If you look at the list you can see that alot of the companies listed are owned by the big three or VW. Audi, Porsche-Vw Isuzu, Suzuki and almost Daewoo-GM Mitsubishi-Daimler/Chrysler 12 out of 18 ain't bad and reading the link Fiat seems to be the only one left.
Yea it looks like you're probably right and I momentarily forgot LR is owned by Ford, who made a hefty contribution. Got some quick responses though; this is really a well read and informed group.
..hello all and thanks for the advice..i am getting very close to buying a disco 2002..
please advise about invoice pricing..is it possible to buy this land rover at invoice which is 31,700 or very close..dealers say they have one point pricing..i hardly can believe that to be true in this economy..i am looking at the SD by the way, and will add some grills and running boards, so can one buy this at invoice or close if you shop hard...thanks for sharing your buying advice and experiences..it is a big help..
But the only way that I found to save some money was by buying a lease return with low miles. My rig had 6000 on it and I paid $7000 below MSRP. All I found when dealing with LR was financing deals, not discounts. Good Luck.
...on where you live. Some markets will negotiate some but this is not an exploder where invoice is an easy deal to get. On your own you will need to meet them more than half way. Search the boards for Ford X-plan info which I think can be applied to Rovers as well. I have heard from others that if you qualify, this will probably be your best deal.
Some may remember me from ages ago when I first became interested in LR products. I remember the wealth of knowledge set forth by nanuq and rickrover quite well.
My everyday car is a nice Mazda Protegé5 but we are looking into a second vehicle. Our #2 car was a decent old Volvo 240 wagon for a while but that's now gone. I'd like to get a truck or SUV of some sort to replace it. Budget is up in the air right now, but I've been looking at used Rangies, Discos, Big Broncos and TLC's a lot. It needs to tow at least 3k lbs., carry adults, drive well on-road and off, and be reliable and fixable.
I'm very interested in old Series Rovers and hope to own one someday. My fabulous wife, knowing this, got me a wonderful Christmas/Birthday present this year... a gift certificate to the Land Rover Off-Road Center in Manchester, VT! It is a 90 acre facility at the Mount Equinox hotel and will be getting a 1 hour off-road driving lesson and a 2-hour trail ride in one of their LR's. YIPPEE! I'm waiting until March or April to do it.
My wife followed up this gift with this conversation...
Her: "You know how we want a truck for a 2nd car?" Me: "Yeah." Her: "Well why don't we get a used Land Rover?"
Oh what wonderful words these are to hear! :-)
I'm a member of the "simpler is better" school and have been looking at Classic RR's and '96-'97 Discos. I understand that the early Disco was just a Classic RR in new cloths right? Am I correct in assuming that just about any good mechanic could work on the engine since it's an age-old Buick design?
So what do you guys think? Can I get a decent Disco for around $12k? Can it be fixed by a good independant mechanic or myself reasonably cheaply? I have heard horror stories about $1200 services every15k miles... that can't be true can it?
I'm prepared for weaping fluids and spastic electricals as long as it starts and goes when I need it too. I'd even be willing to retrofit manual roll-up windows and remove the ABS! Simpler!
My rambling has gone on long enough so let's discuss. I notice that most of the discusion here is about new Discos, but surely I can get more info on older ones.
The Discovery Series I had more in common with the Defender than it did with the Range Rover. It shared the same transfer box, manual transmission and suspension.
Without challenging Tincup's extensive knowledge I would certainly say the Disco Series 1 had a lot more in common with the Range Rover than it did with the defender. The Disco and Classic Range Rover share the same chassis at 100" whereas the Defender uses either a shorter 90" chassis or a longer 110" version. They all actually share basically the same transmission and engines (or they did in the UK market in the mid 1980's). Land Rover never emphasised the existence of so many common components as they wanted to position and price the 3 models very differently. It does however make life very much easier for me as I have 1 of each and regularly swap components around after damaging them offroad. If you guys want the ultimate offroader buy the oldest and cheapest Range Rover you can and chop the back 12 inches off (we call it Bob Tailing). This makes a very versatile vehicle indeed !
I am ready for my first oil change and a friend recommended Cam2 motor oil? Anyony ever hear of it? Do most people use conventional or synthetic oil? Does it matter if you change it regularly. Is it better to use genuine LR filters while under warranty or are there better ones to use?
