Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your position), it's still very much the case with the current Range Rovers these days.
Check out the current Range Rover Ultimate:
2011 Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition Geneva preview | Car Advice
$350000 apparently & one has just been sold here.
In 10-15yrs time, you could well be looking to upgrade your 1997 Autobiography to a $20000 Ultimate by then :).

