Lr3 V6 Announced Today

[g4hawaii]

Hot off the LRNA website, Rover is doing a 4.0 V6 LR3 coming next month. The car has 216 HP, 269 ft/lbs and comes with the Terrain Response and Air suspension. It does not have the alpine glass or sunroof standard (ala disco S/SD) Pricing is $38,950 for a base V6, and $3,000 for a premium package. So $41,950 for a V6 with leather, sunroof & alpine window, HK stereo w/6 disc (basically equipped like a V8 SE)

It looks to me like the V8 Models will be having a nice little price increase for 2006. My guess is a base of $46,950 for an SE. We'll see. I am surprised that they made the EAS standard on the V6...and not doing a steel sprung cheapo for $36,950 or so.

 

[Timmy!!!!!!!]

I assume this is the same 4.0 v6 that can be found in the Ford Explorer back in the day.

 

[scotty-OZ]

Yep -same as Exploder - its our base model in OZ and we get it without anything - ie no climate control, no air suspension, no lockers, no Terain Response System, no 7 seats - only ETC and CDL. With less usable torque than the previous 4.0 V8 Thor that was our base here in D2 and with nothing to simulate live axle set up and no more real world wheel travel I cant see it being better off road than a Mitsubishi Pajero. Lot of dough too. You pay a lot extra in the base here to get another 2 seats, climate control and metalic paint (try $2000 for metallic). Crazy.

Cheers

 

[jsonova99]

Hot off the LRNA website, Rover is doing a 4.0 V6 LR3 coming next month. The car has 216 HP, 269 ft/lbs and comes with the Terrain Response and Air suspension. It does not have the alpine glass or sunroof standard (ala disco S/SD) Pricing is $38,950 for a base V6, and $3,000 for a premium package. So $41,950 for a V6 with leather, sunroof & alpine window, HK stereo w/6 disc (basically equipped like a V8 SE)

It looks to me like the V8 Models will be having a nice little price increase for 2006. My guess is a base of $46,950 for an SE. We'll see. I am surprised that they made the EAS standard on the V6...and not doing a steel sprung cheapo for $36,950 or so.

I think offering a smaller engine is a good idea, but I still say the LR3 is priced too high. The jump from the Series 2 discos was too much

 

[Alyssa]

It isn't a Discovery. It is a new vehicle. Therefore, no "jump" in price occurred. Discovery went away. LR3 actually started out life as a seven seat Range Rover. They were planning on keeping Discovery and adding LR3 as a new model. Things evolved a little differently, but that was the intention. You could also look at it as wow, they reduced the price of the new 7 seat Range Rover $30k.

 

[jsonova99]

Bottom line, it replaced the Discovery and that is the perception of most buyers in the market. It doesn't matter how different it is, it's all about perception. If Land Rover can sucessfully convince poeple that it is not a new Discovery then fine, however they have not, and in my opinion will not. Everybody I talk to says the same thing be it positive or negative: "Is that the truck replacing the Discovery?" The 7-seat Range Rover idea is pointless, because it is not a 7-seat Range Rover atleast not by name, so potential buyers won't even consider that.

 

[jsonova99]

Alyssa, don't get me wrong, I don't personally have anything against the LR3 for what it is, and I would buy one for use to tow my boat and cart the kayaks around. What do you think they are going to go for used? Are they expecting better resale out of them than the Discovery? By the way, I'm very familiar with your dealership, I graduated from Villanova back in '99. I used to go over and drool over all of the Defenders you guys used to have on the lot

 

[Blueboy]

It isn't a Discovery. It is a new vehicle.

Alyssa,

while this concept is ok for the US, the rest of the world sees it sold/marketed as the Disco 3 so you could also say it is a replacement for the DII.

by the way, my LR connection here in Brasil tells me LR is gearing up to offer the Peugeot diesel in the LR3 for the NA market. that will change the picture a little I would think.


Jaime

 

[g4hawaii]

Even though it is called the Discovery 3 everywhere except NA, it is a new vehicle. I don't believe there is one part that is carried over from the Disco 2. It has a completely different driving character.

We do just fine selling Disco's along side LR3's at our dealership. In fact, since the LR3 has come out our used Disco market is booming. Everyone is coming in to see the new one, and then LR has such good deals on the used ones (warranty, financing) Both of them are terriffic cars, and I'll give the report of how mine performs off-road as soon as I get it.

