Challenge of justifying purchase, reselling & resale value

[anandksrao]

Hey folks, Total newbie to the forum here. Grad student at UC-Davis, and a plant geneticist in training. I am thinking of purchasing an LR3 SE, 2006 model V8 with anywhere b/w 50K and 70K miles on it, for between 16K and 22K. What I am concerned about is my ability to resell it in a market, 3-4 years from now, when gas is likely to cost (much) more, and when motive force for automobiles may have considerably to hybrid / plug-in options. I base this on my observations of how much longer 'for-sale' ads for SUVs stay online than for small and mid-size sedans, especially the really fuel efficient. Is there a smarter way to ensure that I can resell a 2006 LR3 in lets say 2015, than the average Joe knows? A totally different subject - given my proclivity towards things more biological than mechanical, and an aversion to pay a hefty service contract fee, is my choice of an LR3 illogical? I would have to teach myself a whole new subject area for the purpose of preventive maintenance, is it hard or too time-consuming? I cannot think of a whole lot of places that I would want to visit in North America that cannot be reached via another SUV, that is likely less off-road capable, but also likely more reliable. I can think of Alaska in early summer, MOab desert, Monument Valley, Racetrack Playa of Death Valley - thats it! Or is there a neat website / web resource that lists all the places you can go where even other SUVs would struggle? I feel I would be justified in Kenya, Tanzania or other E. African countries had I had the chance for safari travels every month or so... And I know I cannot import a left hand drive vehicle into India where I intend to move to after ~ 3 years. I love the idea of having a vehicle that can take me most places, most times of the year, come rain, snow etc. but can I really use its off-road capabilities given that a lot of N. America is paved Or have I been blind to routes that I have never thought of navigating? As you might have guessed, I am debating between what my heart wants and what my mind thinks! I am hoping that your responses will help tip one side, but with justified assertions! HELP PLEASE!!!! Thanks a ton...

[Savannah Buzz]

1. A Discovery is not to be viewed as a stable investment. D1s in running condition are easily under $2K in many areas. D2s can be had well under $5k in many areas. Yet these vehicles once had high sticker prices as well. People continue to operate them and repair them because they are unique, fun, and useful.

2. D1 and D2 are easily DIY maintenance. LR3 has more things (electronics) that require dealer level diagnostic tools.

3. D1 & D2 have tons of optional aftermarket stuff availabale, bumpers, winches, roof racks, etc.

4. Download a copy of the RAVE service manual set (link below, free). Look at some of the service practices, and see if they look like something you could tackle. You would have to purchase some tools, and you would need a place to work. While you don't have to have the experience of installing a Zeiss SEM or TEM , it helps if you can use a cell phone, open a beer can, and crawl under the vehicle (curses are optional). Meaning that thousands of mechanics have less understanding of physics, organic chemistry, and logic than you, but they have experience of having done it wrong a few times.

5. You are in grad school, so that means you have to eat grad school chili, work long hours on the faculty grant requests, even longer hours on your own research, and funds will always be tight. So my advise is to purchase a usable D1 or D2 and use that to get you through to the day you defend. (After you defend your dissertation, your income may rise to where you could get a Defender; but that is another dream - and quite possible if your return to India). You do have to balance the idea of how much time you can take away from your academic work for chores like changing oil, water pump, etc. But if you have it done at a dealer, the costs skyrocket. All Land Rovers require service, they are not oil change and tires kind of vehicles. Would avoid Freelander at all costs.

You can use a search tool like www.statewidelist.com to seach all of craigslist in your state or nearby states. It lets you input "rover" and price ranges, and dealer and or private sale. The output is by metro area. Cal is covered with them.

You would want to have basic mechanical skills to deal with minor problems that seem to pop up (or drop off) when off road, regardless of vehicle brand. But you don't have to be in ME to work on, enjoy, and safely operate an off road machine.