I'd go with a non-synthetic for the first couple of changes, and do them at 500 and 1500 miles, then I'd go to synthetic and use it religiously. Good synthetics are Mobil-1, Castrol, Redline and Amsoil. I'm sure there are others.
You can find lots of good information about oil filter comparisons on the web, I've read lots of it and there are a few filters I've settled on: WIX 51515 (the replacement for the Fram PH8A long body), Purolator Premium, and Napa Gold.
Consider establishing a regular maintenance schedule for your Rover so you replace ALL FLUIDS annually. Yes, all. Brake, steering, swivels, diffs, transfer case, auto trans and engine. Do the engine oil AT LEAST every 3000 miles.
You'll be on a first-name basis with your oil recycling man, but... oil is cheaper than metal in every case.
Well we finally got our 02 Discovery, 02 Kalahari. There is a lot of information I would like to share with everyone but I am going to do my best to keep this as brief as possible. Last February 01 I decided I was going to purchase a 02 Discovery as soon as I put together a decent down payment. During the time it took to put the money together, I visited, what I would consider to be, a lot of Land Rover Centers. We found that each Land Rover dealership has it's own personality just as we found each Discovery that we drove also had a personality of it's own. When dealing with Land Rover you should do your best to locate a dealership that truly lives up to what Land Rover expresses to be "the Land Rover way". Some dealerships fall short of the mark other dealerships miss the mark completely. I have always believed, although this is my first new vehicle purchase, that when the time came, buying a new car would surely be fun and exciting. Well the Land Rover dealership which I had originally placed my order with damn near drained the life out of me by not living up to the "Land Rover way". Lest I preach, please make sure that you are being treated right! Make sure that you are being treated the way that you expect to be treated. "If you ain't being treated right at the time of purchase, then you know what is going to happen when it comes time for service". Feel free to quote me.
This is not to scare anyone away from Land Rover, as I believe that if you are willing to give up "four wheel drive money" then Land Rover is an appropriate place to start looking for a vehicle.
After cancelling the order we had originally placed for an SE, we headed over to Land Rover Woodbridge, NJ. where we ran into Mr. William Pardun, sales agent. We can not find the words to praise Mr. Pardun. Our experience and subsequent purchase of a Kalahari has been nothing but a joy and a pleasure. Could this perhaps be the elusive "Land Rover Way" that I have been seeking out for the better part of 2001? Kudos Mr. Pardun. A1 job, well done!!!
We love our Kalahari are anxious to share a few photos of our baby with the Edmunds family. (see link below)
Those of you who were expecting the Kalahari to arrive as depicted at the 2001 auto show might be a little disappointed. Land Rover decided no luggage rack. Land Rover decided no black stripe on the side. Land Rover basically took a lot of stuff off the vehicle and decided to offer those items as options instead. Heck, all I wanted from day one was a yellow Discovery and this is exactly what I got. The black Duragrain seats are tough and luxurious. The "Dolly Parton" drink holders will be on E-Bay as soon as my new console arrives. The last photo depicts the special grill which was in place for the Kalahari edition. It is a heavy wire screen reminicent of old Rovers. The only problem we have had so far with the vehicle is an annoying distortion on the drivers side mirror. Other than that we love her and think she is great. When I parked her today she had 101 miles on her.
Thanks to everyone, especially Tincup, who have helped us with our questions and queries on this thread. Any specific Kalahari questions that might be directed towards me, I will be more than happy to answer.
Well for better or worse we are now a part of the Land Rover family. We will be keeping everyone posted as to how good or badly she behaves.
I like the yellow Discovery! It looks better than the one shown at last year's Auto Show. One question: Is the hood painted black, or is that some sort of covering?
The black section on the hood is not painted on but appears to be some sort of thin covering. I was told by my dealer that the black piece is affixed to the vehicle after they arrive here at the port of entry. Appreciate your well wishes. Thanks Saharagal. 02
Is this yellow color a secret? Does it cost extra? I can't find info on the LR's web site. Looks great! Still haven't gotton my Disco as I'm mulling over not being able to get the rear air in an SD.
The Yellow Kalahari is a limited edition Discovery, only a couple of hundred being made. It's not shown on the web site, only normal production vehicles are listed there.
