I'm North of Boston and eventually located my HSE in Maine. Very helpful compared to Boston dealers who had my deposit for nearly 3 months and no car on the horizon.
I also considered the same vehicles & discounted the Toureg due to many niggling problems & a useless CD based navigation system. Looked at a XC90 but the V8 is not in system as yet. But the Volvo is definetly not as capable as the LR3
Are you sure it's because you left the lights on? Most lux cars today have computers that will turn lights off after a while if you inadvertently leave them on to preserve battery. My 4-year-old X5 has it.
There's not a lot of space behind the third row seats, but I imagine a small stroller would fit. The best thing would be to bring the stroller and some other baggage to a dealer and try it out.
my husband left the lights on and the dealership told me it was the culprit of the dead battery- yet does not explain recent stalling and the service dept cannot find anything else that could be the reason. I am a little concerned that the stalling will happen again. who knows- I would have thought the car lights would have gone off, too- but I think it is only in auto mode that they turn off after a certain time.
I'm picking up my Silver/Blk SE7 from Glen Cove tomorrow. Rear Seat Pkg., Rear Climate Pkg., Park Distance, Cold Climate and Lighting Pkg....MRSP $49,645 / Invoice $45,639. Got the deal for $46,900!!!!! $1,261 over invoice.
30 Months - 10 Security Deposits - 12K per year
$ 599.71 INCLUDING TAX & BANK FEE
375.00 Downpayment(wanted to keep payment
under $600.00)
6,000.00 Security
I told them I would take delivery for December and I'm sure it helped (dealer & salesman quotas, bonuses) for their overall numbers. Maybe one more deal put them over the top for their yearly or monthly objectives. Smithtown (same ownership) wouldn't do the deal.
If you can want an SE and can take delivery Thursday or early Friday I'm sure they would consider the deal.
I'll post my initial impressions tomorrow night. Good luck!
The dealer said he had partial VIN but he was evasive trying to change the topic when I questioned him further. I think the car never arrived or had problems in Pre-Delivery Inspection and is being held. At this point I am content with my LR3 but will not purchase a vehicle at any time in the future from the dealership and will urge my friends and business associates in the area to do the same.
Emols, I never noticed heavy gas smell prior to the gas tank replacement but I did notice it one time after the tank was replaced. It was a particularly cold day here in NYC recently and the car had been sitting in the driveway for close to 24 hrs. To be honest, I haven't really noticed it since or I haven't been paying attention. I just assumed that it was normal since it seemed to go away. Now that you've pointed it out, I'll be more vigilant.I'll keep you posted.
BTW, I never had a stall on a full tank. I stalled once on a 1/4 tank parked nose first on a decline.
On a different note, I have noticed a high pitched hum from the rear at speeds over 60mph. I'm no expert but it sounds like a tire or wheel noise. The dealer claimed not to have heard it when he tested the car after the fuel tank was replaced. The noise seems accentuated when going around highway turns and may vary with the pavement although I couldn't be sure.Does anyone have any ideas??
in response to your questions i would definitely check out the Hanover dealership especially if you live on the south shore. Peabody salesman have attitude and low ball on trade-ins and service is not great(previously owned a 2000 Disco from them)I paid MSRP for LR3 at Hanover but did get the best trade-in value for my Aviator.They had about 10-15 cars to choose from all due to arrive within 30 days. Fortunately they had a blk on blk SE w/ Navig and no third row which fit my needs. You'll love the LR3,JUST HOPE IT HAS A GOOD REPAIR RECORD?????????????
X-5 is overpriced,terrible in snow and has no storage,Volvo is boring,sluggish and perfect for a soccer mom; Touareg V8 is a good option but the LR3 feels so much more substantial and I prefer the classic Rover look. Whatever you do stay clear of the Cayenne(worst suspension and MOST uncomfortable ride)I test drove them all and owned a few as you can see, hands down the LR3 BLOWS THEM ALL AWAY !!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the input. I've checked LR3 inventory levels in area dealer web sites, and it appears that supply is finally catching up to demand; (that is, if the information is accurate). My current lease is up on 3/1, so I have some time for things to loosen up a little more. I don't question the superior capabilities of the LR3 versus Volvo and others, but most of its capabilities will be wasted on me. For example, good handling in snow and decent cargo space for family road trips and college move-ins is more important to me than off-roading prowess. I also believe that, while these are not sport coupes or sport sedans that we're talking about, a ~300hp V8 will perform better in moving a 5000# SUV than a 225hp V6. I've ruled out the X5 due to cost/value and cargo space considerations, and the Touareg's reliability problems have set it back. I've had good experiences with Volvo (2 cars and a total of 400,000 miles), but the LR3 interests me because it's new and different. At this point, I'm undecided. Thanks again.
