Long ongoing thought about the World of Land Rovers

[Texaninmass]

Where’s my Jack?

He one single subject that keeps creeping up constantly (In my mind) is the issue of poseur vs off road enthusiast.
I find it unbelievable that people that drive a car that has such a diverse market share cannot live with the fact that there are many people that drive Land Rovers for many different reasons.
The Discoweb post really made me want to post this, the most unbelievable ridiculous post that is also so common of what you see on Land Rover sites.
 If ever there was a posting that made me not want to ever read another posting again in my entire life on a Land Rover site…..that was one of them…and yet a thread of consistency that I see all the time on all of these Land Rover sites.(Not on SNHLR thank God)
Who drives Rovers? Most of the owners I know in Texas are very wealthy people that drive the Range Rover for image.
So what the hell is so wrong with someone that buys a 70K vehicle and NEVER has the intention of getting mud on it? If it was a Mercedes or Caddy, no one would ever say a word but, on these sites they become “poseurs”... I say why the hell do they need to pose (Texas spelling) for anything? They make the cash to pay for it and who cares?
 
Maybe you might say “Well, its okay for that guy but, what about the guy who buys a Discovery and adds all the gadgets and then brags that he went through a mud whole? Again I say “So what?”
Here is another enthusiast that just needs to be nudged into coming out on a week end and seeing what real off-roading is like ( And will probably have the good sense to not do it or talk about it again) but, instead the common reaction is condescending and violent.

 Most of the people that I work for up here, all have at least one college degree and I can tell you from experience don’t have a clue about going off-roading. So are they ignorant geeks? Many drive big trucks and just don’t get why they would ever take a nice truck off the road and potentially destroy the body.
I think its interesting that talking to guys about keeping my truck dent free and undamaged is said behind closed doors…so to speak or private conversations. Why is that so bad?
I fell in love with Land Rovers because of the image that Land Rover has grown to perpetuate, not because of the truth about there performance and maintenance.

They are expensive to repair and have many faults but, again who the hell cares?! I love my truck…I love my truck and I will pay much more in cost to repair it because I love it.

One of the biggest reasons I love it is not because of its wheeling ability…although that is a formidable reason but because of the daily pleasure I get with it from my family.

It has some of the greatest accessories:
•   2 sun roofs…the kids love as well as anyone that know nothing about a LR

•   The great stereo, I’ve done better with after market but not bad for stock (The old guys love the weather band)

•   The high ass rear ceiling area, everyone thinks the kids get to standup in the back or thinks the thing must be prone to flipping over …. What a great waste of vertical space, yet that is what many identify by that high area!

•   The roof rack that most think you could carry a bull on the top of. (I Think my lights and axe are taxing it)

•   The height of the driver seats when driving

•   And my most favorite.... the truck turns most heads when driving

……so am a poseur? …….I hope so…I love driving off road but everyday when I drive it to work and the store and well you get the picture, I guarantee you I love it just as much.
.
We are looking for a 2003 to 2007 Range Rover for Tiff.

Why? Because she loves them for there image and style as much as I do….And yes, it will have chrome and bling and never see the NE dirt.

So did I keep to the corporate 2 inch E-mail standard? Like a give a damn…

Tex
“Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.”

Follow up post:

Okay Colonel you try and type after a couple of drinks!

[Lordwinslow]

I would hate to see what I was considered...I bought Victoria when she had 164K on the clock...

Winslow

[Kara Chaos]

I don't see the point in classifying people. Being new at this sport doesn't make you a poseur, it just makes you new. You guys are excited about this as the veterens are so I don't see how that makes you a poseur either.

I agree in that the thread on Dweb made me never want to go there again. People are ridiculous. Saying that decals or a rear ladder makes you a poseur is stupid. Everyone is different and wants their truck to look the way they imagine it. I mean, if you painted your roof like bright yellow or something, I mean yknow that just screams poseur. haha just kidding Tom.

