Totalled my beloved 3rd Gen 4runner. Had it for 11 years and kept it in immaculate condition even with heavy off-road use and harsh winters and mountain driving.
Figured I'd just buy another used one but unfortunately all the used ones had 200k+ miles on them and were beat to hell and not well maintained yet still commanded a high price.
I wanted another big off-road capable SUV but was unimpressed with the newer generation styles out there, not to mention the prices. Wasn't about to drop $60,000 for a new 4runner or Discovery or even half that for a newer used 4runner or LR4.
Decided I wanted an LR3 Land Rover. World class off-road capability, air suspension, seats 7, luxury interior, and powerful V8 Jaguar engine. Never thought I'd ever consider or own a British car but got bit by the Land Rover bug and their innovation.
Finding used one under 100k miles, under $10k, and in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition however was a major challenge. I knew it'd be smart to make sure I had anything I wanted pre-purchase inspected.
Matt at Stewart's was recommended to me by a Land Rover dealer tech as "the man" when it came to Rovers, and the LR3 generation especially.
I had Matt look at one that I thought was great. He found a huge host of mechanical and electrical/computer issues that would have been thousands of dollars in parts and labor to get up to speed. NEXT.
Brought in another one and Matt did the same, this time only finding about $500 worth of fixes. I easily took this off the asking price with the seller and landed me a 2005 LR3 in outstanding cosmetic interior/exterior and mechanical condition, 82k miles, for only $7500. After lifting it with the GAP ID tool, Johnson Rods, oversized tires, rebuilding transmission pan/filter/oil with the upgraded metal kit, tranny, diff, and engine oils, sparkplugs, and some other minor upgrades and fixes, this thing was looking boss.
Matt was extremely helpful and offered a ton of advice for months on the truck throughout my upgrades and builds.
After 10k miles problem free, the truck's EAS system failed an it was undrivable on its bumpstops. Within 12 hours on short notice, Matt had it diagnosed as a failed compressor, had parts sourced, and finished installing a new compressor to get it back up and running great.
Outstanding customer service, communication, and knowledge from Matt in every way. I was glad to be able to put some money back into the shop after all the support Matt had given me since the inspection/purchase of the vehicle.
I live in NV, and all Land Rover dealers or private shops here were booked out 3 weeks just for an appointment regardless of priority.
These guys at Stewart's don't mess around. Shop was organized, clean, and professional. Full of exotics and quality cars. These guys have a reputation to uphold and have set the standard I'd say in at least a 500 miles radius for others to aspire to.
If you ever want to buy a car, especially a luxury or exotic or sports, make sure you get a 3rd party inspection. I went through 4 Rovers and almost $1000 to find the one I have now, but it was worth every penny to find something solid....and make sure you only do it at one place...
Stewart's...."The only way to fly" read more