Thanks for all the kind words. The above web page will get you to the only information that I know of relating to the Kalahari. A few phone calls to your local Land Rover dealer should locate ond of these beauties for your purchase consideration. I am not sure if the black stripe can be ordered but I am sure the roof rack is available.
I neglected to put a picture of the interior but I guarantee you if you love the outside, you will love the interior too. Black seats and console really something you will be proud to own. Make an effort to see this Kalahari in person.
For the US market the only three colors available for the Kalahari are Borrego Yellow, Bonatti Grey, and Chawton White. Tangiers Orange will no be available in North America.
at the end of the year my disco will be out of factory warranty. i am now debating what to do. it seems that all the internet web sites that sell extended warranties currently aren't offering any in california, but i expect that will be changed. are any of these vendors reputable or should i pay the big bucks for the dealer warranty? any thoughts would be helpful.
The guy who is setting this up asked us to pass this information along. So any of you in the DC area, we would love to see you on Saturday.
--------------------- Hey guys, here's the story for the Rover get together this weekend. We'll meet at Belle Haven Marina in Alexandria, VA at 10:00 a.m. this Saturday, the 26th of Jan. I'll provide the krispy kremes. Directions are available online at www.saildc.com (click on the directions button). Restrooms are available, although we'll be outside so dress warm. Give me a shout or drop me an e-mail if you have any problems. Hope to see you guys this weekend and please spread the word to other rover owners!!!! I'm also going to post a message on the Roversnorth BBS.
Hmmmmmm, let's see... drive all day and night Thursday, all day and night Friday, that gives me 48 hours... it's about 4,000 miles... hmmmmm, looks like I'm gonna miss this gathering!
Enjoy! I'll go blast a snowberm in your mutual honor!
Have you contacted Hal Moses yet at www.autowarranties.com? When I bought my LR he offered me a killer deal on a bumper to bumper plan $2000.00 less than the dealer. I live near Sacramento.
Hey Rover Buddies- something really strange happened to my 00 Discovery II the other day. After starting it and pulling out of a parking lot, it started to miss when I tried to accelerate- it almost felt like I was running out of gas. Then, the ghost of Lord Lucas came to visit and all of the warning lights on the dash started blinking- the ace light, the hill descent light, even the light that tells you what gear you are in on the gear shifter. The lights were flashing in unison. I pulled over and turned the vehicle off, waited a minute or so and started it up again. Just as abruptly as it had begun, it was back to normal. I drove off without a problem. Since then I have had no further events such as this. I called the service guy and told him the story and he was puzzled, but mumbled some stuff about the computer system detecting a fault and recalibrating itself. He said he has never heard of this type of problem. Has any one else out there have this happen to them? Verrrry strange...
"Rumor has it British automotive company Land Rover risks shutdown cuz the company that supplies the chassis for its vehicles has gone bankrupt, and its administrators (KPMG) are asking for millions of pounds of "goodwill". 1,400 jobs possibly affected."
This information is located on a particular website which list various businesses that have gone, or may go under. Due to Edmunds.com terms of service, and profanity in the website address I am unable to list the website address here.
This seems terribly unlikely since Ford owns LR completely. More then likely it is just the frame company trying to bully some dough out of Ford since the next Discovery uses an Explorer platform and this company will lose a lot of money when that happens.
I bought my 2000 DII at the end of the month & end of the year. I got it for $750 over INVOICE. I had to work them pretty hard but got it here in Chicago. Hope this helps.
I've been reading this bb since before I got my truck a few months ago and decided it was finally time to to contribute the little bit I've learned so far. In my experience, you CAN get a reduction in the invoice price when shopping for a Land Rover, but it takes some doing. I researched and decided pretty much what I wanted (I was buying new, so this might not be valuable for a used truck purchase), test driving trucks at several dealerships (comparing makes), to include two Rover dealerships. Then I contacted Autobytel for a Rover quote. I live in the Mid-Atlantic region, and the nearest Autobytel dealership was in NJ. The quote was not bad, about $2500.00 off the invoice price if I remember correctly, but I still contacted three other Land Rover dealerships, one in MD, one in VA and the last in PA. I was willing to travel. I asked each dealer about new and I asked about executive trucks and loaner fleets vehicles. I opted for new. I told them what the other guys were offering and compared price, among other things.
