Saw one of these threads recently but.. anyway; I went to the local dealer recently and test drove a nearly-new L494 - very nice it was too and absolutely night and day difference to my 120,000 mile L320 in terms of dynamic feel (i.e. it felt tight, new, handled like a car rather than a barge)..

I'd love one, but given the current economic climate I'm just not sure I can bring myself to commit to that level of debt on a car!

Which got me browsing Autotrader.. the days of petrol/diesel are clearly numbered, and I might as well go out with a bang so:

Late L320 5.0 SC V8 with low miles like this one or this one
OR
Early L494 5.0 SC V8 with high miles like this one

Is a low mileage L320 going to drive like that nearly new L494 because it doesn't have 120k on it, or are they so dynamically different because of their design (ladder chassis vs monocoque etc etc) in which case maybe a high mile L494 is going to be a more rewarding drive?

I need to get out and test drive some but time is a precious commodity at the moment (at least until we manage to persuade my mum to move closer now my dad's no longer with us, anyway) 2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S

I bought a Black Edition L320 in 2013 which I was very happy with.

When I went on the Land Rover Experience day they had already changed to the L494 and it was totally different to drive.

So , having driven both as new cars back to back I would say there is a substantial difference in the favour of the L494 from the handling and general driving point of view. 2023 P440e SE Dynamic on order -cancelled

2022 HSE Dynamic P400e

2017 Discovery 3.0 HSE Silicon Silver Nimbus interior and a few extra toys SOLD

2013 HSE Black, Orkney Grey, Ebony Seats and Ivory Interior SOLD

2006 HSE

Plus a few other cars inbetween!

Not having driven a 494 or ever now not being able to afford one. However my opinion is the 494, as stepping into a 320 now would be financial suicide with that budget. No two ways about it it’s an old design (inc the face lift 320). Those of us that have a 320 have probably had it a while with no intention of changing or those getting itchy feet owning a 320 would now be considering a 494 or other model.

If it we me with those numbers I’d be looking at a 494 or 405. Good luck though . 2006 2.7 TDV6 HSE in Cairns Blue.

Cheers both!

I was seriously impressed with how the (nearly new) L494 drove, I have to admit. It didn't feel anything like a big vehicle at all.. I am wondering how large the bills - and how tired - a high miler would be, though.

I get your point, Steve, about the money pit an older L320 can be (I am living that dream right now ) but I'm just wondering if a high mile L494 might be just as bad!

(The other option kicking around my head is to go back to a Ford Ranger - I had one previously and loved it, and the same budget gets you a much newer, low miles example.. horrendously impractical as a family vehicle, though!) 2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S

If it’s man made, it WILL wear out and WILL breakdown  2006 2.7 TDV6 HSE in Cairns Blue.

One thing that worries me about buying relatively old vehicles with low recorded mileage is that it suggests short journeys or at least very infrequent use. Neither is very good a vehicle.

If I was going to buy a low mileage RRS I'd still want to see that it was serviced annually. The 30k mile L320, for example, should have 10 or 11 services on the book. I bet it's got a handful of services, if that.

If the 30k one has 11 services, then I'd be thinking it might be worth a punt. If not, then I'd worry that it's got stuff that need doing and it will bite me when I start to add miles to it. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I have regularly bought ex-company high milers. Someone else has taken the massive hit on depreciation and ex-company cars are usually well serviced and any niggles sorted. The higher the mileage, the less likely they are to have been short-run town cars, which in my experience is bad for any large engined vehicle. By far the majority of issues I have had during ownership have been electrical, which are faults generally independent of mileage. Mechanical things are usually more straightforward, barring of course total engine destruction which I once had on a Volvo, due to an auxiliary belt snapping and taking the cambelt with it. Real shame, the engine had been totally fault-free for the previous 80k in my ownership.
I'd go for as new an L494 as you can and if that means a high miler, I personally wouldn't worry. Life is too short and my only regret is I didnt get one sooner. RRS HSE Dynamic SDV6 2014

Nemo mortalium omnibus horus sapit

have to agree,mines a l494 2017 with 92000 so far,will be getting the belts done shortly,as long as you service and maintain regulary then i can see no issues, 2017 l494 3.0 sdv6 autobiography dynamic

Things definitely do better if they're driven. My 12-plate is now on 134k miles. Serviced on the button and issues dealt with as soon as they arise. Sure, bushes and the like wear, but I'd bet a high miler will be better in the oily bits than a short journey vehicle with a quarter of the miles on it. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

£26K for a 11 year old car even if it only has 30k miles on it seems a bit OTT to me, it may never happen, but bear in mind the earlier 5.0L S/C did have timing chain tensioner issues so would pay to check vehicle history. I personally haven't got the slightest inclination to buy a L494 but would pay the extra and go for the L494 in preference to the other two, if you would prefer the L320 find a very late 2012/13 car with the modified tensioners etc.

Cheers
Col

Gosh those 320s look expensive even with low miles.
My 60 plate, reg 12/10 was an ex company car with just over 100K miles on it when I bought it in May 2016 for 23K
The only engine problem has been a weeping water pump which has taken 6 months to sort as the pump is apparently unique to this engine and was on back order, presumably due to covid/brexit..