Anybody here ever gone from an LR 3/4 to a 200 series Land Cruiser?

[Bullsnake]

Wow! Was away from the board for a few days and I appreciate all of the great responses! While still thinking about both, I am leaning towards the LR4 after having a chance to sit in a new 200 Series LC. I love, LOVE both brands (Currently have a Defender 90 and I may or may not know where the FJ 43 that was on the front page ended up a few weeks ago ) but the new LR4 is a definite improvement over the LR3 that we currently have. I agree with Range Brover and Scott as well - for me it sometimes is more than just reliability, and once you own a Land Rover you seem to be hooked for life.

Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[Bullsnake]

Scott - tried to PM you but it was a no go. Is there, or are you planning on doing an LR4 build? I would be curious as to what people are doing with them. Also, my LR3 I was able to run some 18" rims and Good Year MTR's on them for a decent off roading solution, what are the LR4 guys doing for decent off road tires and or wheels? I run KM2's on everything else I have for off road, but I am fairly confident that is a no - go in 19" or 20". I am assuming Johnson Rods are the way to go for a lift just like the LR3?

I hate to junk up the LC forum with LR questions, but I am 90% sure this is the way I am gonna end up going (I actually think I already have something locked down!)

Thanks again everyone!

 

[ChuckB]

Overland-Journal-Project-Land-Rover-Discovery-4-%28LR4%29

 

[Bullsnake]

Thanks! I knew there was something out there but my google - **** is rusty.

 

[p nut]

...But, there is more to cars than just reliability, at least for me

I agree there, but I guess I'm naive on what makes a particular car maker that special. I have not owned a LR, but plenty euro cars (BMW, VW, Audi). Although I enjoyed driving them, I never thought they were all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. I've enjoyed my Honda's as much, if not more, than the euro's.

That said, as much as I love my LC, I dream of a G-wagen one day. I don't think it will necessarily perform any better, but they just look cool.

 

[hks3sgte]

Driving a modern Land Cruiser is like driving an oversized Corolla. Not much fun

 

[uzj100]

This is a great thread. I think I look at a little differently. At these price points there should little to no failures however jeep and land rover continully end up at the bottom on the reliability chart and are climbing the sales charts. Most of these newer jeeps and land rovers are never offroad or far from a dealer so not really a big deal if there is a failure. The delima is that the car buying public puts up with average build quality.

 

[ChuckB]

That said, as much as I love my LC, I dream of a G-wagen one day. I don't think it will necessarily perform any better, but they just look cool.

Agreed! And if $$$ were no object I'd like an LR4 too.

 

[Jwestpro]

Maybe I'll go do a comparison measurement of the LC200 I drove today but it is not as tall inside (edit: WRONG , it is actually average taller in 2nd and 3rd row areas!) and did not seem any longer from the back of the front seats to the rear cargo door (edit: wrong, it is longer by a little).

I don't count what's going on with 2nd row seat position or leg room because my travel vehicle is hardly ever more than a 2 seater. That being said, what's still very cool about the lr3/4 is how all FIVE rear seats fold flush into the floor and it still retains more floor to ceiling height - but I'll measure that too because the ceiling did seem to curve higher than the front at the 3rd row area.

So, yeah you can unbolt 3rd row LC seats (LC 100 3rd row didn't require tools, they just popped out!) but the middle row is still all sorts of in the way.

I did like the ventilated LC200 seats today but wished for more adjustments in the seat like my bmw has The 5.7 v8 is similar power to the lr4. Where the LC200 has the disconnecting sway bars, the lr has air. However, aftermarket for the LC is far better. You can get 35" tires under a LC with 2" lift and also add ARB lockers front and rear. These couple things are pretty cool stuff that to me outweigh the air suspension in some ways. Nobody makes cool upper control arms or lower A-arms for the LR3/4 but Total Chaos does for the LC and they look awesome.

For a more versatile interior, the LR3/4 wins without any competition really. They both have a tailgate which I like for sorting gear, cooking, sitting, etc.

If there were a test where you can only pick up the vehicle "as is" off the lot, don't get to use tools to change or modify things, the LR3/4 wins. Unless of course you want ventilated seats But then again, why was I test driving a 2013 LC today....?

 

[Jwestpro]

I am assuming Johnson Rods are the way to go for a lift just like the LR3?

