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Buying soon - 8/28/2008 6:11:01 AM

Prepilot_3ck

Posts: 60
Joined: 3/30/2006
Status: offline

Hey everyone,

So I''m currenlty driving a 2003 Discovery HSE and I''m right around 76000 miles. My warrenty will be up at 100K so I figure it''s time to start looking at a replacment. I LOVE my Disco and it''s served me well. My only complaint it that it breaks... a lot.... a REAL LOT. I''ve got that thing in the shop at least 6 times a year for verious things.

My delema is this. I LOVE it so much that I REALLY want to pick up a used LR3 something with 30K miles on kind of like how I got my Disco. My logical side says, "you just spent the last 3 years fixing your Landrover, so do you REALLY want to get another one?" So I really need some advice. Compaired to the Disco, is the LR3 pretty much an updated version? With updated problems and downgraded functionality? Or is it all the good of the Disco with out the problems.

I will use it as my daily driver plus:

towing a 3500 Lb camper at least once a month
Off-roading (I''ve got the OME 2" lift on the Disco)
Tent/car camping
Hauling my mountain bikes and road bikes around
I''d like to mount a Kayak roof rack on it.
V6 is not an option

So, any advice? Should I go with the LR3 or go with option B which involves a Tundra or Titian?

Thanks,
Brian

Post #: 1

RE: Buying soon - 8/30/2008 9:18:25 AM

HULK2006

Posts: 17
Joined: 6/10/2008
Status: offline

Buy the lr3 it''s build much better than the discovery2 which i also owned, The ride is very smooth and the interior "mama mia" very elegant and impresive. I bought a 2005 lr3 hse 2 months ago and so far i have no complains, I''ve been traveling all over the place and no problem. With stock wheeles on the highway driving at 75mph it used to give me 20.8 miles per gallon, not bad for a big truck. Drive it and you will fall in love with it. My advice is buy it from a franchised dealer that way you won''t have a head ache. I got 22'' wheeles (tsw''s) on 285/40R22 it burns more gas But it looks unique!

(in reply to Prepilot_3ck)

Post #: 2

RE: Buying soon - 8/30/2008 1:45:12 PM

Sooners

Posts: 57
Joined: 5/5/2007
Status: offline

We have a Disco I that we just think is great but it is getting long in the tooth. So we
started looking for a Disco II to buy. While looking we stoped to check out a LR3. It took
just one look and we where sold. We just bought a 05 LR3 about a week ago with 50,000
miles and a 50,000 mile extended warranty. Check out texascarsdirect.com for the best prices.
We saved about $6000.00 compared what the local LR dealer would sell us one for.

Mike

(in reply to HULK2006)

Post #: 3

RE: Buying soon - 8/30/2008 4:17:11 PM

Prepilot_3ck

Posts: 60
Joined: 3/30/2006
Status: offline

Awesome. I''m glad to hear you guys have had good luck. I will be getting something used so I''m glad to hear that even the first year additions are doing well. My other options include a Tundra or a Titan.... I really don''t want to go that route. I love my LR it''s just going to cost me a fortune when that warranty runs out.

Brian

(in reply to Sooners)

Post #: 4

RE: Buying soon - 8/30/2008 6:46:18 PM

Sooners

Posts: 57
Joined: 5/5/2007
Status: offline

You might research the Titans gas mileage. I have had a couple of people
tell me the 4x4''s are getting around 12 mpg.

Mike

(in reply to Prepilot_3ck)

Post #: 5

RE: Buying soon - 8/31/2008 8:06:58 AM

Prepilot_3ck

Posts: 60
Joined: 3/30/2006
Status: offline

Oh my gosh! You''re right. 18 hwy and 14 city! (http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2008/nissan/titan/specifications/index.html) Wow. pretty bad. That''s going to hurt with my camper on the back. I get about 6-8 in my Disco with the camper on. I can''t even imagine what it would be on the Titan.

