By Steve (Steve2) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 06:25 am: Edit

this topic was started inside the "how much plastic" can they hang thread - i thought it deserved it's own thread.

URS is a continual situation i run into with my 99sd7 series one. people see it and immediatiely say 'range rover' (even though it is a discovery and says so!) and as soon as that is established in their minds, next is $50-60K and he must be loaded.

to me the 'halo' effect is a direct result of the original rangie launch in the late 80's. they did too good of a job establishing it as a premium upmarket suv. also what continually fuels the URS is land rover/ range rover's inseparable identification with british aristocracy and royalty. perhaps this is a genetic 'memory' from colonial days (seriously!).

i have friends who say 'wow - you must be doing well' only to find out i paid less for mine then they did for their run of the mill cars and suvs! i even went out with a woman who turned out to be more of a gold digger than even she thought - when she found out i was a regular 'joe' suddenly she was busy!

needless to say there will never be a cure for URS as is there is no cure for stupidity, i can only continue to tell friends how much i paid and watch their jaws drop. i enjoy the hell out of mine and really enjoy driving it everytime i get in.

steve

By C. Ross on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 07:53 am: Edit

"URS", if you label it then it's a problem... Before I gave in and bought a Pickup truck, I was constantly telling people how little I paid for the Disco. I just sold the "pickup" that I bought to keep people from judging my status by what I drive. I'm going to install the lift, winch, bars, steel wheels etc... to the Disco so maybe people won't be so impressed

Ross

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 08:13 am: Edit

Every body at work calls mine a Range Rover too.. I keep telling them the difference but, they just don't get it.. I even try to explain to them that Land Rover makes them both and that they are just two different models.. Most don't even understand that Range Rover isn't the company but a model name.. I just get the glossy eyed look from them.. But, around here (Tysons Corner N.VA) every body has a BMW, Volvo, Porche, Audi, or Merc... So a Disco goes pretty un-noticed when it comes to expensive cars. I did have a gold digger come up to me once at a bar and was hitting on me till the little woman showed up.. She spotted the watch that my fiance got me as an engagement present and thought I must have money. Mostly I just get "Wish I had that much money to go and beat up a Range Rover in the woods like you do." I just tell them "You think this is nice you should see my house."

By Andy Nix (Andy) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 08:21 am: Edit

I get that all the time. I'm kind of sick of it-

Glad I'm not the only one.

Andy

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 08:31 am: Edit

I've left my "ultra-expensive" Range Rover Discovery muddy for that past two weeks. That quiets the crowd down a bit!

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 08:37 am: Edit

Uh, I just posted under the other thread, but it should have gone here.... oh, well....


Here at work, the secretaries and all of my co-workers have the "it's a Range Rover" thoughts... at first I tried and tried to convince them otherwise, but finally realized that it was hopeless.

I'm looking out the window at my Disco, the lone Rover in the parking lot, and then look at all of the J**p GCs that are all around it. Lots of pick-ups, regular Cherokees, and assorted other SUVs, too. Half of 'em cost more than the Disco, but if you asked any once of 'em, they'd all say that mine was the most expensive. Ah, well.... guess I'll let 'em live with their misconceptions....


-L

By 94Rover on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 09:13 am: Edit

Hey, I'm glad to find out that it wasn't me only...
The way I usually describe it to people is to start out saying that it's a Land Rover, Range Rover.....Their mouths drop...then I say, Toyota Camary, Toyota Corrolla, Toyota LandCruiser....They usually say ok....Then I tell them that the next LandRover you'll see me in is a LandRover Discovery......they then say, oh, thats the one that looks like the Lexus truck....I say NO! thats a Land Cruiser.....I then say, the one that has the alpine windows, the windows on the top.... a Disco...then I usually get a long pause....followed by, Disco.....then I say yeah, Discovery......
I'm 29, 30 in 23days, and I always get the "what do you do for a living"? I'm a not-so-rich poor Accountant....
Then I hear, I thought Accounts were frugal.....

What we should start doing is telling people that these vehicles cost way to much money, and we have 15 year finance options.....wait till you see the mouths drop then......
BTW, my Range Rover has an ARB bull bar, W9000 winch, skid plates, recovery loops, aux. lights, scratches, OME medium coils, roof rack......and people still call it the "Rich peoples SUV".....

