I absolutely love and recommend the LR4. Getting a Disco was a dream since I was in middle school, and I wanted a Kalahari D2 forever. I got my D1 a few years ago after being convinced they were the "better" truck over a D2. I loved it. I miss it.
I test drove everything I could before getting the LR4 because I wanted to be absolutely sure I was getting not just what I thought I wanted, but what I enjoyed driving the most. I really wanted to try and love a 4Runner, or a Lexus GX... because that what makes the most sense as a reliable, family-hauler, daily driver. I just couldn't, there was no spark. The LR4 (and 3) just felt right, and brought me back to my D1.
The LR3 is great. The motor is more reliable and less sensitive than the 5.0, you can (or could at the time) get them a lot cheaper, and I was into the fact that a full-on replacement head unit/audio system was easier. The interior was more utilitarian, which I was about as well. I found the powertrain to be completely adequate. My buddy has a LR4, and I've driven it but it was before I was car shopping so I never drove it. Well, I did and the 5.0 is a monster, plain and simple. So I convinced myself despite the "downfalls" of the 5.0 I needed one.
The Range Rover with the 5.0 is a totally different experience. There's more rear seat room than the LR4 but "less" overall space for cargo. The angled rear window and lower roofline contribute to that even though the vehicle is slightly longer overall. The Rangie drives better, as it should. I decided I wanted the 3rd row and the Disco look so I hunted down a one owner '13 LR4 HD with 46k miles, and got in just before the pandemic prices went batshit. I've put a little over 15k miles on it so far, and have had to deal with some Rover issues but I expected that. Unless something crazy happens like fuel goes to $8 a gallon and we all have to switch to electric vehicles ASAP I plan on keeping this one beyond 200k miles.
If you can find a well-loved LR3 HD with under 120k miles or so for less than $15-16k, that is a good buy right now. Expect to hover ~$30k for a perfect, low miles '13 LR4.
I test drove everything I could before getting the LR4 because I wanted to be absolutely sure I was getting not just what I thought I wanted, but what I enjoyed driving the most. I really wanted to try and love a 4Runner, or a Lexus GX... because that what makes the most sense as a reliable, family-hauler, daily driver. I just couldn't, there was no spark. The LR4 (and 3) just felt right, and brought me back to my D1.
The LR3 is great. The motor is more reliable and less sensitive than the 5.0, you can (or could at the time) get them a lot cheaper, and I was into the fact that a full-on replacement head unit/audio system was easier. The interior was more utilitarian, which I was about as well. I found the powertrain to be completely adequate. My buddy has a LR4, and I've driven it but it was before I was car shopping so I never drove it. Well, I did and the 5.0 is a monster, plain and simple. So I convinced myself despite the "downfalls" of the 5.0 I needed one.
The Range Rover with the 5.0 is a totally different experience. There's more rear seat room than the LR4 but "less" overall space for cargo. The angled rear window and lower roofline contribute to that even though the vehicle is slightly longer overall. The Rangie drives better, as it should. I decided I wanted the 3rd row and the Disco look so I hunted down a one owner '13 LR4 HD with 46k miles, and got in just before the pandemic prices went batshit. I've put a little over 15k miles on it so far, and have had to deal with some Rover issues but I expected that. Unless something crazy happens like fuel goes to $8 a gallon and we all have to switch to electric vehicles ASAP I plan on keeping this one beyond 200k miles.
If you can find a well-loved LR3 HD with under 120k miles or so for less than $15-16k, that is a good buy right now. Expect to hover ~$30k for a perfect, low miles '13 LR4.