One dealership where I'd actually gone had left me with a VERY bad impression both on the phone and in person (2 different sales guides). I later found out they out and out lied to me about buying out of state, too. Scare tactics that didn't result in a sale to them, dorks! The PA dealership was terrific, but couldn't do better than the NJ group. The Va dealership was very responsive and not only sweetened the pot more (they easily matched the Autobytel price and then they made another mistake in quote, but later stood by it, to their credit!) but I would be set up with a free loaner Disco for life when I had to drop mine off for servicing. Had I bought from NJ I'd have lost that option, unless I wanted to go to Jersey for servicing. Personally, I think the loaner program should apply regardless of where you buy, but I was told by several dealerships that it was common practice to only allow that benefit to those who had purchased from each specific dealership. Yes, I understand each dealer has his own service fleet to maintain, etc., but it would be nice if system wide we knew we could count on getting a nice loaner.
So, the invoice on my 2001 Disco SE was in the neighborhood of $42,000.00, and I paid a little under $36,000.00. Oh, and they threw in genuine LR rubber floor mats, front and back, too, just because I asked (O.K. I squeezed a bit harder, LOL!). All this was pre-9/11, by about a month, so I don't know what the climate is now. We all know everyone made money, I was happy and I have a good relationship with the dealership. Maybe this will help someone a little bit as I see questions here from time to time about negotiating your deal.
Has anyone with a DII noticed the "dirty rear window syndrome". My DII gets a very dirty rear window on a clear / dry day and on a wet and grubby day after a few miles you could plant roses on the rear glass. No matter how often the rear window wash is used the dirt immediately returns. It seems to be something to do with the air flow around the rear screen when driving which creates a vortex that sucks in any dirty spray from the rear wheels and throws it at the window. Does anyone else suffer from this and, better still, can anyone suggest a cure ? (Apart from trading the DII in for a new Rangie of course !).
Post 1530 says LR will be using the Explorer platform for the Discovery in the next generation model. There has been a lot of speculation in this forum that with Ford ownership the true nature and capabilities of the vehicle will be ruined ( I happen to agree), that the Discovery will be just an expensive Explorer with LR badging. I have not heard of any platform change before and certainly hope it is not true. If it is, when is the next generation due, because by then I hope they have fixed the roll over problem (or so Firestone says) with tire blowouts. P.S. From what I have read, Ford is making a pretty good run at "civilizing" (a gentleman's word for ruining) the Range Rover also with independent suspension, etc., things real off roaders are crying foul about.
I haven't heard of any change in the Discovery platform, but some change is probably inevitable as consumers want more car like ride than off road ability. It will definitely not be a rebadged Explorer though. From every thing I have read and heard about the New Range Rover, it will still be at the head of it's class off-road and much improved on-road. Also, BMW was behind the redesign of the Range Rover, not Ford, but the New Range Rover is much superior to the BMW X5 that it shares componentry with. Autoweek had a very good article on it a few weeks ago, and one of the things they were impressed by was how well it worked off road. I have read other very positive articles from other sources. I'm sure Land Rover will never abandon it's roots as vehicles that can go just about anywhere. Ford did not spend the money they did to make the Land Rover models rebadged Explorers and Expeditions. They will never sell the numbers required to be profitable if they do that.
Just because the next, completely redesigned Disco will most likely be built off of the Explorer platform does NOT mean it will mearly be a rebadged Explorer like the Mercury Mountaineer.
"Platform" just means that the basic chassis is the same. Remember, the pedestiran VW Golf shares it's platform with the excellent Audi TT. :-)
I see most manufacturers are going more and more toward on-road comfort at the expense of off-road capability. Land-Rover has tended that direction with the Freelander. Sooooooo, will they steer the very offroadable Discovery that way too? Would that mean independent front suspension? Would it mean reducing the mass for better performance? Do those two mean a lighter chassis, which may be redesigned for IFS?
I guess it all boils down to the "focus" customer. I personally see no reason to lengthen the DI into the current DII dimensions. But many people are voting with their pocketbooks.
I know the current Discovery chassis is a stout item, as it must be for the offroad demands placed upon it. It's also a solid place to mount those solid axles and leading/trailing arms. It also transmits a lot of road/suspension noise. Sooooo what is the target demographic for the next-gen Rovers?
