question to all LR owners

[DblD]

Amen to all and I’ll add my two pennies.

Not sure how to describe the relationship with a Land Rover, I think it is most like the old Texas Division of Tourism slogan from a few years… “Texas is not just a state… but a state of mind.” Now transfer that over into automotive speak… “Land Rover is not just another mode of transport… but a way to experience the journey of life.”

Too corny? - Yea, I agree!

But there is something about these vehicles that will grow on you. Maybe it’s the old curmudgeon that approaches you at the gas station (you think, is this guy going task me for change?) No. He launches into a story about traversing Suriname(sp?) in the Peace Corps in 1968 while ridding in a Series I. Or maybe it’s the teenager at the traffic light in this bass-pounding Chevy 4x4 that gives you a smile and thumbs up when he roars past you with straight pipes blaring.

I just don’t think you get that in a Toyota or anything else.

You bet there can be some issues with ownership… After I purchased a new ‘98 Discovery in late ‘97, I returned to the dealership when the air conditioning was not blowing cold. The service manager explained to me that these vehicles are, for the most part, still hand built. He said if the guy who was supposed to tighten the fittings on my AC lines was coming off a bender from the night before, he may have missed tightening one or two or maybe all of them. I have kept this in mind when I go to work on my vehicle or when little annoying things happen.

It is NOT a Ford Explorer. And that’s why I like it. I’m not constantly meeting my twin in traffic; although I am starting to see more and more Rovers here in SW Missouri.

I’ve rambled on long enough. Best advice is to do the research, find a truck with complete and up-to-date service records. If you’re looking for a better way to “experience the journey of life” (insert eye roll) get comfortable in the seat of a Discovery.

Oh, one more thing… If you’re over 6-1 or so, you’ll never know just how fast you’re going between about 50 and 80. The steering wheel blocks my line of site at the top of the speedo.

dd

 

[Funrover]

Well not to sure what I can add here. I liked the idea of two cards , one Toyota one Rover. Personally I love my Rover, I could go into many many reasons why, but my main reason is this: With both my Rangie and my parents even when problems occured we always got home under the power of the rover! I don't find them to be unreliable, I will agree Toyotas are outstanding, and I do respect them but when I bought my RRC I was also looking at a FJ - 62 (Land cruiser) and there is just something about the Rover that draws a person, the sense of adventure or the thrill of what one can do... but they are not for everyone. Currently I have 200,000 miles on mine with original motor and no real issues, I think I made the right choice!

 

[overlander]

Let me just add this annecdote in. There are a zillion reasons why I love my rover; it's the last vehicle I'll ever purchase by choice. But I know I'm not alone in loving rovers. Yesterday I was driving home from work-average day. As I turned a corner into my development, there was a teenager on a scooter waiting at one of the turns, filming my approach on his cell phone camera. He followed me as I past and was still video capturing me as I left his sight. I'll never know how long he was waiting for me. I get that kind of stuff alot.

That's no stand alone reason to say Rover's make a great expedition platform, but you don't get that kind of reaction in a toyota.

I can also say that if every other car on the road was a rover, I would still drive a rover.

 

[Andrew Walcker]

I have owned two FJ55, a FJ40, a FJ62 and a FJ80 and now own a Defender. The way I view it is that you can drive a Toyota into the ground and bring it back to highly reliable pretty easy. A Rover on the other hand is a constant relationship. The successful Rover owners I know are sticklers with preventative maintenance and whole system replacements. If the manual says to do something at 60K, than do it at 59K. There is nothing worse than a Rover that has not been maintained.

 

[Funrover]

I have owned two FJ55, a FJ40, a FJ62 and a FJ80 and now own a Defender. The way I view it is that you can drive a Toyota into the ground and bring it back to highly reliable pretty easy. A Rover on the other hand is a constant relationship. The successful Rover owners I know are sticklers with preventative maintenance and whole system replacements. If the manual says to do something at 60K, than do it at 59K. There is nothing worse than a Rover that has not been maintained.

Truer words have not been spoken!!! It's sad really, I thought you were supposed to maintain ALL makes. So I guess I slightly fall under your theory LOL

 

[ChuckB]

but you don't get that kind of reaction in a toyota.

I beg to differ. While I respect LR's and the 110 is definitely one of my all-time favorite vehicles. I get quite a reaction driving an FJ55. If I had the opportunity to own a 110 I probably would, of course I wouldn't give up my Cruiser though :sombrero:

 

[Funrover]

I beg to differ. While I respect LR's and the 110 is definitely one of my all-time favorite vehicles. I get quite a reaction driving an FJ55. If I had the opportunity to own a 110 I probably would, of course I wouldn't give up my Cruiser though :sombrero:

The 55 is a great looking truck, I bet heads turn all the time for you!

