Loaner LR3

[Alyssa]

- What is the CRS button on the dash next to the back up warning function?

Do you mean DSC? I don't think there's a "can't remember S*#t" button in the LR3. :smilelol: The DSC, or Dynamic Stability Control button is located next to the PDC (Park Distance Control) button on the left side of the center dash. If you push the DSC button an orange warning light will light up on your instrument cluster. DSC, which is also in the MKIII RR & RRS tries to prevent you from skidding out of a too fast turn. It can pull away engine power to prevent you from breaking out of a skid. If you are driving in a low traction situation (at slow speeds) you should turn it off, because a slippery drive can simulate the same tire spin as a skid out, and then it will pull away engine power when you need it most.

 

[maxyedor]

You are out of your gourd if you think the LR3 is cramped vs. a Disco!! Did you raise the steering wheel? It tilts and telescopes. It isn't even a close comparison in leg room between the DI and LR3!!!
The door key is not electronic only. If you pull off the cover, you can open it with the metal key.
The suspension doesn't change anything without telling you, so you weren't paying attention. And if you were just on a dirt road, you shouldn't have been in the high mode in the first place.

I am out of my gourd but that is beside the point. I fit perfectly in my Disco1 The LR3 seats feel really narrow, the armrest is about 3 inches too far to the left so I couldn't comfortably rest my arm on it. The colum does move, but I still whacked my knees of everything. Didn't know about the door key feature as I only had one key for it. Do they come with a basic key without the stupid rmote too? Speaking of which the range on the remote seemed pretty good, but unless I was 6 inches from the car it wouldn't unlock, it just flashed lights at me.

As for the dirt road, it was a rutted dirt road and I was worried about ripping of the front facia, like I did with the bumper on my D1 when it was in stock trim. I usually run it in my D1 at 40-45 mph without issues, I figured with all the electronic gizmos it would be fine, I was wrong. I did find out about the warning it gives you to slow down, but while in a 4 wheel drift I don't look at the dash, nor do I tend to look at the dash ever. I understand the reason to have a "low" mode, but the driver should be able to select one or the other without input from the car. Also the pedals seemed sqishey, with no real feedback, and the brakes didn't modulate well, they had an on or off feel.

I did get my Disco back, the dealership powerwashed the engine, and chassis, and gave me the labor, and changed the oil for free:applause: I do love my Disco, it rattles and leaks like a Rover should!

 

[nwoods]

Max, the LR3 resumes normal height (not Low), above 30mph to preserve the CV's I think. CHeck out my link in the D3.uk forum regarding a very simple and inexpensive seat modification to get more leg room. I should point out however, that I bought the car and was able to drive it decently at a full 6'-7" and 300 lbs. Moving the seat back 2.5" helps for longer road trips, but it's tight and snug when off roading, well within the normal range of travel.

Regarding visibility...are you short torso'd? To be 6'-2 and not able to see over the seats, you've got me scratching my head....unless you are talking about the 3rd row? Fold 'em down where they belong and enjoy the magnificantly designed tailgate for rear visiablity when reversing.

Sounds like you need to raise your seat, fiddle with the steering column depth, and then you should be happier.

Regarding DSC, I always turn it off when off roading. Not too long ago I was attempting to climb a steep hill and had the gas pedal matted, but the car refused to go forward. DSC detected wheel spin at all 4 corners and throttled me down and left me hanging. Push the button, floor it, and up I when without any problems.

 

[nwoods]

. Also the pedals seemed sqishey, with no real feedback, and the brakes didn't modulate well, they had an on or off feel.

Dude, it's a rental, what did you expect?

 

[nwoods]

I'd love to know what type of terrain gave the fully locked Discos trouble and the LR3 had none. Washboard trails?:rofl:

It's pretty self evident in the photo gallery. It occurred on two ocassions (two different Disco's) on the same Cleghorn trail:
http://blog.nextstepdesigns.com/?cat=14

 

[nwoods]

BTW< that link to the seat modification is here:
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3917

 

[Mike_Rupp]

It's pretty self evident in the photo gallery. It occurred on two ocassions (two different Disco's) on the same Cleghorn trail:
http://blog.nextstepdesigns.com/?cat=14

Maybe I'm a little dense, but its not self-evident to me. I'm not giving you a hard time, but without showing me a gallery and blog that I have to dedicate a ton of time to, would you explain the situation where you had a much easier time than a fully locked Disco? Have you ever thought of the possibility that you are a better driver or took a better line? I've seen obstacles where two drivers in similarly equipped Discos have a much different result going over it.