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 09:24 am: Edit

Damn 94Rover, you have to be rich to have all those great toys on your $60,000 dollar SUV

By 94Rover on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 09:53 am: Edit

Nah Eric, just cutting corners a little, rob Peter to pay Paul....As the saying goes, you have to eat an elephant one bite at a time....And my 1994 Range Rover is worth $85,000.00 today. :-) only because I got a wave coming down BW parkway this morning on my way to work.
Yesterday it was valued at $115,000.00 because a guy on 16th street in a Dodge Durango let me merge into his lane because a Metro bus was letting out passengers. It took me about a year and a half to get all those "non-dealer" options....but believe me, the most valuable option on my Rover is the battle scratches.....
I wonder what the value of my Rover will be when its time to leave for my commute home.....Hey, I just thought of another topic....

Today at lunch I wanted to drive into Alexandria, and another co-worker mentioned he would drive....check this.....I was thinking so hard for a reason to drive, that I told him I wanted to drive because I'd probably be better off buying gas now during lunch instead of during rush hour.....I just wanted to drive my Rover....
What reasons if any do you all make up just to drive?

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 10:35 am: Edit

I know what you mean 94Rover.. I just started adding things to my 98 Disco. It's funny, I wave to other owners around here (N.VA) and they look at me like "Who the hell are you and why are you waving at me".. Now I just don't even bother unless they have a lift, dents/scratches, winch, or rock sliders or something.. Then you ussually get waves back as they bought it to drive it not to pretend that they are rich or as a status symbol.. No one ever lets me in front of them though.. Too big and slow and every one around here has the me first attitude and they are the only people that matter on the planet. I haven't had to worry about the driving thing. Every one always wants me to drive. They never want to drive.

By Jon E. Yermo (Jon) on Friday, August 03, 2001 - 07:50 am: Edit

I'm always looking for an excuse to drive the Disco. My wife bought a Honda for commuting, but I still drive the Discovery to work about half the time! Her car is nice, full of Honda options and reliability - I still prefer the LR.

My Disco (95 NAS) is worth around $35K with mods, and this answer seems to keep everyone in the Presumption Department satisfied. Why tell them I have less than $18K into it?

I am also disturbed by the lack of camaraderie amoungst Disco / LR drivers, I'd heard that I would get waves from everyone that I came across behind the Solihull marquee. Maybe that's why I like the D'web so much?

God Save Land Rover!

-Erik

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Friday, August 03, 2001 - 10:11 am: Edit

Depends on location....

Here in Upper East Tennessee/ Southwestern Virginia, we all wave to each other.... Defenders, Discos, Series, Rangies....

But if I drive down to Knoxville or up to Richmond, the new ones just don't care.

I've never been in a Series that someone in another Series didn't wave, tho'....

-L

By DiscoDogg on Friday, August 03, 2001 - 11:20 am: Edit

People always let me in, although cats give me a lot attitude at crosswalks--thats' why I have the ARB. Otherwise I don't experience any URS.

By buy mine! on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 06:47 am: Edit

The looks I get tell me my Discovery must be worth far more than I've paid. People tend to get that "monkey-doing-a-math-problem" look when they see my house and then see what I drive. Can't for the life of them figure out how the two go together.

URS has developed into a practical problem for me. I have been trying to sell my Discovery, and I can tell that some people that would otherwise be prospective buyers won't even consider it, because of their perceptions of what a used one must cost. When they see what I'm asking for it (close to kbb retail value), they assume it must have serious problems to be selling so cheap!

By Steve (Steve2) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 11:35 am: Edit

it just happened again today.. went to a client who owns a prestige repair auto shop - and he called it a "range rover"

steve

By Rush on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 11:57 am: Edit

yesterday on Rush Limbaugh, a guy called in talking about his Range Rover (in reference to actually saving on gas use by combining his previous Suburban for snow travel, HD Pickup for towing, and commuter car into one Range Rover). Anyway, this guys says, "I drive a Range Rover.." and Rush said, "So you're referring to a Land Rover vehicle?" and the guy says, "No, it's a Range Rover." and Rush says, "Yes, it's made by Land Rover." and the guys says, "It's a Range Rover...Range Rover/Land Rover...same thing." What a maroon.