Thanks for the information. I agree that the X5 is expensive for what you get. I saw the Touareg at the auto show in November, and was a little disappointed with the interior quality. I've since read about its reliability problems. I owned 2 Volvo wagons over 10 years through 1998 before getting into a BMW sedan. I'm driving an Audi A6 now, and circumstances require that I move from a sedan to an SUV. Cargo space and good handling in snow are my most important criteria. I also want a V8, which wasn't previously available in a Volvo XC90. I'll drive them both and see if one or the other stands out. Thanks.
I was able to get my dealer to a little under $1400 over invoice. I got it in Bonatti Grey. They only had one left in this color so they weren't willing to come down as much as on more available colors, ie Silver-Black-Blue. I checked inventory around NYC, LI and Northern NJ and I wasn't able to find any other Bonatti Greys, so I paid a little more to get the color I wanted.
Also did the 10 security deposits and that brought the money factor down from .0030 to .0021 for the 30 month lease. They claimed this is not negotiable and is set by Land Rover.
Does anyone know how to get more POI's into the Nav system other than manually entering them??
In my area (San Francisco) there is not a ton of POI's (gas stations/retail stores/restaurants) that come up when I do a Quick POI command. I have inputed a few manually but am wondering when I travel and don't know the area how to get as many locations as possible to come up on the Nav.
Well, I've been watching this forum for a couple of months now. We've test driven the LR3 several time but are still spooked by the Rover reputation and are torn between the uniqueness and fun to drive factor of the LR3 and rock solid quality / reliability of the Toyota Landcruiser also with a serious off-road history albeit somewhat boring in appearance. So today was to be the last round of back to back test drives to make the decision. Guess what, the first LR3 we got in was backed up in a parking spot, nose slightly down hill. Half tank of gas. It started, ran ca. 15 seconds and stalled. Then would not fire again. The dealer had to push it into their shop for a look. The claim to be unaware of such issues being report on this forum. It's a tough decision. Fun to drive factor with reliability risks or boring but solid performance.
I have had my LR3 for about a month now and everything has been amazing. I wanted to bring to attention a strange issue with the front suspension.
Basically the front wishbones seem to be able to move forward and back about an inch. This is most noticeable when driving at low speeds and quickly pressing the brake on and off. This rocks the car back and forth and then the wishbone and entire front suspension makes a bit of clank sound and can actually be seen moving. At first I thought it was in the drive train but as I said the entire front suspension can be seen moving clearly. It seems to be normal but I can't explain why they would want that. Anyone can confirm this on there LR3 or explain it?
I'm having a bit of trouble understanding this suspension movement. Would you be able to make a video clip of this and post it somewhere so everyone could see more exactly what you're describing? Does the body seem to keep moving forward and extra inch compared to the front wheels? I take it that you or someone else was observing from outside the vehicle?
Re: #5, I saw the same thing at approx. 1500 miles on my HSE. I waited approx 5 minutes after shutting the car off and noted it was down 1/2 quart. However, when I went to add the oil about 15 minutes later, I re-checked and it was showing full.
For the first time since the dealer replaced my gas tank and pumps, I've allowed my fuel level to dip below 1/4 tankful. As a matter of fact, the low-fuel indicator light is on and the car is now parked nose down in my sloped driveway(same spot where it would not start with a 1/4 tankful one month ago). I am happy to report that a few minutes ago I tried the ignition and the car started easily. No gas odor or strange noises. In that light, might I suggest that others who have similar problems take a look at the gas pump. While our problems may have different root causes, it is worth exploring.
On a different note, I just had A DVD entertainment unit installed by a specialty shop at a cost of $1250 - Icon overhead unit with a 9inch screen. It does not obscure the rearview mirror as much as one would think. As a matter of fact, I find that the greater obstruction comes from the center headrest. I actually have pretty good visibility on both sides of the screen.
Have had this fully opted adriatic/beige HSE7 for 3 weeks and had over 3000 miles under wheels.
