Up Close & Personal With The Most Meta Range Rover

"Jonathan Harper" (jbh)
08/07/2013 at 12:10 • Filed to: range rover, classic car club, autobiography

A $135,000 Range Rover? Sounds like crazy talk, I know, especially when it's called the "Autobiography". What, is it gonna record everything I do in it? Or can I dictate my memoirs to it? That could be interesting, or extremely damning...

Just like a new Jag, the gear selector raises out of the console like some kind of long dormant alien space craft, emerging from the depths to phone home or something. I drove it all of ten feet, so I can't really comment on the drive. But just in the short amount of time I sat in it and pushed as many buttons I could find, I was quite impressed; there were a LOT of buttons.

I was really dazzled by the back seat setup, it's much more like the back of a Maybach or even a private plane than a high end SUV. Screens galore, everything is smooth and soft to the touch, it all fits together so nicely. The Meridian sound system absolutely BANGS, pretty sure I upset the landlords with some early morning Notorious B.I.G.; I couldn't help it.

I've driven a bunch of different flavors and vintages of Range Rover in the past, and most of what I saw and felt in the Autobiography was familiar in that stately British way that only Astons, Jags, and Ranges can pull off. All I was missing was my monocle.

I'm really digging this new trend among manufacturers of actually shedding weight instead of adding it in new models. Porsche did it with the new 911, and now Range Rover as well. Sure it's a little bigger but adding weight just makes a car or SUV feel much bigger than it is, whereas the weight savings in this case allow an impressive 4.6 second sprint to 60; that's quicker than a 335 BMW!!

www.classiccarclubmanhattan.com

Keep up with JBH on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (49)

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:29

Wow the interieur is really beautiful. I must say that I consider the Range Rover a serious rival for the S-class, 7 series and A8. It might even look the best.

I was at a dealer and they had a silver one there and it was just gorgeous. Really impressive.

The only thing I don't like about it is the orange thing in the front lights - I guess this is some sort of US-spec light?

Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:33

$135,000 you say? Awesome. I'll wait three years and pick one up for $25,000.

jnecr > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:35

A $135,000 Range Rover? Sounds like crazy talk,

Sounds like normal talk. Range Rovers are expensive these days. Those autobiography lines can get up above $200k depending on how you spec them out.

Jaaag Hartley > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
08/07/2013 at 12:35

They said they wanted the interior to be more towards the standard of Rolls Royce than what it was previously. Looks like they succeeded

JFN1989 > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
08/07/2013 at 12:35

All U.S. spec cars have to have amber on the side in the front. Look at the X5 next to it. European X5's do not have that amber light.

TheOnelectronic > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:37

Fun fact: The unibody on a Range Rover is lighter than the unibody on a 3 series.

PogosRevenge > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:42

A $135k Range Rover is for someone who either hates money or needs to get rid of much cash as they can and enjoys only having joint custody of it because half the time it'll be sitting in the service bay.

focus3 > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:46

" is it gonna record everything I do in it?"

If it has cellular hands-free built into the ICE then yes...

Rico > Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter
08/07/2013 at 12:46

Do they depreciate that quickly?!

Bandido Andrew > Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter
08/07/2013 at 12:46

Get the extended warranty.

Viperfan1 > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:46

Dat face.

Kinja'd!!!

Victorious Secret > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:46

Its awesome that the Sport is cheaper, but I like the smaller design of it.

TheSmokingTire > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:47

Driving the new RR autobiography (stupid name notwithstanding) is one of the best "experiences" I've ever had in a car. If a Bentley Flying Spur is worth $200k new, the RR is $135k easy. The meridian stereo (which yours appears to have) is fucking sick, there are no other words to describe it that aren't just more fancy ways of saying "fucking sick."

An amazing achievement by RR on so many levels.

Mikeado > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:47

See, this is why Range Rovers are great. They're a properly capable off-roader and a bona fide limousine in one car!

Ratchet when he's all hopped up on synthetic energon > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 12:50

The person that I imagine choosing to own a $135k Range Rover is not the person I imagine putting up with that PS2 controller of a steering wheel.

witchdoctor11 > Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter
08/07/2013 at 12:51

I have the same plan, maybe at carmax with a cheap extended warranty

Jonathan Harper > Jaaag Hartley
08/07/2013 at 12:52

They totally did. It's really really nice inside.

Jonathan Harper > TheOnelectronic
08/07/2013 at 12:52

Wow! I did not know this.

Jonathan Harper > TheSmokingTire
08/07/2013 at 12:53

Fucking sick indeed.

