Looking to buy LR3 - a few questions

[EGRIZZLE]

Without a doubt buying any foreign car costs more to maintain, and of those the Land Rovers are on the high side of those expense-wise.

Egrizzle, I know I'm on the lucky side and do feel for everybody that hasn't been so lucky. I've certainly been on the "empty your pockets" side with my 2 P38s and 2 county's in the past, probably spent enough to have paid for my LR3, lol. There were people (youngsters) I wouldn't sell my old rovers too because I was sure they didn't know what they were getting in to.

Bottom line is it's definitely a crap shoot. I think there are probably more 'good' ones than one would think if they only relied on info from forums. As an aside, I bought a BMW motorcycle pre-internet, pre-forums and have spent $200 (my own fault not changing brake fluid) on it in 14 years. I have always just assumed they are completely bulletproof. Had I read the BMW forums like I do now, I may never have gotten one. They sound like the most finicky, expensive motorcycles made.

But you've got to be ready for the chance that things will get spendy or you will end up miserable. Generally I've bought mine with about 25k miles on them and sell at about 70k. I'm hoping this one will stay in the family a lot longer than that, but if it stops behaving, it's outta here.

I understand where you're coming from. I sold my 03 Disco with 100k to a guy whom had an older DI and knew what he was getting into. Mine needed a new heater core and new head gaskets, but he could do all the labor on his own. A girl called me about it whose never had a Disco and I couldn't sell it to her...I would have felt bad

 

[jimbiram]

I suppose the subtlety in what I'm saying here folks is that no, you don't have to wheel your LR3 to enjoy it, but if you haven't already bought it and you're on the fence and worried about maintenance...then not wheelin' it is going to make the pain of maintaining it feel worse. If reliability is a higher priority than performance, then there are other rigs that may be better suited to that particular buyer.

I couldn't say it any better. With 117k miles on mine now, and knowing that just last year I spent $4k on maintenance, I have experienced the best and worst of my 05. But I love it and it is by far the most comfortable, capable, versatile offroad vehicle I have owned. I also expect mine to last a long time, but with eyes open that it will cost me to get there. Any vehicle that goes offroad will take lots of maintenance. Get bigger tires that can handle the load and tire life becomes a non issue.

 

[horacioad]

Ok here are my two cents.... I bought this vehicle (2008 SE), my first LR, primary for two reasons; 1) I think is a beautiful beast and 2) to pull my boat. The only off roading I do is to take the kids to soccer (there's a gravel approach to the parking lot). I am expecting obscene maintenance bills some day, but between the extended warranty that I will purchase soon (expires in Nov.) and the fact that I don't drive it much since I do a lot of travel for work (2008/16500 miles) I am hoping that my headaches will come at a much latter time than most of you have experienced. I will recommend this vehicle to anyone, soccer moms or dads (like me), an off road ****** or even for grandma to go to the casino. In my humble opinion its the most amazing, confortable vehicle I ever had (ok, it's not exactly a smooth ride and the Volvo XC90 I traded for this vehicle was a great car although not as manly as the LR). I know that the true LR purists out there will have a heart attack when I tell them that I baby this vehicle more than I baby my wife and daughter, it has never seen mud, it has not one scratch and I make the kids shower before getting into it. All I can say is that I feel like one bad ass dude when I drive my LR to the PTA meetings! Everything has a price and I am willing to pay it when the time comes. Hopefully not for a while. Besides, since I can get a free latte every time I take it for maintenance, I am saving a ton of $$$ by not going to Starbucks.

 

[Houm_WA]

I feel like one badass dude when I drive my mud-coated LR3 sittin' on 32" MT/Rs to the Land Rover Dealership.

 

[e24kgold]

I couldn't say it any better. With 117k miles on mine now, and knowing that just last year I spent $4k on maintenance, I have experienced the best and worst of my 05. But I love it and it is by far the most comfortable, capable, versatile offroad vehicle I have owned. I also expect mine to last a long time, but with eyes open that it will cost me to get there. Any vehicle that goes offroad will take lots of maintenance. Get bigger tires that can handle the load and tire life becomes a non issue.

What did the $4k include?

 

[Bane]

I am still somewhat on the fence. I have been looking at an 06 with 47000 miles on it for approximately 27000. I really like the LR3, I am jsut concerned about getting a 5 year loan on a vehicle with almost 50K miles on it.

Everyone's posts on their maintenance experiences have been very informative and very much appreciated.

Have any of you bought after market extended warranties that go beyond 100k miles? The dealer that has the 06 (non-landrover dealer) says that ford care is all they sell and Ford will only go 4 years/48K miles on used. I think if I can find a good warranty that will go 5 or 6 years to 100 or 120k, I will make the deal. I want to have a warranty the whole time I have the loan, since I can't afford to put 10k down.

 

[merrion13]

Bane-
Can't help you on your warranty question but just wanted you to know that $27K for an '06 is WAY high. I'm in the market right now for 06-07 LR3s with under 60K miles and a lot are available at $25K and under. I would say keep looking, that dealer is off the mark on pricing by a big gap.

 

[Bane]

Bane-
Can't help you on your warranty question but just wanted you to know that $27K for an '06 is WAY high. I'm in the market right now for 06-07 LR3s with under 60K miles and a lot are available at $25K and under. I would say keep looking, that dealer is off the mark on pricing by a big gap.

I agree it is a bit high, I have looked at two dealers that have them. One had an 06 HSE with 43k miles for 29,900. They didn't want to move on their price and this dealer doesn't seem to want to either. Which I don't understand, because here in California, most people don't want a vehicle that gets 14 and 17 for MPG.

 

[EGRIZZLE]

Bane-
Can't help you on your warranty question but just wanted you to know that $27K for an '06 is WAY high. I'm in the market right now for 06-07 LR3s with under 60K miles and a lot are available at $25K and under. I would say keep looking, that dealer is off the mark on pricing by a big gap.

Agreed. I bought my 07 HSE with 40k 3 months ago for $26k wholesale, still has warranty left. The dealer was always $4-$5k higher and they weren't interested in coming down much.

 

[Bane]

Agreed. I bought my 07 HSE with 40k 3 months ago for $26k wholesale, still has warranty left. The dealer was always $4-$5k higher and they weren't interested in coming down much.

The problem is though that most banks now are saying that you have to buy from a franchised auto dealer and what franchised dealer is willing to sell at whole sale? I have yet to find one. I may just end up waiting I don't know that I want one bad enough to over pay.