Looks like Land Rover still making real offroad SUV...

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They can't sell the Defender here. There's not enough money in it to meet safety standards. Due to importation laws we are just now started to see 1983's imported. They did sell a few here in the 90's, but they are very over priced on the used market.

When Ford bought LR they started to cater less to the offroad crowd and more to the soccer Moms. An LR3 is one of the best stock offroaders out there, but they fit big wheels with no tire selection. Who want's to take a new Rover into the woods anyway? Rolling 60 grand isn't fun.

But one day I will have a Defender, probably a D90.
 
offshorebear said:
They can't sell the Defender here. There's not enough money in it to meet safety standards. Due to importation laws we are just now started to see 1983's imported. They did sell a few here in the 90's, but they are very over priced on the used market.

When Ford bought LR they started to cater less to the offroad crowd and more to the soccer Moms. An LR3 is one of the best stock offroaders out there, but they fit big wheels with no tire selection. Who want's to take a new Rover into the woods anyway? Rolling 60 grand isn't fun.

But one day I will have a Defender, probably a D90.
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I like this thread, i had one of the Defenders they made in the 90's and it was great but way too overpriced for there condition, fortunatel the imports from 25 years ago are coming at reasonable prices. And as much as you hate on the Disco 3 its considered the same as the defender at offroad ability.
 
JohnsD90 said:
i heard that in 06
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yeah, from LR magazines...i know...i read it too. And when Range Rover (current gen) came out in 2003, those same mags said the same thing...of course, subsequently proven wrong by actual users.
 
Thai said:
yeah, from LR magazines...i know...i read it too. And when Range Rover (current gen) came out in 2003, those same mags said the same thing...of course, subsequently proven wrong by actual users.
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no i got it from top gear and a few other places.
 
LR3 is a fantastic off road truck. With its independent suspension it has some fantastic ground clearance, especially when you compare the angles between the wheels and diffs. It's traction control systems are second to none, making the fancy Toyota wheel speed sensor's look dumb. Terrain response doesn't give the veteran offroader enough control but for most people it adjusts the traction control, throttle position, and suspension height for maximum performance. The LR3 will go much much further than an open diff solid axle truck of the 90's.

All that being said, I wouldn't take the LR3 across Africa or Australia. It just isn't reliable enough. Independent suspension isn't reliable at all. All the computer stuff isn't reliable, especially when driving through water. The lack of an old school diesel engine also hurts water crossing ability. Lastly my biggest beef with the LR3 is its huge brake rotors. You can't fit less than 18" rims. There are no good off road tires for that rim in a reasonable size.

But stock for stock, I don't think there is an offroader for sale that matches the LR3, except for maybe the short wheel base Jeep Rubicon, but its so much worse on the road its an apple to oranges comparison.
 
offshorebear said:
But stock for stock, I don't think there is an offroader for sale that matches the LR3, except for maybe the short wheel base Jeep Rubicon, but its so much worse on the road its an apple to oranges comparison.
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I can think of a few vehicles better...my G500 would be one. :)
 
I forgot about the G. With solid axles and lockers stock its a sweet rig. You don't see many 100+ grand trucks in the woods though :)
 
offshorebear said:
LR3 is a fantastic off road truck. With its independent suspension it has some fantastic ground clearance, especially when you compare the angles between the wheels and diffs. It's traction control systems are second to none, making the fancy Toyota wheel speed sensor's look dumb. Terrain response doesn't give the veteran offroader enough control but for most people it adjusts the traction control, throttle position, and suspension height for maximum performance. The LR3 will go much much further than an open diff solid axle truck of the 90's.

All that being said, I wouldn't take the LR3 across Africa or Australia. It just isn't reliable enough. Independent suspension isn't reliable at all. All the computer stuff isn't reliable, especially when driving through water. The lack of an old school diesel engine also hurts water crossing ability. Lastly my biggest beef with the LR3 is its huge brake rotors. You can't fit less than 18" rims. There are no good off road tires for that rim in a reasonable size.

But stock for stock, I don't think there is an offroader for sale that matches the LR3, except for maybe the short wheel base Jeep Rubicon, but its so much worse on the road its an apple to oranges comparison.
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4 door Jeep Rubicon Unlimited will woop all over a LR3 off road, and it has great cargo space :)
 
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