Brian

(in reply to Sooners)

Post #: 6

RE: Buying soon - 8/31/2008 2:45:58 PM

Aquaholic101

Posts: 1
Joined: 8/31/2008
Status: offline

Dont mean to hijack your post but I am thinking about trading in my Jeep Commander for an 05 or 06 LR3. There are plenty in Florida especially in the Miami/Palm Beach area. I have some questions I hope to have answered. Is Premium gas a must.? Repairs/maintenance costly? Sirius sat radio available? I am not using it off road is 6 cyl worth a look? Any and all advice suggestions is greatly appreciated

(in reply to Prepilot_3ck)

Post #: 7

RE: Buying soon - 9/1/2008 8:00:09 AM

Prepilot_3ck

Posts: 60
Joined: 3/30/2006
Status: offline

No worries. I can only speak on the Discovery II, but if people say the LR3 is better then maybe it translates.

I rented a Commander once is Colorado. I never wanted my Discovery back SO bad in my life! I must say, going straight down the road, that was a comfortable truck. Turning, off-road, parking, I was really wondering what the heck Jeep was thinking when they made that thing.

On the gas thing: All accounts I''ve read you NEED to run premium. My service advisor at my local dealer highly reccomends it. Although, I did get him to clear me on switching every other time. With gas prices as high it saves me a little money.

I wouldn''t even concider the v6 personally. That''s a heavy beast and my V8 is a little sluggish. Forget off-roading, just getting up to speed on an highway or passing could be a problem. Sounds like they discontinued the V6 on the LR3, probably for that reason.

With out my warranty I would have put in over $15000 in repairs to my Disco II. I''ve still dropped close to $4000 out of pocket. The warranty cost $5200 so that''s $9200. So mathmatically I''ve paid for my Disco II twice.

I paid $25000 for the Disco
I Paid $5200 for the warranty
I paid $2700 for the 60K (I think it was 60K) service including a break job
I paid $$1300 in deductables and misc repairs and service (granted I do pay the extra money to have the dealer change the oil*)
The warranty (bless it''s soul) has covered around $15000 in repairs. Nothing I did either, this is just crap breaking**

So that adds up to $34,200 out of pocket. add in the equivelent of the covered repairs and you have a grand total of $49,200!

That certianly makes me think twice about picking up another on. However. I love that Landrover. I''ve had other vehicles in it''s "class" and nothing compairs. I tow better then most of my pickup friends, I off road more confendenty then most of my Jeep friends, I have more power them most other small SUVs, I got a lot of looks when people see me pulling my camper to some of the most remote spots out here. I''ve driven and owned several other vehicles in the same class and TRULY nothing compares. Is it worth the extra expence though, it''s a tough one.

Brian

*Las Vegas oil change places and mechanics are all crooks. I have yet to go to an oil change place and have them not break something that''s cost me money to replace on any of my cars. I NEVER had this problem back east, I could take my cars anywhere and things were done right. I''d rather spend the $75 at the dealer and know that LR will stand behind it. I hate this godforsaken town. My HOA won''t let me change my oil in my drive way.

**Power lock (3 differnt times), crankshaft position sensor, Wheel position sensor (3 times), exhaust (not warn out, just fell off), AC, power windows, radio/GPS, power seat drivers side, headlight switch, cruise controll.

(in reply to Aquaholic101)

Post #: 8

RE: Buying soon - 9/1/2008 11:03:20 AM

LRScott

Posts: 66
Joined: 2/15/2008
Status: offline

Yeah, the v6 I''''ve heard is terrible. Its sluggish and it used to be a Ford Sable engine or something strange (i.e. one of fords rejected motors hehe). The v6 I''''ve heard leaks coolant, blows head gaskgets etc. I know towards the later years they fixed those problems but, I think getting that v8 made by Jaguar is well worth that 1 mpg less. We''''ve had a jaguar that has the same engine the lr3 uses and I LOVE that engine its very powerful, at least for a sedan, and its been getting 24 mpg on a light foot though, you''''ll probably get much less in that 6k lbs lr3. But we haven''''t had any issues with that motor and it sounds and feels the same as it used to when the car was new.

