Land Rovers?

I was looking for one of these earlier this year because I love the Disco LR3 also, always have loved them as rugged off road vehicles, together with the older Toyota Land Cruisers. I spoke to my mechanic and a buddy that used to work at a local LR dealership and they both said that unless you're a do it yourselfer or have lots of $$ to dump into one, don't bother.
If you do have tons of cash to spend and want the Ferrari of Land Rovers get a Bowler. These things are awesome!!

http://www.google.ca/images?q=bowle...tle&resnum=4&ved=0CDQQsAQwAw&biw=1280&bih=579
Look it up on YouTube and you'll find videos of them in action.

Either way, good luck with your decision. Oh, and by the way, I ended up picking a Mazda3 GT hatchback which I should take delivery of later this week. Big difference in vehicle but at the end of the day I just wanted something that looked sporty and could haul my photo gear and other stuff without the drain on the wallet from gas bills. We'll see how it goes!
 
Well after reading all the posts I think I might get an older model Land Cruiser.
 
Knifein said:
Well after reading all the posts I think I might get an older model Land Cruiser.
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I think that's probably the wiser choice. Toyotas are a lot cheaper to maintain over all, even cheaper than Nissan and Mazda for parts from what I understand.

Good luck with your purchase!
 
roxtar said:
Land Rover has an image problem here in the US.
We think of them as this boutique brand of high end SUVs
In the rest of the world they're known as the vehicle that goes everywhere/does everything.
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And that is Land Rovers fault because they have always catered to the boutique market instead of doing things like offering stripped down 110s with a diesel and a manual transmission. They didn’t offer those because folks would buy one thinking it would be like a ¾ Dodge diesel and be severely disappointed.

American truck makers have fallen into the same trap of making super fancy trucks.
 
I am on my second LR. The first one was a very basic 1996 Disco with 188,000 miles for $4,000. I had it a little over a year with no problems. I got a hankering for a "new" car and traded it in on a 2004 with 35,000 miles with all the bells and whistles for $20,000 (including 3 TVs and 2 DVD players. The sticker price new was $46,000. This thing couldn't have more things on it.
Well, besides the rear window not rolling down anymore, the $400 tuneup, the leaking oil spots in my driveway (it's OK, I have Harleys too), and the dash falling off in my lap, at 75,000 miles I only owe $15,000 on it> I like the car, but don't love it like I thought I would. I kind of miss the old one. I went to trade it in for a new Jeep (my first love) and they offered me $9,000. Can't wait to get back into a Jeep!
 
how difficult is if to correct a chronic and perpetual oil leakage?

is land rover not able to identify where the oil is leaking from?
 
Knifein said:
I guess I'd be better off with an older model Toyota Land Cruiser.
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if you can swing it, i'd actually suggest one of the new Toyota HiLux TD6s.

'Cruisers and HiLuxs are the "standard" vehicle where I live (outback Queensland, Australia).

the new 'lux is a beautiful vehicle that can take you anywhere you have the skill to drive it.
 
I was gonna mention the HiLux but it isn't sold as the HiLux in North America. I think the original 4Runner in NA was based off the HiLux pickup with a cap on the tray. It has since evolved into the 4Runner we know today in NA.
I think the small Toyota pickup that's sold here is based on the HiLux but I may be wrong. I think they're still sold as the HiLux in Asia, apparently Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and probably more countries that I'm not aware of.
Another non-North American vehicle that I remember when I was growing up in Trinidad is the Nissan Patrol. I believe it's still sold as the Patrol outside of NA. It's about the size of the Pathfinder and I read it's sold here in a modified form but can't remember what model it's called here. It may be something in the Infiniti line up.
 
NaturalMystic said:
I think that's probably the wiser choice. Toyotas are a lot cheaper to maintain over all, even cheaper than Nissan and Mazda for parts from what I understand.

Good luck with your purchase!
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last longer too.. i was inches from getting a land rover. it was a mid 80's something ( i cant remember this was years ago) and the LR techs that i knew at the time all drove toyotas :D.. they loved the LR's 4x4 but they said it wasnt worth the trouble unless you knew how to work on them. even then, they still drove tacomas / 4 runners all of them modded for heavy trail use. i drove jeeps for a few years too. had a few of them. i wont buy them again either. well maybe a wrangler with the 4.0 5spd.. i will never own another grand cherokee though.. had 2, both were crap.
 
NaturalMystic said:
Another non-North American vehicle that I remember when I was growing up in Trinidad is the Nissan Patrol. I believe it's still sold as the Patrol outside of NA. It's about the size of the Pathfinder and I read it's sold here in a modified form but can't remember what model it's called here. It may be something in the Infiniti line up.
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Yes, I have been looking so hard for a Nissan Patrol but they're not sold in the U.S. :grumpy:
 
I have a '97 Discovery with about 100,000 miles on it. So far, I haven't had any problems with anything that makes it go (nor have I had any oil leaks), but there have been a lot of annoying (and expensive) problems with other things, especially "luxury" appointments.

For instance, the rear-view mirror has a feature that's supposed to dim headlights of following cars. It worked for several years, but something in the mirror leaked, and now it's permanently dimmed on the bottom, and not at all on the top. Not big deal, but it would be several hundred dollars to get it fixed.

The cruise control went out several years ago, apparently due to deteriorating hoses (as I understand it, it uses some sort of vacuum system). Not a terribly big deal to fix, but still an annoyance.

And the CD changer quit working years ago.

And the sunroofs have been nothing but trouble. They leaked and it wasn't long before the rear one wouldn't open at all. Both sunroofs are part of the same system, and it was about a thousand dollars to replace it. And after spending all that money, the same thing happened again. Now they're sealed with duct tape.