Rods just put you driving at highway speeds in lift height. Doesn't that seem stupid? The rods are not a pure lift, they are simply a trick which can be created in a simpler and less dangerous way.

-there are better solutions for lift when it's needed such as the Black Box solutions EAS controller.

 

[evilfij]

200 series is comparable to a full size range rover, not an LR4.

The capability and engineering of the new RR is amazing. Check out the stock fording depth on one for example or the completely aluminium body structure (my jag has the same technology and for a car the length of an F250 it handles like a sports car due to the low weight), and the 5.0, especially supercharged, motor is incredible and very reliable.

 

[Eric Edwards]

As a former Rover owner who had his entire engine replaced at 20K miles, I made the switch to a 200 about 4 years ago. I would say the Rover was slightly more capable off the lott, but that is easily remedied. As others have said the 200's suspension out of the box is junk, but is fairly inexpensive to upgrade. I've added:

• TJM Bullbar
• ARB rear bar
• Radflo front coilover
• Old Man Emu rear shock
• TRD Rock Warrior Wheels w/33 inch tires
• ARB Air Compressor
• Baja Rack Flat Rack
• MetalTech Sliders
• MetalTech Trailing Arms

Wasn't nearly as expensive as it sounds! It was a ton of fun to go through the modding process, I learned a ton and can't wait to add more stuff. Next up is ARB locking diffs, drawers, dual battery setup and a refrigerator.

 

[Jwestpro]

200 series is comparable to a full size range rover, not an LR4.

The capability and engineering of the new RR is amazing. Check out the stock fording depth on one for example or the completely aluminium body structure (my jag has the same technology and for a car the length of an F250 it handles like a sports car due to the low weight), and the 5.0, especially supercharged, motor is incredible and very reliable.

You say the LC200 is comparable to the new RR but then go on to list how the RR is beyond the LC. Not to mention pricing. Similarly optioned RR is $95k. msrp LC is $80k. LC can be bought at invoice any time so the real price is around $73k. Best spec lr4 is $65k while the lr3 does not offer some of the features like ventilated seats, the LC sits squarely in between the two rover models for features and cost.

However, it beats them both with ease in terms of inherent reliability by way of retaining simpler suspension and few electronic gizmos like electonic rear tailgate and sift close doors.

I have really enjoyed my heated windscreen in the lr3 and the flush floor folding seats. The cargo area functionality along almost sets the lr3/4 beyond anything else out there. I am hoping LR will bring the next discovery model as either more efficient engine the supercharged v6 or the diesel.

 

[Colonal Angus]

If there were a test where you can only pick up the vehicle "as is" off the lot, don't get to use tools to change or modify things, the LR3/4 wins. Unless of course you want ventilated seats But then again, why was I test driving a 2013 LC today....?

These tools that you speak of...are they different from the tools that you'll need to work on the LR 5 miles after leaving the lot?

Eric Edwards, awesome LC200!!!

The fold flat seats in LR3/4 are impressive. However, when building up a vehicle for self-sufficient travel, drawers are often built for the cargo area. In a LC (only experience is with a 100), the drawer height can be made level with the folded down second row, giving a double bed-sized sleeping platform. In an LR3/4, you'd either have the second row in the way or an off grade drawer box.

 

[Jwestpro]

^pretty goofy question about tools. I thought this was a serious discussion.

Mine 2007 lr3 has not needed any of the sort of tools you are implying so far in 67,000 miles. In fact, my 1996 Discovery never needed me to use tools either. It never left me stranded but I also follow good prevention maintenance. The stock Lr3/4 is more ready to go more places than the LC is. However the LC is far more able to be modified, and at minimal cost.

You're missing the point about the lr3 seats, all the seats are still there for available use but the lr3 still has the same overall usable volume. Actually, it has far more usable volume because the 2nd row seats are flush into the floor when the LC seats are all in the way. For my uses, the LC seats, all 2nd and 3rd row, would have to be removed to achieve same usable space that the lr2 provides. I find this highly annoying because otherwise, I'd really prefer the LC in almost every other aspect.

If you like drawers, then the lr3 would allow them plus more. I have my ARB fridge in the hole where the 2nd row center seated was mounted. It fits perfectly and acts as a nice arm rest for the random 2nd row passenger. If one were to remove all the seats, the space remaining would be quite cavernous and about 52" tall in the 2nd row area!

Drove a lc200 again today....such a sweet ride!