I read, more than a year ago, that the head of Fords' Explorer group went to Rover soon after the acquisition to see what Explorer parts could be incorporated into the Rover line. I guess there was a little truth in it. They did it with Jag, probably Volvo, and now Land Rover. Oh, well I am finally getting to know my service man at Land Rover. 1. New radio 2. Wind noise-door adjustment 3. Loose and missing windshield moulding tabs 4. Cruise control surging-EMS software upgrade 5. Soft brake pedal 6. Two recall items- thermostat housing and transmission breather hose replacement At least I get a free carwash, cup of coffee and USA Today newspaper in the deal. My wife is very impressed with the dealership. Tincup, the power bleed didn't work. A new master cylinder is coming FedEx and I hope that I will be getting back my rig today.
While the Freelander does not have quite the off road capability of the Discovery, it is at the head of it's class in that regard, with only the Jeep Liberty having similar capabilities. The New Range Rover will have class leading capabilities also. The direction of SUV's in general will be driven by consumer demand, as it does no good to buile vehicles that only appeal to a small percentage of the market. That said, I look for Land Rover products to continue to be class leaders in off-road ability amongst their market segments. Discovery will probably move a bit more mainstream, but Defender is slated to be for the hard core off-roader.
I am looking to purchase a used 1999 Disco Series II in the next few months but I'm having trouble finding a decent insurance rate. I am 22 and I knew the insurance rate would be of some concern but some of the rates I am getting are ridiculous. Help!
Also since the vehicles I have looked at came from the first production run of the new model, are there any particular bugs I should be aware of? Secondly, are the extended warranty packages available for purchase the same at every land rover dealer?
ANC 1/25/2002 - Lord Lucas last spotted in Alaska.
Driver came off the freeway after an "energetic" drive (grin) and stopped to fill up. Upon pulling out onto the road again the Discovery no longer ran like a scalded cat... more like a mildly irritated chameleon. Three tanks of gas later and 6 cans of "Heet" she runs better but still not like the alleged cat; now almost as well as a lazy overfed feline with a sore paw. And, that gloriously yellow CHECK ENGINE light glows cheerily.
Is it only bad fuel? A cracked plug? A shattered catalyst? Time... and the OBDII laptop will tell.
Check engine light was a gas cap not fully screwed down, but it did not affect performance. It just irritated the heck out of me and I had to wait for 50 starts for it to clear the computer. What a pain. Plugged exhaust, broken plug, bad fuel, OH NO!!
The Freelander does not have a transfer case and therefore no low gear range. As such, I would be "deathly" afraid to take it off road where steep long grades (with perhaps rock crawling--i.e.. CO) are presented. Without a low gear range, it would seem the brakes would soon over heat and fail (contrary to what many believe, the hill descent system uses the brakes). This, in my opinion, is a serious drawback, and along with the fact it has unibody construction and 4-wheel independent suspension, as well other shortcomings compared to the Discovery series, does not put it on a footing of "not quite", as if it were close or something. It is a far cry from a Discovery/Range Rover when it comes to off pavement. True, it is a great looking unit with excellent on road manners and SOME off road capability, but it is no Discovery , and Land Rover should not pretend it is, or that it is even close. The Freelander competes with the likes of the Ford Escape and no one would consider that a serious off road vehicle.
I owned an Explorer and gave it up for the DII (SE no ACE). At first I was just going to get the 2002 explorer but saw the Disco at the auto show. The price, lower than I expected, was still pushing the budget but it really caught my eye and in the end I could not resist.
Personally, I like the size of the DII. It has the extra room I use to take the kid, dog and all the necessary gear on road trips. I don't think the ride is too truck like or really very different than the explorer. The noise is really no different either. If you want that mushy boat like ride and quiet of a luxury car go buy a cadillac.
When you buy a high profile 4wd vehicle you should expect and want it to act like one (my opinion). I feel confident with the brakes, low c.g. and the full time 4wd especially on the couple days a year it rains in CA.
I am not a hard core off-roader but am looking forward to a dealer event in a couple weeks as well as to getting to out of the way camping spots, to the snow, or on the beach occasionally.
I was drawn to the DII for what it is. Judging by the number of Disco's I see in my area others must agree with me. If Ford wants to sell the Disco in quantities like the Explorer then they will change it but if, for the most part, they leave it alone it will be successful. Keep the British Character and especially the dealer service as is. After 6 months and 11,000 miles I do know the service guys but they do take care of you.
