What you have
#11
12-18-2017, 12:12 PM
I've never owned a car in my life. I've always owned a 4x4 since I grew up in the TX Hill Country. I saw way to many people have deer end up inside their little Honda Accords to ever want that plus I grew up on 25 to nearly 100 acre ranches so 4x4's always got us around. I started with Mitsubishi Montero's (Gen 1 2DR/4DR), then I had a HORRIBLE experience with an 01 Nissan Xterra 4x4 (got stuck in the parking lot at Hidden Falls...), I then had a 97 D1 for a short time of only 6 months before it was destroyed in a very nasty wreck (not my fault), so I then got my hands on a very rare 97 Range Rover Vitesse in AA Yellow. I got the Safety Devices Roof Rack, tweaked the EAS into a 1-2inch lift, fitted bigger tires, and then sadly moved to Houston, TX away from Hidden Falls and the Hill Country. I sold it for a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 4.7L V8 model. I then tried 2 05 Jeep Wranglers (Rubicon & LJ Sport) since I couldn't get my hand on a D90. The Jeeps had a ton of aftermarket parts, but omg did they need them. They're built so CHEAP it's not even funny. If you really do start to push them hard off road in stock form they will fail very quickly, hence all the aftermarket parts. I then went to an H3 Alpha (5.3L V8 model) and it was truly an amazing SUV. It's only problem was the small/narrow interior for such a big looking exterior.
Around that same time my brother who had always been a RRC guy wanted to get another one. He finally found a 90 RRC Hunter Edition that actually had leather seats, but no sunroofs or ABS. It had 167K on it and besides one little dent by the fuel filler and some misc interior bits it was all original. Well he got me wanting another LR so I jumped back into it with a 98 LSE 50th Anniversary Edition in Woodcote Green from the original owner with just 117K on it. The interior was mint and the exterior still had the original paint in near perfect condition. After that I was hooked because I had only got to enjoy my 97 D1 for 6 months. I then found my 02 Kalahari, my 99 D2 I got after my 98 LSE was rear ended (fixed it for 200.00 and put the extra $$$$ I had into the 99 D2). I did get excellent used LR's as I knew their weaknesses and I made sure each one didn't suffer from poor maintenance either. Then my wife announced she was pregnant with our second child and I knew the H3 Alpha wasn't going to cut it as a family SUV, so I took a massive dive into the unknown and got my wife an 06 LR3 HSE with the HD Package. It's first two weeks of ownership was insane with a faulty brake switch that caused all sorts of Can Bus faults, an alternator that died, and a battery, but after that it's been flawless. I got it for 10K with 91K on it in very very very good condition. I think the previous owners took it to LR and were given a very $$$$ bill to fix the issues I later discovered. It cost me right around 400.00 in parts including a full brake job as it needed it due to heavy braking. so $10,400.00 in all which at the time was still 5K less than any other clean LR3 HSE for sale in my area. I sold the H3 Alpha for 16.1K so I had some play money anyways.
Yes LR's are unique and do suffer from some flaws, but if addressed and maintained they'll blow a Mitsubishi, Hummer, Nissan, and Jeep out of the water. I've driven them all in snow, rain, ice, and in the LR it just feels like you're driving down a normal piece of highway. In the Jeep's you were barely going 65MPH and if it was windy you were constantly fighting to keep it in the lane you were traveling in.
Off road it seems like you're on a highway once again with a very very nice ride vs say a Jeep that makes a wash board road seem like you're skipping across the earths atmosphere on re-entry. I still prefer the 87-04 LR basic design, but the LR3 with it's terrain response setup is very very good.
When I've gone off road in the LR's I can just go down a trail with very little wheel spin or throttle and the LR will just make it's way down the trail with no fuss. However it's a very common sight to watch Jeeps flooring it up a hill and digging out the trail just to make it up. To me that is so far from Tread Lightly!
I also love how LR's were one of the last vehicle companies up until the end of the Defender that was put together a great deal by hand vs 100% robotic assembly. There is just something about them that I love dearly. Maybe it's the classic looks, or the 87-98 RRC/D1 interior smell that reminds me of a military surplus store lol. Whatever it is I plan on rocking my LR's well into the future and yes I'd go for the Chevy 4.8L conversion before I'd ever consider buying a new SUV.
On a side note about the LR3 it's an AWESOME LR, but if you are interested in one take a long something like the iCarsoft LR2 and read the individual module faults. It'll report some stuff that isn't important, but check the TCM for pending faults, the ABS, transmission, and engine. Lower Control Arm bushings are a common wear item, and the EAS pump. If it runs more than 2min upon start-up expect to do at least a rebuild or replacement of the pump or air bags. You can convert it the OME Springs and sit around 2inches taller, but I honestly love the EAS. The 4.4L V8 is very reliable, check for any coolant leaks, and make sure the glass on the roof isn't cracking. I've seen several that were cracking from body stress (probably were in wrecks).
You can find LR3 SE models basically fully decked out to almost HSE status with NAV/HD Package. If it has NAV that's a good sign, then go to the 4x4 Info and see if you have a rear locker. When I bought mine they were 100% clueless.
