Pre-owned LR3 as Disco replacement ?

[Amm134]

Now that some pre-owned LR3s are becoming available, I've started looking at whats out there for a possible replacement of my 02' Disco.

What do LR3 owners think of your 1 or 2 year old LR3s ?

I'm at the crossroads with my 02' Disco with 96k miles, not sure I want to keep putting money into it for repairs or part with it and pick up a pre-owned LR3 with wty.

My needs are for towing a small fishing boat and a daily rider.

Your thoughts ?

 

[Puddle Pirate]

I have a DII and an LR3. I got the disco so i would have something to go wheelin with. The LR3 is definetly a nice vehicle for the family. I give my wife a hard time about it being a girls LR because they got input from women when designing it. But all kidding aside it is quite capable. I've seen one in action and was impressed. Right now everything is under warranty and the dealership has taken care of the problems I've had. It has plenty of power to tow anything you want and has more room inside for hualing stuff. My son is 10, I plan on giving him my disco when he starts deiving and then I'll inherit the LR3 and really see what it will do.

 

[Amm134]

Well, I test drove an 06' LR3 V6 yesterday.

My observations were:

The V6 feels equally as sluggish as the 4.0 in my 02' Disco. Not awful, just not a whole lotta zip. With better lease deals on the LR3 V8, I will now be putting my attention towards the V8 should I decide to go thru with this.

IMO the LR3 ride had more in common with our Ford Expedition than my current Disco. It wasn't as "boaty" as the Expedition but it felt more massive than the Disco.

That said, the LR3 look is growing on me. I guess I'm in the fact gathering stage... just about where I was 3-6 months before I got the 02' Disco.

 

[azarmadillo]

We beat the crap out of an LR3 for 8 days straight off road. It did everything we did and did it with street tires. If you wanted a newer vehicle to off road with and didn't want to modify it in anyway, I don't think you could go wrong w/ an LR3.

 

[nwoods]

If you get a used LR3, be sure to negotiate into the deal (assuming you get it at a dealer), all the service enhancements to bring it up to date. There have been a few items in the earlier models, but they are all resolved now, and under warranty they should all be brought current. Make sure that it is current!

 

[Amm134]

On a side note:

The dealer I went to was able to quote better lease deals on a new V8 compared to a V6 demo with 6k miles... the V8s priced out better, but still an expensive proposition.

 

[bgsntth]

I'm with Amm134. I was originally going to buy a used LR3, but unless you are buying a relatively high mileage (+30K on the odo), an equivalent new '06 can be had for cheaper. With the $6K in marketing support, $1.5K LRNA certificate, and dealer's discount, $10.5K below MSRP is what you can expect to pay for an V8 w/ Rear, Cold, Tech, and lighting. This can also be leased for $0 drive-off and $549 a month (no tax).

 

[Amm134]

Yep, bgsntth and with a few bucks out of pocket I could be looking at a lease of around $400 a month, if I choose to go that route. Pretty incredible number compared to other brands.

Of course, getting my 02' Disco traded in without a loss will not be easy.

 

[utahdog2003]

Unless you are running $549 a month in repairs, keep the Disco. I don't think making payments on a car is not the way to manage your expenses. Leasing a car even less so.

If you just have a hankerin' for something new, then just get a rack or bumper or Nav of some sort.

 

[Amm134]

Unless you are running $549 a month in repairs, keep the Disco. I don't think making payments on a car is not the way to manage your expenses. Leasing a car even less so.

If you just have a hankerin' for something new, then just get a rack or bumper or Nav of some sort.

No offense but I don't come here for financial advice, thanks.

That said, I'm looking to just "swap payments" and get close to $400 a month as I currently have a monthly payment on the Disco (you assumed it was paid off, which it is not).

And the thought of another Head Gasket repair or Short Block (both real possibilities one of which I've already done) scare me, not to mention the rest of the cooling system repairs both past, current and future (I'm sure).

 

[jbrockiii]

I just bought an '06 LR3 with about 6,000 miles on it and am really enjoying it thusfar. Haven't taken it off road yet, as this is my busy work season, but plan to soon. Drives great. I am leary about the air spring system, since I've owned an older RR with air spirngs- although I'm hopeful that LR has got this system down pat by now.

One thing I don't like is that you can not put the air spring system on highest ground clearance and leave it there indefinitely. I know LR did this for better driving on road, safety, etc., etc.- but I like to sit high all the time. And I like to jump a curb every now and then without having to think about the clearance. I believe, from what I've read here, that you can not convert to regular shocks/springs either.

I jumped in, without even having a local dealer, closest dealer is at least 250 miles away. However, I knew what I was getting into, as this is my 4th LR. If you've got a local dealer and are buying a new or realitively new Disco./LR3 under warranty, then I'd say go for it.

 

[utahdog2003]

No offense but I don't come here for financial advice, thanks.

That said, I'm looking to just "swap payments" and get close to $400 a month as I currently have a monthly payment on the Disco (you assumed it was paid off, which it is not).

And the thought of another Head Gasket repair or Short Block (both real possibilities one of which I've already done) scare me, not to mention the rest of the cooling system repairs both past, current and future (I'm sure).

Swap payments...and extend the term of your note out another 3 or 4 years? :ack: Maybe you should go somewhere for financial advice. Your 400 bucks put in your pocket every month for three years works out to $14,400 (I'll let you work up your earned interest relative to where you decide to stash your cash ) Put it away pre-tax and make even more.

I don't have an opinion either way on the LR3, but If your car runs, you should keep it. You don't need to buy an LR3. I'm also not trying to be a dick here about your financial decisions, but this thread comes up all the time on this board, and if more people pointed out the negatives of buying a car on credit then less folks would do it and all of us would be better off.

