The 2009 LR3

[radionightster]

I think it shows that LR is focusing on the typical LR3 buyer that I see - i.e. Affluent Starbucks cruisers or soccer moms/dads who can't stretch for a RRS.

Pretty sure that one good trip through the woods/brush would make the new paint look very sorry for itself.

Yes, it's the typical LR3 driver. You guys gotta understand that the people who really off-road their LR3s are the outliers. Despite whatever it's built for, it's a badass SUV. Looks great with tint and 22s haha! (don't get ******!)

 

[allodial]

you're totally right, id make an educated guess that 90% of LR3 owners dont ever use it offroad. and i admit they do make a sick ride if you hook it up..
but as far as the 2009 all painted revisions, i still kind of like what the black trim did for the overall looks, i think it made it tough and gave its clean design some ruggedness that offset the styles nicely.

 

[CoMclovin]

Correct - but some dealers will 'negotiate' a maint package into the deal in order to offset the extra cost - pays to ask

The extra cost? Are you referring to the price of the 09 D3 or the cost of maint? The base price on an 09 D3 is actually cheaper than the 08 models. Some of the dealers here offer lifetime free oil changes if you purchase from them directly on CPO and new vehicles.. I never really found any value with the maintenance program myself.

 

[toddjb122]

I don't like it either.

I think they should keep the extra paint & fake wood interior look for the RRS and keep the LR3 as a more rugged looking quality vehicle. Thick metal and plastic where applied. Quality chip resistant paint on the rest of the body. Durable leather, etc. Give me an option to by all the options but keep the look casual. For people that want to kick around in the truck all the gloss gets to be a bit much. Typical user aside, just look at the history of the vehicle and all of their sales brochures to see the image they are marketing.

I'm not a big fan of the rims either, but these things change. I wonder if it was the Brits or the Indians that led these design changes?

$.02

Who knows, with the price of gas and move to smaller cars and hybrids...maybe we'll all be in LR2s in a few years anyway. They'll keep that one casual for us. LOL

 

[allodial]

I wonder if the direction of the 09 showing some leaning towards the "StUV" ((street utility vehicle) i just made that up btw, unless someone else has before) is part of the future for Land Rover and if it's Tata's influence starting to show....?

Anyone know if Tata's announced its direction with the brand yet?

 

[racehorse]

I think I'll reserve judgement. The pics make the LR3 look much more pedestrian, civilized and clean cut. Not sure I like it as much as my 06.

The painted wheel arches? I'm not sure the off roading would be a problem if I'm recalling correctly Nwoods' arches are painted white and you don't get much heavier off road than he does. I think the paint will hold up.

I'll wait to see it in person, but I really like the contrasting black rubber/white car on my 06.
I'm imagining Rover is trying to figure out how to tweak it just enough to make it worth showing as an 09 but not so much as to have to revamp the body style.

 

[shedward]

Like the '08s Better

Yeah - I love the black trim on the bumber covers better than the '09 where it matches the body color. Also, with no Comp Maint, I'd rather have an '08 anyway versus an '09.

 

[CoMclovin]

I don't like it either.


I'm not a big fan of the rims either, but these things change. I wonder if it was the Brits or the Indians that led these design changes?

$.02

Who knows, with the price of gas and move to smaller cars and hybrids...maybe we'll all be in LR2s in a few years anyway. They'll keep that one casual for us. LOL

This design was LR influenced (not TATA), there are interviews with the lead designer regarding the move to this look. The wood used in the LR3 is actually real wood, not fake wood, and the look is geared towards a more luxury feel. In a few years you'll most likely see a Defender available on US lots as well... or so the rumors go ;-)

 

[allodial]

Considering that there really isn't any major LR3 design changes per say, I just figured I'd stir the ***. Also to see if anyone has stayed up to date on how Tata, might or might not, have an influence on Land Rover's design and direction.

I believe I read somewhere, people were speculating that Land Rover might be moving into some smaller and lower price pointed vehicles since Tata's all about that...?

 

[racehorse]

Considering that there really isn't any major LR3 design changes per say, I just figured I'd stir the ***. Also to see if anyone has stayed up to date on how Tata, might or might not, have an influence on Land Rover's design and direction.

I believe I read somewhere, people were speculating that Land Rover might be moving into some smaller and lower price pointed vehicles since Tata's all about that...?

I would wonder if that would be a viable plan for Tata. The luxury brands carry a cache and firms, even cheap ones, (think when ford owned LR) are still cagey and shrewd about weakening the luxury brand perception that LR and others carry. Ford did borrow their v6 cologne motor for LR3s but did very little to cheapen the brand. That's why, I'll digress a little, it's been such a big story in the Wall Street Journal that Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys and upper echelon stores are discounting their wares. It's really a very big deal -- and extraordinary risk to cheapen a luxury brand at the expense of losing your core customers.