 

[nwoods]

...would you explain the situation where you had a much easier time than a fully locked Disco? Have you ever thought of the possibility that you are a better driver or took a better line?

Of the two Disco's (images here and here), I was more experienced than the white one, but far less expereinced than the green one.

The areas where the Disco's struggled (with ARB locker's, OME 3" springs and 33" tires) were primarly areas with fewer than 4 wheels on the ground, and also areas with steep approach AND departure angles (simultaneously).

In these conditions, the mechanical 4wd systems of the Disco's seem less capable than the electronically assisted ones in the LR3, RRS, and newer Range Rover.

Examples:
- Disco II stuck in ravine
- Disco II struggling with traction despite great articulation
- Another Disco, same spot, great articulation, but...
- Disco I stuck up hill with front wheels off the ground


Photos of LR3 and RRS's making it in the same areas:
- Coil spring LR3 (limited clearance, no Terrian Control)
- Range Rover Sport through the same spot
- LR3 going through the ravine - part 1
- LR3 going through the ravine - part 2
- LR3 going through the ravine - part 3

Basically, while the Disco looks much more dramatic doing it's thing, the newer Rovers make it look easy, and have no difficulites that I can see. The biggest eye opener to me is the comfort level. While going down one particularly bumpy rocky washboard section, I had the oppoturnity to drive down it in my LR3, walk up, and then ride down again in the Disco I. That thing rattled and squeaked from every possible place it could have. A good beast yes, but a grotesquely uncivilized one. My LR3's ride was calm, quiet, and significantly smoother on the same stretch of trail. And finally, at the end of this trail awaits a magnificant stretch of curvy mountain road. The two LR3's, with the RRS leading the way, pulled miles ahead of the 2003 Disco II with all the goodies. On the road there simply is NO comparison.

I should also point out that those Disco's required thou$ands of dollars worth of upgrades and aftermarket accessories, while the LR3's and RRS where stock driveline systems, without the available electronic rear locker (an option that's hard to find), and mine only has 8" of ground clearance (less than that at the rear exhaust piping). Off the factory floor, these machines are quite impressive. I look forward to the what future aftermarket vendor will do them!

 

[garrett]

is that dude in the white LR3 really wearing a cell phone headset? lol.

 

[nwoods]

is that dude in the white LR3 really wearing a cell phone headset? lol.

Yes I am, and yes, this is Southern California

 

[Mike_Rupp]

Thanks for the write up. Quick question: did the guys in the Discos have their lockers engaged? You can clearly see dirt flying rom the rear tire, but nothing from the front.

 

[nwoods]

Thanks for the write up. Quick question: did the guys in the Discos have their lockers engaged? You can clearly see dirt flying rom the rear tire, but nothing from the front.

I wondered about that also, and asked at the time when they were struggling. The answer was yes in each case, and you could hear the air compressor's running periodically also.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Disco, they way the look all beefed up, and the way they articulate, and where they can go. But I think the newer models have eclisped them, up to a point. For sure upgrading my IFS suspension will be far more difficult and expensive than upgrading the suspension of the Disco, and I NEED to do it because of my particular limited clearance issues. But the pneumatic suspension models with their additional 2.5" of clearance and 13" of articulation are quite remarkable even in the stock configuration.

I am looking into having something like the AiRock system installed on mine. The limiting factor of course, is the CV joints, and what they can take.

 

[LR3invancouver]

After spending 2 days with Bill Burke and fellow offroaders (2 modded discos, 2 modded D90's 2 modded Jeep Rubicons and a mostly stock H2) in Moab rock-crawling last fall I was astounded how well my STOCK LR3 HSE performed. The weak link is the tires (I have swapped to 19" Goodyear MT/R's) and clearance (I am still looking for a way to add a couple of inches of body lift and sliders). Clearance was the only area that prevented me from taking lines that would rate a 4+ (I had to stick to those rated 4). However, as aftermarket upgrades become available I believe we will only expand the possibilities of the LR3 - likely beyond the capabilities of most drivers. The one main shortfall is the lack of ability to do a field fix given all the electronics. I guess that is the trade-off we pay for the ability and the on-road comforts. I guess that is why we have road (off-road) recovery protection (I have had my LR3 packed out off a logging road by flat deck once already) - thanks Land Rover!

 

[RBBailey]

I have been convinced by the traction control systems. Ya, they can break, but then so can an axle.

