Neil Pettersen
Member Since: 23 Nov 2007
Location: Cutting the grass
Posts: 1254
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On 20" it's not too clever for stability vs. RRS that I've used.
The D4 spec sheet doesn't document steering rack dampers.
This is/was why D3 wasn't recommended with 20" and non
are listed. You know this ......... 
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 16th Apr 2009 5:10 pm |
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SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
  
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My understanding of the 20" rims and damped steering rack issue was that it affected the handling not the ride though, although lower profile will always ride harder  I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
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| 16th Apr 2009 5:15 pm |
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Neil Pettersen
Member Since: 23 Nov 2007
Location: Cutting the grass
Posts: 1254
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SJR wrote: although lower profile will always ride harder
.... especially with 45lb
Maybe now we'll get LR 20" good priced tyres ..... I hope.
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| 16th Apr 2009 9:38 pm |
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SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
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Have you checked out the 20" tyres ronp is now running they look seriously 8)
I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
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| 16th Apr 2009 9:39 pm |
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CY
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4506
 
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D3 musters up a stern, utilitarian image of a hard but capable 4x4. Which is fine.
But I reckon the D4 badge helps evolve the vehicle to a much more upmarket, luxurious and 'smooth' image. Not that it will lose any of that utilitarian ruggedness - just trying to appeal to the audience which populates the majority of their custom. 2007 Porsche Boxster (987) 2.7
2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE G4 Challenge (1 of 68)
2023 Defender 90 D250 X-Dynamic HSE
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| 16th Apr 2009 9:54 pm |
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simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
  
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Exactly CY... its called selling what the market wants / will buy and not what the few demand.
To compete LR are doing the right thing. TBH, even if it lost much of its off road prowess, it would still be catering to the majority and not the minority that want to play off road or expedition.
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| 16th Apr 2009 9:59 pm |
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CY
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4506
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I think fair play to Land Rover - whilst they don't want to lose their off-road heritage/reputation and claim of go-anywhere ability, they continue to develop, refine and plough a fair bit of money in to a host of off-road and expedition systems like TR in the D3/4 when it must be a fairly insigificant proportion of the end users who actually use these. Through this campaign of luxury and elegance blanketing the D4, they're giving a quiet nod and a wink to those of 'us' who are going to continue using it as we do the D3 2007 Porsche Boxster (987) 2.7
2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE G4 Challenge (1 of 68)
2023 Defender 90 D250 X-Dynamic HSE
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| 16th Apr 2009 10:15 pm |
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Dan W
Member Since: 21 Jun 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 355
 
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simon wrote:Exactly CY... its called selling what the market wants / will buy and not what the few demand.
To compete LR are doing the right thing. TBH, even if it lost much of its off road prowess, it would still be catering to the majority and not the minority that want to play off road or expedition.
The downside of that of course is that you lose your niche and now have to compete with the market, and as in the Subaru case you end up building ordinary cars just like the rest of the market. LR's strength - particularly with Disco is it's following - who despite all the flack they cop about reliability still come back for more because they love the car. Half of what I love about my D3 is that it is completely different to any other off road capable 4x4 on the market.
There's more to the survival of a company than just selling. They need a brand with purpose. As mentioned by someone else before, if Porsche decided to listen to the market rather than what a few demand they'd be pumping out Astra's from a factory in Taiwan, but they listen to their niche and are an Iconic, desired brand as a result of it - LR under Tata will probably go down the mass market route like Subaru and the brand will fade into the mass market.
Can't they just keep tarting up the RR and keep Disco tough???  2012 MY13 SDV6 SE D4 Ipanema Sand with Almond leather
2012 TDI Passat - they reckon the DSG is crap, I reckon it's awesome
2010 MY11 Mitsubishi Challenger - Gone (it was a "Challenging Year")
2007 MY08 TDV6 SE - gone
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| 17th Apr 2009 9:27 pm |
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davl7
Member Since: 28 Feb 2008
Location: Jarrow
Posts: 10
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Damn this company and its eternal marketing/development strategy, Just as i think i've got there (my D3 SE) they move the goal posts, oh well, better start saving for this one because i'll have to have it!  2007 TDV6 SE
Buckingham Blue
Alpace
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| 18th Apr 2009 8:13 am |
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simon_arch1
Member Since: 10 Apr 2006
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 502
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it's a D3a!!!!
sincerely,
Another knuckle dragger... D3 - Buckingham Blue, SE, TDV6, 06 model; chipped; underbody armour; Mickey Thompson ATZ 275/65-18 AND MAXXIS Bighorn muddies; rear wheel carrier from 4x4intelligence.com; iPOD aux connection! GME 3200 UHF - aerial mounted on wheel carrier  ; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come)
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| 27th Apr 2009 11:38 am |
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simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
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Its just a flipping car - who cares what its called.
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| 27th Apr 2009 11:39 am |
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mwestcrew
Member Since: 24 May 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 334
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Well the point about market forces is well taken but no company is immune to them.
Not even Porsche.....hence the new Cayenne Diesel. They will probably never sell another V6 now but it's what the market demanded 2011 D4 Landmark, Mini Cooper SD Clubman, Range Rover Vogue SE
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| 27th Apr 2009 12:39 pm |
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simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
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So are you saying that LR and their marketing dept are there to make money based on market demand ?? 
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| 27th Apr 2009 12:52 pm |
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hernan1304
Member Since: 28 Feb 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 490
  
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Land Rover's go-anywhere ability is its USP. They wouldn't give that up. Most owners like to know (or brag about how) they can go anywhere, even if they never even drive on the grass.
There's a lot of room for the D3/4 to get fancier and fancier still, without giving up its off-road abilities. Look at the FFRR - it's a monster offroad, and yet is one of the most luxurious cars in its price bracket.
What the evolution of the Disco may do is to make it less feasible as a commercial/utility vehicle. Hopefully this won't matter if they evolve the Defender in the next generation to fill that gap.
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| 27th Apr 2009 1:16 pm |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26767
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hernan1304 wrote:Hopefully this won't matter if they evolve the Defender in the next generation to fill that gap.
And therein lies the key to eternal happiness 8)
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| 27th Apr 2009 1:33 pm |
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