[ashtray]

Hi, Gang

So the subject says it all, and I believe the choice is clear, but I enjoy input. I'm currently in an '08 L322 which is a great car. But I've come across a gorgeous low mile well kept L405 with the supercharged 5.0 and I now have the income to play with bigger "better" toys.

My main question is this: Is the L405 that much better and that much so worth it? I don't care about maintenance costs or things breaking. I mean is the build quality still amazing in 2017? Is the fit and finish still solid and true quality feeling? I've had a 1988 Classic, a 2000 P38, and now the '08 L322 and each one has gotten better as I've climbed up. Is the L405 going to just blow my mind? Will I have buyers remorse and sellers regrets? I've driven one(crazy awesome), and sat in one....but have yet to spend days, months, let alone years with one. So I am asking from those who have owned for some time. Do you absolutely love it the way I love my L322?

I appreciate all input and this is more of a feel free to share opinions and thoughts post. She is a 2017, dark blue?(not sure of the name) with black trim package and red brake calipers. 60k miles on the clock. Black leather interior with piano black trim. Looks stunning.

Best,
Carlos

 

[horse86]

The l405 is more luxurious and posh in just about all regards. I came from an 08 LUX (jag 5.4l v8 NA) and still miss it. That boxy l322 will always have a place in my heart. But yes the L405 is a step up all around. If I had my druthers I would keep a low mileage l322 forever. But mine had 190k miles when I traded it in. I now have 2 l405 Autobios (v8 SC)

 

[ashtray]

My L322 has 101k on the clock. Probably flawless to be honest. That is why I am torn. I feel like spoiling myself with more power and posh. But do I need it? or simply really crave it.

 

[Chrisf]

My L322 has 101k on the clock. Probably flawless to be honest. That is why I am torn. I feel like spoiling myself with more power and posh. But do I need it? or simply really crave it.

The answer is you have both

 

[witsbusa]

You don't NEED it.. you know this, But the crave, yes. I can't help you with the switch from your '08 to '17, but I can tell you that my 2014 L405 5.0 supercharged is the favorite car I have owned.. That is 32 years of vehicles - and my much preferred ride over my wife's Levante. The RR is comfortable, quiet, pulls like a locomotive when desired, or smooth as silk and a relaxed ride all other times. I will say it is a comfort ride, not sporty. It leans and isn't confidence inspiring (to me) in turns, but eats up higher speed highway miles like you are standing still. And while purely subjective, I think it is the nicest looking "sport ute" vehicles on the road and has aged very well. My two cents on my experience. And as an aside, I picked mine up used with 54k miles on it - about same age and use as you are looking at - and I have had ZERO issues.

 

[Mrmerlin]

the 17 also has the newer video touch screen a few inches wider

 

[ashtray]

You don't NEED it.. you know this, But the crave, yes. I can't help you with the switch from your '08 to '17, but I can tell you that my 2014 L405 5.0 supercharged is the favorite car I have owned.. That is 32 years of vehicles - and my much preferred ride over my wife's Levante. The RR is comfortable, quiet, pulls like a locomotive when desired, or smooth as silk and a relaxed ride all other times. I will say it is a comfort ride, not sporty. It leans and isn't confidence inspiring (to me) in turns, but eats up higher speed highway miles like you are standing still. And while purely subjective, I think it is the nicest looking "sport ute" vehicles on the road and has aged very well. My two cents on my experience. And as an aside, I picked mine up used with 54k miles on it - about same age and use as you are looking at - and I have had ZERO issues.

This is what I was looking for. Good comment, sir. Thank you.

 

[JMC08]

I've had four Land Rovers now. Two Range Rovers and two Range Rover Sports. I started off with a 2011 Range Rover HSE Luxury, new in 2011. The car was my dream vehicle. I loved it. The fit and finish and quality of materials were outstanding I recall. I reluctantly sold it late 2013 when I placed an order for a new (first model year) 2014 Maserati Quattroporte SQ4. Biggest car mistake I've ever made. The QP had cheap interior materials mixed with some high end materials, the seat was uncomfortable, missing a bunch of features that a car of its class should have had and it had constant mechanical failures to the point where Maserati was forced to purchase it back under lemon law. Still to this day, my wife and I miss our 2011 Range Rover.

