Brief Summary
In this video, Harry provides an update on his 2016 Range Rover L322, revisiting a popular video from 2017. He meets with a farmer friend who also owns the same model, and they discuss why they both prefer this older Range Rover over newer models. They highlight its practicality, comfort, and unique features, such as the split tailgate and the ability to disable the seatbelt chime. They also touch on maintenance, towing capabilities, and their emotional attachment to these vehicles.
- The Range Rover L322 is favoured for its blend of luxury and practicality, making it ideal for both city and farm use.
- Key features like the split tailgate and the ability to disable the seatbelt chime add to its usability.
- Both Harry and his friend express a strong emotional connection to their L322s, valuing them over newer, more expensive models.
Introduction and Background
Harry introduces his Range Rover L322, which he has owned since 2016. He mentions that his previous video about this car in 2017 was surprisingly popular, garnering over a million views. Harry reflects on his long history with Range Rovers, noting that he has owned nine of them since 1990. Despite having newer versions, he still uses this particular model frequently, especially around Harry's Farm. He notes that since his last review five years ago, the car has gone from 100,000 miles to 125,000 miles, even with some time off the road during lockdown.
Maintenance and Towing
Harry discusses a couple of maintenance issues he's addressed since his last video. He mentions a split hose on the turbo side, which caused a slight loss of performance and some black smoke, but was easily fixed. He also replaced the alternator and a small coolant pipe. Harry notes that he continued the warranty for four years at a cost of around £1,000 each time, but barely used it. He highlights the car's excellent towing capabilities, which surprised him when he used it to tow a car trailer, leading him to use it more frequently for this purpose.
Visiting the Farm
Harry arrives at his farmer friend's farm, noting the off-road tyres on his friend's Range Rover. They greet each other, and Harry is introduced to the new goats, which are used for lawn mowing. They briefly discuss the high cost of fertiliser, joking that it's more valuable than Fort Knox.
Colour and Features
The conversation shifts to the colour of the Range Rover, with Harry's friend noting it's Tonga green, the best colour for the car. He mentions his disappointment when Range Rover discontinued green when they replaced the L322. They also discuss the seatbelt chime, which can be disabled on this model, a useful feature for farm work where frequent short trips don't require a seatbelt.
The Best Range Rover Ever
Both agree that the L322 is the best Range Rover ever made. Harry's friend says that despite testing new cars for a living, they still prefer running around in this 16-year-old Range Rover. He jokes that it has the DNA of a Transit van, wanting to work every day, whether it's carrying cement, sheep, or goats.
Farm Life and the Lamborghini Tractor
They discuss farm life, including Caleb borrowing the Lamborghini tractor for jobs requiring more horsepower. Harry's friend mentions that his car is constantly washed by someone on the farm, despite his dislike for clean cars. He also removed the mud flaps. The conversation touches on the mileage of the friend's Range Rover, which is 86,000 miles, and how it rarely leaves the farm.
Daily Driver and Grill Discussion
Harry's friend says that despite owning a Flying Spur, the Range Rover is his daily driver. They discuss how people are often surprised when they say the Range Rover is the best car in the world. They also discuss the importance of the grey grill on the L322, noting that the later chintzy grill cheapened the look. The friend prefers the early model due to issues with the electronic dashboards in later models, which could drain the battery.
Future Car Plans
Harry mentions that his partner, Lisa, has a newer Range Rover (405), but he doesn't have a great affection for it. They discuss potential new car choices for Lisa, including a Ford Wildtrak pickup truck, a Ford Mustang, a Lamborghini Urus, and a Vauxhall Astra. They also mention a Panda 4x4 that Lisa loves for its small size and ease of parking.
Turbos and Emotional Attachment
Harry's friend recounts an incident where both turbos on his Range Rover failed simultaneously during the pandemic. He expresses his emotional attachment to the car, which led him to bite the bullet and replace the turbos, despite the cost exceeding the car's worth. He also uses the car for valet parking at the airport, as it's unlikely to be stolen.
The Grey Range Rover
Harry's friend admits he has no emotional attachment to his newer, grey Range Rover (405), viewing it merely as a tool. They discuss the high cost of upgrading from the L322 to a newer model and question the value of doing so. They also consider buying a Defender, despite initial reservations about its design.
Tailgate and Practicality
They move to the back of the Range Rover to discuss the tailgate. Harry's friend highlights the strength and practicality of the split tailgate, a feature he misses on newer models like the Defender. He notes that it embodies the "gene of the Ford Transit." They joke about using the tailgate as a seat and discuss the possibility of modifying the Defender to have a similar split tailgate.
Comfort and Viewing
Harry's friend praises the comfort, quietness, and spaciousness of the L322. He compares the driving experience to riding in a train across Canada, due to the large windows and excellent visibility. He notes that newer cars have smaller windows and higher sides, reducing the sense of space and visibility.
Towing and Stability
They discuss the towing capabilities of the L322, with Harry's friend mentioning he tows with it twice a week. He praises its stability and ability to handle heavy loads, such as transporting pigs.
Lifestyle and Retirement
The conversation shifts to their lifestyles, with Harry's friend noting that he rarely travels far from home anymore. He jokes about being retired and having "been everywhere, done everything." He also recounts a funny anecdote about struggling with a revolving door.
Replacing Possessions
Harry's friend shares his philosophy of only replacing possessions when they break, reflecting his Yorkshire roots. He contrasts this with Lisa's desire for new things.
Cost and Value
They discuss the high cost of upgrading to a newer Range Rover, estimating it would cost around £115,000. They question the value of spending so much money on a car that will be used for farm work. Harry's friend recalls his father's reaction to the price of the first Range Rover in the 1970s.
Peak Range Rover
Both agree that the L322 represents the "peak Range Rover," with everything afterwards being lovely but expensive, and everything before being pretty average. They reminisce about owning classic Range Rovers and the improvements that the L322 brought.
Conclusion
They conclude the video, marveling at the coincidence that both motoring journalists and farmers ended up with 17-year-old Range Rovers in the same colour. They thank the viewers for watching and promise more videos soon.