I was quoting from ex-Camel Trophy drivers, they are quite impressed with the Freelanders abilities off road. I have also personally driven it off-road, and find it very capable, much moreso than an Escape. I agree it is not an accomplished extreme rock crawler, but there are limitations to all vehicles, even the Discovery. From all indications that I have read, and after talking with some of the test drivers, the new Range Rover will actually be superior to the Discovery off-road, with more axle articulation and ground clearance, in spite of being unibody and having IRS front and rear, which was heresy to the off road community. When Land Rover switched from leaf springs to coils, the off-road community accused them of selling out and compromising off-road ability, when it actually ended up increasing the capability. Just keep an open mind about what equipt. is necessary to make a vehicle off-road ready.
Comments
Audi, Porsche-Vw
Isuzu, Suzuki and almost Daewoo-GM
Mitsubishi-Daimler/Chrysler
12 out of 18 ain't bad and reading the link Fiat seems to be the only one left.
please advise about invoice pricing..is it possible to buy this land rover at invoice which is 31,700 or very close..dealers say they have one point pricing..i hardly can believe that to be true in this economy..i am looking at the SD by the way, and will add some grills and running boards, so can one buy this at invoice or close if you shop hard...thanks for sharing your buying advice and experiences..it is a big help..
Some may remember me from ages ago when I first became interested in LR products. I remember the wealth of knowledge set forth by nanuq and rickrover quite well.
My everyday car is a nice Mazda Protegé5 but we are looking into a second vehicle. Our #2 car was a decent old Volvo 240 wagon for a while but that's now gone. I'd like to get a truck or SUV of some sort to replace it. Budget is up in the air right now, but I've been looking at used Rangies, Discos, Big Broncos and TLC's a lot. It needs to tow at least 3k lbs., carry adults, drive well on-road and off, and be reliable and fixable.
I'm very interested in old Series Rovers and hope to own one someday. My fabulous wife, knowing this, got me a wonderful Christmas/Birthday present this year... a gift certificate to the Land Rover Off-Road Center in Manchester, VT! It is a 90 acre facility at the Mount Equinox hotel and will be getting a 1 hour off-road driving lesson and a 2-hour trail ride in one of their LR's. YIPPEE! I'm waiting until March or April to do it.
My wife followed up this gift with this conversation...
Her: "You know how we want a truck for a 2nd car?"
Me: "Yeah."
Her: "Well why don't we get a used Land Rover?"
Oh what wonderful words these are to hear! :-)
I'm a member of the "simpler is better" school and have been looking at Classic RR's and '96-'97 Discos. I understand that the early Disco was just a Classic RR in new cloths right? Am I correct in assuming that just about any good mechanic could work on the engine since it's an age-old Buick design?
So what do you guys think? Can I get a decent Disco for around $12k? Can it be fixed by a good independant mechanic or myself reasonably cheaply? I have heard horror stories about $1200 services every15k miles... that can't be true can it?
I'm prepared for weaping fluids and spastic electricals as long as it starts and goes when I need it too. I'd even be willing to retrofit manual roll-up windows and remove the ABS! Simpler!
My rambling has gone on long enough so let's discuss. I notice that most of the discusion here is about new Discos, but surely I can get more info on older ones.
Thanks again!
http://www.vtr.org/maintain/oil-overview.html
I'd go with a non-synthetic for the first couple of changes, and do them at 500 and 1500 miles, then I'd go to synthetic and use it religiously. Good synthetics are Mobil-1, Castrol, Redline and Amsoil. I'm sure there are others.
You can find lots of good information about oil filter comparisons on the web, I've read lots of it and there are a few filters I've settled on: WIX 51515 (the replacement for the Fram PH8A long body), Purolator Premium, and Napa Gold.
Consider establishing a regular maintenance schedule for your Rover so you replace ALL FLUIDS annually. Yes, all. Brake, steering, swivels, diffs, transfer case, auto trans and engine. Do the engine oil AT LEAST every 3000 miles.
You'll be on a first-name basis with your oil recycling man, but... oil is cheaper than metal in every case.
-Bob
This is not to scare anyone away from Land Rover, as I believe that if you are willing to give up "four wheel drive money" then Land Rover is an appropriate place to start looking for a vehicle.
