Road trips/long journeys in an L322

[Welsh_horsepower]

For long distance drives, I’m sure an L322 is not a bad place to be.

So share your experiences of long distance trips with your L322’s and inspire me.
All the better if you’ve been on a trip around the Highlands and Islands in Scotland with yours, as this is my intention for 2024. I do need to find an L322 first though…

U.K/Europe/Further afield, what was the L322 like as a ‘touring’ car and where did you go?

[dingg]

Did a few returns from Newcastle to Portugals silver coast via Santander or Bilboa in my lpg'd 4.2 sc
Flawless journeys each time and always feel refreshed getting out after 6 hrs driving.
Cooled seats help

[BenBuzz]

If you're on Instagram, check out the account 'l322workhorse' - been enjoying following this lately as they've just come back from a 4600 mile tour of Europe in their L322.

[MarcelM6]

What do you want to know specifically, took mine to inner Hebrides, Highlands, Cairngorms and back south via Edinburgh 3 years ago. 4 adults, plenty of space and very very relaxing to drive long distances in. We did it in October so the bad weater was not an issue. And you had the reassurance that mild flooding wasn't going to stop you

Sold mine 18 months ago and moved to L405. I'll repeat what others have stated. L405 is a better car, L322 is a far better Range Rover. Wish I had kept mine, occasionally think of swapping the L405 for a L322

[Deranged Rover]

Took mine over to Ireland when clearing out the in-laws' house a couple of years ago and it was a joy to drive and a very comfortable and relaxing place to be for the journey.

It was also amazingly economical on the way back but that might have had something to do with the alternator failing short circuit and killing the battery barely ten minutes into the return journey, thus meaning it came all the way from Athlone to Hampshire on the back of four different breakdown trucks.

Still, it started the journey with a full fuel tank and ended with one as well, which isn't to be sniffed at!

[InfamousK]

MarcelM6 said:

Sold mine 18 months ago and moved to L405. I'll repeat what others have stated. L405 is a better car, L322 is a far better Range Rover. Wish I had kept mine, occasionally think of swapping the L405 for a L322

What does this actually mean?
I'm looking at replacing the L322 with an L405. The L405 rides much better and handles better but you yearn for the roly poly nature of the old girl?

[bolidemichael]

I’ve taken the L322 on a long counter clockwise tour of France c. 2,500 miles in 2022. It was excellent, particularly in Perigord Blanc where we enjoyed a few off road excursions once we found a quarry.

Last summer, we drove from London to the Outer Hebrides. Fantastic comfort, peerless driving position and a pleasant and reliable NA 5.0L AJV8 (petrol) makes it a form family favourite. I run a thread on mine which detail the journeys, since you’re interested.

[Kevin Cozner]

I've done loads of long journeys in mine, the longest probably being 850 miles in one day whilst towing, to collect a car I bought in an auction on the spur of the moment. As others have said, it's a delight - didn't have a single ache or pain.

Possibly the best compliment is that my wife loves it. In previous cars she'd spend the entirety every journey fiddling with the seats trying to get comfortable - it became a joke that the electrics would be moved in every single possible way, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz etc. However in this she's just settled and happy.



Edit: I know, I know. I'd love to get rid of the privacy glass but my wife and MIL like it so that they and the dog cannot be seen when in the back.

[classicaholic]

I have had a few L322 and never had too many issues with them, for a long trip to France you just load it to the girls and go, you feel refreshed when you get there no problems. If you can find a 4.2 they are a bit better but not much over the standard V8, I wasn't as keen on the straight 6 one but still did 200k in comfort in it with only 1 problem and that was fixed on warranty.

[Welsh_horsepower]

Thanks all for your input.

Definitely a goer just need to find the right beast for the job now! Still looking…

Think I’d take a lot of convincing to get a TDV8 (3.6). 4.4 diesel and 5.0 V8 are too expensive to buy, so leaves me only with the TD6 which I’m still quite sure on. Just an awful lot of rubbish out there, and a long way from windy West Wales too…
CM magazine had put me off a 4.4 petrol, so only other option is the earlier 4.2sc. I feel the TD6 will be more home spannering friendly though.

