Thread: It's just a brilliant car

Apologies in advance for the positive vibe here.

I was chatting with Mr rar110 today about my latest round of silliness and it dawned on me - the L322 still impresses me and just does everything really well.

I have a 2007 3.6 TDv8 with 157km - EGR removed and tuned to 800nm. I've owned it for about 3.5yrs now and at the time it was by far the cheapest (non written off) TDv8 in Aus due to what's best described as a life of abandonment - and it needed some love. Prior to this I owned a 2004 TD6 for just short of 10yrs. Neither vehicle has been taken to anyone for repairs with exception of the TD6 transmission, so I'm reasonably familiar with the platform, its not all been roses, there's been some issues to sort along the way.

Last week I was the "winner" of a well washed (code for written off due to flooding) vehicle through the auctions. It was in Newcastle, we live in Brisbane, my Daughter immediately announced she was available to take the day off school for a road trip. I also have a light truck (duel rear) that does most of the towing especially of this kind because well... it's a truck and its single purpose in life is to carry and tow weight, which it's very good at. However, when given the option, "yeah lets take comfort over heavy dutyness".

Sunday afternoon we head off, dinner in Coffs Hbr and on to Nerong (about 70km north of Newcastle) arriving at about 11pm for some sleep. On the road again early, stop to air trailer tyres up and into the auction yard at Beresfield right on opening at 8am. Load up the latest questionable purchase and head for home - couple stops including lunch at Coffs - and home at 6pm.

I'm yet to experience any vehicle that eats miles in comfort as well as the L322. Admittedly I've not experienced the newer versions - mainly because I can't afford one , but I've spent quite a bit of time in LandCruisers, VW toureg, Q7, Patrol and they just don't come close IMO.

We did 760km with the empty home made trailer behind (940kg), then return with a loaded home made trailer weighing about 2800/2900kg. It tows effortless, to the point you start to forget how much is back there, and it's not just the pulling power, it's the way the whole rig is super stable. As part of my loading process I weighed the ball download and adjusted to get 260kg, with the 70mm ball I can't use the WDH which it doesn't need.

All this with fuel consumption of 11.6L/100 down (headwind) and 13.8 back (little to no wind). I'm not racing, getting along at 100 or just above, but comparing to other vehicles including our old TD6, the fuel consumption is great. Add to this that the L322 is small enough to take to the shops unlike a dually truck, IMO it's just a brilliant all-round car.

Actually - The only thing I don't like about the L322 towing is that STUPID redarc electric brake controller. Previous vehicles had the Tekonsha P3 and P2 before that. This time I followed the fad with everyone praising everything Redarc sells or says, I figure the neat install would be great - and it is. However the braking performance is crap. My truck has the P3 controller so I get to experience the same trailers with both controllers and the Redarc is junk. Don't notice as much with the caravan at around 2.1t, or the empty car trailer for that mater, the P3 is still better but if I didn't have both I probably would be ok with it at this weight. But getting up and over the 3t mark the difference is night and day, my truck and this trailer are rated to 4.5t and the Redarc is downright scary at this point. Mate has an Amarock with the Redarc and he was actually complaining about the trailer brakes when he used it - rig up a tester and the Redarc just doesn't deliver a smooth proportional signal - it actually has a pretty big delay. I see a P3 in the future.
Oh see... there I gone all negative and winey again.

What you said above..100% agree and I have only had my 4.4TDV8 since November last year but does it tow so so good.
I have the Tekoshina P3 brake controller and it’s great!
I also have towed my van with the Manual TD5 with an earlier Tekoshina controller and it’s not as good.
I keep waiting for a fault code to come up on the dash, but so far nothing!
the L322 is one of the best vehicles I have ever driven and owned.😄