 

[Leslie]

The problem as I see it is...

[Allow me to qualify: I'm not talking about the average consumer "soccer mom", I'm referring to Land Rover enthusiasts who see them as true off-roading vehicles.]

Go back to the year before - the Freelander was the entry vehicle, a "CRV with a Land Rover badge".... the Discovery was the common-folk's Rover, and the Rangie was for the high-brows....

Today, you still have the Freelander that gets skipped over (or becomes the wife's vehicle, or for the kids, etc. etc.). And you have the Rangie for those who are more affluent, and you now have the RR-sport coming for the performance minded that are also well-heeled.

The LR3 is the model between the bottom-end and the upper-end extremes. So, if you want something that is larger and better off-road than a Freelander, but less than a Range Rover, it'll be the LR3... in that sense, it is the Disco replacement.

But going up by $10k, well....

I went and drove the LR3 and it truly is a lovely vehicle, and I would dearly love to have one, but I can't afford it. And our Disco is small enough, a Freelander just wouldn't do for us. SO, Land Rover no longer has a vehicle that I can aspire to....

When the time comes to get another vehicle, it will either have to be another Disco, or I'll switch to a Toyota or a Jeep.... (I'm not going to hold my breath for the Defender to come back anymore.... nor its replacement).

A used LR3? No.... the LR3 would be fine while under warranty, but if I had one, I'd sell it off before the warranty ran out....

Too bad they didn't keep the Disco around.... or, if they could bring the 110 in as the spartan working vehicle below the LR3..... just pipe dreams anymore.....



-L

 

[jsonova99]

The problem as I see it is...

[Allow me to qualify: I'm not talking about the average consumer "soccer mom", I'm referring to Land Rover enthusiasts who see them as true off-roading vehicles.]

Go back to the year before - the Freelander was the entry vehicle, a "CRV with a Land Rover badge".... the Discovery was the common-folk's Rover, and the Rangie was for the high-brows....

Today, you still have the Freelander that gets skipped over (or becomes the wife's vehicle, or for the kids, etc. etc.). And you have the Rangie for those who are more affluent, and you now have the RR-sport coming for the performance minded that are also well-heeled.

The LR3 is the model between the bottom-end and the upper-end extremes. So, if you want something that is larger and better off-road than a Freelander, but less than a Range Rover, it'll be the LR3... in that sense, it is the Disco replacement.

But going up by $10k, well....

I went and drove the LR3 and it truly is a lovely vehicle, and I would dearly love to have one, but I can't afford it. And our Disco is small enough, a Freelander just wouldn't do for us. SO, Land Rover no longer has a vehicle that I can aspire to....

When the time comes to get another vehicle, it will either have to be another Disco, or I'll switch to a Toyota or a Jeep.... (I'm not going to hold my breath for the Defender to come back anymore.... nor its replacement).

A used LR3? No.... the LR3 would be fine while under warranty, but if I had one, I'd sell it off before the warranty ran out....

Too bad they didn't keep the Disco around.... or, if they could bring the 110 in as the spartan working vehicle below the LR3..... just pipe dreams anymore.....



-L

Thank you for this post, this is the point I'm trying to make. I'm not ripping the LR3 as a vehicle, I'm ripping into the marketing and positioning of it. Will it sell? Yes, initially at least, until the novelty wears off, much like the Disco.

 

[Dan Ratcliffe]

Folks, I drive a nearly stock 1960 Series II about 2000 miles a month. Mrs. Ratcliffe owns a 97 Discovery which I have driven a great deal. I have driven both the Range Rover and LR3 extensively.

If the issue is modification, than there is less opportunity for modification as the marque goes forward. But you really can't compare any of them car to car. They all have some fairly severe limitations, by model. I have always been amazed when someone in a Discovery goes on about how capable a series is. I don't know why, but a discovery has more power, better steering, better throttle control, better braking, and better articulation stock than any series.

Now, would I trade my series for a discovery or other Land Rover? Nope. That is because the car I chose provides me with what I want in my driving experience. I don't mind not having a radio to listen to, that there isn't any air conditioning, or that the brakes take a conscious effort to use, that I can't leave the house with out a tool kit and good pair of walking shoes.