Break-in on this was done in a kind of strict way by picking up and stopping slowly, keeping the engine speed below 3000rpm and the travel speed under 70mph for the first 500 miles and travel speed varying for all first 1500 miles. Half of the first 500 miles was done during a very recent trip to Florida, I believe quite a few people on freeways noticed and were curious about the odd driving pattern and the vehicle.
Our confidence and satisfiaction with this LR3 grows as we travel with this car. The ride is very nice in general and it is nicer on highway. Felt that there were always more at command at pedals and enjoyed the linarity of acceleration and brake forces to the way pedals were applied. The cabin is quiet and window noise becomes pronounced yet still comfortable at speed over 70ish. Control layout is logical, cool and utility oriented while wood trimming adds some warm touch. Sound from Logic7 is next to almost none. NAV was naive at times but okay once we learned how to nav through the touch screens.
Good and bad, following are a few notes taken so far:
1. Noticed subtle yet noticeable high-pitch humming from rear transfer case when climbing steep hills at very low speed. Technician said it was normal. Did not notice the noise after we returned from the trip. But will keep an ear on it.
2. The seat memories between two keys somewhat mixed up and did not always remember the exact seating positions. I guess the keys need to be re-programmed. While all seats are very well made, firm and comfortable and adjustable lumbar support is nice to have, I would not mind a little more depth of seating surface.
3. The exterior thermometer failed to report temperature properly after car wash.
4. Cargo area cover does on long retract and has to be replaced I guess.
5. Air suspension occasionally puffs air when shutting doors and also vehicle occasionally lower on its own, though I am not really sure that was what happened.
6. Coolant level low reported shortly into the trip to Florida. Added a 375ml of stilled water - this car uses orange color coolant and all the coolant I could found on the road is in green - and no such issues reported for the rest of the trip (2500miles).
7. This car is definitely not for fast cornering. However ease on gas and hold steering wheel helps it stay in the line reasonably well. Relax hand and avoid jerky movement at steering while at high speed.
8. MPG started really bad(<12) and improved steadily. The average MPG for the return trip was 19, summarized over hand notes. The best MPG on highway seemed to be at the speed between 75 to 85mph.
Wife, kids and myself are all so far happy with the car. On the way back from Florida, wife actually said that it was the first time in her life that she enjoyed driving and driving long distance. She did not say that with the other car a 2003 mercedes e. This is the first SUV we ever have had - family moved to this fairly hilly area north to NYC from Chicago during the summer and had very bad experience with driving in snow on hills with a Honda Odessey last January when we were looking for a house in the area. Still await to see how it would perform in snow and on hills.
Could you provide the model number of the DVD system you installed? The only system I have seen that fit was one with a 7" screen (Audiovox MMD70). Also, is it an all-in-one unit or were you able to mount the DVD player seperate from the screen?
Over 3000 miles and no major problems on SE7 Black/Black. Only issue we had was with the glove box latch. Dealer fixed it in under an hour. Gas mileage is still pretty bad, but hoping it will improve since we are now over 3K miles.
Some memory keys remember the last position when you use it to lock the car instead of the seat positions in the seat memory. You may want to try and see if it's the case.
Mainline Land Rover (Western suburbs of Philly) has 2 HSE's on the lot. One is Tonga Green, the other is Alveston Red. Both have Alpaca Beige interior, cold climate package, and convenience packages (only), along with the usual HSE goodies. No 3rd row seats. Just thought I'd pass this along, if it fits anyone's needs.
Can any other LR3 owners verify for me that it takes two presses of the release pad to open tailgate? The dealer tells me this is normal, but the manual doesn't say anything about two presses.
This is what my LR3 does: you press the pad on the upper tailgate and the top pops open slightly. If you continue to pull the tailgate, it hits another latch and stops. You must then press the pad again to release the tailgate. (Kind of like a hood release now that I think of it.) The lower tailgate does not do this.
I had an interesting problem with the radio in the HSE a couple of weeks back. I was listening to AM radio and turned off the ignition when I stopped for gas. When I turned it back on, I hit the radio power button and it was still on AM but with no sound out of the speakers. Tuned to FM, same thing - no sound on any station. The CD worked fine. I cycled the radio power several times without success. Eventually figured it was an Ant. issue so I stopped the car, turned off the ignition and waited for the radio unit to go completely blank. Restarted and the radio worked fine. It's only happened once but I wonder if anyone else has seen this?
