I am considering purchasing a new vehicle and need an offroad capable suv. I know the LC and LR3 are both capable. Can anyone give me some help or influence? I know about the LR reliability. So please do not bring that up. I want to compare on/offroad capabilities.
LC vs LR3 vs Touareg
- Thread starter Ryan818
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Except for the issue that you are aware of with the RR/LR vehicles any of them would be a great choice.
VW is consistently at the very bottom of vehicle reliability surveys/ratings, and frankly I would never consider a unibody vehicle for serious off road use. Though you don't want to hear it, reliability alone, would nix the LR for me, especially if you are using it offroad. It seems the LR will be more difficult to mod (ie. lift), with it's IRS, but I don't know much about it.
LR discovery looks to be the only one of the US inventory that's offroad capable w/ rigid axles.
The LR3 has a ton of computers, terrain response, etc. I have not driven one, but have wheeled a 2006 Range Rover and the previous generation Discovery. The Range Rover shares some of the same technology with the LR3. I was definitely impressed with it. No doubt that it can get many places other SUV’s cannot. I know you don’t want to hear about the reliability of the Land Rover, but be prepared for it to break just sitting in the driveway.
The VW is impressive, but as firetruck41 pointed out, it has a unibody construction, not great for anything serious. But the Touareg does have the technology, adjustable suspension, and locking diffs. The best model (my opinion) is the V-10 diesel. They stopped importing it for awhile, but heard they are bringing them in again, now meet the new cleaner diesel requirements. The V-10 has all kinds of horsepower and sick torque. Very fast… so I’m sure the on-road capability is awesome. I think used V-10’s are going for big bucks, because they are so rare.
If you want to modify later, the LC is no doubt the best choice. One other comment, compare the ground clearance on all three, I will bet the LC beats the others by an inch or two.
Hope this helps. If you want my personal vote, look at my signature below…
The VW is impressive, but as firetruck41 pointed out, it has a unibody construction, not great for anything serious. But the Touareg does have the technology, adjustable suspension, and locking diffs. The best model (my opinion) is the V-10 diesel. They stopped importing it for awhile, but heard they are bringing them in again, now meet the new cleaner diesel requirements. The V-10 has all kinds of horsepower and sick torque. Very fast… so I’m sure the on-road capability is awesome. I think used V-10’s are going for big bucks, because they are so rare.
If you want to modify later, the LC is no doubt the best choice. One other comment, compare the ground clearance on all three, I will bet the LC beats the others by an inch or two.
Hope this helps. If you want my personal vote, look at my signature below…
I own both a 100 and LRs. I wouldn't do serious stuff with a newer Rover. Modifications will be very complicated on the new trucks - plus unibody is in my book no good for serious off road. If you are doing light stuff and plan to leave the vehicle stock you'll be fine with any of them.
But as a Roverphile I'll say...when I walk out to the garage in the morning I have absolutely no doubt my Lexus will run....the Rovers...not so much.
If you plan to do serious off road type stuff then you can't go wrong with a 80, 100, an '02 or older Range Rover, '04 or older Discovery or Defender 90 or 110 (whichever fits your needs best).
I like my LX so much I am tempted to replace one of my Rovers with either an 80 LC or early 100 LC to set up for off road since I don't do too extreme of stuff anymore (no need to a D90 with 35s anymore) and I need more space for kids, dogs, gear etc.
But as a Roverphile I'll say...when I walk out to the garage in the morning I have absolutely no doubt my Lexus will run....the Rovers...not so much.
If you plan to do serious off road type stuff then you can't go wrong with a 80, 100, an '02 or older Range Rover, '04 or older Discovery or Defender 90 or 110 (whichever fits your needs best).
I like my LX so much I am tempted to replace one of my Rovers with either an 80 LC or early 100 LC to set up for off road since I don't do too extreme of stuff anymore (no need to a D90 with 35s anymore) and I need more space for kids, dogs, gear etc.
Well, if the electronics are working and the hydraulics aren't leaking, the RR/LR3 and LC should be comparable off-road. But that's a big if. "If a Rover ain't leaking, it's empty..." And the unibody concerns others mention should not to be dismissed lightly, IMHO.
