LR3 2005 vs Newer With More Miles

[cbckidatheart]

Looking for some insights on the LR3. I have been bit with the Land Rober bug and test driven several in the past week. I have two I really like an 05 with 56k miles and an 06 with 80k the 06 is a little cheaper but I'm a little Leary of the 05 because it's the first year.

Vehicle won't be for daily use, reserved for adventures during the weekend in Utah. I really like the 30k less miles.

Thoughts

 

[jerdog53]

I'd go with the 06 not knowing any more details about it.

 

[unseenone]

I do not think you can go wrong with either one really. As the years have ticked by there have been minor improvements, but not really anything major. All the components are pretty much the same. I would focus on the features it has. The fluids should all be changed on either one, regardless of mileage at this stage. All the models suffer with the same set of annoying issues, but are great vehicles properly maintained. For me, HD (locker) and NAV are a must, heated seats would be a "nice" to have.

 

[zelatore]

I'm with unseenone on this. Both are very low miles and only 1 year apart. Yes, the '05s had a few more bugs than the later trucks but nothing huge. I'd be more interested in which has the best maintenance records and the best options list for your needs.

 

[LR Max]

Both are good, but go 06.

 

[Derel1cte]

Looking for some insights on the LR3. I have been bit with the Land Rober bug and test driven several in the past week. I have two I really like an 05 with 56k miles and an 06 with 80k the 06 is a little cheaper but I'm a little Leary of the 05 because it's the first year.

Vehicle won't be for daily use, reserved for adventures during the weekend in Utah. I really like the 30k less miles.

Thoughts

Find out if either of them has had the compressor replaced. I believe you are still working with the ****ty Hitachi compressor in '05-'06. If neither have been replaced, keep at least $600 in your budget for a new AMK compressor to replace it. If one has, there is your winner.

The '06 @ 80K is probably getting close to needing new lower control arms, the 05 will probably be OK for a while despite the aging bushings. If the 06 has had this service done, then again, clear winner.

I'd be curious as to why the 2005 had less than 5K miles a year put on it. That is a lot of down time.

I have an '05 @ 156K miles with no big issues. My biggest complaint that was solved in later years is that the electronic seat adjusters are tied to the ignition, so you cant move the front seats around with the vehicle off. This is especially annoying since my wife is shorter than I am so I have to move the seat back after she drive it and I can't do it before climbing in and starting it.

 

[DiscoDavis]

All things being equal I'd go with an 06. However I'd pick whichever one had complete maintenance records.
Mileage isn't as important as how well each was maintained.

Also whichever one had clean diffs and the breather upgrades. Check for the diff breathers. While the hitachi is not perfect I wouldn't go so far as to call it ****ty , but yes you may need to replace it at some point.

I've got an 06 with the original compressor so they do okay. That said if it goes I'd definitely go with an AMK.

 

[jymmiejamz]

Have a pre-purchase inspection done on both of them. At that mileage they could need everything or nothing.

 

[dsm02c]

A PPI is a great idea but simply driving both trucks will tell you a ton... Do some reading on the Lower control arms, they're a wear item and as your intention to use the truck off road will need to be replaced even more often. As everybody else said, check out the compressor and cycle the truck through all the suspension heights, if it can't keep up with a few access height to off road height cycles it's probably due for a shiny new AMK. Good luck, they're awesome vehicles, I can't think of anything else that can so well transition from 80mph on the highway to mild off-roading and still be so comfortable...

 

[StreetsofCompton]

Hey man. Congrats on the potential purchase. I can't tell you whice route to go specifically, but I will share my experience. Back in September, we bought an 06 with 114,500 miles on it. Have put a lititle bit of money into it, but nothing outside of the normal scope of any used vehicle you would purchase with your intentions. If you plan on having the vehicle for awhile, I wouldn't worry about the state of the compressor. if it needs to be replaced now or in 3 years, it's still getting replaced. A PPI is a must, but you probably already knew that. Since you asked for opinions, I'd go for the less expensive, higher mileage 06 and use the savings towards to getting it up to speed mechanically. that was the advice I received on this very forum and def. helped with my confidence of purchasing a nine year old, high mileage LR. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[cbckidatheart]

Really appreciate everyone's insights. I haven't driven the 05 yet. Plan to check it out on Friday. The 06 looked great and felt great but was a trade in and they don't have much maintenance records wise. (Which worries me) Toyota dealership so they knew next to nothing about the rig. I'd prefer the HD package. I like the idea of having a locker. However in all reality I'm not sure that it's really that big of a deal. I have them in a 2 door Jeep Rubicon and don't use them that often.

Working the lower control arms and Compressor into the budget should be very doable. I should have a much clearer direction come Friday as I plan to test two the 05 and an 07 just under 100k miles.

 

[nwoods]

2007 MY had a lot of upgrades, 2005/6 are virtually the same. Take the VIN's of both to a nearby LR dealer to run the maintainence history, status of MFR TSB's updates, current software builds, etc... If you don't have a LR dealer nearby.... might rethink your purchase. . I'd buy the lower mileage 2005 and put the savings into the maintainence warranty.

Edit: actually, I'd try to hold out and buy the 2007 MY.

 

[DiscoDavis]

2007 MY had a lot of upgrades, 2005/6 are virtually the same.

What differences exist between 06 and 07 MY? I was only aware of the facelift between 07/08 and then the fender paint matching done in 09.

 

[nwoods]

What differences exist between 06 and 07 MY? I was only aware of the facelift between 07/08 and then the fender paint matching done in 09.

As far as features, not much. The 2007's have seats that worked without the ignition key, and one-touch passenger window, which is nice. The seat thing is pretty darn handy if you have kids and need to flip the middle seats up and down frequently. But the major change in 2007's was in the air compressor, suspension bushings, transmission mapping software, and lots of other little things, like upgraded rear swingarm bolts, etc... The LR3 was introduced in 2004 (2005 MY) and it took until 2007 for the factory to address the piddly stuff that went awry in the 2005/6's. The nice thing though, is that the mfr upgraded many of those items into the 2005/6's under warranty.

Years ago I wrote this article on buying a used LR3:
Buying A Used LR3 (V6 or V8?, Which Options?, Cautions?)

 

[DiscoDavis]

As far as features, not much. The 2007’s have seats that worked without the ignition key, and one-touch passenger window, which is nice. The seat thing is pretty darn handy if you have kids and need to flip the middle seats up and down frequently. But the major change in 2007's was in the air compressor, suspension bushings, transmission mapping software, and lots of other little things, like upgraded rear swingarm bolts, etc... The LR3 was introduced in 2004 (2005 MY) and it took until 2007 for the factory to address the piddly stuff that went awry in the 2005/6's. The nice thing though, is that the mfr upgraded many of those items into the 2005/6's under warranty.

Years ago I wrote this article on buying a used LR3:
Buying A Used LR3 (V6 or V8?, Which Options?, Cautions?)

Ahh. I wish almost every time I drive mine that I had the pass-side one touch feature. Seems like a total no-brainer to me. I don't mind the seat controls thing, but the beefing up on components sounds nice. Now I'm wondering when the tranny pan gets dropped for an upcoming flush if the firmware they flash to it will be related to the MY07 change... hmm.