LR4 to GX? (1 Viewer)

[KYLXFJ]

Hello all!

My wife has owned three cars in total since I have known her, a honda civic, a MB e350 sedan, and currently a loaded up land rover lr4. The lr4 has always been fickle, and naturally is getting more troublesome with age (2015), and I have attempted to sway her into a newer (and non british) vehicle multiple times over the past year or so. She loves the truck, as it is one of few heavy suvs that drives much like her past cars in terms of smooth and unintimidating road manners. She loves the large weight for safety for our son, the huge visibility from all the glass, and the air suspension and doesnt feel like a body on frame. I attempted to get her into a low mileage lx570 last year but she said it felt unruly on the test drive and was too much for her. The new GX seems to cover the bases for a (relatively) small footprint, large mass, toyota reliability, and all in a very handsome package. My concern is her being OK with the test drive due to there being to other real alternatives out there, then she later hating the vehicle after the large pile of monies has disappeared in exchange for the truck. I could be content driving a cardboard box, but she is so particular (we test drove about 6 suvs last fall to no avail). I know this is a rather unlikely scenario, but does anyone have any experience owning/driving both the LR4 and gx550 long term to provide any feedback of what the real differences in daily driving will be? I have looked over the threads about peoples first impressions and reviews, etc. I even looked up local turo to attempt to long term rent one, but no luck. Thank you all for any input and help in advanced.

 

[stridertexas]

I had a Defender 110 for 3ish years that I then sold to get my 250. The 250 and GX drive basically the same as far as ride goes, since they have the same suspension basically. They are way more truck like then the Defender was. The Defender hands down drove better, rode quality was phenomenal, and it was way more nimble in its steering. I definitely noticed a step down coming back into the 250.

I’ve had 200 series and 100 series and they drove way more bulky then the 250 does. So imo, the 250 drives substantially better than those do, but no where near as good as the Defender did.

I just couldn’t handle the repair bills once out of warranty. Every time I took the Defender in, the service guy would say “well it’s no cost to you today, that’s why you have warranties.” I guesstimated anywhere from $12-16k in repairs where done on my Defender in the 3 years I owned it.

 

[KYLXFJ]

Thank you for the really helpful input. I personally really think the new GX is awesome, but think she may be more of a "car" person and less a "truck" person than she imagines. A defender under warranty may end up actually being thr solution at the end, ha. Thank you again!

 

[stridertexas]

If you can afford the extended warranty it’s a great vehicle. Sometimes I wish I had just let it become a weekend vehicle and bought a Camry as my driver.

 

[KYLXFJ]

Good point. I have never entertained an extended warranty, but it may be wise here. Thank you again!

 

[MRego]

Good point. I have never entertained an extended warranty, but it may be wise here. Thank you again!

Be prepared to cough at least $6k or $7k, if not more, depending on the year you are looking for. Two years ago, LR quoted me the extended warranty for $6500 in a 2020 Defender P400.

 

[izzyandsue]

We had an LR4, 2012, bought new and it was my wife’s. It was truly awesome for 13 years, 135k miles. We babied it, oil change every 5k miles, etc, and it was great. Lots of money spent when older, timing chain guides was the worse. But still, she wanted to keep it forever and that 5 liter v8 was inspiring. But eventually the repair costs weren’t worth it, head gasket….lasted 1/2 the miles of my 80 series, which is still running strong by the way. She like the new Defender, so we reach out to good friends who own a Rover shop and ask which combo of year, engine, etc was the most reliable. The answer, none. So we did the same as you, tested a bunch of SUVs and in the end BMW x3 was her favorite, a little smaller, fast and nimble. So, Land Rover, good if leased and under warranty. Not along term keeper for us. In our experience , LR4 was truly awesome, but not worth it when older.

 

[stridertexas]

Be prepared to cough at least $6k or $7k, if not more, depending on the year you are looking for. Two years ago, LR quoted me the extended warranty for $6500 in a 2020 Defender P400.

This is spot on. There are 3 year warranty's you can swing so you'd have a total of 7 years coverage, but you gotta negotiate to get that. It's tricky.

And, those warranties are legit, will cover everything. All the other aftermarket warranties are $3-4k and don't cover near the number of electronics on Land Rovers that the warranties from the dealers will cover.

But you definitely pay that. Was a sweet ride though.

 

[stridertexas]

We had an LR4, 2012, bought new and it was my wife’s. It was truly awesome for 13 years, 135k miles. We babied it, oil change every 5k miles, etc, and it was great. Lots of money spent when older, timing chain guides was the worse. But still, she wanted to keep it forever and that 5 liter v8 was inspiring. But eventually the repair costs weren’t worth it, head gasket….lasted 1/2 the miles of my 80 series, which is still running strong by the way. She like the new Defender, so we reach out to good friends who own a Rover shop and ask which combo of year, engine, etc was the most reliable. The answer, none. So we did the same as you, tested a bunch of SUVs and in the end BMW x3 was her favorite, a little smaller, fast and nimble. So, Land Rover, good if leased and under warranty. Not along term keeper for us. In our experience , LR4 was truly awesome, but not worth it when older.

I've learned that Land Rovers are like owning a boat. Super fun and should be viewed as a hobby not as a sole piece of transportation necessarily.

 

[KYLXFJ]

She insists on keeping it, so its going back to the shop next week for a coil suspension conversion and replacing repeat clogging sunroof drain lines and some coolant related issue. The old 340k mile LX will be the stand in. will keep updated i suppose lol. hopefully a gx or similar is in future.