On-road, I'd probably give it (by a slim margin) to the Rover products due to four-wheel independant supension and more modern suspension tuning and electronic control. But the 100 still rides more plush than most luxury vehicles, so how comfortable do you really need it to be? Plus, you don't have to worry about a relay blowing out or a CPU frying and locking your suspension in the lowest setting at the worst possible moment.
My $0.02,
macneill
Rollin’ on 33s
I'm gonna head over to Discoweb and the Toureag board and see what they reco over there... ;p
- Thread starter
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I will be looking at LC's a few years old. I cannot justify new vehicles and their depreciation. Anyhow, what are good years for the LC's and what are some years I should stay away from. I would like a newer model - say 2000+.
i also own rovers and a 100. my trail rig is a 97 Disco 5 speed and that truck has been flawless. My wife and i drove it to Alaska, and if anybody reads LR Monthly, its on the cover of the march 04 issue. the old rovers are truly trail capable, and while the fix-its are true, its part of the fun of ownership. with that said, the new stuff, ie LR3 is not the same vehicle. I took preproduction LR3s offroad and while they are capable, they wont go anywhere a 100 wont, assuming a decent driver in each. and fwiw.. the LR3 is NOT unibody, the MKIII range rover is. there is way to much electronic wizardry in the LR3, and honestly id be scared to be more then a mile or two away from paved roads in that thing. much like the other rover guy said, i keep the 100 around as i know its reliable, i know itll start every time, i know it wont leak everywhere i park it. they both have there place, but if your considering serious off-road ability, id take the 100 over the LR3, but id take a D1 or D2 over the 100.
I'll not bring up reliability.
Since you ask only about off-road performace.......the choice is a no-brainer:
The VW and Rover cannot be modified and lifted (IFS/IRS)(And no kits).
The Toyota can.
That should settle it IF you talk only about off-road capability.
Since you ask only about off-road performace.......the choice is a no-brainer:
The VW and Rover cannot be modified and lifted (IFS/IRS)(And no kits).
The Toyota can.
That should settle it IF you talk only about off-road capability.
there are kits to lift the LR3.. they are just so ridculously complicated and involve electronics. the biggest hinderance to modify the LR3 is that the axles go thru the frame. 
there are kits to lift the LR3.. they are just so ridculously complicated and involve electronics. the biggest hinderance to modify the LR3 is that the axles go thru the frame.
I'd luv to see those kits. Do you know where?
I'll put it this way....
I've owned a disco and a rover both mid-late 90's....not bad but not the greatest .
I went to my same salesperson, who is now the general sales manager of the dealership about a new LR3 or RR and he said " great vehicle....just get rid of it before 30K!!!!"
They all are capable in stock form...depending how hard core you plan on off roading....The LC is the only one that youy can seriously mod for hard core off road trails ....the LR3 and VW would be way to costly with all the electronics etc.
So if you only need to do light duty off road and will keep for only 2-3 years...get whichever appeals to most, if you want to do more serious wheeling and keep for 10 years there's no question...get the LC
I've owned a disco and a rover both mid-late 90's....not bad but not the greatest .
I went to my same salesperson, who is now the general sales manager of the dealership about a new LR3 or RR and he said " great vehicle....just get rid of it before 30K!!!!"
They all are capable in stock form...depending how hard core you plan on off roading....The LC is the only one that youy can seriously mod for hard core off road trails ....the LR3 and VW would be way to costly with all the electronics etc.
So if you only need to do light duty off road and will keep for only 2-3 years...get whichever appeals to most, if you want to do more serious wheeling and keep for 10 years there's no question...get the LC
yeah man, ill see if i cant track down the link.. they are out of germany. and im in no way shape or form suggesting that one modify an LR3.
Germany. Wow. Nobody on the US even? Hmmm.
here it is.. in German sorry..
http://www.matzker.de/product_info.php?products_id=645
there are a couple of coil sprung LR3s in the states, but nobody is buying these things to wheel them over here.. down in OZ and over in the EU there are some that insistant on trying. why.. ill never know.
sorry.. http://www.matzker.de/product_info.php?products_id=645
there are a couple of coil sprung LR3s in the states, but nobody is buying these things to wheel them over here.. down in OZ and over in the EU there are some that insistant on trying. why.. ill never know.
