2008 LR2 HSE - should I buy it?
 

Hey folks!

I'm looking to pick up an LR2 and found one locally for $12k from an LR dealer. I've been doing some research and the only thing that scares me is the rear diff issue that has been reported. I've driven the vehicle (it's got 76k miles on it) and it drives like a dream... a sweet, sweet luxurious dream.

I'm about to pull the trigger on it, but I'd love some input from people more in the know than myself. What sayeth you, internets?

Update FWIW:
Went by the dealer yesterday and I may be slapping on the extended warranty so I'll be covered for another 2 years and/or 24k miles. That's looking to run about $2800 and I can't get them to come down on that price.
The good news, kinda, is we took it out for another test drive yesterday and we discovered a noticeable low bass hum at about 45mph. Both the salesman and I looked at each other and said "WTF is that?!"
Turns out... it's a bearing going bad in the back. Thank freakin' God we took another drive around the block before I left the dealership or signed anything! Now, they expect to have it ready to go tomorrow or late this afternoon, but now the question is this:
Do you guys think the extended warranty is now worth it? With the dreaded pinion bearing now replaced, should I bother with the $2800 for the extended? I mean, it covers EVERYTHING but normal wear, but I'm kind of torn...

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have bought my 08 LR2. Too many issues for a high priced small SUV. I could've spent $10k less on another brand and expected the same amount of problems.

You didn't indicate which options the vehicle has, but with 76K miles and the rear diff replaced, $12K sounds very reasonable based on the Blue Book reference value. It's improbable that you'll have another major repair within the next two years that exceeds the cost of the warranty. It's the wear items that come due ... tires, brakes, etc.

My reason for liking the LR2 is it's style. There are plenty of other mid-size SUV's to choose from, but where I live they are mostly driven by soccer Moms and I wanted something different.

Thanks for the thoughts, guys. FWIW, the LR2 HSE has the Cold Climate Package and a nice full roof rack, but I expect I'd need to swap out the stereo to get good BT streaming and nav.

Mine actually has the cold climate package and roof rack too. If possible, check the heated windshield to make sure it works all the way across. I have a few lines right where I need to see out that stopped working.

I'll check the windscreen tomorrow. Just got a call from the dealer and the new pinion bearing is in, but the noise is still there. They dug deeper and apparently they weren't very thorough in their diagnosis...

...a missing channel in the roof rack was causing the hum and vibration at speed. They're ordering the part and it should be in tomorrow morning. Ha!