Yeah I'm not going anywhere. I'd love to have another Alpha one day.
No real big mods planned for the LR3. I did get a G4 Expedition Roof Rack for it, but it's no Gobi. I did score an HSE with the HD Package which has an e-locker in the rear diff so that's a big plus for off roading. Only option it doesn't have is the little center console cooler which is strange for it being an HSE. I also grabbed an 08-10 Nav Disc from a friend which now shows me to be on a road vs out in a field like the OEM 04-05 Nav Disc.
Owning the LR3 started off great until it went nuts and lit the dash up like a christmas tree. It turned the front brakes into molten lava (needed replacing anyways), and it seemed to all be caused by a bad/faulty brake switch. Replaced it and my LR friend clear the faults and all was well for 3.5 weeks and it lit up like christmas again on my wife on her way to work. Got another brake switch, and it hasn't done it yet. If the problem persist I'll probably get a new TCM from LR and have it installed/programmed and least it'll have a 1 year/12K warranty. Can't expect to get someones used car and not have some glitches to sort out. I'm sure that's the reason it was traded in/sold in the first place.
Back when I got my H3 Alpha I had to replace the lower diff support cross-member, change out the CV's (torn boots), change the brakes (squealed like a pig), and a fogged up RF headlight. When I sold my H3 it had absolutely nothing wrong with it, but finding a used car cared for like that is like a needle in a hay stack and I know that. My wife is the one going OMG what did you buy.... But at the same time she was saying we need more room, better MPG, and less miles... (mileage on a vehicle is just a # to me as maintenance is what I go by).
Once the weird fault issue gets taken care of the rest of the LR3 is flawless. Dash has one small crack (another LR boo boo using super soft plastic on the dash & most LR3/RRS in TX have cracks that look like a dried up lake). Lower control arms were just replaced (normal wear item & like any IFS or H3 they pop if worn), and it was being serviced at the Houston LR Dealership as it had a LR Oil Filter on it when I changed it vs a jiffy lube cheap one. The Traction Control system with sand, mud, wet grass, snow, and rock crawling is really nice and the air suspension rides great and can raise & lower 2inches in either direction. The other thing I love are the brilliant self leveling/corning HID headlights. Something I tried and tried to improve on the H3, but I never really got amazing results.
I had all my Rover's parked in my yard as I was power washing my garage/carport and it looked as if I was hosting a LR Event in my yard except I was the only one attending lol.
I started my 4x4 years with the old faithful Dodge Raider/Mitsubishi Montero Gen 1 rigs, moved to LR's and had a blast with them, then got sad the D90 stopped being imported so I tried the 03-06 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon which was the most unreliable vehicle I've ever owned. I also had an 04 Grand Cherokee 4x4 with the 4.7L V8 and it was bulletproof besides normal wear items. I got so tired of the Jeep Rubicon I sold it for a Ford FX4 F150, and then I just never used the pickup and I swapped it keys for keys for the H3 Alpha. All I paid was 59.00 for a state tag!!! Then I loved the H3 as it was bulletproof and amazing, but I never lost the LR itch and when I finally got around to it I found my pristine 98 D1, then my 02 Kalahari, the deal of a lifetime on my 99 D2 in mint shape minus a dead alternator for 1500.00, and finally the LR3 which I did get for about 4K less than all the other SE's in the area.
I've never owned a car, or a 2WD SUV for that matter. 4x4's are in my blood. I just love the Land Rover History that started after WWII, how they used Aluminum, how they always went out of their way to be fancy, but rugged, and the Camel Trophy stuff was as extreme as you could get with a pretty basic setup minus all the off road recovery gear. 04 was the last year of the old Land Rover's I've grown to love as Ford introduced the LR3/RRS with a Jaguar 4.4L killing off the Buick 215 based V8 that LR stuck with for so many years. They're quirky little vehicles, but something about that English charm draws me in like a bug to a bug zapper.
The H3 to me was the best SUV that Hummer introduced. I love the H1, but as a practical and serious off roader the H3 was flawless. To bad the H2 reputation of DUB/BLING (thanks to Hollywood & MTV) and the MPG put a short end to Hummer. I truly hope someone buys the Hummer name and gets back in the game of producing capable off roaders. Jeep has it so easy right now as they have only the Toyota 4Runner as serious competition. I think Chevy, Ford, Land Rover, and Hummer making serious 4x4's again would put a serious dent in those Wrangler sales. I'm not impressed with a 50K Rubicon vs a 5K D2 Land Rover.
