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Just by co-incidence (I haven't seen very many of them on the road)......I happened to pull up right behind one this morning at a stop light near my house. I had my cell-phone with me this time....and got a shot.
Last edited by mmarshall; Jul 5, 2025 at 08:41 AM.
@AJT123 will get a heart attack from this story. Part of the trailing edge flaps of a 737 wing landed in a driveway near an SL.
Whaaaaaatttttt? That's a clean, 1999+ final one.
Originally Posted by Oro
Here’s a polarizing question Jalopnik threw out there yesterday: What is the best automotive interior of all time? And I completely agree with him. It’s the post-BMW face-lifted Land Rover Range Rover L322.
I came to this exact same realization about a month ago while shopping for a new SUV; I’ve got a very capable one for towing/overlanding that I’ve just grown bored with. I’ve had a 100 Land Cruiser in the past and wanted to default back to that or an LX470 since it was superb,
.
LX470 had a stunning interior, way better than my 200. My LX570 has cheap wood on the doors and way less soft spots than the LX470. LX470 was almost an LS430 inside, it had the silent steering wheel just like the old LSs did. Tons of nice stitching. Way better wood than my 570. Not that my LX570 is a penalty box inside at all, but 470 was a golden-era Lexus late 90s/early 2000s build.
It had some weaknesses I couldn't look past, unfortunately. It was slow. My old POS 2003 5.3L Yukon would and did dust one, and it was hardly what I would call a dragster. The UZ engine was a gem, and LX470 was verrrry buttery but it was slow. The 5.7 fixed that problem.
Here’s a polarizing question Jalopnik threw out there yesterday: What is the best automotive interior of all time? And I completely agree with him. It’s the post-BMW face-lifted Land Rover Range Rover L322.
I came to this exact same realization about a month ago while shopping for a new SUV; I’ve got a very capable one for towing/overlanding that I’ve just grown bored with. I’ve had a 100 Land Cruiser in the past and wanted to default back to that or an LX470 since it was superb, and the near-perfect sized vehicle IMO overall. Doing my due-diligence, though, I discovered the incredibly reliable stretch of 2006-2009 of the full-sized Range Rover, and the superb qualities of the Jag engine, decent ZF6 transmission, relative ease of maintenance of the air suspension and virtues of it for my needs, and the stunningly incredible interior. I’ve driven BMW-powered early L322s before and been underwhelmed, also with the general BMW-level of hassle with them (worked on one for my neighbor a few times). I drove a facelifted 2008 HSE last week, with all the BMW-ness edited out of it (engine, electrics, etc.) and am getting one for sure; it was instantly satisfying in all regards. I’m test driving a 2006 supercharged one this weekend and hope to find the right one by the end of the summer; no rush.
This will be the last piece of my personal automotive fleet re-alignment before the path is cleared for the Jag XK8/XKR next year. After that, there are only two remaining cars I honestly need, a 2004-2009 Jag XJ8/XJR and a 2006+ BMW Z4 3.0. Six personal cars is enough for any man; I do not want to appear greedy.
Brave of you for sure, the L322 is one of the most finicky things I've worked on. The Jag 4.2 super is good and generally problem free yes but the rest of the car may really test your sanity lol!
Im far more partial to the L405 since it's all aluminum, has the supremely good ZF8, far more power, better interior if full spec, EWB, massage seats and has a more streamlined integration of systems and a full spec version is quite impressive inside etc. I've also seen way less issues overall out of them sans engines blowing up, but that is completely due to wrong oil spec in the states and insane factory intervals.
If I could truely only have one car it would be an EWB L405 since it does everything very well.
Last edited by Striker223; Jul 5, 2025 at 01:09 PM.
All this Rover talk made me head over to their website. I had no idea you can get a supercharged V8 in the Defender! What a badass little rig!! $110k though lol.
I didn't, the 90 is quite a bit smaller than the 110 and I also had a Bronco 4 Dr Wildtrak on order when I got my Defender. The Bronco is smaller than the 110 so if effectively checked the smaller vehicle box. 90 owners love them but it's too small for us.