However, for several years now, we have owned a 2014 Range Rover long-wheelbase Autobiography. The L405 is simply perfect in my eyes. I feel like it has zero daily use compromises. Its size, comfort, quality of materials, driving dynamics, styling and over all no hassles, cloud feeling drive is the benchmark for all other luxury cars when I am shopping around. I think the overall experience with our L405 is a touch better than with our L322 if for only because we had several electronics/multi-media issues with our new 2011 that we have not experienced with our 2014. Our L405 has had sway bar bushings replaced twice, engine mounts replaced and front air struts as well (also just had the timing chain/coolant pipe jobs performed as preventative, although these issues are also present on 10-12 L322 RR). Either way, both are phenomenal. Neither is necessarily better than the other, but to my gut, the L405 is when Land Rover simply perfected the Range Rover to where there is no where to go from there. I do have an order for a new L460, but I look at that vehicle as not an improvement over my L405, but simply just, different. I still prefer the looks of the L405, and cannot get past my love for the 5.0 V8 that it has (although I am paranoid about timing issues even though I'm on top of my game with preventative care).

 

[ashtray]

Update.

I test drove the following:

Grey Beast 2014 5.0 SC. Lowest price, highest milage at 80k. Orange CEL came on during test drive, rear view mirror is loose on windshield, clunking from front end like upper control arms possibly. I told dealer if they can fix these things, I'm a buyer. And if they can't fix them, drop price substantially.

Garage Princess 2014 3.0 SC. Highest price, lowest miles at 19k. I call it a princess because it is a 6 cylinder. If it were an 8, I'd call it a queen. Interior buttons were disgustingly sticky with some glue or wax residue. Other than the weak 6 and sticky buttons(literally every button), the vehicle was truly flawless everywhere else.

Blue Monster 2017 5.0 SC, 65k miles. Looks to be immaculate. I have not driven this one. It is highest in price which I'm fine with simply because it is the updated one. It is a REBUILT TITLE due to a choreographed theft and recovery for insurance fraud LOL. Paper doesn't scare me if mechanically everything is sound.

I will keep up to date. If the dealer selling Grey Beast can fix the wrong items, I am ready. I'm no stranger to high milage vehicles. If neither of these pan out, I'm a patient man. No bother to be seeing them all go.

 

[92nsxdefender]

However, for several years now, we have owned a 2014 Range Rover long-wheelbase Autobiography. The L405 is simply perfect in my eyes. I feel like it has zero daily use compromises. Its size, comfort, quality of materials, driving dynamics, styling and over all no hassles, cloud feeling drive is the benchmark for all other luxury cars when I am shopping around. I think the overall experience with our L405 is a touch better than with our L322 if for only because we had several electronics/multi-media issues with our new 2011 that we have not experienced with our 2014. Our L405 has had sway bar bushings replaced twice, engine mounts replaced and front air struts as well (also just had the timing chain/coolant pipe jobs performed as preventative, although these issues are also present on 10-12 L322 RR). Either way, both are phenomenal. Neither is necessarily better than the other, but to my gut, the L405 is when Land Rover simply perfected the Range Rover to where there is no where to go from there. I do have an order for a new L460, but I look at that vehicle as not an improvement over my L405, but simply just, different. I still prefer the looks of the L405, and cannot get past my love for the 5.0 V8 that it has (although I am paranoid about timing issues even though I'm on top of my game with preventative care).

I have the same criteria for why I want the L405. I drove a v8 a few years ago and ever since I was hooked. But the comfort and “cloud” experience you talk about is main criteria for wanting it, mainly the long wheelbase because I do so much highway driving with the family.

 

[EvanK]

I've had three l322's, an LR4, and now a 2013 l405 5.0L. I believe the l405 is improved over the l322 in the sense of quickness and being nimble, and feels very lightweight in comparison to the l322. The l405 has a softer, more "floating on air" ride, while the l322 felt more like a heavy truck. The feeling of lighter weight also manifests itself in better acceleration and passing power which to me makes the l405 feel smaller in a good way, while my l322's (particularly the 4.4L m62 v8 and 4.4L ajv8) felt like dogs on the highway sometimes.

I feel that interior fit and finish was best in the 2007-2012 l322's. My l405 has some little interior rattles, and I find the leather to be of a less durable and less good looking quality. I also find that the floor mats have problems with the corners curving up unlike my metal corner trimmed l322 mats. I also particularly loved the colored piping of the l322 which no longer exists in the l405. Pano roof of l405 is so much more pleasant to have versus the small moon roof of the l322.

Tech and creature comforts are somewhat better in the l405 if optioned well. Reliability has proven to be pretty good and about in line with my l322s except the piece of garbage m62 v8 drivetrain in my old 2003. Air suspension system of the l405 seems to be more robust (especially as compared to the RRS/LR4 chassis).

 

[Rsg]

I went from a late model L322 with the NA V8 to an early GEN L405 with the SC V8 and there is nothing I miss about the L322 other than the indescribable solid feel. Don’t get me wrong, I feel like I’m in a fortress with the L405 but it feels light on its feet and very refined. The L322 just felt like a tank. The doors closed with an unmistakable sounds that made it feel rugged.