L322 or ?…Road trip car needed
Discussion
I think I’m mad but am considering looking at L322’s, mores specifically the TD6 as the engines are more reliable and less thirsty than the petrol V8’s. I’m aware that those gearboxes aren’t the best, and general L322 issues are the air suspension and rust. I’ll be honest and say I think they still look great even now and seem a very attractive option. Definitely a car I’d like to experience before the end of ICE and the TD6’s will probably disappear sooner being diesel.
Does the TD6 L322 have a DPF? Hoping not and it would be one less potential issue.
I have the need for a second car, which would have to be an estate (see reasons below), and have a decent towing capacity, whilst also being fairly cheap.
The towing capacity need currently is only up to 2000kgs ish, so most large estates or average SUVs would do, but the benefit of the L322 is the towing capacity is up to 3500kg (bet it’s bloody slow then!) which could be useful for me in the medium term for hauling cars around, and would mean no need to then change car again.
As alternatives but all with the lower towing capacity:
L314 (Mk1 Freelander) Td4
P2 Volvo V/XC70 D5
Saab 93 TTiD or 95 (estate)
E39 Touring 25i/d or 30i/d or E61 (although some concern over being RWD instead of FWD or 4x4 - no RWD experience before!) Obvious choice would be E53 X5’s instead but I don’t particularly like them.
Rover 75 Tourer Cdti…. Although not great on towing capacity front, but for some reason I like them too!
So, here’s hoping that you good people here may have some useful experience and suggestions to this dilemma. This additional car I am considering will also need to be able to take us on a trip north this year. I want to spend two weeks doing the roads of the West & North Highlands and Islands this spring/summer. An estate is necessary to use as a ‘camper’. The bottom line is, I don’t need or want a ridiculously powerful or ‘fancy’ car for this trip, and as a second vehicle which is used as a tow car, hence the rather odd choices!
Final question and one which would help the L322 argument one way or another. Has anyone done a Highlands and Islands trip in an L322, preferably TD6! Or am I crazy to consider it? Probably not going to be overtaking many campervans in a TD6, the damn campers have probably got a better 0-60 time!
Well aware it’s not a typical ‘drivers’ car but the space inside the car will be useful as a camper, and the 4x4 could be advantageous. Plus it’s probably one of the very few SUV/4x4 that I like or would be seen alive in
Does the TD6 L322 have a DPF? Hoping not and it would be one less potential issue.
I have the need for a second car, which would have to be an estate (see reasons below), and have a decent towing capacity, whilst also being fairly cheap.
The towing capacity need currently is only up to 2000kgs ish, so most large estates or average SUVs would do, but the benefit of the L322 is the towing capacity is up to 3500kg (bet it’s bloody slow then!) which could be useful for me in the medium term for hauling cars around, and would mean no need to then change car again.
As alternatives but all with the lower towing capacity:
L314 (Mk1 Freelander) Td4
P2 Volvo V/XC70 D5
Saab 93 TTiD or 95 (estate)
E39 Touring 25i/d or 30i/d or E61 (although some concern over being RWD instead of FWD or 4x4 - no RWD experience before!) Obvious choice would be E53 X5’s instead but I don’t particularly like them.
Rover 75 Tourer Cdti…. Although not great on towing capacity front, but for some reason I like them too!
So, here’s hoping that you good people here may have some useful experience and suggestions to this dilemma. This additional car I am considering will also need to be able to take us on a trip north this year. I want to spend two weeks doing the roads of the West & North Highlands and Islands this spring/summer. An estate is necessary to use as a ‘camper’. The bottom line is, I don’t need or want a ridiculously powerful or ‘fancy’ car for this trip, and as a second vehicle which is used as a tow car, hence the rather odd choices!
Final question and one which would help the L322 argument one way or another. Has anyone done a Highlands and Islands trip in an L322, preferably TD6! Or am I crazy to consider it? Probably not going to be overtaking many campervans in a TD6, the damn campers have probably got a better 0-60 time!
Well aware it’s not a typical ‘drivers’ car but the space inside the car will be useful as a camper, and the 4x4 could be advantageous. Plus it’s probably one of the very few SUV/4x4 that I like or would be seen alive in
I think you are getting engine confusion
The TD6 was discontinued in 2007 ish and replaced with a 3.6 V8, that was then replaced with a 4.4V8.
The TD6 L322 is now very old, was very slow and not much more economical compared to the original BMW sourced 4.4 V8 petrol.
Look for a 4.4TDV8 would be my recommendation.
Great cars
Edit, read the last sentence of you post, you are aware of the slowness! And perhaps the engine options
The TD6 was discontinued in 2007 ish and replaced with a 3.6 V8, that was then replaced with a 4.4V8.
The TD6 L322 is now very old, was very slow and not much more economical compared to the original BMW sourced 4.4 V8 petrol.
Look for a 4.4TDV8 would be my recommendation.
Great cars
Edit, read the last sentence of you post, you are aware of the slowness! And perhaps the engine options
Edited by ConnectionError on Friday 5th January 21:50
ConnectionError said:
Edit, read the last sentence of you post
Does help to read things… ConnectionError said:
I think you are getting engine confusion
The TD6 was discontinued in 2007 ish
I think you are getting confused! The Td6 was discontinued in 2006. A few sneak onto late 06 plates, but definitely not as far as 2007. The TD6 was discontinued in 2007 ish
Also, the benefit of the earlier cars (pre March 06) is the reduced VED, and up to 2005 they used BMW electronics which has got to be better!
What’s to say their budget would stretch to a 4.4TDV8? The type of cars mentioned here are £2k-£4k. I’m not sure where you’ve got the notion that this person is confused and unsure of the engine options.
No useful LR ownership experience here… I’ve seen the rows of dead rangies lined up at the Frongoch breakers yard not so far from me. It’s a sight!
I don’t think the Td6 is so bad except they will be the most likely to be rusty now, and the gearbox is a bit s
t, having said that I’ve seen a fair few on 180k miles and it’s not unheard of to get more than 200k so find a decent one and that’ll go a long way to getting mainly trouble free years from it. But do please ignore that crap reply above imo.
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