By George Collins (Zinhead) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 10:48 pm: Edit

C:\My Documents\My Pictures range_06.jpg

This is a shot of the new fully independently sprung Range Rover in action. More pictures can be found here:

http://www.autoreview.ru/cgi-bin/gallery.pl?idir=LandRover/Range_rover_2001

By PerroneFord on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 10:57 pm: Edit

My 91RR flexes better. I'd say this is kinda disappointing.

By D Cantrell (Discodad) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 11:00 pm: Edit

70+k for that. HeHeHeHe

By Mud Man (Clarance) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 11:11 pm: Edit

If there was ever a case for leaving well enough alone, i think this it.

By Erik Olson (Jon) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 12:02 am: Edit

What on earth has BMW done to the Range Rover?

Clever article this month in LROI about how the Discoverys used to support BMW vehicles in the 1998 Dakar Rally ended up finishing 12th and 15th out of 41 vehicles in their class. The Beamers? Oh, yeah - they didn't quite make it.

Apparently, BMW was so enthused about the support vehicle's (they didn't actually formally enter LR product for the sake of racing LR product) success in the race that they sent the vehicles to scrap.

Luckily both were saved from a thorough crushing by LR staffers who caught wind of the dastardly plot.

Cheers,

Erik

By gp (Garrett) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 08:22 am: Edit

but it has those really neat O back up sensors!!!

By 94Rover on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 11:56 am: Edit

I'ma stay hush because I like it. I watched the video over and over and over.

Some of you may not understand this analogy, but I'm going to write it anyway.

When I was in elementary school, my mom and dad would always remind me to change into my play clothes before I went outside and got the "new" clothes all messy and torn-Even my "new" tennis shoes had to be worn. Now my parents didn't make me change because "new" clothes couldn't be purchased, but because there were those times I needed to appear neat and decent-ie-School pictures, dinner on the weekends etc.
I enjoyed getting new clothes every now and then, but I always looked forward to the day when my "new" clothes were turned into my play clothes, including my "cool" tennis shoes.

Now the point to this is to remind many of us that its always time sometimes to think outside of the box-we are enjoying what we have turned our current Rovers into, Don't we? well, think like this-if we could afford it, wouldn't we think of the new Rover as that great pair of shoes that one day will be "our play shoes"-

O I sit and wonder sometimes if the "The Series guys" back in their day welcomed the "Classic Range Rover with raised eye brows- Until that actullay got behind the wheel and really understood that the Range Rover was a leap of updated comfort and would allow them different options of wheeling I'm sure the were converted- hell, look at the series owner of today-I'm sure some of them own Disco I's and II's, and yes I remember when the DiscoI appeared, lot of haters emerged-but-look, a web page devoted to the Disco-

I took this time to just point out why I really can't speak bad about the "Highly Anticipated Range Rover"-it is far superior to all the other CRAPSUV's that are out today, and even if some of the technology that we are now comfortable with has been advanced for this model, I welcome the change, and I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ONE PASS ME BY.
Visit the LANDROVER USA SITE and register for a pass code to see the clever marketing of this new ROVER.

Now after I've spent the day on the ROCKS and in the MUD, in my HEAVY DUTY CLASSIC- Gee, it sure would be real nice to wheel this thing to the cheapest Restuarant in town to take the family to dinner in-"
Oh, I'll have the childs dinner please"

Comments please, and lets focus on the future(I TRY TO) and think-would you want to settle for something less nicer than this to travel in-I doubt it-Oh well there is always the current Bently.


94Rover

p.s. what are the current D-90 owners going to say when and if the "new" Defender hits the shores- probably the same Negative talk- people everything must change. And I really don't think if the plant had stayed in "SolHill" it(LAND ROVER) wouldn't have evolved to look this good-they would've had the same joy in creating what we have here today-

THESE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS-nothing to get huffy and puffy about.

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 01:01 pm: Edit

yes, well the new RR is like a tuxedo. it will never be approriate as play cloths. it will look great for weddings and fancy gatherings.

rd

By PerroneFord on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 01:39 pm: Edit

I hope LR sells a million of them. And I hope they take that money and build a truck for the common guy who can't drop $80k for a new vehicle. My only beef with BMW, is why they had to sacrifice off-road ability to dress it up.

The Galendewagon (G500) coming to the US officially is a good example. It's the same truck underneath as it has been for YEARS. Same frame, same lockers, same capability, but wrapped in leather and fine wood. Sure it's boxy, but I bet MB sells everyone they bring over. The funny thing is that the new G-Wagon will probably outwheel the LR and it won't cost that much more.