After cancelling the order we had originally placed for an SE, we headed over to Land Rover Woodbridge, NJ. where we ran into Mr. William Pardun, sales agent. We can not find the words to praise Mr. Pardun. Our experience and subsequent purchase of a Kalahari has been nothing but a joy and a pleasure. Could this perhaps be the elusive "Land Rover Way" that I have been seeking out for the better part of 2001? Kudos Mr. Pardun. A1 job, well done!!!
We love our Kalahari are anxious to share a few photos of our baby with the Edmunds family. (see link below)
Those of you who were expecting the Kalahari to arrive as depicted at the 2001 auto show might be a little disappointed. Land Rover decided no luggage rack. Land Rover decided no black stripe on the side. Land Rover basically took a lot of stuff off the vehicle and decided to offer those items as options instead. Heck, all I wanted from day one was a yellow Discovery and this is exactly what I got. The black Duragrain seats are tough and luxurious. The "Dolly Parton" drink holders will be on E-Bay as soon as my new console arrives. The last photo depicts the special grill which was in place for the Kalahari edition. It is a heavy wire screen reminicent of old Rovers. The only problem we have had so far with the vehicle is an annoying distortion on the drivers side mirror. Other than that we love her and think she is great. When I parked her today she had 101 miles on her.
Thanks to everyone, especially Tincup, who have helped us with our questions and queries on this thread. Any specific Kalahari questions that might be directed towards me, I will be more than happy to answer.
Well for better or worse we are now a part of the Land Rover family. We will be keeping everyone posted as to how good or badly she behaves.
Regards to all,
02
http://members.aol.com/lastsecnd/post1.jpg
http://members.aol.com/lastsecnd/post2.jpg
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Congratulations again!
02
Thanks for all the kind words. The above web page will get you to the only information that I know of relating to the Kalahari. A few phone calls to your local Land Rover dealer should locate ond of these beauties for your purchase consideration. I am not sure if the black stripe can be ordered but I am sure the roof rack is available.
I neglected to put a picture of the interior but I guarantee you if you love the outside, you will love the interior too. Black seats and console really something you will be proud to own. Make an effort to see this Kalahari in person.
Regards,
02
Regards, -Bob
Yellow
Orange
Grey
Do you know if there are any big differences between a '00 / '01 & '02 Discovery ll's ?
thanks
The guy who is setting this up asked us to pass this information along. So any of you in the DC area, we would love to see you on Saturday.
---------------------
Hey guys, here's the story for the Rover get together this weekend. We'll meet at Belle Haven Marina in Alexandria, VA at 10:00 a.m. this Saturday, the 26th of Jan. I'll provide the krispy kremes. Directions are available online at www.saildc.com (click on the directions button). Restrooms are available, although we'll be outside so dress warm.
Give me a shout or drop me an e-mail if you have any problems. Hope to see you guys this weekend and please spread the word to other rover owners!!!! I'm also going to post a message on the Roversnorth BBS.
Cheers,
Dave
"Guinnevere" 91 RR
David J. Wacht
roverdude@hotmail.com
Enjoy! I'll go blast a snowberm in your mutual honor!
Cheers, -Bob
This information is located on a particular website which list various businesses that have gone, or may go under. Due to Edmunds.com terms of service, and profanity in the website address I am unable to list the website address here.
Thanks
This seems terribly unlikely since Ford owns LR completely. More then likely it is just the frame company trying to bully some dough out of Ford since the next Discovery uses an Explorer platform and this company will lose a lot of money when that happens.
Don't sweat it. :-)
There you will find the news.
Can anyone tell me the best way to get a good deal, and what is considered a good deal on a Discovery II
I've been reading this bb since before I got my truck a few months ago and decided it was finally time to to contribute the little bit I've learned so far. In my experience, you CAN get a reduction in the invoice price when shopping for a Land Rover, but it takes some doing. I researched and decided pretty much what I wanted (I was buying new, so this might not be valuable for a used truck purchase), test driving trucks at several dealerships (comparing makes), to include two Rover dealerships. Then I contacted Autobytel for a Rover quote. I live in the Mid-Atlantic region, and the nearest Autobytel dealership was in NJ. The quote was not bad, about $2500.00 off the invoice price if I remember correctly, but I still contacted three other Land Rover dealerships, one in MD, one in VA and the last in PA. I was willing to travel. I asked each dealer about new and I asked about executive trucks and loaner fleets vehicles. I opted for new. I told them what the other guys were offering and compared price, among other things.