By EricRat on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 06:23 pm: Edit

On a motorcycle I wave to everyone, my little 500 cc flat black rice burner, I wave to Harley and Gold Wings and choppers and everybody else. Usually I get a wave back sometimes not.

I think I have decided to wave at everyone "behind the Solihull marquee". The mall moms I usually see behind a disco will think, what is that long haired biker guy in a Disco he probably stole waving at ME for.

Maybe I'll start a trend.

By Bud on Thursday, August 09, 2001 - 01:47 am: Edit

I have come to the conclusion, after driving two different Land Rovers over the past 5 years, that owners can be placed into two categories. The first, who will usually wave back, are the same ones that will initiate a wave at a fellow owner. The key word here is "fellow". They purchsed their Land Rover for reasons that most visitors to this site recognize as the key values of the marque. These folk are part of the family. The group. The club. Most importantly, they have the "we're all in this together" mind set. Therefore, we acknowledge one another in passing, whether acquainted or not. Most of us any way.

Then, there is the other group, which isn't really a group at all, just a large number of individuals who can be recognized by the fact that they don't want to be recognized by other Land Rover owners because they want to be the unique in owning one and be held in awe by those that don't own one. Or, they are just too absorbed in what ever it is they are doing (besides driving) to pay attention to the fact that there is another Land Rover on the planet.

And before the arrows start flying, let me mention that the Soccer Mom that I am married to waves at EVERY Land Rover she sees. Even if its some jerk on a trail in a Disco that is too good to wave back. Happens.

Bud

By DieHard Waver on Thursday, August 09, 2001 - 02:34 am: Edit

I wave to every Land Rover that I see, and then I don't worry about if they wave back or not. The other driver might not see me, might not have a free hand because they have both hands on the wheel being a responsible driver (hehehe), might not care, or might not even recognize another Land Rover. So what? Have they slighted you by not waving? You might just make the other driver's day better by waving, or at least make them think you are some kind of lunatic. So what have you got to lose, go ahead and wave! Or, hang your head out the window (like you're rock crawling) and holler a bit! You never know, both of you might be waiting for the other one to wave first.

BTW - I feel the same way about waving to other motorcycles. When I'm riding, I wave to everything with two wheels and a motor, even though there are many who will not participate if you are not riding a certain brand, etc. My day is not any worse if they don't wave back, but is often better if they do! (You can really see the confusion when you are riding a motorcycle and, out of habit, wave to a Land Rover.)

Wow. sorry about the ramble.

By EricRat on Thursday, August 09, 2001 - 06:51 am: Edit

LOL I hadn't even thought about that! It is bound to happen, I've reen riding/driving about 50/50 lately.

I should have been more Succinct with the "mall mom" comment, I meant nothing ill mannered.

As a gentleman in the "Do you off road" thread mentioned, I have never seen a muddy/modified Disco in my area either, perhaps I have become paranoid that they are all in the "want to be unique" non-group.

No longer predisposed,

Eric

By David on Thursday, August 09, 2001 - 07:36 am: Edit

Go to the LRM site www.lrm.co.uk , and check out their sticker on the main page. "Wave and be waved at."

By lynden on Friday, August 10, 2001 - 06:59 am: Edit

Here's a fun little one, over on the Road and Track forums page someone started a thread about favorite SUV's. Towards the end one guy lists

1. ???Crap???
2. Range Rover
3. Land Rover
4. ???Crap???

This guy really likes his rovers. Not only does he like the Rangie but also loves every Rover made.

I'm pretty sure he doesn't know what he's talking about. It was funny though that all the clowns over there are listing CRV's, Cherokee's and other useless crap. Hardly anyone mentioned the Rover family. I had to "educate" them a little.

