H3 vs. LR3 V6

[JeffW]

Anyone cross-shop LR3 V6 with H3? Both are similar size, have similar performance, and have similar offroad capability. The LR3 is only ~$6k over a base H3 Adventure with auto, but has some compelling advantages.

LR3 Advantages:
- Large windows, great visibility.
- Leather steering wheel
- Flat folding cargo area with 90 cu ft., as opposed ot 55
- 134 ft. stopping distance, as opposed to 149 ft. (even with 1000 extra lbs.)
- Much more storage places and bottle holders.
- Road manners (thanks to low profile tires and adjustable suspension).
- Smooth 6 sp. transmission, with sport mode and command shift.
- More visible turn signals (faster and yellow, safety issue).
- Bluetooth phone integration
- Speed sensitive steering
- Dual zone climate control
- No fake adornments, like hood vent or tire inflation (although that can be fixed on H3).
- Low key (I don’t like attention).

H3 Advantages:
- I think I prefer the cloth seats to the LR3 Duragrain material (fake leather).
- Slightly better turning circle of 37’ vs. 39’ ft. (both are better than what I’m used to, though).
- Reliability. Although the H3 is no Toyota, the LR3 has so much more stuff that can go wrong, and judging by the volume complaints in the LR3 forums, it does.
- Fog lamps (gotta move up to the V8 LR3 SE to get those).
- Non-adaptive transmission (adaptive = unpredictable, and never in the right style when you want it).
- Satellite radio and MP3 CD support.
- Regular gas (same mileage as LR3, but ~$450 cheaper per year).

LR3 seems to have an edge in the technical analysis, but something keeps drawing me back to the H3… an unquantifiable fun-to-drive factor, I guess. Anyone else feel that way?

Curious what others think about the H3 steering on the highway? Does it feel too light? How did you find the seat comfort of the H3 compared with the LR3?

My biggest concern is throttle response. I currently have an Audi Allroad, which I love in every way except that it takes off like a rocket… about 3 seconds after I press the gas. My wife’s Mazda3 is so much more fun to drive because it responds instantly, even though it’s only 148 hp. I don’t need rocket-like acceleration in my truck, but I do need responsiveness. Both seemed fairly responsive on my test drives, but I don’t think I drove enough to really tell. Some folks in the LR3 forums are complaining about this same kind of unresponsiveness. Has anyone noticed this with the H3, or does it always go when you press the gas, even on rolling stops?

Thanks,
-Jeff

[evomind]

a little size comparo..

[Adventurer]

I've never driven an LR3, but I do know that Land Rover routinely ranks dead last among all auto manufacturers in customer satisfaction. Horrible reliability. That's sad, considering that LRs are excellent off-road machines. If you buy one, expect to have it in the shop often.

[evomind]

i have a lotus elise...awesome, very fun car.
and the engine and drivetrain are toyota, so the maint. costs/repair bills arent that bad..

[JeffW]

Anyone cross-shop LR3 V6 with H3? Both are similar size, have similar performance, and have similar offroad capability. The LR3 is only ~$6k over a base H3 Adventure with auto, but has some compelling advantages.

LR3 Advantages:
- Large windows, great visibility.
- Leather steering wheel
- Flat folding cargo area with 90 cu ft., as opposed ot 55
- 134 ft. stopping distance, as opposed to 149 ft. (even with 1000 extra lbs.)
- Much more storage places and bottle holders.
- Road manners (thanks to low profile tires and adjustable suspension).
- Smooth 6 sp. transmission, with sport mode and command shift.
- More visible turn signals (faster and yellow, safety issue).
- Bluetooth phone integration
- Speed sensitive steering
- Dual zone climate control
- No fake adornments, like hood vent or tire inflation (although that can be fixed on H3).
- Low key (I don’t like attention).

H3 Advantages:
- I think I prefer the cloth seats to the LR3 Duragrain material (fake leather).
- Slightly better turning circle of 37’ vs. 39’ ft. (both are better than what I’m used to, though).
- Reliability. Although the H3 is no Toyota, the LR3 has so much more stuff that can go wrong, and judging by the volume complaints in the LR3 forums, it does.
- Fog lamps (gotta move up to the V8 LR3 SE to get those).
- Non-adaptive transmission (adaptive = unpredictable, and never in the right style when you want it).
- Satellite radio and MP3 CD support.
- Regular gas (same mileage as LR3, but ~$450 cheaper per year).

LR3 seems to have an edge in the technical analysis, but something keeps drawing me back to the H3… an unquantifiable fun-to-drive factor, I guess. Anyone else feel that way?

Curious what others think about the H3 steering on the highway? Does it feel too light? How did you find the seat comfort of the H3 compared with the LR3?

My biggest concern is throttle response. I currently have an Audi Allroad, which I love in every way except that it takes off like a rocket… about 3 seconds after I press the gas. My wife’s Mazda3 is so much more fun to drive because it responds instantly, even though it’s only 148 hp. I don’t need rocket-like acceleration in my truck, but I do need responsiveness. Both seemed fairly responsive on my test drives, but I don’t think I drove enough to really tell. Some folks in the LR3 forums are complaining about this same kind of unresponsiveness. Has anyone noticed this with the H3, or does it always go when you press the gas, even on rolling stops?

