FloridaRancher
Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2010
- Posts
- 17
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I'm encountering so many problems with my 6 month old 2010 LR4 I couldn't choose just one thread, so I started a new one - in hopes prospective buyers are warned in advance and current LR4 owners with similar problems can offer some suggestions.
First the good news: my LR4 is the absolute best 4WD-capable vehicle I've ever owned. I own a large ranch and use my vehicles 80% in 4WD in rugged conditions (sand, mud, pulling loads, etc.). My LR4 outperforms even my 3/4-ton Dodge diesel, my Silverado, F-250 and sometimes even my Wranglers.
Now for the bad (where to start?): Back-up camera fails 90% of the time despite two trips to dealer for "fix". Dealer also can't find gremlin in the electronic system (causing radio, iPod and some controls to fail), "premium" leather seats are lame (thin, stiff, easily stained, difficult to maintain even after using EVERY product in the market), auto high-beam doesn't really work as advertised (I've ceased using it), the automatic door lock system also does not work as advertised (anyone know any way to deprogram this?), it is ridiculous that you have to disassemble the front and rear plastic bumpers to access the tow hooks and trailer stub (and that you have to pay $1,100+ to buy a trailer hitch) - and perhaps the most annoying thing (and I KNOW this is a personal response) is that the wire-imbedded front windshield is an enormous safety hazard when driving at night, especially in rainy/foggy conditions (headlights and streetlights reflecting off it create an almost impenetrable glare). If a non-wired windshield were at all available anywhere I'd throw a rock through my current one in a heartbeat.
One other warning: do NOT order the optional roof rack - unless you are already deaf. As you may know, the rack is advertised as if it were a factory produced item - IT IS NOT. Each one has to come from a local after market manufacturer. The first TWO didn't fit and the third, while fitting, is so incredibly noisy that I have to max out the radio to drown out the sound. And yes, I have had front shields fabricated - two of them - to try to cut/deflect the air flow but both only marginally lessened the sound. The intensity of the sound at any speed above 45 is ridiculous.
As I have lamented before on posts, it is too bad LR went too far is attracting the "suburban" market - too many gadgets that are untested, and worse for someone like me, they abandoned the rugged usability of the Defender and earlier models. At the very least they should offer you the choice of NOT getting all these extras and instead allow you to get a stripped down base model which would be - for true 4WD users - a very capable vehicle. Unfortunately for LR, many others share this opinion and LR's reputation for the "go-to" 4WD vehicle has been permanently tarnished.
First the good news: my LR4 is the absolute best 4WD-capable vehicle I've ever owned. I own a large ranch and use my vehicles 80% in 4WD in rugged conditions (sand, mud, pulling loads, etc.). My LR4 outperforms even my 3/4-ton Dodge diesel, my Silverado, F-250 and sometimes even my Wranglers.
Now for the bad (where to start?): Back-up camera fails 90% of the time despite two trips to dealer for "fix". Dealer also can't find gremlin in the electronic system (causing radio, iPod and some controls to fail), "premium" leather seats are lame (thin, stiff, easily stained, difficult to maintain even after using EVERY product in the market), auto high-beam doesn't really work as advertised (I've ceased using it), the automatic door lock system also does not work as advertised (anyone know any way to deprogram this?), it is ridiculous that you have to disassemble the front and rear plastic bumpers to access the tow hooks and trailer stub (and that you have to pay $1,100+ to buy a trailer hitch) - and perhaps the most annoying thing (and I KNOW this is a personal response) is that the wire-imbedded front windshield is an enormous safety hazard when driving at night, especially in rainy/foggy conditions (headlights and streetlights reflecting off it create an almost impenetrable glare). If a non-wired windshield were at all available anywhere I'd throw a rock through my current one in a heartbeat.
One other warning: do NOT order the optional roof rack - unless you are already deaf. As you may know, the rack is advertised as if it were a factory produced item - IT IS NOT. Each one has to come from a local after market manufacturer. The first TWO didn't fit and the third, while fitting, is so incredibly noisy that I have to max out the radio to drown out the sound. And yes, I have had front shields fabricated - two of them - to try to cut/deflect the air flow but both only marginally lessened the sound. The intensity of the sound at any speed above 45 is ridiculous.
As I have lamented before on posts, it is too bad LR went too far is attracting the "suburban" market - too many gadgets that are untested, and worse for someone like me, they abandoned the rugged usability of the Defender and earlier models. At the very least they should offer you the choice of NOT getting all these extras and instead allow you to get a stripped down base model which would be - for true 4WD users - a very capable vehicle. Unfortunately for LR, many others share this opinion and LR's reputation for the "go-to" 4WD vehicle has been permanently tarnished.