Help to buy LR3 or RR Sport

Hi. New here.
Im looking to buy a weekend light off roader. Maybe good to go work (less than 20 miles trip). I’m between a 2006 LR3 V6 Base and a 2013 Range Rover Sport V8 HSE.
The LR3 looks very good outside (buckingham blue) and ok on the inside. Cost around 8k. The RR (Santorini black) needs love on the outside and inside. But the maintenance is good. The RR drives better than the LR3. Stronger due to the engine. But also less suspension sound, less resistant during the air suspension up/down etc. I know I will spend $$ on the RR outside paint in the future. RR cost is $10.5k
I think the body of the LR3 looks better and the third row is a plus. The RR have better tech and sunroof (that also needs maintenance). Both headliners needs replacement but the RR needs more love on the inside.

Forgot 144k miles on the LR3 and 82k miles on the RR Sport.

Based upon year, miles, and maintenance (along with your personal experience driving both) sounds like the RR is the better vehicle. If the situations were reversed and the LR3 was newer, had a lot less miles, and a good maintenance history, I wouldn't think twice about choosing the LR3. But I've got an LR4.

Thanks. For the RR the carfax shown good information. Nothing for the LR3. In PR dealers and excellent garage are the one that send information to carfax. The owner of the LR3 told me about the maintenance but nothing on paper. I’m trusting him due to the shape of the rest.

I have a 2011 RRS SC with close to 200,000km on it . Had it four years now and been pleased on the whole. The RRS is a direct descendant of the LR3 so a lot of similarities. I can’t speak for the V6 in the LR3 but the weak point in the V8 is the timing chains NA and SC . I think the tensioners may have been modified by 2013 but not sure on that . I bought mine at a good price and got lucky when I went to the dealer and got a print out of the maintenance records and the chains / tensioners had been done. It is a big expensive labour intensive job if they wear out. I’ve had to do a water pump - twice because I cheaped out the first time and replaced an air suspension valve in the front and religiously change the oil. I have a scanner that reads Land Rover which is a great help. Not the gap tool a cheaper foxwell one but it has got me this far with diagnosing relatively minor issues. Good luck.

RRS...not a fan of the V6 and the "base" model I think means no air suspension.

Alldazed is incorrect about timing chains being an issue in the V8. He/she is thinking of the 5L V8 in the LR4 perhaps. The 4.4L in the LR3 is bulletproof. The V6, not so sure.....

The 4.0L is the Ford Explorer V6. Timing chain issues too but vey common and cheap. Also a horrible engine. 4.4 all the way

Getting hard to find decent LR3s

Houm_WA said:

RRS...not a fan of the V6 and the "base" model I think means no air suspension.

Alldazed is incorrect about timing chains being an issue in the V8. He/she is thinking of the 5L V8 in the LR4 perhaps. The 4.4L in the LR3 is bulletproof. The V6, not so sure.....

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No. The V8 in the 2013 RR sport which is being considered is the 5L same as the LR4 . Changed in 2010. NA or SC.

alldazed said:

I can’t speak for the V6 in the LR3 but the weak point in the V8 is the timing chains NA and SC .

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Thanks for clarifying....based on your statement I thought "...the V8" you were referencing was the V8 in the LR3.