Around that same time my brother who had always been a RRC guy wanted to get another one. He finally found a 90 RRC Hunter Edition that actually had leather seats, but no sunroofs or ABS. It had 167K on it and besides one little dent by the fuel filler and some misc interior bits it was all original. Well he got me wanting another LR so I jumped back into it with a 98 LSE 50th Anniversary Edition in Woodcote Green from the original owner with just 117K on it. The interior was mint and the exterior still had the original paint in near perfect condition. After that I was hooked because I had only got to enjoy my 97 D1 for 6 months. I then found my 02 Kalahari, my 99 D2 I got after my 98 LSE was rear ended (fixed it for 200.00 and put the extra $$$$ I had into the 99 D2). I did get excellent used LR's as I knew their weaknesses and I made sure each one didn't suffer from poor maintenance either. Then my wife announced she was pregnant with our second child and I knew the H3 Alpha wasn't going to cut it as a family SUV, so I took a massive dive into the unknown and got my wife an 06 LR3 HSE with the HD Package. It's first two weeks of ownership was insane with a faulty brake switch that caused all sorts of Can Bus faults, an alternator that died, and a battery, but after that it's been flawless. I got it for 10K with 91K on it in very very very good condition. I think the previous owners took it to LR and were given a very $$$$ bill to fix the issues I later discovered. It cost me right around 400.00 in parts including a full brake job as it needed it due to heavy braking. so $10,400.00 in all which at the time was still 5K less than any other clean LR3 HSE for sale in my area. I sold the H3 Alpha for 16.1K so I had some play money anyways.
Yes LR's are unique and do suffer from some flaws, but if addressed and maintained they'll blow a Mitsubishi, Hummer, Nissan, and Jeep out of the water. I've driven them all in snow, rain, ice, and in the LR it just feels like you're driving down a normal piece of highway. In the Jeep's you were barely going 65MPH and if it was windy you were constantly fighting to keep it in the lane you were traveling in.
Off road it seems like you're on a highway once again with a very very nice ride vs say a Jeep that makes a wash board road seem like you're skipping across the earths atmosphere on re-entry. I still prefer the 87-04 LR basic design, but the LR3 with it's terrain response setup is very very good.
When I've gone off road in the LR's I can just go down a trail with very little wheel spin or throttle and the LR will just make it's way down the trail with no fuss. However it's a very common sight to watch Jeeps flooring it up a hill and digging out the trail just to make it up. To me that is so far from Tread Lightly!
I also love how LR's were one of the last vehicle companies up until the end of the Defender that was put together a great deal by hand vs 100% robotic assembly. There is just something about them that I love dearly. Maybe it's the classic looks, or the 87-98 RRC/D1 interior smell that reminds me of a military surplus store lol. Whatever it is I plan on rocking my LR's well into the future and yes I'd go for the Chevy 4.8L conversion before I'd ever consider buying a new SUV.
On a side note about the LR3 it's an AWESOME LR, but if you are interested in one take a long something like the iCarsoft LR2 and read the individual module faults. It'll report some stuff that isn't important, but check the TCM for pending faults, the ABS, transmission, and engine. Lower Control Arm bushings are a common wear item, and the EAS pump. If it runs more than 2min upon start-up expect to do at least a rebuild or replacement of the pump or air bags. You can convert it the OME Springs and sit around 2inches taller, but I honestly love the EAS. The 4.4L V8 is very reliable, check for any coolant leaks, and make sure the glass on the roof isn't cracking. I've seen several that were cracking from body stress (probably were in wrecks).
You can find LR3 SE models basically fully decked out to almost HSE status with NAV/HD Package. If it has NAV that's a good sign, then go to the 4x4 Info and see if you have a rear locker. When I bought mine they were 100% clueless.
#12
12-18-2017, 12:16 PM
Indeed. I found that in the past when I focused on my D2 it was a constant maintenance chore, so I just ignored it for awhile. I even got rid of most of the parts of been hoarding.
And, amazingly, it behaved for inspection. As soon as I drove away the service engine light came on (oxygen sensors), the ABS, traction, and hill descent lights came on (two allegedly bad abs sensors) and my SRS light came on (probable bad rotocoupler).
All of which proves my theory.
And, amazingly, it behaved for inspection. As soon as I drove away the service engine light came on (oxygen sensors), the ABS, traction, and hill descent lights came on (two allegedly bad abs sensors) and my SRS light came on (probable bad rotocoupler).
All of which proves my theory.
#13
12-18-2017, 12:55 PM
Camel Trophy
Had a similar thing happen when I got mine back on the road in September. One of the things she'd failed for was a no function drivers window motor a year ago. I had epoxied the thing back together and got it working. It promptly failed again as I pulled out of the inspection parking lot, all four o2s came back bad, and the started missing (turned out to be a poorly connected spark plugs with on the coil).
#14
12-18-2017, 02:50 PM
Super Moderator
When I sold my 98 D1 LSE which had been completely flawless in the 3 years I owned it. I got a ton of misfires in-route to the future owner, and the LF blinker bulb socket was on the fritz.....
Future owner looked it over, and wanted to drive it back the following day. I drove home swapped out the bulb socket, and went to inspect the misfire issue. I found nothing wrong spark plug wire, or coil wise. In the end it was misfire faults caused from driving thru one of those automated car washes (normally never use them).
It gave me a little fight as I guess it was pissed I was selling it lol. I've spoken with the owner several times now & zero faults or issues and it survived Hurricane Harvey.
Future owner looked it over, and wanted to drive it back the following day. I drove home swapped out the bulb socket, and went to inspect the misfire issue. I found nothing wrong spark plug wire, or coil wise. In the end it was misfire faults caused from driving thru one of those automated car washes (normally never use them).
It gave me a little fight as I guess it was pissed I was selling it lol. I've spoken with the owner several times now & zero faults or issues and it survived Hurricane Harvey.
#15
12-18-2017, 08:30 PM
I am beginning to think the three amigos is a bunch of bologna. My hill descent and traction control worked fine and every yellow warning on the dash was lit from start to finish.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
clang
Discovery I
12
11-12-2015 12:17 PM
luxury1
General Range Rover Discussion - Archived
2
12-21-2008 06:32 PM