The unit that I had installed was an ICON ALLN1 9" flip w/built in DVD player. The actual screen size is 8.4 "As the name implies, it is an all in one system with a screen resolution of 1440 x 234 and is all black. Also plays MP3 formats. Although the interior of my car is Alpaca beige, the unit doesn't seem out of place since other components are black.It has a rather flat profile and fits neatly between the second row light panel and the front moonroof.
Try Auto outfitters or Savingslot.com. I think retail is close to $1K. Last I check there was no picture available. You may also try the company's web site although I was unable to find the unit the last time I checked.
If it is the ant. you should hear statics instead of nothing. May be a bug in the software controller of the head unit. Best bet is to report it to the service department and see what they say. The more people reporting the same problem the faster they will come up with a solution.
Yes exactly. I had someone watching as I recreated the movement. Basicly the wheel stops but the chasis moves forward about an inch of travel. You can look behind the front wheel easily to see where the wishbone connects to the frame. You can even take a pry-bar and wedge it in there and move it relatively easily. I checked the tightness of all the joints and everything seemed well torqued down. At first I was afraid that they forget a crucial bushing or something but all the suspension joins with the frame have the same bushing order implying that the ability to move was built in. I am convinced that it is normal. I will try to post a video somewhere. Does anyone notice this?
Do any of these show the wishbone/frame connection you are referring to? Perhaps what you have discovered would explain the looseness in the handling that I thought I experienced when I took a brief test drive.
The dealership in Livermore, CA would not accept the x-plan. Would you please share the name of your dealer that accepted the x-plan? Is anyone aware of any dealer in CA that accepts the x-plan on a new HSE.
New member...I waiting on my HSE end of Feb. As for the kids watching a movie in the back seat, it seems a laptop would fit perfectly between the front seats on the center console if the front seat heights were such that the armrests were level with the top of the console box. You could power it below and run the audio into the aux input so they could hear it over the stereo speakers. Has anyone tried this yet? Would the surround sound work?
I had this problem in the first week I had the LR3. It got worse to the point where the radio and the nav failed completely. I had other weird electrical problems--the dome light and radio display remaining on for several minutes after all doors were closed, for example. Dealer ended up replacing the whole nav/radio unit and all the electrical "weirdness" has gone away. They speculated that something was installed incorrectly at the factory, but who knows.
Those photos do show the peice that I am refering to but not with great detail. Maybe this will help: When you are standing infront of the front wheel (facing the rim), if you look behind the wheel on the left side (toward the rear of the car) you can see the huge wishbone arm that goes from the hub to the frame. There is also one in front of the tire but this is easier to see without taking the wheel off or getting underneath the car. Like I said its a really large s-shaped (curved) wishbone. Anyway the movement can be seen where the wishbone connects to the frame. You can see gaps in the joint where there would be easily an inch of play. As far as handling I think the handling was superb and is not at all affected by this design. I strongly believe that they designed this into the suspension geometry on purpose. Its just intersting and something to bring to attention as it can cause a "clank" sound when the brakes are applied abruptly and strongly at crawling speed. My car is even more obvious since I added the front A-Bar, Lighting Package, and Winch. This extra weight only exentuates the movement. Let me know what you all think.
People do put laptops and aftermarket DVD players in their cars all the time. The big issue (besides hooking stuff up to speakers) is strapping the gizmo down. You wouldn't want your laptop to become a flying projectile in an emergency stop.
Some companies make bags that strap to the seatback for players. Check out the DVD/Entertainment Systems discussion for brands, etc.
Hello all. I'm new to the board, but have been reading the posts and find them to be very imformative. I picked up my HSE yesterday (yes, New Years Day). Silver/Black, with 3rd row seats. Adaptive headlights, Heavy Duty Package. I also had them install the DVD and the wood kit. Having a blast with the vehicle so far. Almost have the GPS figured out, and have been slowly working my way through the rest. Overall, I'm very pleased so far. My one issue I can't figure out is the Mirror Dipping function when the vehicle is in reverse. I can turn it off and on through the (i) control settings with no problem. However, I can't adjust the dipping angle to my seat memory (as described in the manual). Everytime that I try and set it, I get the conformation tone, but when I engage reverse, the mirrors dip back to the same angle as before (which is way to extreme to be useful). Has anyone dealt with this? If so, any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Has anyone bought/camped in the fitted tent offered in the accessories catalog? $674 is a bit steep, but incorporating the interior of the LR3 into the square footage is attractive. Reminiscent of VW's thinking for road tripping. Dows it seal well around the body of the LR3? Any opinions appreciated...
