Drove an LR3...I'll keep my D2, thanks

[bcroz]

My D2 was in service for a coolant leak this week and I had a chance to drive an LR3 for a couple of days. At first I was impressed. Yes the engine and ride qualities are smooth, yes the truck is quieter than my D2 and there is more leg room for the passangers, both front and rear. Needless to say the first night I was ready to trade my D2. The next morning was a different story. Like the child who stops playing with the new toy the day after Christmas, reality set in. The butt end of that thing is just plain ugly. Kind of like the designers went on a bender after designing the front end and came in Monday with a hangover and this was the best they could come up with through bloodshot eyes. Same with the sides. After the A pillar, it has as much pizazz as a Honda Element. Kind of blends in with all the other stuff on the road. The longer I drove it the more I realized, this thing has no soul. Sure, it rides nice, but so does a Cadillac Escalade.

My D2 is back in the garage, where it belongs. Yup, I'm a little more cramped in the front and I can tell the difference between a modified GM engine and that gem that came from BMW. But, somewhere in the back of my head, that little voice was back, albeit with a definate English accent, "Let's go get a little bit muddy".

 

[andrewv]

Well, at least you got to drive one for a bit. In my current position, I drive both DII's and LR3's quite a bit, and your on-road observations are accurate-the LR3 is far superior. Off-road, however, assuming non rock crawling conditions, the LR3 out performs a DII, hands down. Traction control doesn't kick on nearly as much (hardly ever), and the smoothness is unreal.

I won't comment on the Cadillac (who's in the house, bling, whatever), but look at LR lit and it compares the Toureg most closely with the LR3. Having a Rag at my disposal, I attempted to take the 2Rag over the same course and the Rag didn't make it over the first obstacle. Left wheel on a rock, right front/left rear spinning, locked, raised, didn't matter.

As for looks, to each his own.

 

[Cherub Rock]

Wait, they gave you an LR3 as a loaner/courtesy vehicle?

 

[peter]

All in all, there are rover people and then there are mini-van people with a locker. I bet my Honda Odyssey with a locker would beat the lr3.

 

[andrewv]

I guess that makes you a mini van people

 

[Ho]

i drove an LR3. and had to get one.... see? not all test drives turn out the same eh? LOL

yeah, i am keeping the disco too.

 

[noee]

the LR3 out performs a DII, hands down. Traction control doesn't kick on nearly as much (hardly ever),

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this really because the LR3 will lock the center diff and isn't there a locking rear diff option for the LR3 as well.

Did you mean to say a D2 with open diffs and no CDL?

Seems to me a D2 with CDL and rear locker should be able to hold it's own with the sexy new LR3, all else being somewhat equal...

 

[utahdog2003]

LR3s "gem" of a V8 comes from the Ford family tree via Jaguar. Not that it matters...sitting as it does under the hood of that dorky looking thing...

...ugh, nice roof rack.

 

[Bruno]

Seems to me a D2 with CDL and rear locker should be able to hold it's own with the sexy new LR3, all else being somewhat equal...

Well, then there's the additional 2" of suspension travel, followed by yet another 2" in the event the chassis becomes grounded.

And that simply pales in comparision to the on-road (where we spend most of our time!) manners that this truck has, it's not even in the same zip code as a D2.

Bruno.

 

[noee]

it's not even in the same zip code as a D2.

Yeah, agree with you there and definitely about the on-road performance.

This kind of talk reminds me of dealing with these snake oil audiophile nuts I have to work with sometimes. Always quoting figures and specs about dynamic range and THD and rolloff at frequency and plate voltage and negative feedback and 10th order harmonics and shit. Do they listen to music or do they listen to their $100K plus systems?

I guess I should probably hold my tongue until I see one the trail or trekking around here and there.

I'm not sure I understand what the "emergency" 2 inches is for when the chassis is grounded.

 

[Bruno]

I'm not sure I understand what the "emergency" 2 inches is for when the chassis is grounded.

Presumably, if the truck's progress is halted by the lack of chassis clearance, the air bags inflate further, giving 2 more inches of lift.