2004 Jaguar XJR
50,000 miles

< Message edited by LRScott -- 9/1/2008 11:05:58 AM >

(in reply to Prepilot_3ck)

Post #: 9

RE: Buying soon - 9/6/2008 10:43:29 AM

dw00594

Posts: 8
Joined: 9/6/2008
Status: offline

After driving a 2004 SE7 Disco and nearing the end of payments I definately was ready to keep it for the long term because it has been a great vehicle. I really didn''t have any serious problems with it but then a couple of things got me thinking that if I wanted to keep a Land Rover for a long time then did I really want to stick with the last version of an original design dating back to 1989. Don''t get me wrong, the design is bullet-proof for tackling anything thrown at it especially if you are into serious off-roading but there are definately design flaws that will just not get resolved now that it is out of production. The other issue I was facing was that my kids were no longer kids and were now teenagers so the jump seats in the back were next to useless and just took up extra space. Cutting a long story short, a number of reasons for justifying switching to a LR3 (great deals on used SUV''s, planned summer vacation to Colorado w/5 passengers and still good trade in value on my Disco) has led me to picking up a 2006 LR3 HSE with all options back in July.

What I can tell you in my limited experience is that the LR3 does not have the "quirkyness" of the Disco or that distinctive look that non-LR enthusiasts recognize to be a Land Rover but the LR3 is a tremendous vehicle and in a different league compared to the Disco which at heart is a supreme off-road vehicle trying it''s best to have brilliant road manners. We took the 13 hour trip out to Colorado from Illinois and before we hit the other side of Denver I got 21 mpg out of the LR3. The V8 is definately the way to go because I really felt the drop in power at 10,000ft plus, so the V6 may be really an issue depending on you driving style. I can say that the LR3 has excellent road manners and my experience down at the Ashville/Biltmore LR off-road course demonstrated to me that the LR3 is a supreme 4x4 and that was in wet clay with the standard Goodyears. I was truely amazed and would also recommend the LR experience if you are concerned whether the LR3 is as capable as the Disco.

I would also recommend a couple things based on my recent purchase:

1. Go for 2006 onwards depending on what you want to pay. If you want Sirius Sat Radio then you need to go with a 2007 onwards but their may be some late 2006 fitted with the option, mine isn''t.
2. Go with the HSE fully loaded, the price difference is minimal in the current SUV used market. Even if you don''t intend to go off-road the rear locking with full size spare wheel is recommended. I can live without the cooler box but it''s part of the luxury package.
3. Pay the extra for the Certified extended warranty.
4. Visit the LR documentation web site http://www.landrovertechinfo.com and review the original manuals. I did this and was able to tell the dealer that I needed the missing second key, cubby box tray, and rubber mat that goes in front of the GPS screen replaced as part of the deal. I also subscribed for a day to get to the technical bulletins to check for other issues that needed to be corrected (software updates) before taking ownership.
5. Also as you are an existing LR owner you understand that I ignored the state of the Goodyears, in fact I looked for one that the tires were wornout to get a further reduction and then replaced them immediately. The one negative with the HSE is that you are limited to tire choices and some tire installers cannot handle balancing 19" rims with their old balancing machines.
6. Last thing, obviously be aware of "great" deals. I saw an LR3 for a great price and called the dealer and he was singing the praises of this vehicle. I signed up for a thirty day subscription of Carfax and found out it was a lemon that had been brought by the dealership at auction, obviously my dealings with them were done! The Carfax subscription is worth the investment when reviewing vehicles online.

Hope this helps in your decision.

We were definately torn with letting go of the Disco but we are very pleased with the LR3.

(in reply to LRScott)

Post #: 10