I had the same problem with my HSE. The memories between two keys are sometimes messed up too. Will do the first service soon and will ask for a solution.
X-Plan is pretty much invoice + 4% correct? I'm in a quandry of buying/leasing an LR3 vs buying a used 2004 Lincoln Aviator. Hoping to find a deal on an LR3 to sway me in the LR direction.
This idea was hashed out when the Aztec came out with their fitted tent. I prefer to have a free standing tent myself. If you put the tent up attached to your LR3, and then want to run to town for dinner, or just take the canoe down to the lake on the roof rack, you have to unhook from the SUV and mess around with it.
With a free standing tent, you can just zip it up and take off, and if you want to walk into the woods 50 yards to avoid the camper running a generator, you can go find a nice quiet flat spot and set it up.
Not to mention that you can get some great tents for half the price of the one linked.
Thanks so much for the info. Other than this, so far, the LR3 is a dream. I'm gonna hit the dealer later this week to check out some accessories, so I'll ask them as well. If I get an answer, I'll post it here.
Just spent my first weekend with the LR3 SE. Took the 160 mile trip from my NYC apt to my weekend house in the mountains on Sat morning and returned yesterday. Found the ride on the expressway very comfortable and smooth. Not truck like at all. The seats were great and had tons of room. Also very impressed with the sound system. My plugged in mp3 player sounded great, only static at times when fooling with the connection cord. In other words had nothing to do with the LR3.
I had a BMW 3 series for the last 6 years and this is my first suv so it is taking a little getting used. Mostly being so high up and not being as aggressive driver as I was.
I have a couple of questions for people who have experience with this vehicle. When driving it uphill on a wet/icy smooth dirt (actually something called #7) road I felt a little uneasy when I felt it slip a couple of times. I was going fairly slow and was wondering if this was normal, after all it did regain it's grip??? Perhaps I was just being nervous due to inexperience with this type of vehicle. Though at times I could feel/sense it doing things that I had no control of. Also took it down the back end of my driveway, which is very steep, curvy and rock strewn. I had to remove a tree that had fallen and then took the rest of it slow. One part was all ice so I took that even slower. Seemed to handle it, and the rest fine, though I think I may have been overly cautious due to my inexperience...
Comments
I'm North of Boston and eventually located my HSE in Maine. Very helpful compared to Boston dealers who had my deposit for nearly 3 months and no car on the horizon.
I also considered the same vehicles & discounted the Toureg due to many niggling problems & a useless CD based navigation system. Looked at a XC90 but the V8 is not in system as yet. But the Volvo is definetly not as capable as the LR3
Are you sure it's because you left the lights on? Most lux cars today have computers that will turn lights off after a while if you inadvertently leave them on to preserve battery. My 4-year-old X5 has it.
30 months
49500 lr3 se
12000 miles
599 amonth
6000 sec
2700 taxes bankfee etc
will take a hse if price is right
Cold Climate Package - CCP
Rear Climate Control - RCC
Rear Seat Package - RSP
Heavy duty Package - HD
Tow Package - TOW
Adaptive Front Lights - AFS
Cooler Box - CBX
With tax, title and license, the walk out price, under the x-plan, was a little over $56K. Have to wait to have it built. Hope this helps.
I'm picking up my Silver/Blk SE7 from Glen Cove tomorrow. Rear Seat Pkg., Rear Climate Pkg., Park Distance, Cold Climate and Lighting Pkg....MRSP $49,645 / Invoice $45,639. Got the deal for $46,900!!!!! $1,261 over invoice.
30 Months - 10 Security Deposits - 12K per year
$ 599.71 INCLUDING TAX & BANK FEE
375.00 Downpayment(wanted to keep payment
under $600.00)
6,000.00 Security
I told them I would take delivery for December and I'm sure it helped (dealer & salesman quotas, bonuses) for their overall numbers. Maybe one more deal put them over the top for their yearly or monthly objectives. Smithtown (same ownership) wouldn't do the deal.
If you can want an SE and can take delivery Thursday or early Friday I'm sure they would consider the deal.
I'll post my initial impressions tomorrow night. Good luck!
The dealer said he had partial VIN but he was evasive trying to change the topic when I questioned him further. I think the car never arrived or had problems in Pre-Delivery Inspection and is being held. At this point I am content with my LR3 but will not purchase a vehicle at any time in the future from the dealership and will urge my friends and business associates in the area to do the same.