 

[Andrew Walcker]

I beg to differ. While I respect LR's and the 110 is definitely one of my all-time favorite vehicles. I get quite a reaction driving an FJ55. If I had the opportunity to own a 110 I probably would, of course I wouldn't give up my Cruiser though :sombrero:

The 55 has to be one of the coolest looking vehicles Toyota has ever made IMHO, don't ever let that one go!

 

[SaMingTRD]

I agree with a lot of what everyone is saying. LR projects this allure of adventure that other names like nissan, jeep and toyota (well maybe the FJ40) don't do it for me. Any average joe can own a toyota and it will run for 200,000 miles of neglect, amazing but again it's a toyota. I'm not looking for resale value either, I'm looking to have this rig for 10+ years and have some great memories because of it.

my next question would be is how many members on here actually use their LR's for expedition purposes?

one problem that I have with LR is around here in upstate NY, nothing but rich daddy's kids who go to IVY league Cornell University drive rovers. It sickens me and really turns me off to the brand of LR that 18 year olds are riding in brand new LR3's and RR sports to go get sushi and drink martini's.

would trying to find a defender (D90) be a better platform?

 

[Mercedesrover]

A D90 is cool. The prices for them have been coming down. So has the condition of some of them, though pristine ones can still be found. (I friend has a '97 with 6k miles on it) Too short to sleep in though.

Jump in with both feet and buy an old Series and restore it yourself. The yuppies in the DIIs won't even know what it is.

 

[Michael Slade]

my next question would be is how many members on here actually use their LR's for expedition purposes?

I would reply with what might be a better question.

How many members here *DON'T* use their LR's for expedition purposes?

I have 3, and all get a good workout.

EDIT: Making tin-foil dinners and packing the RR LWB as we speak...

 

[Yorker]

Jump in with both feet and buy an old Series and restore it yourself. The yuppies in the DIIs won't even know what it is.

X's 2!

Build it yourself and you'll know what you have- you can improve what you need to as you go.

Otherwise build a pre-FJ60 Land Cruiser. A nice FJ40 or 45 is hard to beat.

If you want a Disco there is a pretty nice one in Hartwick NY for sale- check out Wantaddigest.com. Might be an hour-1.5 hour drive for you to check it out.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Pretty much any classic, clunky 4x4 done in a tasteful way will get the same second glance and street cred as your average Rover. Let's be honest, the average guy on the street is going more by styling than capability, comfort, or reliability- old rigs just look cool. My had will turn for a M38A1 just as fast as it will for a Series IIA.

I like the Defenders and Series rigs the most for the "funk factor", with coilers like the Range Rover Classics and Disco Is holding a certain interest for me (comfort balanced with performance is always nice). The rest of the lineup really doesn't do it for me, as Rover started pushing luxury over basic functionality. It's amazing how much wiring and electrical doo-dads are in the most baseline Rovers in the modern era, which accounts for their reliability reputation. Then again, if you pay $40K+ for a vehicle, you expect that the heated mirrors and automatic cupholders will work without a problem.

If I was going to build a rig for dedicated overland travel, Toyota would get the nod from me. It's a question of functionality. However, I would have no qualms about selling it when the time came- there's more where that one came from. Classic rigs are a little more personal.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

one problem that I have with LR is around here in upstate NY, nothing but rich daddy's kids who go to IVY league Cornell University drive rovers. It sickens me and really turns me off to the brand of LR that 18 year olds are riding in brand new LR3's and RR sports to go get sushi and drink martini's.

I agree with this. I think LR is now capitalizing, no, cashing out all the brand image that they built over the past 60 years. Another 5-10 years and it will all be spent. Then it will be just another luxury SUV just like all the others. Only, it will still be unreliable. So now you have an unreliable luxury SUV with no history, no emotion, etc. trying to compete with all the other expensive reliable SUV's.

I think LR needs to get back to basics. Then need the Defender in the US. And heck, they have to not be afraid to make the vehicle affordable for the rest of us. And they have to start doing some more expedition events.

Heck, even if they just raced in Dakar, it would be something.

The yuppies in the DIIs won't even know what it is.

Hey, now that's uncalled for. I consider my 2004 DII the last of the best. And there are a number of us in the same boat. They're now affordable, and comfortable as a daily driver, and still just as capable.

 

[FourByLand]

Don't kid yourself, there are yuppies in Series Rovers and D90's also, they just wear different hats, get what pleases you and go from there.