[ArmyRover]

I mean, if you painted your roof like bright yellow or something, I mean yknow that just screams poseur. haha just kidding Tom.

It doesn't scream poseur, it screams aesthetically challenged

I do honestly think their are poseurs in our hobby just as in any other.  Do I care? No.  My neighbor with his H2 is one all day long, he brags about his trucks off road ability pulls a wheel up on a 10" tall land scapeing rock and takes pics.  He has a winch, sliders, brush guards skid plates, etc and has never taken the H2 off road even on the dealer courses.  In the end though do I care? Nope his money his life his happieness.  Although I did screw with him pretty well when he asked when I was going to trade that sorry ass Range Rover in on a real truck(h2).  I told him to fill his gas tank we were going wheeling and we'd see who was buying a new toy at the end of the day.  He declined.  Hence a poseur.

Now one of my co-workers is on his 3rd H2.  

First one died in a roll-over while offroading.  

Second one died, loosing control on a ice covered road and hitting a tree.

Third one(2007 my) has already got trail damage form a tree.

Him I like.  He's fun to go bash around in the training area with.  I still tell the H2 is a pos though

Don't care if your a poser or not if you enjoy the truck and are happy with it who am I to judge.

Oh and Tex as soon as you get a MKIII RR I'm coming over and stealing he keys and getting it dirty

[Daniel]

Great post Tex. Let me add two or three cents.

When I first bought my DII, I was heckled a lot on Dweeb because I didn't know a lot about off-roading. But I slowly set my truck up as I had the cash to; for the way I wanted to use it. I primarily trail ride (greenlaning in UK), and off-road in wildlife/conservation areas. Sadly in Florida, there are not a lot of places that you can use legally. But we use what we can; and focus primarily on the "tread lightly" philosophy.
But because I didn't have the whole nine yards of EE or RTE equipment, I got poseur status. Hey; you set your truck up for where you drive. I'm not running Tellico so why build a rough and ready. I'm not running Moab, so why build a rockcrawler?? You follow...
Over time, I put the truck to its limits. First of all, I put myself to my limits; but I learned, and I listened to those around me with more experience. And finally the truck reached it's own limits with me behind the wheel. So eventually I had to build it up. And as time went by; I needed more. So now the Mog axles sit on the pallet. The SIIa Hybrid is getting ready to be built, and the RRC is getting a pre-build list made up.

In jest, and sometimes in seriousness, I'll post up about how NE is slowly being invaded, and degraded; but in all seriousness I only see one problem with the "everyman" buying and building Rovers.
Many people can buy used and older rovers now; but many of these same people cannot afford to maintain them. For example, me, myself am at the edge of keeping the DII going forward as a project. It's been in the shop this time for a year. I'm sure Kara knows the feeling. This time it's the tranny, plus the add-on of a re-geared LT230. Last time it was the motor. When I blew my motor, I could have gone for a rebuild. But being me; I went for a RR 4.6 Gems, converted to BOSCH, and chipped, and ported. So 8 grand later, I had an extra personal loan to keep my hobby going. Now, luckily for me; I always own a fleet of other vehicles. But because of my nature, 90% of them are not running. I think I find a good deal, so I buy it. LOL!!!
But some people who have these trucks cannot even afford the bare minimum maintenance, and the trucks end up paying for it. And then the opinion and thoughts of Rover end up paying for it. Anyone that understands the history, personality, and vision of Rover should be able to buy one, IMHO; but not everyone that can put down the money. Just my thoughts...

[Kara Chaos]

hehe yeah, I know the feeling. Haven't driven my truck since August of 2005... :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

[Zerohero]

the same thing happened to me, but i get it back this week and have been workin on the beasty since i lost it...redemption will be sweet

[Texaninmass]

Wow! Talk about high jacking a thread! Good to hear your getting your truck back Hero! What the heck is this new forum site about?! Looks nice but kinda freaked me out!