BTW, I never had a stall on a full tank. I stalled once on a 1/4 tank parked nose first on a decline.
On a different note, I have noticed a high pitched hum from the rear at speeds over 60mph. I'm no expert but it sounds like a tire or wheel noise. The dealer claimed not to have heard it when he tested the car after the fuel tank was replaced. The noise seems accentuated when going around highway turns and may vary with the pavement although I couldn't be sure.Does anyone have any ideas??
X-5 is overpriced,terrible in snow and has no storage,Volvo is boring,sluggish and perfect for a soccer mom; Touareg V8 is a good option but the LR3 feels so much more substantial and I prefer the classic Rover look. Whatever you do stay clear of the Cayenne(worst suspension and MOST uncomfortable ride)I test drove them all and owned a few as you can see, hands down the LR3 BLOWS THEM ALL AWAY !!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the input. I've checked LR3 inventory levels in area dealer web sites, and it appears that supply is finally catching up to demand; (that is, if the information is accurate). My current lease is up on 3/1, so I have some time for things to loosen up a little more. I don't question the superior capabilities of the LR3 versus Volvo and others, but most of its capabilities will be wasted on me. For example, good handling in snow and decent cargo space for family road trips and college move-ins is more important to me than off-roading prowess. I also believe that, while these are not sport coupes or sport sedans that we're talking about, a ~300hp V8 will perform better in moving a 5000# SUV than a 225hp V6. I've ruled out the X5 due to cost/value and cargo space considerations, and the Touareg's reliability problems have set it back. I've had good experiences with Volvo (2 cars and a total of 400,000 miles), but the LR3 interests me because it's new and different. At this point, I'm undecided. Thanks again.
Thanks for the information. I agree that the X5 is expensive for what you get. I saw the Touareg at the auto show in November, and was a little disappointed with the interior quality. I've since read about its reliability problems. I owned 2 Volvo wagons over 10 years through 1998 before getting into a BMW sedan. I'm driving an Audi A6 now, and circumstances require that I move from a sedan to an SUV. Cargo space and good handling in snow are my most important criteria. I also want a V8, which wasn't previously available in a Volvo XC90. I'll drive them both and see if one or the other stands out. Thanks.
Also did the 10 security deposits and that brought the money factor down from .0030 to .0021 for the 30 month lease. They claimed this is not negotiable and is set by Land Rover.
In my area (San Francisco) there is not a ton of POI's (gas stations/retail stores/restaurants) that come up when I do a Quick POI command. I have inputed a few manually but am wondering when I travel and don't know the area how to get as many locations as possible to come up on the Nav.
Basically the front wishbones seem to be able to move forward and back about an inch. This is most noticeable when driving at low speeds and quickly pressing the brake on and off. This rocks the car back and forth and then the wishbone and entire front suspension makes a bit of clank sound and can actually be seen moving. At first I thought it was in the drive train but as I said the entire front suspension can be seen moving clearly. It seems to be normal but I can't explain why they would want that. Anyone can confirm this on there LR3 or explain it?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
On a different note, I just had A DVD entertainment unit installed by a specialty shop at a cost of $1250 - Icon overhead unit with a 9inch screen. It does not obscure the rearview mirror as much as one would think. As a matter of fact, I find that the greater obstruction comes from the center headrest. I actually have pretty good visibility on both sides of the screen.
Break-in on this was done in a kind of strict way by picking up and stopping slowly, keeping the engine speed below 3000rpm and the travel speed under 70mph for the first 500 miles and travel speed varying for all first 1500 miles. Half of the first 500 miles was done during a very recent trip to Florida, I believe quite a few people on freeways noticed and were curious about the odd driving pattern and the vehicle.
Our confidence and satisfiaction with this LR3 grows as we travel with this car. The ride is very nice in general and it is nicer on highway. Felt that there were always more at command at pedals and enjoyed the linarity of acceleration and brake forces to the way pedals were applied. The cabin is quiet and window noise becomes pronounced yet still comfortable at speed over 70ish. Control layout is logical, cool and utility oriented while wood trimming adds some warm touch. Sound from Logic7 is next to almost none. NAV was naive at times but okay once we learned how to nav through the touch screens.
