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

[jsonova99]

It's a shame that in the States the Freelander came out after the Escape, because now everyone here thinks the Freelander and the Escape are more or less the same car.
Everywhere else in the world, the Freelander was out years before the Escape. Whether Ford styled the Escape off the Freelander...who knows?
I guess, just like everything else, everyone has their own opinions of what looks good and what doesn't.

Rohan.

I think the Escape is nicer personally! I had a Freelander as a courtesy vehicle once, I couldn't wait to give that thing back. Personally, that thing is in a class of it's own, I don't know what Land Rover was trying to do with it, because they blew it when it came to pricing. The crossover SUV market is hot, but you'll notice that the Freelander has very small market share among the group.

 

[jsonova99]

Lord someone is going to take offense at this but it is meant entirely in fun. I haven't driven a Land Rover yet that I didn't find I was falling in love with.

Dan

I have, the Freelander!

 

[jsonova99]

I have, the Freelander!

Just kidding, I just had a bad experience with a Freelander that I was given as a loaner that sort of turned me off. Hopefully they have ironed some of the bugs out of it.

 

[sean]

i was suprized when i got bac from SCARR2 and read about the LR3's, i never saw one on the trail, just driving the roads. but they did take them out and got them stuck on a fairly easy climb (they had to be winched out). the freelander made it and the stock p38 with 18's(that ran it with us) had no trouble getting up it much less my d2, i even went bac alone after the group broke up and ran it again. here is the quote from texasrovers bb.

The Shreveport dealer guys brought three new LR3s to try on the trails, I had my stock Disco 2, and there was a Freelander to torture us all. (The Freelander guy had a lust for throwing that little thing into places it should not have been.) We rode Omega, Greenlane, Solihull, Pipeline, Jeepy Hollow (The LR3s all had to be winched up the last hill of Jeepy Hollow, their terrain responce system wouldn't let them spin the tires enough to get enough momentum to get up the hill.), and Binder Blvd. That's not the list of impressive trails that other guys would notch their fender with, but my wife and I were thouroghly pleased with our outing.

 

[ducati]

"Their terrain responce system wouldn't let them spin the tires enough to get enough momentum to get up the hill"

Try to get someone who knows how to drive a TC-equipped LR next time.

Shut off DSC, use the right pedal, and have a go. You'll get up just like everyone else.

 

[sean]

every stock vehicle made it RR, freelander, d2 except the lr3, i agree that someone with more xp could have made it but then u could do it in a minivan with enough speed. the right pedal isn't the answer to everything.

 

[Ho]

The Shreveport dealer guys brought three new LR3s to try on the trails, I had my stock Disco 2, and there was a Freelander to torture us all. (The Freelander guy had a lust for throwing that little thing into places it should not have been.) We rode Omega, Greenlane, Solihull, Pipeline, Jeepy Hollow (The LR3s all had to be winched up the last hill of Jeepy Hollow, their terrain responce system wouldn't let them spin the tires enough to get enough momentum to get up the hill.), and Binder Blvd. That's not the list of impressive trails that other guys would notch their fender with, but my wife and I were thouroghly pleased with our outing.

dearler guys? what a shame, a damn shame.

 

[ShaunP]

On the Off road tests here in Oz the press have found them to be fine, good as any and better than most other stock 4x4s, they reckon they went where they pointed them on trails, they were waiting for them to get stuck but didn't when others did. Maybe these blokes were doning something wrong.

 

[sean]

"there was a Freelander to torture us all"

is my favorite part

i hate trying to keep up with those stock freelanders

 

[ducati]

every stock vehicle made it RR, freelander, d2 except the lr3, i agree that someone with more xp could have made it but then u could do it in a minivan with enough speed. the right pedal isn't the answer to everything.

In a Traction Control equipped Land Rover, the right pedal is the answer to this particular question. This holds true with the Freelander, Disco 2, and LR3 (I have owned each). If you let the traction control do it's thumpy-thump on a steep muddy climb, it will cause you to lose all your forward momentum and you often won't complete the climb. To get around this, you use more pressure on the loud pedal, TC shuts off and you go on your merry tire-spinning way.

Terrain Response had nothing to do with it--Traction Control had everything to do with it.