One dealership where I'd actually gone had left me with a VERY bad impression both on the phone and in person (2 different sales guides). I later found out they out and out lied to me about buying out of state, too. Scare tactics that didn't result in a sale to them, dorks! The PA dealership was terrific, but couldn't do better than the NJ group. The Va dealership was very responsive and not only sweetened the pot more (they easily matched the Autobytel price and then they made another mistake in quote, but later stood by it, to their credit!) but I would be set up with a free loaner Disco for life when I had to drop mine off for servicing. Had I bought from NJ I'd have lost that option, unless I wanted to go to Jersey for servicing. Personally, I think the loaner program should apply regardless of where you buy, but I was told by several dealerships that it was common practice to only allow that benefit to those who had purchased from each specific dealership. Yes, I understand each dealer has his own service fleet to maintain, etc., but it would be nice if system wide we knew we could count on getting a nice loaner.
So, the invoice on my 2001 Disco SE was in the neighborhood of $42,000.00, and I paid a little under $36,000.00. Oh, and they threw in genuine LR rubber floor mats, front and back, too, just because I asked (O.K. I squeezed a bit harder, LOL!). All this was pre-9/11, by about a month, so I don't know what the climate is now. We all know everyone made money, I was happy and I have a good relationship with the dealership. Maybe this will help someone a little bit as I see questions here from time to time about negotiating your deal.
Seahorse
Welcome aboard and we're glad you finally decided to come out of the shadows!
tidester
Host
SUVs
"Platform" just means that the basic chassis is the same. Remember, the pedestiran VW Golf shares it's platform with the excellent Audi TT. :-)
I guess it all boils down to the "focus" customer. I personally see no reason to lengthen the DI into the current DII dimensions. But many people are voting with their pocketbooks.
I know the current Discovery chassis is a stout item, as it must be for the offroad demands placed upon it. It's also a solid place to mount those solid axles and leading/trailing arms. It also transmits a lot of road/suspension noise. Sooooo what is the target demographic for the next-gen Rovers?
Opinions?
Oh, well I am finally getting to know my service man at Land Rover.
1. New radio
2. Wind noise-door adjustment
3. Loose and missing windshield moulding tabs
4. Cruise control surging-EMS software upgrade
5. Soft brake pedal
6. Two recall items- thermostat housing and transmission breather hose replacement
At least I get a free carwash, cup of coffee and USA Today newspaper in the deal. My wife is very impressed with the dealership.
Tincup, the power bleed didn't work. A new master cylinder is coming FedEx and I hope that I will be getting back my rig today.
Also since the vehicles I have looked at came from the first production run of the new model, are there any particular bugs I should be aware of? Secondly, are the extended warranty packages available for purchase the same at every land rover dealer?
ANC 1/25/2002 - Lord Lucas last spotted in Alaska.
Driver came off the freeway after an "energetic" drive (grin) and stopped to fill up. Upon pulling out onto the road again the Discovery no longer ran like a scalded cat... more like a mildly irritated chameleon. Three tanks of gas later and 6 cans of "Heet" she runs better but still not like the alleged cat; now almost as well as a lazy overfed feline with a sore paw. And, that gloriously yellow CHECK ENGINE light glows cheerily.
Is it only bad fuel? A cracked plug? A shattered catalyst? Time... and the OBDII laptop will tell.
tidester
Host
SUVs
Personally, I like the size of the DII. It has the extra room I use to take the kid, dog and all the necessary gear on road trips. I don't think the ride is too truck like or really very different than the explorer. The noise is really no different either. If you want that mushy boat like ride and quiet of a luxury car go buy a cadillac.
When you buy a high profile 4wd vehicle you should expect and want it to act like one (my opinion). I feel confident with the brakes, low c.g. and the full time 4wd especially on the couple days a year it rains in CA.
I am not a hard core off-roader but am looking forward to a dealer event in a couple weeks as well as to getting to out of the way camping spots, to the snow, or on the beach occasionally.
I was drawn to the DII for what it is. Judging by the number of Disco's I see in my area others must agree with me. If Ford wants to sell the Disco in quantities like the Explorer then they will change it but if, for the most part, they leave it alone it will be successful. Keep the British Character and especially the dealer service as is. After 6 months and 11,000 miles I do know the service guys but they do take care of you.