Thayer Low Gray“Layla,” sang Eric Clapton, “You’ve got me on my knees.” I know the feeling because of my Layla, a 2012 LR4.
There comes a time in every Land Rover owner’s life when we start to doubt our Land Rover’s loyalty to us. We’ve repaired or replaced multiple parts (many times), chased electrical gremlins, tackled the causes of odd odors or sounds, yet a warning light still shines on our dash.
For me, the question of Layla’s loyalty arose last year when the lower control arms gave out again, only 15,000 miles after their replacement (not supplied by Rovers North – lesson learned), and the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) erupted in a constant state of panic, even though the tires and the sensors passed muster.
For daily driving with our three children, Ryland, Everette and Larkyn, I wondered if, perhaps, a car with safety features such as functional retracting seatbelts (crazy thought) would prove a better choice. I began looking at the new Defender 110, Toyota Land Cruiser and Ineos Grenadier.
As a Land Rover groupie, the Defender L663 stood at the top of the heap. However, something about the exterior styling, coupled with the reality that newer vehicles with their increased technology crammed into massive screens just doesn’t provide the same driving experience, as say, Layla or my former ‘90 Range Rover Classic (manual transmission and a 300Tdi). I do realize I won’t find something akin to these vehicles sitting on a dealership lot, but I can at least hope to fall in love with one of them.
The Defender doesn’t have the option to turn off traction control, (a grave mistake in my opinion) but does have too many “nanny state” features. And the 130, which seemed ideal for our family camping trips, just made me feel like I was driving a minivan. Say goodbye to the traditional departure angles!
It pained me to admit that I looked at the new Toyota Land Cruiser. Really, they aren’t bad out of the box. The most recent generation comes standard with center and rear locking differentials – features that L319 (LR3, LR4) enthusiasts often search for nationwide. The new Land Cruisers are nicely styled too, although at the same time, they remind me of a Lego toy with their sharp angles. But there’s no third-row option, and that’s what attracted me to my LR4. So, I crossed the Land Cruiser off my list – whew!
Even with that in mind, I had to look at the Ineos Grenadier. Many Land Rover enthusiasts feel it’s what the Defender should have been; body on frame, designed for rough terrain, two-speed transfer case, robust axles and a BMW B58 engine. I want that feeling of, when you park your car anywhere, supermarket or middle of the desert, you feel compelled to turn around and look back because you just love it! The Grenadier wins points here. However, it doesn’t offer a third row, so I felt less torn about rejecting it.
Then, one day, while in the middle of this great debate, I pulled up at a stoplight next to an LR3 with the personalized license plate, “TOW PLS.” I lowered my window and told them I loved it. (Any Rover owner embraces the chaos – the speed bumps so to say, along our journeys, that really make a trip, or just life, more memorable!) It turned out that I’m a neighbor of Land Rover enthusiast Tommy Mica, the senior editor of TFLOffroad.
TFLOffroad owns and operates Tumbleweed Ranch, which Tommy established as an off-road park. We met up to test our Land Rovers (and repair the lower control areas of both our vehicles). Tumbleweed Ranch brought back memories of driving the off-road course at the Overland Expo in my stock 2013 LR4, back when Land Rover still ran the course. Tommy’s course had a front section that any small SUV could tackle, maybe with a few tail drags. The back 40 of the property really gave you the feeling of being out in the high desert: short but steep hill climbs, proper muddy crossings and sharp drops that made for a great test ground for drivers and your average off-road vehicle. This definitely made for a fun Sunday afternoon; chance encounters like these with Rover people have made me a fan for life.
Thinking about that stoplight conversation with Tommy reminded me what I had almost forgotten after a year of staying home with a new baby – it’s not just the Land Rover that makes our adventures fun. It’s the people. I’ve honestly never had a conversation with another Land Rover owner that wasn’t fantastic: trans-continental trips, epic breakdowns and massive rebuilds. There have also been times I’ve seriously needed help, like blowing an engine in 115 degrees F heat in the sand dunes. I met quite a few people with busy lives who’ve dropped everything, grabbed a tool bag and come to my rescue. Now, about the LR4 engine; the manual says to remove the body from the frame to swap out the engine. Given that reality, I declined the offer to help, but I always remembered the kindness of “new friends” at the time.
As I drove home from the Tumbleweed Ranch, I realized I didn’t want any of the new generation Defenders, Land Cruisers or Grenadiers. I absolutely love my Layla; she’s been on some serious expeditions with me. In the end, I decided I’m throwing some cash at her for new upper and lower control arms, new seat belts and a deep cleaning! The front doors don’t lock (or unlock if you get them locked) but we’ll save that repair for another day.
Like the song “Layla” says, “Like a fool, I fell in love with you.” And I wouldn’t want it any other way.