LR had a clean slate to start with for this truck, and this is the best that they could do. We are in trouble.

-P

By D Cantrell (Discodad) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 01:46 pm: Edit

Perrone The Galendewagon is the ultimate but big $$$. A new 4.6SE plus a used Disco for the same price

DD

By Craig on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:15 pm: Edit

I want one-
Craig

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:16 pm: Edit

Actually - the NA spec Gwagon is supposed to be $70-80K - right in line with the new RR

They were really outrageous up to now when they were imported and modiefied to US spec by a private company - around $150K

By TCarr on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:17 pm: Edit

Like it a LOT more than the current RR...looks more like the Classic RR, which i really like.

The existing RR looks like the old generation Mitsu Montero, IMHO.

By Milan on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:23 pm: Edit

Ohe yeah! Nice. I love the rear lights! Now it looks just like every other Honda out there. I want one! NOT!!!!

I bet the magazines like LRW and LROI will rave about them just like they do about Freelander. They'll be saying things like: "In the midst of all the technological advancements LR managed to preserve the vehicles tramendous off-road capabilities for which Rovers are known throughout the world." What a crock of shit! It's like Fourwheeler or JP magazines telling you that Liberty is still a Jeep and a capable off-roader.

I would not have anything against these vehicles if the money made on these was put against manufacture of true 4x4s. Instead it makes someone richer and the selection of 4x4s poorer because if they sell these, they'll make more of the same. Get it? Magazines should instead condemn every piece of crap like this and not praise them but I guess they get paid for that.

Sorry for the harsh words but this topic always makes me flip.

By Milan on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:26 pm: Edit

P.S. at least the lights are LED. That should be standard on all vehicles now.

By William Turner (Wturner) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:28 pm: Edit

You all keep saying 70-80 large for the new RR. I read some where (probably RangeRovers.net) that it was going to be in the $130,000 "Range".

Who knows?

By D Cantrell (Discodad) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:43 pm: Edit

The last true purpose built affordable 4X4 for the US market was the Trail Blazer built after WWII I think. GM bought it up and scraped the Idea. Now look at the POS that bears the name Trailblazer. I wish Rover Group (Ford) would Modify the D90 and 110 to meet the US safety emissions and re import them on a larger scale. In the mid 90s all were sold before arrival. Some dealers had lotteries. I personally would feel really uncomfortable pounding a 150K car off road. or the expected 75 to 90 $ tag. Read the article. Also stated all are being held for celebrity sales. I guess Hummers are out and the Galendewagon is now the new toy of choice for the insanely rich.

By 94Rover on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 02:54 pm: Edit

But when was the Range Rover ever meant to be the WorkHorse. I have been looking and looking to find supporting information that presents the Range Rover as a WorkHorse. Now don't get it twisted, but even the early news releases about the Range Rover from (waaaaaaay back) j/k but the Range Rover from 1970 was introduced as the Sunday Suite for the Farmer- well they(LandRover) catered to those who didn't have it to spend by offering different trim levels for the Range Rover-Hunter, Great Divide etc. Now I'm thinking that the purpose for any new vehicle is to evolve-correct, so the Range Rover was never intended to be the Workdog, and we only alter these current models to do what is in some instances extreme.....shit I'm starting to sound like a plant from the xterra board....nevermind, I like it(Range Rover that is) Hell I lOVE ALL LAND ROVERS, and I'd OWN THEM ALL IF I HAD THE LOOT.

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 03:11 pm: Edit

94Rover, I agree with your sentiments, but I don't think they apply to this new vehicle.

The Range Rover, when introduced, was a leap forward in technology and comfort that still brought out 4WD capabilities and ruggedness. True, the tractor orientated Series crowd most probably poo-poo'd it, but it did perform. As the Classic grew, became the 4.0/4.6, spawned the Disco and Disco II, etc., much of the simplicity went away, but the off roadability was largely maintained.

Based on what I have seen and read of the new RR and of LR's plans for the future, none of the new vehicles will meet the "play clothes" you talk about. I love it when my dress oxfords get a little frayed on cuff and collar and move from work to play shirts, but my suits never will make that jump. Once they are no good for work, that's the end of their usefullness. I won't be wearing an old suit when I go camping or off to the garage to repair my truck. The new RR is a suit, and will never be suitable for play cloths.

As for the last US built true SUV catered for the US market, I would have to go with the IH Scout.

And that would be my $0.02.

By r0ver4x4-Cruiser 4x4 on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 03:41 pm: Edit

I am gonna start looking at Land cruiser before the IFS

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 03:49 pm: Edit

Ford is planning to bring the Defender back to sell in the US, but it may not be the Defender we know now. Ford is trying really hard to get it and the Discovery on a "modified" Exploder frame. That will be the end of Land Rover.

