I know what you mean. I have heard (if numbers can be believed) that only 33% of all current LR owners actually take their SUV's off road. And 20 to 25% of all Land Rovers sold in the US are sold here in California. The problem is that probably 95% of that 25% that buy Rovers in California will not take them off road.

I see more Land Rovers on the Highways here than I have seen anywhere else I have lived before yet I tried to put a group together not that long ago to head to Hollister and just have a great fun time getting to know each other and doing some fun stuff with our vehicles and got ZERO response!!! The average Land Rover owner here is more interested in how to fit 22" custom Wheels and low profile tires on their rovers than they are in All Terrain tires. I was actually visiting my dealer a while back and I stopped by Jim's office (my salesman and fellow veteran) and a guy that had recently bought a Rover Sport from him was in his office as well. We started talking about how much fun the last wheels event had been and about him bringing his Sport to the next event comming up and I watched this guy almost turn pale white at the very thought of his Rover Sport getting dusty!!!!!!!! It is just utterly ridiculus to me, but that's just me.

It is such a shame because while Land Rover is making the newer SUV's more appealing to the luxury crowd, it is ALSO no less true that the newer land rovers are even more trail ready "out of the box" than they have been in the past, with the obvious exeption of the Defenders and I even dare say that an LR3 with heavy duty package and good all terrain tires will go anywhere an "out of box"110can go,perhaps even a bit better.

Anyway, insist on the Heavy Duty package. The difference in price is minimal and people who don't get it and later deside to go off roading only end up regreting not having it.

 

can you add the hd pkg after you have bought the lr3. not knowing one was avalable i bought my 05 used. so i had no idea they offered a hd pkg i dont think mine has it and i want it. can my dealer put it on?

 

That's a great question I can't answer. Try posting a new thread under one of the technical forums here. There's some Land Rover technicians who are very knowledgable and like to hang out there.

 

i didnt know an hd pkg was ava. it is nly ava. with the hse and if you want it put on later i just called for my se and just for the rear dif it was 3k so get it tell a dealer te other on willorder you one see if they change their tune

 

Good news, I was able to find a silver/black HSE with HD! Currently in my driveway. Thanks to all who offered their advice. I called several dealerships and then told my main dealer that others were looking. The next day, my truck was on a flatbed from San Diego, headed to me. Don't misread me, I believe my dealer is a good dealer, I just believe they only put minimal effort in trading for the exact car their customers are looking for. I don't blame them from a business perspective, since it does put some stress and added expense into the equation, but it definitely makes them look great when they go all out for you from the get-go. Now I need to get outfitted for upcoming off-roading adventures.

 

Congrats on finding one with HD! Mine now has 62k miles, and I absolutely love it more each day. Get rid of the Goodyears right away. Not much available offroad in the 19's that come on the HSE's, so you may want to pick up a set of 18" rims, and get some Cooper Zeon LTZ's from Discount Tire. I love the way they run off and on road.

 

cant you just order what you want. or tell one dealer the other will get you one and see if they will do the same since they are closer and you want to give them your business. or talk to the manager and let him know why you want it and see if he will help you i had to do that to get my harley orderd with a carb im old school and i only had one dealer in the state that would do it for me

 

I concur on the Zeon LTZ's with 18" wheels. I love mine, the Rover is more stable, looks awesome, quiet, and performs like a champ on and off road. Get it. Its what a Rover should come withstandard in my opinion. None of this low profile tire,22" wheel nonsense.
This is an off road vehicle, not a Mercedes.

 

CONGRATS!

I hit the California HD package conundrum as well and If I was buying new would have demanded it... good job. I was buying used, knew exactly what I wanted, color, packages, etc. and could never find one here at any dealership with HD. I picked up my car last week... wanted a certified car, finally found the exact car in New Mexico after a long search, so flew out and drove it back to Cali over a weekend! Worth it (even though the dealer said I would never see the lockers lock up on the rear, which i did several times today!). Now I gotta find some 19 inch tires, as I hate to give up my nice HSE wheels!!!

 

My mistakes was going to offer to trade, but upon closer review saw you said tires not wheels.