Every manufacturer seems to do this. They spend countless £££s on getting the initial design right, then hand the mid-life facelift over to someone on their work experience week. This really dilutes the image of the Disco3 as the highly capable "multi-tool" of the range and turns it into a pastiche FFRR wannabe pandering to school-run mums. It won't cut it with the gymkhana set or those seeking a comnfortable, even luxurious towing workhorse. Surely the niche this re-image is aimed at is already occupied by the RRS?I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
5th Mar 2008 12:30 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
I bet its a sorry attempt to help soften the image and look of the D3 to try and make it less of a target to the eco muppets.
Oh... and the D3 has seen falling sales recently, this will not help.
5th Mar 2008 12:36 pm
dick dastardly
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: wiggleigh bottom
Posts: 1112
On the bright side
If sales fall off enough due to this rape of shape and style, LR might have to introduce the TDV8
Keep old D3, buy new one, attach old bumpers etc to new D3.
Saves me even thinking about the new Toyota TDV8 (Pig ugly, known here as the more phonetically pleasing "eisenschwein").There's one wheel on my wagon, but i'm still rollin' along, it's the cherokee, they're after me, but I'm singing a happy song
To many of the borderline eco-loonies one of the main "justifications" of a D3 is it's utility aspect (not that we should be justifying anything, that's another debate). To blur that utilitarian distinction and make it more of a city car plays right into their hands.
For a while I've been debating changing the D3 for a Freelander. I'd finally decided not to. Well, Mrs Do$h decided for me. She told me I'd taken 6 months of looking at everything on the market before getting the D3 so what the hell had changed? She even offered that the extra fuel costs can easily be accomodated within other changes to the household budget. I think Mrs Do$h likes the D3 more than she admits (or doesn't want a FL2 on the drive). On the back of that I'd decided I'd hang on and look at getting another D3 once the 3.0 had been on the market for 6-12 months. Looks like instead I'll be keeping this one. Nice own-goal Land Rover.
5th Mar 2008 12:49 pm
NHR
Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: Warsaw
Posts: 923
NoDo$h wrote:
Nice own-goal Land Rover.
Which neatly encapsulates why we have virtually no motor industry left: take a good idea and b r it up.
If I were running Land Rover I would sort out the EPB, be paranoid about getting build quality 110% and fit much of the off road kit (underbody protection, etc) as standard. No messing about, market it as a fully fledged off roader which is also good on roads and with enough luxury to keep the SWMBOs happy.
5th Mar 2008 1:00 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
I was going to wait for the 3.0 - don't think I'll bother if it's going to look like that
Just remember to order another one of these stickers to go on the OSR quarter panel. You know the one: Says "DIESEL" in big yellow letters. I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
One of the primary rules in business is to meet the customers needs.
A quick look through this site would tell LR that the primary need is to improve the quality of a few key components and fit the TDV8 into the D3.
I wonder how many people would rush to buy a TDV8 D3? I know I would. However, I'm in no rush to change for the sake of change, and if I wanted the colour keyed tat then I could do this to my own car now.
By the same token, I wonder how many sales of RRS & FFRR would be lost to a TDV8 D3 Personally, I doubt if it would be that many, since the posh brigade appear to buy on looks / status alone. Most of them never look under the bonnet anyway.
I'm sure that the LR range would not become mutually exclusive with the same power plant. The way I see it, each model retains its own niche customer base as follows:
Defender - Workhorse
FL2 - Can't afford / don't need a proper off-roader
D3 - Utilitarian all-rounder
RRS - Can't afford a FFRR but want a more sexy look than D3
FFRR - More money than sense
None of these aspects depend on the installed engine.
SWMBO reckons the new 09 look is more like a FFRR at the front due to colour coding but the rear is fugly......The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
Founder member of Club FFRRV
Club Orange, Mint or Fruit
Club Walnut Sniffers
5th Mar 2008 1:36 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
Be interesting to see how they screw up the LRX - although the black one at Geneva is watered down plenty but still looks fgreat
5th Mar 2008 1:42 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23534
I love the "Tonka Toy" styling of the D3. IMO, colour coding bumpers etc. ruins it.
Sadly though, the "4x4" market is such that those who actually want to venture off road are very much in the minority. Hence the popularity of X5's, ML's etc. etc. It's to this market that the D3 must appeal to get high sales figures. Hence the "softening" of its looks.
Personally, I'm gutted as the my D3 suits my needs & styling taste perfectly. I'd have got a FFRR if I'd wanted more luxury & softer styling.
Only changes I'd make would be on the performance & braking side. But, design depts. have to earn their living, so changes will always happen.
5th Mar 2008 1:44 pm
Shrinky
Member Since: 05 Jul 2007
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 2515
I think it looks . I hope they dont change the looks as it will only make mine (ours) look like old models. At the moment you would be hard pushed to tell an 05 from an 08 model.Global Warming.... I'm luvvin it
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r it up.
Personally, I doubt if it would be that many, since the posh brigade appear to buy on looks / status alone. Most of them never look under the bonnet anyway. 
