Should I buy?

[ougrad1]

Cogo,

Go buy a 4runner as it sounds like its up your alley given your concerns and needs. The new grand Cherokee is also somewhat off road capable too.

If your looking for the LR4 to be as reliable as a Honda or Toyota, you should not buy one. I did a whole bunch of research initially looking at boards like this and reading feedback on edmunds and true delta and finally decided that if I bought one, I would need to budget for some "ancillary" cost that will be more than my 08 4runner. I also joined texas rovers chapter, which gave me more exposure to LR enthusiasts and fun ways to enjoy my new truck. I've been off-roading a few times and found the truck to be such a joy to drive and is a complete badass off-road.

Ultimately, try to decide why you really want it and if your that concerned about the potential high maintenance nature of LRs, which they are compared to Japanese cars, then buy a car I suggested above and be happy you saved a few bucks.

Good luck either way!

 

[Cogo]

Hello All,
Well, I took the plunge on Saturday! Thanks to all your thoughts, comments, and opinions. I am now the proud owner of a Zermat Silver w/ebony interior LUX LR4. I guess I just needed to hear some of your passion about this truck to push me over the edge.

UGAgirl - I was also offered the pick up and drop off with a loaner vehicle for service and maintanence issues. I admit that was a big selling point for me. Don't worry, I guess I'm a "nervous nellie" too when it comes to dropping 60k on a vehicle. I could have saved some dollars by purchasing at a dealership 150 miles from me, but would not have had that benefit. In the end, I feel like I got a fair deal, and my salesperson and dealership were great to work with.

ougrad - I too have spent a good amount of time researching the various forums, feedbacks, etc., in theory trying to make the most informed decision that I could, and trying to take the emotion out of it, but I eventually came to the realization that emotion and passion is a large part of owning a Land Rover.

Anyway, I have drinken (drank? drunk?) the cool-aid and am on board with wherever this ownership journey takes me!! Again thanks to all.

Mark

 

[crewcabrob]

Good luck and welcome to Land Rover ownership! Glad to see our stories of camera gremlins and such didn't disuade you from purchasing one.

Rob

 

[UGAgirl97]

Cogo -

Congratulations!! That is wonderful! I agree with you...emotion and love of a car is such a large part of it. Sure, I could be logical and buy a mini-van or Honda, as suggested, from a dealership here in town, but I would not even be excited come signing day. I want a HOT car and one that I will be floating on clouds over and from what I know of LR owners and from the way I am so drawn to the Land Rovers, I know, the day I go to buy my White LR4, I will be over the moon. And if minor issues crop up over the years, I believe from what I have read here and heard from other owners, the pure love and joy of driving this amazing car will override any of those frustrations. I am going to do it too! In a few weeks we will make that 75 mile trek and order that beautiful vehicle!

All the very best to you and enjoy your gorgeous new car and all the stares of envy you get from the road

Have fun and thanks for starting this thread...it was a great help to us all!

 

[Count Laszlo]

Congrats, Cogo! Great color choice. I think your use of the word passion is what drives us LR owners. It's sometimes hard to express.

 

[MottMcfly]

Cogo,

Congrats! I got my 2011 HSE yesterday. I'm already convinced the purchase was a good one. Nothing drives like these.

My friend once stated that if he had to take his LR to the shop once a month for service it would still be worth it. I've owned mine for a little over 24 hours and while I certainly don't want to take it in that often, I understand what he meant.

 

[ougrad1]

Congrats, Cogo!

Don't forget to get an extended warranty between 30-36k miles from the dealer if you plan on keeping it for a while. Also, check out your local LR club as they will help you with activities, tech days to work on your truck and local non-dealer shops. I think you mentioned that you were around Houston so here is its club link:

http://www.houstonlandroverclub.com/

 

[JohnnyColorado]

Another on the edge

Team - This is a great thread and I wanted to add my situation to the mix. All you die harders out there feel free to slap me around - I'm just putting this out there.
I am a very recent English import to Colorado, Ive brought with me my wife (German) and little boy Johnny and we're settling in nicely. Part of the move of course requires buying a new vehicle - I've looked at many. In terms of requirements I am going to need space for the family and space for gear (bikes, ski equipment etc). I will be heading up I70 into the mountains very regularly but I'm never going to need a snorkel or do any serious rock climbing in the new wheels - Snow and the occasional dirt track only is my best guess. I'm not really interested in one of the many AWD V6's that are out there (I like 300+ HP) and so I've arrived at a shortlist.

New Cherokee V8 45K$ - Not precious ( rugged ) and will probably do the job nicely although we may outgrow it when/if baby number 2 comes along

LR4 58K$ ish - Classy, composed, lots of space, of course has the reliability issue hanging over it but just a great set of wheels all round.

GL450 65K$ ish - I Don't know too much about this vehicle but it drives well, has lots of space but the interior may get destroyed when Johnny starts to reach 2 years of age!!

And as an outside bet perhaps a RR SC (maybe a low mileage 2 yr old model)

I am leaning towards the LR4, My question is to all of the people who were undecided on this thread and then decided to buy - How do you feel about your purchase now?

Thanks all and great insight by the way - Good Luck

 

[waltzonice]

I am leaning towards the LR4, My question is to all of the people who were undecided on this thread and then decided to buy - How do you feel about your purchase now?

So far I am happy with my 2011 LR4 - had it almost 6 months and about 3k miles. I'm sure most of us who are new to the Land Rover brand were skeptical based on reliability issues we've read about. Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that the LR dealership is walking distance from my work, I may not have bought it. Based on my research, I fully expected that I would have problems and would need to have things fixed under warranty. And so far that has proven to be the case. Nothing major, but lots of little electrical "gremlins" (as someone on this thread called them).

My last car was a 1998 Mercedes ML320. It was a first model year, and in fact the very first year for a Mercedes SUV. I took a risk and bought it. That car also had a lot of little issues that needed to be fixed under warranty. I owned that car for 150k miles and 13 years, and it had only left me stranded once (a carrier joint broke). But otherwise the car has been solid and even though there were lots of little issues, I still loved that car. I'm expecting the LR4 to be similar in that respect, or at least I hope!

 

[angel653922]

Congrats! I got my 2011 HSE yesterday. I'm already convinced the purchase was a good one. Nothing drives like these.