Lynden

By KarenJones on Friday, August 10, 2001 - 06:49 pm: Edit

Oh geez, I've been dreading this very issue. Long before I was on the track to getting my Discovery, I was anticipating the comments. I have my own business and when we built our very modest new home a few years ago, a long term customer really ticked me off. She looked at the house under construction and said, "What part of that did *I* pay for?" Excuce ME madame, but as I recall I provide fee-for-service, and I don't second-guess your personal choices (which include vehicle changes every 18 months). Hell, even when I got my Volvo, a stripped down 240 DL 15 years ago (bottom of the line, it didn't even have a radio!) I endured all the Yuppie jokes. I didn't even know it was considered a yuppy car, I just knew I wanted a safe vehicle.

I REALLY don't want to hear it about my new Disco, I've waited 15 years between new car purchases. My mother gave me some great advice today, since she gets this same crap about her nice luxury class cars (Caddies and Lincolns). She said, "When they say, 'Well, it must be NICE!', just smile and say, "Yes, it is." My mom's got it all pretty much figured out.....people just put their mouth on whatever they want to. I'm trying to be as smart as she is......

Karen

By Roverine on Saturday, August 11, 2001 - 10:21 am: Edit

I started waving at all other Rovers a couple of months ago, even though I expressed some cynicism about responses in my area. Well, I've been pleasantly surprised ... I've recieved 2 waves back, both of them were from Rangies, & one was another woman who waved at exact same time. The guzillion other mostly new ones around here generally don't get it - That's okay, people are always telling ME that they saw me driving somewhere and I didn't see them. I apparently drove right by my own husband & son last week, and didn't notice(?!?!?) (I do notice when I accidently run over objects, and other people, etc. though - he he he) I make it a habit to wave whenever I can now. I also wave out of respect if I see a just plain AWESOME (unique) vehicle of any sort that I admire. As for the URS, like I said before, a Rover is almost considered farther down on the "prestiege meter" around here, and I don't care what people think or don't think anyway.

Kim (Rambling Roverine)
Well... I have to admit that as far as valet parking went with my old 4X4, I used to be a little more self concious .. compared to most of the other vehicles, I thought I should just tie a ladder on the side, and maybe stick a bale of hay in the back ...

By John C. on Tuesday, August 14, 2001 - 10:41 am: Edit

I wave to other LR owners here in NYC, usually they wave back: one finger salute.... oh well!!!

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Tuesday, August 14, 2001 - 11:09 am: Edit

Yesterday at the Pep Boys parking lot while loading my haul of gear oil into the back of my Series IIA, a guy came over and wanted to know if my truck had the "air suspension that would make it go up and down". I was a bit stunned and wasn't prepared to reply.

By Murray (Cdnrvr) on Tuesday, August 14, 2001 - 11:20 am: Edit

a buddy's wife called mine an 'OJ white Bronco' when she first saw it ... from what my buddy later told me, the look I apparently gave her was punishment enough

By wisker on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 03:15 am: Edit

I got the comments pretty bad at work. I bought the my disco just about the time I took this job. Consequently as I pulled into the parking lot everyone sees "the new young engineer who they must be paying buckets of money to drive that." That's settled down quite a bit.
I also run into the "oh it's a Range Rover" coments. I've given up trying to correct them. I even had to get my windshield replaced. When the guy searched for land rover discovery in the computer nothing came up. He then searched for Range Rover Discovery and it appeared. Whatever.
Mostly here in a very small po-dunk town in Mississippi no one knows what the hell my truck is. I've had people argue with me that it's a toyota. There are 5 rovers total in this town (probably county). 3 Rangie classics, 1 disco II, and my disco 1. The rest are owned by doctors who have no interest in getting there expensive SUVs dirty.

Oh well,

wisker

By Bud on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 03:55 am: Edit

Hmmm. Small po-dunk town in Mississippi. Wouldn't happen to have a hanger at the local airport with big puple letters on it?

Bud

By Karen Jones on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 06:54 am: Edit

Jeff,

I just came back from my local saddlery (45 minutes away, not too local but a nice reason to drive the new machine) and the guy at the store said the same thing to me! He said, "Oh, when you got out, it didn't go down like the last guy's did. Does yours do that?" My blank look must have shown what I know. He said it could have been a Range Rover, but it lowered about a foot just before the driver exited. I don't have a clue, but then I'm a L.R. newbie. I DID get the, "So I see YOU'RE doing alright in the horse business", comment. I just smiled and said, "I guess I'm doing my job." It really wouldn't do for these people to know that most of the Explorers, minivans, pick-ups and other assorted things that bring our customers probably cost more than my Disco.