Land Rover doesn't owe me anything that I can see. I don't see the new Range Rover, LR3, Sport, etc. as less Land Rover. Wouldn't I be silly if I thought that Land Rover should build a vehicle that has a carbureted 2.25 67 hp engine capable of a top speed of 78 mph, with single circuit drum brakes, independent single speed windshield wipers, no windshield washers, no safety glass, etc. etc? Just to keep me happy. In truth that series is a rolling death trap, I might survive the ownership experience, but I fear it will require a great deal of luck.

Pricing is always something that one could spend days carrying on about. The LR3 is much more expensive, I probably won't buy one to replace Mrs. Ratcliffe's Discovery because of the price, but I have too tell you that the 31k I paid for the 97 was a damn sight more than I have ever paid for any car, and more than I will probably ever pay again. But that LR3 is worth the price; it is heads above the Discovery in most of the things that make a good vehicle a good vehicle.

Just the way I see it.

 

[geoff]

I hope the diesel makes it. I will consider one despite the offense to my purist side. If gas gets and stays above $2.50/gal, it will just get silly to commute in these things. I just hope all of those cv joints can handle towing my boat.

Can they fix that exhaust routing? One offroad trip and its had it.

 

[MarkP]

It isn't a Discovery. It is a new vehicle. Therefore, no "jump" in price occurred. ...... You could also look at it as wow, they reduced the price of the new 7 seat Range Rover $30k.

Good try - it's still a Discovery replacement that is $10K to $15K higher, a jump in my book. As others have said, without a Discovery size vehicle in the $30K range Land Rover no longer has a vehicle for many people. Cost reductions such as removing the air suspension, which leaves one with independent suspension, and putting in a V6 engine in a vehicle that weighs as much as a LR3, leaves a lot to be desired. Especially for those of us who run mountian passes at altitude.

 

[jsonova99]

Good try - it's still a Discovery replacement that is $10K to $15K higher, a jump in my book. As others have said, without a Discovery size vehicle in the $30K range Land Rover no longer has a vehicle for many people. Cost reductions such as removing the air suspension, which leaves one with independent suspension, and putting in a V6 engine in a vehicle that weighs as much as a LR3, leaves a lot to be desired. Especially for those of us who run mountian passes at altitude.

Well put, this is the point that I am trying to get across. In the consumer's eye, the LR3 is the Discovery replacement, and even write-ups on the LR3 call it the Discovery replacement. I think the price increase is too much and in time it will cost LRNA sales.

 

[Leslie]

I like the way Dan put it.

It's not that the LR3 is too expensive for what it is, it's just that LRNA went so far with putting the high-tech goodies into it that a lot of us can't afford it. If I could afford it, yeah, I'd probably buy one.

For what it is, the LR3 is priced where they needed to price it; they can't cut labor costs, material costs, etc. etc.....

I agree, though, if they had a less-expensive vehicle (make an axled version to replace the independent suspension), and had a diesel available, it'd be much harder to pass by.



-L

 

[geoff]

I dunno guys. The LR3 is good, but really is aimed as a Volvo XC-90, Cadillac SRX, Lexus RX330, or Infiniti QX45 for the "traditional folks". The rest of us will probably go Toyota 4Runner or Nissan Pathfinder. Have you seen the '06 Toyota Landcruiser (sport or something can't remember) based on the 4Runner chassis? Very nicely retro like the old 80s. That's the market LR is leaving behind, but could fill later with some new Defender/Ford Bronco derivative.

 

[ShaunP]

They are still called a Discovery in Australia, not an LR3. Forget the Ford exploder engine the TDV6 diesel is the one you want, it's won 2 4x4 of the year awards here against what have been considered the off road bench mark trucks.

 

[jsonova99]

They are still called a Discovery in Australia, not an LR3. Forget the Ford exploder engine the TDV6 diesel is the one you want, it's won 2 4x4 of the year awards here against what have been considered the off road bench mark trucks.

We'll never see that engine, for some reason Diesels get very bad press in the US. I can think of about 2 companies that offer diesels other than the heavy duty trucks from the big 3.

 

[Pugsly]

It isn't a Discovery. It is a new vehicle. Therefore, no "jump" in price occurred. Discovery went away.

Only in North America. The Discovery still lives everywhere else. It is only in NA that they decided the consumers were too stupid to recognize that Discovery = Land Rover.