Thanks,
-Jeff

[XM DUDE]

Damm it looks like a go cart!

[SledgeHummer]

Kacyk : the HDC (Hill Descent Control) on the Land Rover is not such an ingenious invention. It's another foolproof way of doing things (no offense). I can do that on my 2000 Blazer. what the HDC does is, it places the t-case in LO, and gearbox in 1st gear and activates (and controls) the vehicl's ABS brakes.

So if you're an experienced offroader you can do that yourself, I do it all the time when needed on the Blazer. I put the t-case on 4LO, the auto-transmission ghear on 1st and baaarely touch the brakes as and when required which activates the ABS sensors. and you go down sloooowly. just like HDC.

The difference with HDC, is that it's self driving in a way, it allows you to STEP OUT of the vehicle and walk alongside the vehicle while steering it from the outside through the window while its sliding down at 5 km/h. LR had this option as a failsafe technique in case the vehicle rolls over. of course it has to roll over to the right side to be effective, if it rolls over to its left it will crush you heheheh

XM DUDE : the Brits have a weird way of coming up with solution to very simple problems, have you heard of ACE ? before the LR3 I tested the Land Rover Discovery 2003 (last model before the LR3). every car has body roll specially 4x4s, on the Disco 2003 they installed a system called ACE (Active Cornering Enhancement) and another system called SLS (Sefl Levelling Suspoension. Basically during hard cornering, a lateral suspension pushes the leaning body tip upwards to level the vehicle. I have tested it at high speeds it's VERY effective, but the negative side is, it's tooooo heavy in components for such a small problem. If you add a multi-level adjestment suspension like the one from Rancho or Fabtech with cockpit adjustment control...voila, you dont need all that heavy metal gear.....weird.

Attached piture shows the ACE system components.

SledgeHummer

[kacyk]

A real useful wheeling option my Disco had was Descent Control. I got to test it out on the sand dune area of Moses Lake, WA and it was cool crawling down terrain in a sloth-like manner.

But then, I guess that's why the manual tranny option on the H3.

[XM DUDE]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by kacyk:
A real useful wheeling option my Disco had was Descent Control. I got to test it out on the sand dune area of Moses Lake, WA and it was cool crawling down terrain in a sloth-like manner.

But then, I guess that's why the manual tranny option on the H3. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I see too many things to go wrong with the LR3 with alll the electronics, making it a potential nightmare down the road.

[XM DUDE]

I really think the LR3 looks good, but more crap to go wrong and it needs preinum fuel! 2 main reasions to take the H3, less bling more usefulness.

[usetosellhummer]

All I could do is test both (very short term)
the big thing is service. The land rover network is not as big or easy to get parts or service. the beauty of the H3 as a GM product is the support and ease of getting parts, keys, and major work done. I sold many H2 to Land Rover folks becasue they got tired of the constant service issues with the LR. Passion from the Rover owners but service, enven warrenty work is tough on a Rover. I felt better in the LR3 but the truck like feel of the H3 appeales to me. The interior is sharp in the LR but seems a little complicated. LR lag seems minimal compared to the H3

[signals34]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by evomind a little size comparo.. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Hey Evomind....that Lotis is a beauty...I always wanted to look into them...how is the handling???

[XM DUDE]

Yes Rovers are a very classy looking pile of crap.

[Mr. I - Man]

Nice lotus, My MR-2 Spyder had the same engine w/some mods and it was pretty fast. I can't image how well the Elise does with the same powertrain, but weighing less.

[evomind]

oops...heres the pic

[Hummer3]

I have had Land Rovers. They are nice when everything works. High insurance rates and repairs are two reasons why I now own an H3.

[XM DUDE]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The vehicle is designed in a very foolproof manner, there is no high and LO (well there is but presented in a different way) there's a knob in the center console that says " Sand, Mud, Rocks...etc" you turn the knob to the desired type of terrain, and the engine, T-case, suspension adjusts itself accordingly </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
The vehicle is designed in a very foolproof manner, there is no high and LO (well there is but presented in a different way) there's a knob in the center console that says " Sand, Mud, Rocks...etc" you turn the knob to the desired type of terrain, and the engine, T-case, suspension adjusts itself accordingly
I agree that has to be the dumbest set up I ever heard of.

[XM DUDE]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Adventurer:
I've never driven an LR3, but I do know that Land Rover routinely ranks dead last among all auto manufacturers in customer satisfaction. Horrible reliability. That's sad, considering that LRs are excellent off-road machines. If you buy one, expect to have it in the shop often. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
They give new meaning to the term "off road" as it will be in the shop so much, but they look really good on a flat bed tow truck!

[HummerNewbie]

To me is sounds like you want what the LR3 has and want someone to tell you to go that way. I would have to agree with wannabe that the LR3 looks more like a soccer mom vehicle and the H3 is about attitude. I like the LR3 but I was sold on the H3 for looks. Based on what everyone has said, the big turning factor for me would be the service issues. Granted the H3 may have some problems, but the service is there. Either way, to great choices.

[Surferjo]

Truck Trend did a 4x4 shoot out and the LR3 beat out the H3 by a hair.