Karen ;)

By 94Rover on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 07:50 am: Edit

Honest truth...
I was on my way out to pic up my clothes from the cleaners and I was greated with an ummmmm, you drive the Range Rover, you get to leave your job in the middle of the day to pick up your clothes from the cleaners it must be nice.....
I had a blank look on my face----then I was asked how I enjoyed my Range Rover.......I said well, its a 1994Range Rover, and when I bought it, I should've just purchased the Bentley I was driving around in before I decided on the Range Rover......
Bentley?, I said "yeah, I couldn't make up my mind, but I was convinced when I got stranded in the snow storm driving the 1997Bentley"....."I guess it was the weight of the leather seats". With a devilish grin on my face.

Last word spoken to me was "It must be nice", I replied with a snobbish, "yep", meanwhile I'm annoyed that I am spending 22.00 to get some shirts out of the cleaners...., and I'm wondering who's looking for me back at the office....., then I turned to say good day, and I mentioned that I was also picking up a Land Rover Disco, in about a month.......thats when I felt the knife of hatred being forced into my back....Co-workers, just let them think and wonder....

By wisker on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 08:16 am: Edit

Yes Bud in fact we do and if you notice my email I'm not going to say much more about it.

wisker

So, what brought you through, around, or over the swamp where I reside?

wisker

By Bud on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 08:29 am: Edit

Your e-mail address was the tip off. I have flown into "there" a couple of times on my way to Newton. We have a sister plant there. The guy who does my job there is the spouse of a former employee of your company. If I find out I'm going to be in the area, I'll let you know.

Bud, from a smaller po-dunker town in Missouri.

By Murray (Cdnrvr) on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 10:19 am: Edit

just wonder what is worse ... po-dunker town or two mosquito town ... ya see the mosquito's ate the two horses

Murray

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 10:34 am: Edit

Hey, there are some good things to be said about living in a small town.. There is almost always an empty seat at the bar Well, if you have one that is.

By MA on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 10:40 am: Edit

Comments I often hear about my Disco:
1) People at school say "I like your Trooper" ,"Neat little J**p", "that's bad ass, it's a grocery getter and a trail machine!"
2) Soft-whisper "damn spoiled bastards" whenever me and my friends park in a crowded place. They drive 80's bimmers and classic RR's that look nice....I payed 10G for my Disco. Looks like a range rover to the un-trained eye.
3) "Wow, it has a stick, those are rare" from my local LR dealership
4) "I'll pay $15,000 for it" from people in different dealerships
5) "You boys have some guts driving Range Rovers to a J**p event" It's always fun to observe J**ps get stuck.

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 10:48 am: Edit

I still want to know what planet the was from when he asked me if the below truck had the "air suspension that would make it go up and down".



On the other hand, sometimes you're better off not knowing...

Jeff

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 07:08 am: Edit

You could always let some air out of the tires to make it go down.....

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 07:11 am: Edit

But then I'd have to explain the lack of leather, A/C, radio, traction control, etc... ;-)

By lynden on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 12:18 pm: Edit

Jeff, I thought you were talking about an older Rover. What the hell was the guy thinking??? Don't get me wrong, good looking rig, but if it has amenities like seatbelts I'd be impressed (who needs that pansy crap for real wheelin').

I about laughed my ass off when I saw your last post!!!

Sometimes it makes you wonder... really wonder.
lynden

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 03:51 pm: Edit

What was even more fun was when I went to register it at the DMV. Smartass inspection agent "Mr. Know-it-all" refused to talk to me so I refused to offer any information. Took the moron almost 20 minutes to find the vin (the plate is on the interior bulkhead) and almost another 20 minutes while he searched for smog gear. I finally told him it's a '65 and didn't need to be smoged. After that, it was of to the computer to get it into the system for another 20 minutes while they tried to find 1965 Land Rovers under SUV. I gave up and told him to look under station wagon.

Oh well. Unfortunately, government jobs tend to draw from the short end of the gene pool.

By Steve (Steve2) on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 05:56 pm: Edit

jeff-

you should of showed him the air suspension on your range rover......

steve