Based on what "94Rover" said, I must be the only Series owner that was excited about the Discovery and embraced Land Rover's smart move when I bought mine in '95. The Discovery was generally as capable as a Series Rover, but offered a comfort factor closer to the Range Rover in a more affordable package. This new Range Rover, however, takes BMW's approach to making a product: trendy, sporty, and expensive. Range Rovers weren't meant to lap the Nurburgring at 200 mph, so independent suspension should only serve as a ride quality improving measure - which is not the design goal of a Land Rover. But independent suspension is the trend among luxury SUVs. And the base MSRP of $79,688 is sure to discourage most buyers from 1) buying the truck, and 2) taking it off-road, so the intended "price prestige" factor will definitely be attached to the new Range Rover. Sure, it will be smooth, refined, powerful, and prestigious, but the heritage of the go-anywhere, rugged estate wagon is gone.

By Phillip Perkinson (R0ver4x4) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 03:54 pm: Edit

I dont like ROvers anymore

By Erik Olson (Jon) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 04:44 pm: Edit

I went to BMC San Francisco this past week to look for an adventure rack and started talking with a salesperson while my 3-year old tried to polish the Bentley parked on the showroom floor with her big scratchy overcoat. (Funny reaction here by the way)

Anyway, I was looking at this Freelander (already had broken glove-box) and thinking "golly this would make a terrific mall-runner". The problem is, BMW is/was focused on incredible street and touring vehicles without comprimise - good show and all that. The uni-body, independent suspension thing was their way of "contributing" to the Land Rover legacy. Ill-advised and definitely out of their element, BMW has put the entire LR marquee in a terribly comprimised position.

Now you have Ford who has proven that they will ruin any and every vehicle they mfg. Lest we forget the incredible horse they once had in the stable, (Bronco 1) which they in turn shot,(Bronco II) and then ran over and flipped onto its side (Exploder).

I for one will not purchase a Discovery Series II with the 18" wheels, lack of factory (activated) CDL, and all the other approach / departure angle issues, etc in favor of another Discovery 1 when the time comes. I see the Discovery II as a comprimise towards the M5, nothing more.

I'm thinking of a late 98 Series 1 with 50K - a nice mall-runner that never saw anything more harsh than crushed-oystershell drives in Marin. With respect to the new Range Rover, Ford can keep it and rebadge it as the Exclusion for its amazing pricepoint.

God Save Land Rover

Cheers,

Erik

By D Cantrell (Discodad) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:08 pm: Edit

When a manufactured adds II to any thing it�s trying to hang on to the "Glory Days" Just like the Movies, a sequel seldom does as well as the original.
The early Rovers were a perfect combination of work horse and primitive Luxury, Basically a D90, 110 with a nice coach, once power windows and door locks were added it went south from there. The Disco killed the Classic RR model, and the Queen needed a new Ride, Princess Di liked the Discos so a �New Rover� was needed, I think it should have named it different Royal Rover?
The Ride is second to none on the Highway a bit gutless on the 0 to 60 for a 75K Vehicle. It�s very nice ride for pulling that Horse trailer from New York to Montana, also beats the hell out of a Suburban for ride and fitment. It�s not a rock crawler never was and never will be, unless your bank account has more 0�s than your brain has cells.

DD

By Phillip Perkinson (R0ver4x4) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:16 pm: Edit

I think its all because of the Smerican market..Its shitty that the 4x4 heritage is sort of disapearing but I guess by todays standards it is a good 4x4...there are a plenty of rovers to be had and for that matter a plenty of quite capable 4x4s I have always been a fan of rover and have talked to an old mechanic that was one of the first rover dealers on the EAST..He is in Eastern NC and still has his big green sign that has the land rover oval and all he is quite a chracter and drives a series II 109" He didnt really seem to like the new rovers at all..If any one needs series rover work in NC he would be the guy to see..anyways I think rover has had tough times and are doing whatever they have to do in order to make a $. the people with all the $ would never take a 4x4 that cost 40K+ off into the woods like most of yall..I have said it before and will say it agian we are the minority of the people in Rovers..o well

By D Cantrell (Discodad) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:51 pm: Edit

Good thoughts ROver4X4

Notice how Rover tricked out the R Rover when it was Introduced back in the late 80s, and also did the same for the D90, 100. I would like to have a no frills non NAS Ex MOD 109 soft top for my Off Road fun, Ah someday

A friend sent me this link has anyone ever bought a LR from him?


http://www.landroverworldflorida.com/TONYS___MAIN/Page_1x.html