I wheeled mine two weekends ago, felt really isolated and numb - not sure I liked that! it's also feeling kinda big in the woods, not like the D2 -

For now, it'll be on a short leash, what with 25 computers, 1500 wires, and 8 CV joints... Yikes!

Bruno.

 

[MarkP]

Well, then there's the additional 2" of suspension travel, followed by yet another 2" in the event the chassis becomes grounded.

And that simply pales in comparision to the on-road (where we spend most of our time!) manners that this truck has, it's not even in the same zip code as a D2.

The Range Rover Classic had the same 2" high profile / 2" emergency profile feature. This is nothing new. You will also find that most Classic air suspensions have been replaced because they became either faulty or the owner felt uncomfortable with a system that would leave you stranded off road.

As for on-road performance independent suspension is also nothing new. On-road comfort is why most SUVs went independent years ago. But they didn't care about off-road performance. The LR3 will have one up on IS vehicles, at least until the air suspension fails.

I just wish Land Rover would have kept it simple (KISS). I can see it now, solid axle retrofits for the LR3.

 

[Bruno]

You will also find that most Classic air suspensions have been replaced

Yep, just did mine (95' Classic SWB) at 97 thousand miles - I'm not really thinking of the LR3 as a keeper, so it'll be gone way before that!

Bruno.

 

[utahdog2003]

Yeah, agree with you there and definitely about the on-road performance.

This kind of talk reminds me of dealing with these snake oil audiophile nuts I have to work with sometimes. Always quoting figures and specs about dynamic range and THD and rolloff at frequency and plate voltage and negative feedback and 10th order harmonics and shit. Do they listen to music or do they listen to their $100K plus systems?

I'll keep my DII and my B&O turntable, thank you very much!

Besides, for road trippin' where no wheeling is involved, my wife and I take her Element (short bus)...boat loads of room for us, our junk and the two dogs...and when the dogs puke in the back we just wipe it off the rubber floor! The thing cruises at 85 with no problems, gets good mileage, and can swallow a 36-60" dinning room table and still close the clamshell back.

I'm sure the LR3 is very capable, and the interior is very nice. Still, for 50 large I can think of better ways to spend my money...actually, we did. 2003 Element and 2003 DII....both new...saved about 5 grand.

now, about my B&O turntable...

 

[Bruno]

Besides, for road trippin' where no wheeling is involved, my wife and I take her Element (short bus)...boat loads of room for us, our junk and the two dogs...and when the dogs puke in the back we just wipe it off the rubber floor!

James,

Where you gonna be if some unexpected wheelin comes up on you man?
c'mon you gotta go prepared...

Bruno.

 

[utahdog2003]

James,

Where you gonna be if some unexpected wheelin comes up on you man?
c'mon you gotta go prepared...

Bruno.

what, with the wife, puking dogs and a dining room table in the back?!?

 

[peter]

another thing is, you can?t really modify a lr3.....no bumpers, no rocksliders, no skid plates. there is no market for that with the lr3. with a disco2, the sky is the limit.

 

[bcroz]

Now, be honest. How bad would you feel taking a roto tool to the front end of a LR3 and cutting it to make room for bars, bumper, winch etc. Dont know about your house but my wife would come unglued if I did that to a $55k vehicle.

 

[Thai]

Doesn't the DII with rear air suspension do the lift thingy when it is high-centered?? Well, it may not as well as the LR3 because it doesn't have front air suspension.

My only big issue with LR3 is that it's like reading "Off-roading for Dummies." The computer does everything for you. You cannot even lock the center or optional rear diff manually...you just have to wait for the right situation for the computer to do it. And like some people above, the look is just too Element-like.

I wish that the LR3 would look like the upcoming Range Rover Sport. I love the current Range Rover look. Keep the Disco II look. Then make the Freelander look like the LR3. Perfect family.

 

[wagnerjc]

Looks like the rest

I'm really disappointed by the body. It used to be that you could spot a Disco coming down the road from a mile away. I now find myself double-taking every other SUV to see if its an LR3 or not. I also can't stand the freak'in name. Why for the love of all things holy can't LR think for itself? Had to go with the marketing Depts. LR3 instead of D3 for the US. If one ever comes my way the first upgrade will be a D3 decal imported from the UK.

Jason