I’ll be sure to update once sorted!

[A.J.M]

Td6 is rather underpowered and has the GM box which has a bad reputation for going bang.

I would be looking for a facelift 05-09 model.
The 4.4 jag V8 is better than the bmw one and that would be my choice.

I do like the tdv8 and have driven a few and really liked them, the threat of the turbos going is a worry.
If fuel wasn’t an issue, the 4.2 would be good.

Your biggest issue is going to be buying one that hasn’t been run half into the ground with missed servicing, rusty bodywork etc.

[bolidemichael]

Welsh_horsepower said:

Thanks all for your input.

Definitely a goer just need to find the right beast for the job now! Still looking…

Think I’d take a lot of convincing to get a TDV8 (3.6). 4.4 diesel and 5.0 V8 are too expensive to buy, so leaves me only with the TD6 which I’m still quite sure on. Just an awful lot of rubbish out there, and a long way from windy West Wales too…
CM magazine had put me off a 4.4 petrol, so only other option is the earlier 4.2sc. I feel the TD6 will be more home spannering friendly though.

I’ll be sure to update once sorted!

There's the 4.4L BMW engine 04-06 and the Jag AJV8 4.4L engine 06-08. The Jag is a time proven engine, reliable, rorty and pokey enough. That's the one to go for and hopefully you'll be as fortunate as me in finding one that has been maintained.

[Ed Moses]

I have had my 4.2 SC since 2017. Works as a family bus, gives ~20mph when pottering around and doing dump trips. I have seen single digits when the Supercharger is on song - while sitting in a nice leather armchair. Great for camping support when marshalling.

Do you get the idea that I like mine for these use cases? - it is not going anywhere as we bought a new Defender 90, rather than a 110 to escape from the large boys.

No issues, but stay on top of the maintence, so gearbox, differentials, Supercharger oil and not just the normal service items. Lots of people have bought them as a cheap FFRR and not taken any notice of these items - so read a full service history and look for them.

A wonderful way to waft with pace.

Ed

(Oh and an endorsement from a couple of old farmers: https://youtu.be/LS54AJSadT4?si=bRZB7my11LoCX5_B )

Edited by Ed Moses on Monday 22 January 19:16

[MarcelM6]

InfamousK said:

What does this actually mean?
I'm looking at replacing the L322 with an L405. The L405 rides much better and handles better but you yearn for the roly poly nature of the old girl?

Apologies, never answered this. The old on was more manual, lots of buttons that had a satisfying click to them. Was more roly-poly, but that is precisely what a Range Rover should be. Also the seats in the old one more comfortable and squishy

My L405 handles better on road, but on 22in wheels with low profile tyres I am nervous every time I go near a kerb. Not about scratching alloys but losing a tyre. The interior is nice but feels like any modern car on the road with soft touch everything and less feel for the mechanical nature of what is going on underneath.

They are great family cars, but more similar to the competition (X5/Q7) than the older one which always felt capable fo doing some serious off roading. The new one is also very capable (on correct tyres), but has lost that indestructible feel.

[tobinen]

I am a low mileage driver and commute 4 days a week, 9 miles each way. Is that likely to cause DPF issues in a 3.6/4.4 derv?

[Steviesam]

Welsh_horsepower said:

so only other option is the earlier 4.2sc. I feel the TD6 will be more home spannering friendly though.

I would disagree with that. Pretty easy to spanner the 4.2, and actually usually dont require much spannering as they are pretty robust. No turbos etc, just a very reliable supercharger that is 100 times easier to remove than turbos should anything go wrong wrong with it.

Mine has done stacks of long journeys, 2000 mile return trips are not unusual, and other than a new waterpump and associated coolant pipes (remember that these. are all 15 years old so hardly surprising the need for replacement) its all been great. I do make sure I look after it though!