Hey owners -- How's the quality

[Great Pumpkin]

Looking for LR3 owner to reply here: How is the BUILD QUALITY of the LR3. I'm getting a bit frustrated with my 04 Disco and am curious to hear what LR has done in terms of quality in their newest vehicle.

Hope to hear plenty from you LR3 types.

--P

 

[RVRSRVC]

I have a customer with an LR3, which is probably his 5th or 6th Rover over the years. He was bragging about how much better this vehicle was over his other Rovers as far as lack of need to see the dealer! He has put about 15k miles on it.
He let me borrow it for several days while we were fitting the factory winch set-up and my overalll impression was very good for things like wind noise, fit and finish, and ergonomics. My 12 year old knew how to put the seats down for a flat floor (something that one dealer sales guide did not at an introduction for the LR3), and overall I enjoyed my time with the vehicle. Fast, sure footed, and 15mpg (Seems so poor in general considering today's advances in technology and materials. That really applies to all manufactures, not just Rover...) I would like to try the Turbo Diesel when or if it gets here...
My .02

 

[rockjock]

The build quality is outstanding, it us just light years ahead of the D2. I traded a 2000 D2 for a 2004 D2, thinking it would be the last vehicle I would purchase for many years. The 2004 had a great engine, locking center dif, and some other nice improvements (like the plastic covered backs of the second row seating), but the build quality SUCKED!! I got pissed off every time I drove it, which was everyday, so I was always pissed. The dealer worked on the door fittings several times until finally one day I decided if I'm going to have a truck payment, might as well take the plunge. My family is so much happier with the LR3 than the D2. If you are like me and only get to do real wheeling a couple times a year, the LR3 is head and shoulders above the D2. No regrets about the mechanical aspect of the trade, but every time I see a D2 running down the road I get a little twinge in my heart, the D2 just looks like a Rover.

 

[ducati]

The quality is good, although not without a few of the standard Land Rover niggles.

My 2003 Discovery's build quality was very good, IMO. It was a very solid vehicle that I had only a few problems with in the ~30k miles I drove it. Just the standard Rover stuff, and a few breakages: power steering pump died, rear wiper fell off, transfer case got very noisy and was replaced, and after the first oilchange it leaked oil like a seive until the metal piece the oil filter sat on was replaced. Sounds like a bad list but really the truck was solid.

After nearly 10k miles in the LR3 I can say that the material quality is much better, and the truck is loads better to drive... And build quality is better, but still not Honda great. I had to have a door seal replaced (poorly seated from the factory), I have an odd power steering noise when backing out of a parking spot and turning the wheel that the dealer "can't replicate" and I occasionally get a drip of water on my foot (but the "drains are clear"). Also, the auto wipers sometimes have a mind of their own. Just stuff I laugh at and say "well, it's a Land Rover."

Interestingly enough, we just experienced our first issue with my wife's year-old VW Bug Convertible. The turbo wastegate sounds like it's not opening properly. I realized I've never had that car in for an unscheduled maintenance... Like I'm so used to with Land Rovers.

So Land Rover is getting better, but they're still not "there" yet IMO.

FWIW--I am getting remarkable mileage in my LR3. I average 16-17mpg in the same loop I got about 11.5-12.5 with in my 2003 Disco. I have gotten as high as 20 on the highway, I got 17 fully loaded (and I mean FULLY) with 4 people and a rooftop Thule backpack at 80mph last week. Lowest ever was about 14, which was all city. My lowest ever in the Disco (all city) was about 10. So I'm really happy with the mileage.

The engine has really loosened up lately (seemingly around 8k miles or so) and it really hauls now. I really love the engine and the handling. I forgot how slow and ponderous the Disco 2's were until I got one as a loaner a few weeks ago... I was surprised to find how much faster I'm used to driving the LR3 on the road.

The tires, OTOH, are Goodyear Wrangler HPs. Sh|ttiest tires known to man. Goodyear redesigned the HP for the LR3 and still f*cked it all up. They are mud tire loud after 10k miles...

And no mud tires available yet. PITA. That really holds back the LR3's offroad potential--if I could get some decent tires for this thing it would better my '03 offroad, which is plenty good for me.

Anyway, some random thoughts. HTH