 

[Mehari]

hum hum

Sadly I have to admit that I quite agree with the lack of soul of the D3 when compared to an old truck... I have a 300tdi Disco (yes in europe we tend to like those powerless vehicules) and an LR3 (D3) on order. The D3 has anything the D1 hasn't: Power, comfort, GPS and great sound... design isn't the issue, I hated the D1 design when it was launched and now I'm fond of it... but this said, jumping from the D1 to the D3 is probably like changing from a 2CV citroen to a Volvo.. you'll never really forget the first one.

I'sure sure that I'll finally make myself happy with it but frankly, I would have jumped on the last D2 car available if I there were some stock left.

 

[ShaunP]

"there was a Freelander to torture us all"

is my favorite part

i hate trying to keep up with those stock freelanders

I didn't know anyone took Freeloaders of road, execpt maybe to to tow your Jet Ski out of the boat ramp. I've never seen one off road here in Oz. They tested D3s against Nissan Patrol petrol and diesel, Toyota landcruiser and Prado's petrol and diesels etc not freeloaders and Rav4, Honda CRv , Nissan X trails etc.

 

[jerseyhippo]

Actually a decent number go off-road here in the US and I just happened to read an article in the most recent LRM about an all-FL club in the UK that goes off road at least once a month. That same issue has a very good write up on a outdoor survival expert, a Defender guy from way back, that nonetheless has a good impression of the LR3. Finally, there is also a good article about FL being used in a North Africa trek in one of the older LRMs (I think, might have been LRW) that had praise for FL. A little reading provides some amazingly good insight into the capabilites of Land Rover products.

 

[jlb]

No matter the reason, the disco was the first SUV with a stepped roof. Someone had to do it first, just happened to be the Brits. God bless 'em.

And here I though GM did it in the 60s

 

[Rocky]

And here I though GM did it in the 60s

I would argue that the Disco is much closer in styling and purpose is closer to the Matra Simca Rancho of the mid to late 1970s.

http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/Rancho/facts.html

 

[Rocky]

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.

I'll take your Ody on in my Pilot with its VTM-4 "locking" rear diff....

 

[p m]

I find it hard to believe that the fuel tank is the only reason they did the stepped roof. I am sure that had something to do with it but it is clearly a copy and so will be the 2006 Jeep Commander. No matter the reason, the disco was the first SUV with a stepped roof. Someone had to do it first, just happened to be the Brits. God bless 'em.

Come on - look at the american station wagons of late-60s - mid-70s. And if a Jeep Commander looks like something, it is anything but a Discovery. There was a concept a few years back called Cherokee Casablanca - basically a XJ Cherokee with round headlights - that looks now exactly like a downsized Commander.
I can't think of a single "innovation" of a Land Rover than did not already exist in a Jeep.

 

[Amm134]

My D2 was in service for a coolant leak this week

May I ask what the outcome was ?

I have a D2 in for overheating and coolant loss, I'm curious what you found out.

Thanks.

 

[discobird]

May I ask what the outcome was ?

I have a D2 in for overheating and coolant loss, I'm curious what you found out.

Thanks.

I had my 04 D2 in for its 15K service, and the next day I had a small coolant leak. I took it back the following day, and it turned out to be a loose clamp. I don't know how the clamp came loose, but the tech spotted the source within 30 seconds of opening the hood. It took 5mins to fix, and the LR dealer gave me a free copy of Land Rover Owner International magazine.

 

[jmjunker]

DII vs. LR3

First off, I have to say that I really like Element EX 4x4. Very cool for the money and lots of cargo space.

I have an '04 Discovery and I really, really like it. My main compaints are leg room, mileage, and live axle performance on the highway, but I rationalize it like this...SUV's shouldn't going over 70-80 anyway... ;p The deal breaker for me was that I got an SE for the low 30's and a LR3 would be up above 50K. Where I come from that is a big difference for some gee whiz electronics, and more power. If I were filthy rich I would get one through. I think the look pretty good...maybe a little planar but good, but not 20k better. Don't get me started on paying 80-100k for an offroad vehicle like the Range Rover...I would never be that rich. For me it's my 4.6L DII petrol sucking fun mobile!! Happy roving whatever you ride!

Now, I just hope they bring the diesel here in a coupe years when the low sulpher mandayes go through.

Cheers!

Josh