someone who has a reliable one, I'll maybe change my view

But sitting so high? "On that side of things" might as well be in a TRAAANNNSSITTT.

 

[MrGreedy]

Does anyone have any recommendations about what year for the L322 would be peak reliability? Asking for a friend...

 

[G7Wagen]

Unreliability was the reason I didn't buy a RR.. I put a deposit on an earlier used model the P38.. it broke down before I collected it ( collapsed air spring) so cancelled my purchase and bought an old G wagon instead. 9 years later it's 33years old ... still going strong and still going up in value.. same can't be said for the L322.

 

[ALFAitalia]

My boss was very loyal to RR for MANY years (since the mid 80s)....despite the fact that all (bar one...the Evoque he ran for a short while) suffered breakdowns and failures....often in very expensive way.....like failure of both turbos on his L322 derv at only 40,000 miles or so. No warranty or goodwill. He does more miles than the Enterprise too...so that wont help....He lives in Bridport but works in Chichester!!! He's seen the light and gone German now........just servicing, brakes and tyres these days!!
The latest cars and all the (largely unnecessary and mostly unwanted) tech that goes with them puts me of most of them to be honest. 212/204/218 era cars are about as new as I'd consider.....especially as, doing all my own work, all the screens, infotainment and distance sensors etc are a bit beyond me....which is half the reason they fit this stuff I'm sure....so you have to go main dealer!!!
As said above....newer is not better...better is better.....
....except when it comes to women when newer, younger models are better!!!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

....except when it comes to women when newer, younger models are better!!!

Aye, but there's more to life than the entertainment system.

 

[philnewmerc]

Now I'm started, here's my current annoyance list for the C class:

- Windscreen wipers will go at whatever speed they choose regardless how far I twist the stalk because it knows best.
- How long it takes to engage reverse gear
- How if I mistakenly put the indicator on, I can't click it off seemingly without indicating the other way for a few seconds.
- How on the air con 6 out of 7 is not powerful enough and 7 out of 7 is so noisy you can't hear anything anyone says. I've no idea what the Auto mode does.
- Same thing with the fogging windscreen and the Max button.
- How there's 3 clicks of the start button to go round in a circle and I can never work out whether the car is actually on or off
- How after I stop the car and spot a window is down, it won't wind up without clicking through the start button again (see above).
- Sometimes I'm sat waiting in the car and want the engine off but want to keep the air con on. It doesn't like this.

It's OK thought because I can have the interior lights in any one of hundreds of colours....

I know what you mean. I have a 2003 BMW 318i and having basic heating controls (knobs that do precisely what I say) is fantastic. I also like the mechanical feel of the gearing meshing and judging the speed of gear changes so that the synchros are happy. I also drove it cross country at a fair old rate and absolutely loved being able to drive at 8/10ths for ages without going licence loosing fast. The only downside is overtaking was a bit dicing being only a 318... However, I got in my CLS55 and still love that too. I'd like to keep both but that's overkill.

 

[Skd884]

Now I'm started, here's my current annoyance list for the C class:

- Windscreen wipers will go at whatever speed they choose regardless how far I twist the stalk because it knows best.
- How long it takes to engage reverse gear
- How if I mistakenly put the indicator on, I can't click it off seemingly without indicating the other way for a few seconds.
- How on the air con 6 out of 7 is not powerful enough and 7 out of 7 is so noisy you can't hear anything anyone says. I've no idea what the Auto mode does.
- Same thing with the fogging windscreen and the Max button.
- How there's 3 clicks of the start button to go round in a circle and I can never work out whether the car is actually on or off
- How after I stop the car and spot a window is down, it won't wind up without clicking through the start button again (see above).
- Sometimes I'm sat waiting in the car and want the engine off but want to keep the air con on. It doesn't like this.

It's OK thought because I can have the interior lights in any one of hundreds of colours....

You need a 204 c63 slim.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I have to say, the idea that "newer is better" is one of the most pernicious lies in modern society. Only better is better, new or old has nothing to do with it.

I agree that better is better. Newer is not the same as better; but being newer is often being better.

Which cars can you think of which are clearly not objectively and measurably better for their purpose than their predecessor in more than one meaningful way, which is not list price when new, and not specific to your circumstances or personal preferences?

There will be plenty of predecessors which we subjectively prefer, but relatively few which are objectively better. So think faster, quicker, more energy efficient, more specially efficient, improved crash performance, etc, and not more soulful, less boring, better sounding, better looking, more engaging, etc.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Good post.......Agreed 100%.

I'm a SADCASE member so love classic cars.....most of which have far more character, are more fun to drive and nicer to look at IMO......but actually better in any measurable way......not usually, no. Weight might be a debatable way in which many modern cars are not as "good"....mostly being heavier than their predecessors ......but even then most hide it well. New car are better......but not necessarily better for me!

 

[DrNick]

Ah, but what would we do without the "Lane Assist" now demanded on all cars by EU regulations?

View attachment 142430

And road (speed) sign recognition. It means all cars will need to be updateable over the air, to allow for any changes in sign style or new signs.
I think there's a few other compulsory things in there as well.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

And road (speed) sign recognition. It means all cars will need to be updateable over the air, to allow for any changes in sign style or new signs.
I think there's a few other compulsory things in there as well.

And drowsiness and distraction recognition

And urban / motorway sign recognition

And event data recording

And reversing cameras

And advanced emergency braking

And the Euro 7 which has killed the Ford Fiesta class vehicles

BMW boss: July 2025 target for Euro 7 standard “entirely unfeasible”

https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/e75683b1-4dc4-46a8-a949-473fb380a1b9/20200212 MVWG ISA overview v1.00.pdf