So, I did take photos, but you have seen all that. The only thing that you perhaps have not seen is what it looks like underneath - I took photos of that too, and I will post them in a day or two.
Anyway, honestly, I was not impressed. It was sitting under the tent at the All British Field Meet here in Portland. They had a 2004 Disco, Freelander, and Range Rover with it. And frankly it did not have the "striking" pose of the old Disco. It certainly has nothing on the looks of the Range Rover, and I would even say that the Freelander has a certain quirky something that the new LR3 is missing. I assume that the exterior is pretty much set. But the interior of this particular one was very nice, but not... well, it was a cross between a Ford F150 and the Mercedes. In fact, everytime I walked by the tent I took another look and kept getting this bad Ford taste in my mouth. The seats were comfortable, nicely designed, the gadgets were very cool (but they didn't turn anything on for us) and according to the photos I have seen of it off-road, it has good articulation and good overall off-road abilities - for the casual off-roader like me who does go out and have fun to the point of getting challenged by the terrain, but never damaged. The clearance is abismal under the body, there is lots of plastic, even underneath - not just around the fenders. I like the looks less in person than in recent photos. I really thought it was growing on me but seriously, it was like, blaaaa... when I walked up to it.
Maybe it's just that I walked up on it from the rear (Yuck!) or maybe it's that the rest of the area around me was covered with 200+ Rovers from a mint 1956 fire truck, to the 2004 Range Rover next too it. Maybe it's that I just sold my 1994 yesterday, and was particularly tempermental about defending the true Discovery line. Whatever it was, Land Rover will sell a lot of them, but I really think Ford had a lot of Explorer influence here...
We got back in our Java Black 2003 S model and felt better than ever that we had bought it just a month ago. My wife caught me cleaning it in the garage and started listing all the things she liked better about it compared to the LR3. Let's hope the selltoamerification of Land Rover stops with the LR3.
All that bad news said, now this: I am recommending it for my mom, who saw it also, and really loved it. But she is a grandma who needs a safe, reliable suv to do normal driving in. Also, the dealer who was there said that they are bringing diesels in 2008, I assume this will be a part of the new Defender. Keep your fingers crossed. Anyway, that will mean by 2010 there will be a good selection of "new" Rover diesel engines to pick up on eBay!!
Anyway, honestly, I was not impressed. It was sitting under the tent at the All British Field Meet here in Portland. They had a 2004 Disco, Freelander, and Range Rover with it. And frankly it did not have the "striking" pose of the old Disco. It certainly has nothing on the looks of the Range Rover, and I would even say that the Freelander has a certain quirky something that the new LR3 is missing. I assume that the exterior is pretty much set. But the interior of this particular one was very nice, but not... well, it was a cross between a Ford F150 and the Mercedes. In fact, everytime I walked by the tent I took another look and kept getting this bad Ford taste in my mouth. The seats were comfortable, nicely designed, the gadgets were very cool (but they didn't turn anything on for us) and according to the photos I have seen of it off-road, it has good articulation and good overall off-road abilities - for the casual off-roader like me who does go out and have fun to the point of getting challenged by the terrain, but never damaged. The clearance is abismal under the body, there is lots of plastic, even underneath - not just around the fenders. I like the looks less in person than in recent photos. I really thought it was growing on me but seriously, it was like, blaaaa... when I walked up to it.
Maybe it's just that I walked up on it from the rear (Yuck!) or maybe it's that the rest of the area around me was covered with 200+ Rovers from a mint 1956 fire truck, to the 2004 Range Rover next too it. Maybe it's that I just sold my 1994 yesterday, and was particularly tempermental about defending the true Discovery line. Whatever it was, Land Rover will sell a lot of them, but I really think Ford had a lot of Explorer influence here...
We got back in our Java Black 2003 S model and felt better than ever that we had bought it just a month ago. My wife caught me cleaning it in the garage and started listing all the things she liked better about it compared to the LR3. Let's hope the selltoamerification of Land Rover stops with the LR3.
All that bad news said, now this: I am recommending it for my mom, who saw it also, and really loved it. But she is a grandma who needs a safe, reliable suv to do normal driving in. Also, the dealer who was there said that they are bringing diesels in 2008, I assume this will be a part of the new Defender. Keep your fingers crossed. Anyway, that will mean by 2010 there will be a good selection of "new" Rover diesel engines to pick up on eBay!!
I just got back from the dealer and they had a black LR3 HSE on the floor. I have to say until now I have hated the looks of this thing. I actually looked really good in person in my eyes. It is a far cry from your traditional Disco, but I could get used to it. The back was what I was really unsure about until seeing one. It isn't great but isn't as bad as the pictures make it out to be. The three sunroofs were nice and the interior was really comfortable. It would be nice to drive it daily and have a designated trail truck on the side.