Used to be that "making payments" was the short term thing we tolerated while we worked to achieve ownership, now "making payments" has somehow become the accepted cost of driving. Welcome to America!atriot:

 

[roverover]

I am in the same boat now. I am looking at either a '03 RR or an LR3 and just wondered if anyone was using one for a tow vehicle. The towing cap is 7700 lbs which is about the same as other LR's which will tow to a point but the engine was the biggest downfall. With the 4.4 BMW engine or the 4.4 Ford they should pull fine I just wondered if anyone had tried yet

 

[PacificGroveRover]

Hey guys,

I think I was in your boat! I have a DII and still do. Was looking at a 04 DII or an LR3. I went for the LR3 and have had it for a year. I still like driving my DII, but the LR3 is just a totally different experience.

I agree with your concerns about engine, cooling etc. At 50,000 miles I purchased a 3rd party extended warranty, and once the warranty terminated at 100,000, at retail Land Rover Dealer prices, I charged almost $14,000 against the warranty. Every, seal and gasket was replaced on the car, but that also was my plan. Now since all that work was done, my DII has 140,000 miles on it and it has been flawless.

If your going to do some really hard core off-roading and modify your rig then you might want to lean toward a 04 DII, but if your OK with going everywhere except for the truly hard core stuff then I would pick the LR3. On the road the LR3 makes the DII look like a VW Bus. I have had the two recalls done to my LR3 and had a problem with my right door speaker, but everthing else has been flawless....!

There is some good information on here about towing big trailers or LandRoverworld.org. I am planning on purchasing a big pop up that will top out at 5,000lbs when fully loaded. I will be pulling it all over the Sierras and Rockies not flat land towing. The DII was rated up to 7,700lbs when using low gear only, so that is really misleading. It really is rated at 5,000lbs in high gear, but there is no way I would pull anything close to that over the Sierras and Rockies in my DII. The DII would just struggle. My DII struggles when I have my family of 5 in it and the car and roof rack are loaded. The LR3 is rated to 7,700lbs in high gear and I feel very confident it will pull my 5,000 trailer. I have even done the calculations using the % reduction for every 1,000 feet you gain in altitude. Also go to rangerovers.net to get some solid advice on towing with a 03RR. Good Luck!

 

[dmcfan]

One thing I don't like is that you can not put the air spring system on highest ground clearance and leave it there indefinitely. I know LR did this for better driving on road, safety, etc., etc.- but I like to sit high all the time. And I like to jump a curb every now and then without having to think about the clearance. I believe, from what I've read here, that you can not convert to regular shocks/springs either.

I believe you can. When I had one for a loaner I remebered that once it is in the position you want you press and hold the TR switch to that setting until the "lock" light comes on.

Peter

 

[Amm134]

Swap payments...and extend the term of your note out another 3 or 4 years?

Not the case at all. I'm in a totally different situation than the one you suggest.

Stop guessing at my finacial situation, my original post had to do with replacing a Disco with an LR3.

That said, so far after two test drives (both a V6 and V8) I'm finding the LR3 ride to be a much more "boaty" feel to it when compared to my 02' Disco. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine truck with a more modern engine, but it feels pretty damn big out front..... I was a little taken back by the mass of the vehicle.

So, I'm not rushing into anything and I'm also considering keeping the Disco as a "weekender only" and maybe picking up a daily commuter....

 

[gil stevens]

I'm also not trying to be a dick here about your financial decisions, but this thread comes up all the time on this board, and if more people pointed out the negatives of buying a car on credit then less folks would do it and all of us would be better off.

while this isnt the place for financial advice, are you saying that it makes more sense to drop a lump of cash on a car then buy one on credit? how do you arrive at that? while granted the $400 a month payment may add up to $14,400 over time. But $40k dropped in a lump on a new LR3 rather then being put into the proper investment vehicle, i.e. not a depreciating asset, can provide a return of close to $400 a month, there by making a portion of said $400 payment while continuing to maintain the value of the original capital.

maybe im way off here, but why the hell would i ever use my own money for a major purchase of an asset that over time will do nothing but lose value, when i can pay somebody 5.9% to use their money. and therefore keep my own hard earned capital so that it continues to work for me. i dont follow the logic..

 

[nwoods]

Plus, some people get car allowances from their company, or if self owned business, can depreciate the car in a short amount of time and use the vehicle as a tax benefit to their own corporation.

Not all finance deals are bad, there are benefits to some. Amm134, if you are going to get a commuter car in addition to a Land Rover, one surmises that you are going to be off roading the LR more extensively?

As PacificGroveRover said, the D3 (LR3) will get you to 90% of the same areas, with more comfort and control, but for that last 10% of knarly terrain (or deep mud?), the DiscoII properly beefed up would be the way to go. Just depends on how you want to use it.

NW

 

[Amm134]

Amm134, if you are going to get a commuter car in addition to a Land Rover, one surmises that you are going to be off roading the LR more extensively?

Well, the Disco (if kept) would continue to be my "fishing ride", towing a lake boat and going to beaches for surf fishing.... this vehicle has served me well in that area and is not "too nice" for sand, mud and whatever else I encounter.

 

[Roverlady]

Just an idea, but if you like the Disco size but want something a little more reliable than your current 02, what about considering an 03 or 04 DII as an upgrade? The 4.6engine is quite nice and it would still have the overall familiarity of your current DII. You might be able to find one with a few months of warranty left and then purchase the extended optin?

FWIW...