And then there's the windshield. It's very vertical, which seems to make it especially vulnerable to poorly-covered gravel trucks and stones kicked up by other vehicles. I've had to replace the windshield twice at $500 a pop, and the one I have now is cracked.

Gas mileage is pretty atrocious too. It requires premium gas, and it gets about 11 mpg. On the plus side (sort of), it seems to get the same mileage no matter how fast it's driven and regardless of the terrain. It got the same mileage driving through the mountains of Colorado as it did going 90 mph across Arizona as it does during a regular commute in Southeast Texas. BTW- That 90 mph is getting pretty close to its top speed, and it requires a lot of downshifting to maintain speed on steep hills.

All this might make it sound like a sub-par vehicle, which it is in a lot of ways. But here in East Podunk, the streets tend to flood pretty easily, and we've had more than our share of hurricanes in the past few years. There's a certain sense of satisfaction to be had in driving past all the flooded-out cars and pick-up trucks that didn't have it's 20-inch fording ability. And it's not too bad off road either.
 
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JohnTheTexican said:
I have a '97 Discovery with about 100,000 miles on it. So far, I haven't had any problems with anything that makes it go (nor have I had any oil leaks), but there have been a lot of annoying (and expensive) problems with other things, especially "luxury" appointments.

For instance, the rear-view mirror has a feature that's supposed to dim headlights of following cars. It worked for several years, but something in the mirror leaked, and now it's permanently dimmed on the bottom, and not at all on the top. Not big deal, but it would be several hundred dollars to get it fixed.

The cruise control went out several years ago, apparently due to deteriorating hoses (as I understand it, it uses some sort of vacuum system). Not a terribly big deal to fix, but still an annoyance.

And the CD changer quit working years ago.

And the sunroofs have been nothing but trouble. They leaked and it wasn't long before the rear one wouldn't open at all. Both sunroofs are part of the same system, and it was about a thousand dollars to replace it. And after spending all that money, the same thing happened again. Now they're sealed with duct tape.

And then there's the windshield. It's very vertical, which seems to make it especially vulnerable to poorly-covered gravel trucks and stones kicked up by other vehicles. I've had to replace the windshield twice at $500 a pop, and the one I have now is cracked.

Gas mileage is pretty atrocious too. It requires premium gas, and it gets about 11 mpg. On the plus side (sort of), it seems to get the same mileage no matter how fast it's driven and regardless of the terrain. It got the same mileage driving through the mountains of Colorado as it did going 90 mph across Arizona as it does during a regular commute in Southeast Texas. BTW- That 90 mph is getting pretty close to its top speed, and it requires a lot of downshifting to maintain speed on steep hills.

All this might make it sound like a sub-par vehicle, which it is in a lot of ways. But here in East Podunk, the streets tend to flood pretty easily, and we've had more than our share of hurricanes in the past few years. There's a certain sense of satisfaction to be had in driving past all the flooded-out cars and pick-up trucks that didn't have it's 20-inch fording ability. And it's not too bad off road either.
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This post perfectly describes Land Rover ownership.
The go parts last, it goes through whatever you point it at, and is loaded with nickle-n-dime PITA problems.

The biggest problem with Land Rover is it's insistence on using Lucas for the electrical components.
You can buy T-shirts that say, "Lucas, Prince of Darkness."
Common joke:
"Why do the English drink warm beer? Cause Lucas makes their refrigerators."
 
I like Land Rovers. Up until the Defender. After that the Disco, the LR3. I also had a Land Cruiser FJ40, not the modern stuff. It was a tank. But also not for someone that can't work on their own stuff.

I have a series III land rover. Its not for the get in and drive, bring it to the mechanic guy. But neither is a CJ Jeep.

If you don't have an unnatural attachment to Land Rovers don't jump in. But if you do, come on in, the water is fine.

Check out Atlantic British and Rovers North websites and forums.


Paul
 
i dont get it.. if they have all of that crap that goes wrong with it why do you want it?? i did the jeep thing when i was young and then learned that i dont have to keep replacing parts. just get a tacoma. spend less time whining and more time driving..
 
hung-solo said:
i dont get it.. if they have all of that crap that goes wrong with it why do you want it?? i did the jeep thing when i was young and then learned that i dont have to keep replacing parts. just get a tacoma. spend less time whining and more time driving..
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Because it’s British, they have to take something nice and simple like and used army jeep and turn it into something that doesn’t work.:D
 
Horned Toad said:
Because it’s British, they have to take something nice and simple like and used army jeep and turn it into something that doesn’t work.:D
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heck jeeps have a hard time working too. american version of the LR:rolleyes:.. i will give jeep a few credits.. well 2, the 4.0 inline 6 (a tank of a motor) and the 4x4 system.. thats it..

can anyone explain to me why jeep stopped making the 4.0?? it was the best thing they ever made
 
Well I came to my decision... I'm buying a Toyota Land Cruiser!

Now the question is what year is best for a Land Cruiser.
 
hung-solo said:
heck jeeps have a hard time working too. american version of the LR:rolleyes:.. i will give jeep a few credits.. well 2, the 4.0 inline 6 (a tank of a motor) and the 4x4 system.. thats it..

can anyone explain to me why jeep stopped making the 4.0?? it was the best thing they ever made
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new jeeps may not be so hot but back in the day

from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover

The first Land Rover was designed in 1948 in the United Kingdom (on the island of Anglesey off the coast of Wales) by Maurice Wilks, chief designer at the British car company Rover on his farm in Newborough, Anglesey.[6] It is said that he was inspired by an American World War II Jeep that he used one summer at his holiday home in Wales.[citation needed] The first Land Rover prototype, later nicknamed 'Centre Steer', was built on a Jeep chassis.
 
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