Good and bad, following are a few notes taken so far:
1. Noticed subtle yet noticeable high-pitch humming from rear transfer case when climbing steep hills at very low speed. Technician said it was normal. Did not notice the noise after we returned from the trip. But will keep an ear on it.
2. The seat memories between two keys somewhat mixed up and did not always remember the exact seating positions. I guess the keys need to be re-programmed. While all seats are very well made, firm and comfortable and adjustable lumbar support is nice to have, I would not mind a little more depth of seating surface.
3. The exterior thermometer failed to report temperature properly after car wash.
4. Cargo area cover does on long retract and has to be replaced I guess.
5. Air suspension occasionally puffs air when shutting doors and also vehicle occasionally lower on its own, though I am not really sure that was what happened.
6. Coolant level low reported shortly into the trip to Florida. Added a 375ml of stilled water - this car uses orange color coolant and all the coolant I could found on the road is in green - and no such issues reported for the rest of the trip (2500miles).
7. This car is definitely not for fast cornering. However ease on gas and hold steering wheel helps it stay in the line reasonably well. Relax hand and avoid jerky movement at steering while at high speed.
8. MPG started really bad(<12) and improved steadily. The average MPG for the return trip was 19, summarized over hand notes. The best MPG on highway seemed to be at the speed between 75 to 85mph.
Wife, kids and myself are all so far happy with the car. On the way back from Florida, wife actually said that it was the first time in her life that she enjoyed driving and driving long distance. She did not say that with the other car a 2003 mercedes e. This is the first SUV we ever have had - family moved to this fairly hilly area north to NYC from Chicago during the summer and had very bad experience with driving in snow on hills with a Honda Odessey last January when we were looking for a house in the area. Still await to see how it would perform in snow and on hills.
Over 3000 miles and no major problems on SE7 Black/Black. Only issue we had was with the glove box latch. Dealer fixed it in under an hour. Gas mileage is still pretty bad, but hoping it will improve since we are now over 3K miles.
Some memory keys remember the last position when you use it to lock the car instead of the seat positions in the seat memory. You may want to try and see if it's the case.
thanks
Scott
This is what my LR3 does: you press the pad on the upper tailgate and the top pops open slightly. If you continue to pull the tailgate, it hits another latch and stops. You must then press the pad again to release the tailgate. (Kind of like a hood release now that I think of it.) The lower tailgate does not do this.
How does your tailgate open?
Thanks
Try Auto outfitters or Savingslot.com. I think retail is close to $1K. Last I check there was no picture available. You may also try the company's web site although I was unable to find the unit the last time I checked.
Do any of these show the wishbone/frame connection you are referring to? Perhaps what you have discovered would explain the looseness in the handling that I thought I experienced when I took a brief test drive.
Do they accept X-plan on SE's? If so, why not get an SE and put in the stuff missing from HSE aftermarket?
Besides the memory seats, what else (that's useful) that you couldn't put in aftermarket that's equal or better and costs less?
Thanks,
Chris
People do put laptops and aftermarket DVD players in their cars all the time. The big issue (besides hooking stuff up to speakers) is strapping the gizmo down. You wouldn't want your laptop to become a flying projectile in an emergency stop.
Some companies make bags that strap to the seatback for players. Check out the DVD/Entertainment Systems discussion for brands, etc.
Steve, Host
Land Rover Houston North
18205 IH-45 North
Houston TX 77090
I have no idea of the relative quality or how well it would fit the back of the LR3.
With a free standing tent, you can just zip it up and take off, and if you want to walk into the woods 50 yards to avoid the camper running a generator, you can go find a nice quiet flat spot and set it up.
Not to mention that you can get some great tents for half the price of the one linked.
Steve, Host
I had a BMW 3 series for the last 6 years and this is my first suv so it is taking a little getting used. Mostly being so high up and not being as aggressive driver as I was.
I have a couple of questions for people who have experience with this vehicle. When driving it uphill on a wet/icy smooth dirt (actually something called #7) road I felt a little uneasy when I felt it slip a couple of times. I was going fairly slow and was wondering if this was normal, after all it did regain it's grip??? Perhaps I was just being nervous due to inexperience with this type of vehicle. Though at times I could feel/sense it doing things that I had no control of. Also took it down the back end of my driveway, which is very steep, curvy and rock strewn. I had to remove a tree that had fallen and then took the rest of it slow. One part was all ice so I took that even slower. Seemed to handle it, and the rest fine, though I think I may have been overly cautious due to my inexperience...