I'm a big fan of the octa edition 110's they are making. They are ridiculously powerful, but god knows how reliable they are. They are pretty cars and such a cool concept. Would be quite a hoot if Lexus went into a performance SUV product with the GX or someething. This talk about reliability reminded me about this website I found for free Service/Repair manuals for most modern Lexuses. It's called fixmyride.io and seems legit enough.
LX470 had a stunning interior, way better than my 200. My LX570 has cheap wood on the doors and way less soft spots than the LX470. LX470 was almost an LS430 inside, it had the silent steering wheel just like the old LSs did. Tons of nice stitching. Way better wood than my 570...
LX470 was definitely top of my list when I started this. I drove a 98 LC many miles for years a while back and the interior was fine for purpose, I spent days in it hauling horses sometimes and it was pleasurable in all regards. LX470 would be cream on top; like you said an LS430 interior would be super - I love that interior in those. I have real trouble finding a good candidate in condition/mileage/$$ value in them, though. the used market for them in the PNW is mall cruisers that are pristine and $25k+, or ragged on, off-roaded ones, damage, with 300k miles and still $12k - basically only two types I see. If the right one fell in my lap tomorrow I could veer that direction for sure. The LC/470 was also what made me fall in love w/SUVs and learn to love that exact “size” vehicle. Just right for almost everything - daily driving, four people on a trip, mild/moderate offroading or overlanding w/o mods, tow 6,000 pounds a long while - that size/weight/power vehicle is just good at everything. Not “adequate” at it - but really good at everything.
Originally Posted by Striker223
Brave of you for sure, the L322 is one of the most finicky things I've worked on. The Jag 4.2 super is good and generally problem free yes but the rest of the car may really test your sanity lol!
….
If I could truely only have one car it would be an EWB L405 since it does everything very well.
The mechanicals of it won’t test me too badly, but the electronics will if I get into deep kimchee there, for surel. They (the pros) tell me get facelifted 07+ because that’s more Ford and solid, less of a hassle.
My neighbor, who can truly afford to drive anything he wants, drives that L405 like you describe daily. And he is a “car guy” and motorcycle guy; he’s not doing it to make a statement. He has other cars (nice XF for one) and bikes, but that’s the dd.
Originally Posted by LH1
All this Rover talk made me head over to their website. I had no idea you can get a supercharged V8 in the Defender! What a badass little rig!! $110k though lol.
From 2005+ you can get the supercharged Jag V8 in the LR3, then the RR Sport, and the full-fat RR. LR3 is a tough customer and is becoming a popular overlanding rig, partly I think because GX470s have shot up so much in price/scarcity. Range Rover Sport actually has real frame udnerneath and is going to be the next “hey guys, here’s a bargain truck to buy!” Vehicle, like the GX470 was, LR3 is becoming. I bet RR Sport will be the next one.
Was with him (Verne) on NYE in Vegas once back in the days. Good times.
Originally Posted by Striker223
I want an LR3 so bad but it's impossible to find a clean (no rust) one near me. I would like to try the 6 but the smart choice is the 8
They are a dime a dozen here (Seattle metro). There’s a decent blue/tan one (I am picky about color) enough ‘06 SE sitting on the bump stops just about 5 miles from me for sale, cheap enough; I am so tempted to go get it and clean it up. It’s been for sale forever and if it’s still for sale come fall when I have other things sorted out, I may go get it. I’d sort it out, play with it, then either put my teen step daughter in it or flip it. She’s just started driving and she’s driving the old ES. She enjoys my truck and once she gets her feet under her, I might switch her to a Trooper/4Runner/LR3 type/sized truck.
I want something full-sized like LX470 or RR, or I’d be all over an LR3 to refurb/refresh and enjoy. Just a bit too small for my taste/use, though incredibly good for what it does and people who want that. It’s an excellent compromise size for offroad/overlanding, better than full size for sure.
Saw this and had to post it thinking of some of the conversations we have had before lol
Well, I wouldn't put it quite that way.... But there's a reason I prefer driving large 4x4 trucks on long trips. Nothing phases you that would in a car, for me personally.
Well, I wouldn't put it quite that way.... But there's a reason I prefer driving large 4x4 trucks on long trips. Nothing phases you that would in a car, for me personally.