It goes boom.

foop > Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter
08/07/2013 at 13:02

You'll need to save that much because it's probably going to need at least $25,000.00 worth of work in the first year you own it.

fintail > Ratchet when he's all hopped up on synthetic energon
08/07/2013 at 13:06

Or not knowing any better.

fintail > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 13:07

Autobiography...always sounded like something Edwina Monsoon would choose, just a little too self-important. They sure know how to trim a car though.

krwalsh > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 13:15

Coincidentally I was at a Land Rover dealer just yesterday. I finished up what I was doing, and the sales woman says "Lemme show you something." We walked out and she opens the back door of the Autobiography that just pulled in. It is STUNNING. For those asking about if, the guy that buys a $135k Range Rover doesn't give a rat's rear what the steering wheel looks like. He's the guy sitting in the back. I swear it is an executive lounge back there. Leather EVERYWHERE. The headliner is leather. The back of the front seats are not just DVD players, they're iPads.

The saleswoman said that was probably the only one they were going to get this year, and that it was sold long before it ever arrived. She said she's had calls of people offering her $25k over list to buy it. She also said they have a list of "known exporters" that they will not sell to because they just put this thing in a container, ship it to China and double their money.

It is a seriously lux truck, that is for sure.

JimSlade > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 13:24

on a campus somewhere in new england...there is a creepy grad assistant who is preparing to become a professor. He will trade in his semi-contemporary clothing over the next few years for beige slacks and tight sweaters. Eventually the tweed blazers will take shape. He is going to divorce his wife, and form a creepy attachment to his students. Once he receives his doctorate he will reward himself with this vehicle. It will be well used and worn by then, with only a handful of the electronics working. he will be talked about by students and shunned by administrative staff...but he will have his Rover.

That is who buys this vehicle 2nd hand...

Alex Wren > Fred (FreddsterExprs)
08/07/2013 at 13:26

The interior of the new Range is very very impressive. I haven't been in the brand new S-class but I think the Range tops the old one, the A8L, and the 7 series. Honestly the XJL is the only one that can compare in the price bracket.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 13:27

and 10 years from now I'm going to sink it in a lake. Huzzah!

Kinja'd!!!

(picture courtesy of Rovers North 404 page).

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Victorious Secret
08/07/2013 at 13:30

I've convinced my S/O to let me replace my Jaaaag with a RR Sport in at the end of 2014. She made me "promise" not to take it off road, muwahahahaha.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter
08/07/2013 at 13:46

Might need to pay more if you want an engine with it...

SurfSwitch > PogosRevenge
08/07/2013 at 13:48

That's the beauty of Range Rover. By it the next year, used, for half.

Kickplate > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 13:58

Beautiful interior. RR does this very well. I have a 2013 RR, and the quality is still atrocious. Unbelievable actually, that a brand can be this bad in this day and age. But they look great and feel like money.

Jays81DMC > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 14:29

I was just over at Classic Car Club Manhattan the other day. Couldn't figure out why this was an offering. Now it makes sense.

Perhaps we can feature this car on the first episode of First Gear? LOL

yamanote > Victorious Secret
08/07/2013 at 14:30

I almost got into a 2013 Sport but backed out when word of a redesign came out. I like the new one, I just wish it looked more like a smaller full-size Range Rover than an enlarged Evoque.

Carwood > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 14:31

If you can afford this, you can afford to be driven in it and if you can afford to be driven in this, i certainly hope you can afford a really awesome car to drive yourself to make up for the fact that you are not driving something all the time.

FJ60GatewayDrug > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 14:31

If manufacturers are shedding weight regularly, does that mean we've hit peak automotive weight?

yamanote > jnecr
08/07/2013 at 14:35

I believe the ATB comes fully loaded already. A few thousand more for special paint and 22" wheels but it certainly doesn't go anywhere near 200k (unless you're special ordering the car with exotic leather and trim etc).

jnecr > yamanote
08/07/2013 at 14:42

Yeah, that's exactly what the Autobiography line is meant for. A good friend of mine is a salesman (sorry, sales "guide") at a Land Rover dealer. He's done delivery of a couple Ranges that sold for well over $150k and has stated that he's seen some on order that were over $200k.

I think it's crazy, but they are nice cars. I'd have a Range before I got a 7-series/S-Class/A8.

MilkSauce > yamanote
08/07/2013 at 14:57

They had an 'ultimate' autobiography edition that featured a teak trunk and started at around 170,000 for the 2012 model. You'd def need to explore the bespoke options (special leathers, fancy paint, etc) to hit 200,000 on a regular one though.

23jfick > TheOnelectronic
08/07/2013 at 15:45

beats the hell out of the old Range Rovers with the double-chassis

Jonathan Harper > FJ60GatewayDrug
08/07/2013 at 16:57

I sure hope so.

RosarchII > Jonathan Harper
08/07/2013 at 20:27

Good luck getting one at sticker. Good luck getting one at all. If you can get any of the new Ranges, they are going for about $20K plus or minus over sticker. Normally these damn things sell for $20K over sticker. It is quite annoying.

TheOnelectronic > 23jfick
08/07/2013 at 20:56

But what if one breaks down!?

Rollk1 > Jonathan Harper
08/08/2013 at 02:14

Did my mom who hasn't stepped foot in a new car since 2005 write this?