I have driven my Disco II and Disco I on pure ice -- 3 inches of clear ice where you can see all the way through it! -- and the DII is pretty darn amazing. This winter I did a hill climb on packed snow, with the tires coming off the ground at spots -- it walked right up it with no trouble.

On the other hand. The weakness with the LR3 especially is certainly the clearance. And I have noticed that a hill that I thought I would be able to get up with no trouble in my DII has stopped me several times. I can't figure out why. But only one wheel spins. I think it may have something to do with no center locker and when you get one wheel just almost off the ground and it is digging into soft dirt, it is spinning, but does not loose enough traction to really trigger the traction control enough to overcome it -- going up hill with ETC is always iffy since it actually works against your momentum by nature -- after all, it is done by applying the brakes.

Watch the difference between the D90's and the LR3 going through the mud here (at 2:30 into the video) but also the difference when it gets in sand:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-473787628549892341&q=lr3

 

[ozscott]

traction control works very well if you use the throttle more than you think you should and realise that as soon as you back off the throttle the TCS is no longer doing its thing

 

[discobird]

traction control works very well if you use the throttle more than you think you should and realise that as soon as you back off the throttle the TCS is no longer doing its thing

Agree, traction control work wells; however, you have to keep your foot on the skinny pedal. If you let off, the TCS will reset itself and you'll lose.

Most cars today have ABS, and many folks don't understand how it works. I bet many accidents could have been avoid if people with ABS didn't let off the break pedal when they heard/felt the ABS working. I believe alot of folks really don't understand how the TCS works on their LR, and let off the gas pedal when they sense the slightest wheel spin.

I'm not saying that TC is a replacement for lockers, but I think it can get you through most situations if used properly.

 

[jwest]

several things, way back in this, was the loaner an HSE or base? i had an 05 base which sucked compared to my hse 2006 or even my 2004 se D2 (which i also love and will NEVER sell) the seats in each are vertically adjustable which i am now addicted to from here on out even though the old D1 seemed fine all those hundreds of thousands of miles, yes, 200k, 150k/5 yrs time (bought it used with 42k)
neither the D1,D2,or LR3 are cramped at the legs UNLESS i have the seat set high, which i like but the lr3 adjustable steering column is very accomodating.

4x4 ing...in mud, thick (not watery easy crap) especially, i noticed serious LACK of clearance in the rear due to the SILLY exhaust routing! was the engineer out sick the day they voted on where to run the pipes? ..."lets see, it'll be easier to just run it under, yeah, like a car..." and those crazy mud scooping heat sheild thingys! seriously, WTF?! i didn't even go crazy tonight on my test trail (where i've gone over 5 yrs with all rovers - stuck once in mid door mud hung up on single side rutt without lockers, both passenger side wheels uselessly spinning around like a carousel.....as i got out the shovel.

anyway, the weight difference may have something to do with some of the traction advantages in certain situations where digging in deep helps to grab better, like in snow or sloshy mud.

tonight there was all sorts of packed mud in hard to spray places ---- never so bad on the old discos.

who knows about exhaust rerouting and getting spacers under this air bag suspension??????

 

[AndrewClarke]

Interesting short review. One thing I'd changes is a typo in this sentence: The interior styling and functionality is great, not as unique as the Discovery always was, and it looses something there, but well layed out and with lots of cool buttons and gadgets.

It should be "loses", not "looses".

I considered getting an LR3 or '04 Discovery to replace my '96 about a year and a half ago. I drove the LR3 and loved it, and then got into the '04 expecting to be let down in comparison. I have to say that I liked the '04 95% as much as the LR3, and more in many ways, partially I suppose because I was more used to the interior coming from a D1. For $15k+ cheaper, I'd have picked the '04 in a heartbeat over the LR3. In the end though I decided I didn't want a car payment.

 

[AndrewClarke]

Basically, while the Disco looks much more dramatic doing it's thing, the newer Rovers make it look easy, and have no difficulites that I can see.

I've never personally been a big fan of the RRS (never driven one either and I admit I'm not in the target market) but MAN that is a sweet looking vehicle. So nice.

- Andrew.

 

[rmuller]

As for problems with the LR3, There have been a few instances where air suspension has failed.. first is Ben's from LRO .. http://www.landroversonly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11433 .. His has failed 4 times in the past couple weeks, first time was on the trail and had to get towed out of there.. dealership hasn't been able to narrow it down... and then there was that article that came out a few days ago about the trip down to South America I believe, where the LR3s air suspension failed on the first day.

I've wheeled with LR3s a few times, I think they are pretty damn capable in stock form, but the risk of failure scares me..