"The LR3 has nothing in common with Explorer and is, if anything, a better vehicle than Range Rover"
Define "better". If by better you mean more value for the money, you're probably right. Otherwise, I strongly disagree. The RR is the most luxurious (and imho best looking) SUV on the market, bar none. The LR3 is not even close by this standard. On the other hand, if you judge the car by performance, the RR is blown away by many SUV's, including the LR3. So, it's a matter of what criteria one uses to judge a car's worth. All in all, the LR3 at 50,000 is simply not in the same class as the RR at $75,000-- they each have their pros and cons, but will probably appeal to different audiences.
For me, pure perfomance is not that critical in an SUV (although nobody wants a dog). if it were, I'd buy a Cayenne or an X5, not an LR3-- I'm more concerned with comfort, looks, and safety. I'm very happy with a RR.
DG: Is the '03 RR's tires really that bad in snow? that's very dissapointing. let me know if you find any other suitable new tires, and I'll do the same.