Hello all, first time poster.

We're looking at a 2006 LR3 SE (V6) for my friend as a first bought car - haven't even looked at it yet!

Anyway, I've known him forever, and either he is modeled after me or the opposite, so naturally with me owning a Rover, he does too. It'll be used for road trips, offroading (obviously), and general commute. I know Rovers, I know their maintenance, and that does not bother us. What does is the reliability, I've no experience with the LR3 besides the Mustang V6 in it. So what would some things be to look for, how large of a "Oh Shoot" budget should be put towards it, and what is the general fuel economy we can look forward to, because apparently he can't afford 10MPG- like my own truck

I'll add that diagnostics are not an issue, I have IDS/SDD, and I've already told him if he does buy it, get the IIDTool.

Thanks guys, hopefully we can bring another into LR ownership

 

...why the V6 specifically? I have no issue with it but just curious why that is targeted by your friend. A little exploring and you'll determine the common issues. If you find a good LR3 that doesn't need new diffs and EAS components it should be pretty reliable. I've had mine 12 years now; it requires its maintenance and has had the usual issues but has never left me stranded.

I'd estimate $2000/yr as an average annual maintenance budget. Mine is way less because I just don't drive it much.

 

Why a V6? Because "Better Fuel Economy". It's also a Ford based V6, and with that I've seen that parts are generally less expensive. I'm trying to get him a truck, not lifetime debt

2000 a year doesn't seem bad, I don't think he'd freak out if I told him just save up 150 or 200 $ a month.

 

parts cheaper sure but the fuel economy isn't that much better...

 

Well I know that it's not much better, that's why it's in italics!

It's more for parent convincing.. Since "I have a 6000 lb truck with a V6" sounds better than "I have a 6000 lb truck with a thirsty V8".

 

seems like a better approach would be to educate the parents but whatever. Nothing wrong with the V6, just not my preference...

 

My $.02 but I wouldn't recommend the LR3 for a first time buyer... there are a lot more reliable easily sourced parts from a salvage yeard vehicles out there than this one.

As an example, does he have $1000 easily accessible if the compressor goes, or another $800-1000 for an alternator. As mentioned, the diffs in these are subject to replacement or rebuild, not something you see with other trucks. Any spillage of liquids on the console area can neccesitate the replacemtn of the EAS controls. Not to mention random dash lights and erratic behaviour with a myriad of possible solutions. Nothing is usually straight forward on these trucks, at least that is my observation from posters on her and my own experience.

Just something to consider before getting a newby in over his head with what could be an expensive lesson.

 

I get 18-19 mpg with my LR3. I don't make a habit of running high lift or using my offroad wheels / tires often. But my 255/55/20's are all season type tires.

Idk what the v6 would get / bring, but I know for a fact that my LR3 gets better gas mileage than my Honda Pilot lol that's a much lighter vehicle (with a V6)

 

Yeah I hate to say this, but an LR3 for a first time buyer probably isn't a good match unless they have deep pockets or do the work themselves and love to read up a lot on preventative maintenance. There are a lot of little preventative things that you have to be in tune with and keep up on, or it'll end in disaster. I bought the LR3 thinking it would be less to stress about than my 13 year old Volvo, but it's actually the opposite. I didn't know about what could happen if the PCV valve went bad and it likely (could have been other factors involved) cost me an engine. I guess if you do decide to go for it, you could say the V6 probably is less prone to catastrophic failure from oil ingestion/starvation than the V8?

That said, from what I can tell, the LR3s are still worlds better than older Land Rovers in terms of leaving you stranded.