RE: Range Rover Sport SVR: PH Fleet

[anonymous-user]

After just a couple of weeks of not that cold temps, it should have started first press of the button. The sign off spec for a RR is an unassisted -25degC start on a 20% SoC battery!

If the battery was flat, then something has gone wrong. Almost certainly, some module or other hasn't slept properly and kept the Bus alive, causing excessive drain and a flat battery!

[rich1231]

I had an SVR delivered in October. I was then taken ill and didnt drive it for 2 months. No issues at all on starting it up for the first time.

[AJXX1]

nicfaz said:

The car shouldn't be draining the battery - design fault. If it can't isolate itself down to an absolute trickle (which would take *months* to drain) then it is flawed.

Most LR/RR's with Air Suspension 'wake up' every 6 (I think) hours to level themselves - not that this excuses the battery going dead so quickly but I'd imagine that this process uses more than a trickle.

I've left my trusty Disco 3 for 3.5 weeks before and it started up ok (well, with a little protesting and grumbling but still started first time).

[Hamma]

dpittard said:

I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to drive one on track yesterday!

Not the most likely of track cars but something with a serious amount of power and an amazing soundtrack.

Listen to 550bhp, shift 2.3 tonnes around the Brands Indy circuit while passing some Clio track cars! biglaughbiglaughbiglaugh

http://youtu.be/cTlEp_7sjAo

So how do those 550bhp sound different to any other V8 with sports exhaust, from a '65 bought with $3000 to a 2012 Camaro SS with sports exhaust?

And barely passing a Clio 'track car' with a car having more than twice the horsepower and probably triple torque, plus probably at least twice the tire contact patch is an achievement? Not to mention what would've happened after a few laps when the 2.3 tonnes have done what they do to the tires, who would've been right back past you?

Expensive and strange way to have fun. Glad you enjoyed it though, I just always find these statements about 'fast' SUVs weird that's all.

[Impasse]

Hamma said:

So how do those 550bhp sound different to any other V8 with sports exhaust, from a '65 bought with $3000 to a 2012 Camaro SS with sports exhaust?

And barely passing a Clio 'track car' with a car having more than twice the horsepower and probably triple torque, plus probably at least twice the tire contact patch is an achievement? Not to mention what would've happened after a few laps when the 2.3 tonnes have done what they do to the tires, who would've been right back past you?

Expensive and strange way to have fun. Glad you enjoyed it though, I just always find these statements about 'fast' SUVs weird that's all.

What you're missing is the fact that the Range Rover could have towed the Clio to Brands on a trailer, done a handful of laps, then a few circuits of the off-road course before towing the Clio back home again to be ready for the school run on Monday. All while making the driver grin.

[mikebrownhill]

My wife has a 2011 RRS 5 litre petrol still on the original battery and often leaves it for 2-3 months at a time while she is overseas and never has any problem starting it up again on return - on the other hand though I have a Maserati Granturismo that I can't leave for more than a couple of weeks without it going flat - fortunately the battery is easy to disconnect.

I'm not a devoted fanboy of RR but I wouldn't want anyone to think this was a problem with them all - hopefully the 'hard reset' will have chased the gremlins out.

[mikebrownhill]

My wife has a 2011 RRS 5 litre petrol still on the original battery and often leaves it for 2-3 months at a time while she is overseas and never has any problem starting it up again on return - on the other hand though I have a Maserati Granturismo that I can't leave for more than a couple of weeks without it going flat - fortunately the battery is easy to disconnect.

I'm not a devoted fanboy of RR but I wouldn't want anyone to think this was a problem with them all - hopefully the 'hard reset' will have chased the gremlins out.

[Cudd Wudd]

Huskyman said:

I wouldn't be happy either, left my 56 plate 330d with off airport parking, and it fired up straight away for them on the day of my return.

I don't think this counts, as your 330d will have been used on all sorts of journeys by the airport parking staff whilst you were away

(If the Daily Mail are to be believed)

[Wills2]

Old habits die hard with these RR's don't they, so disappointing that they still can't get the electrics right.

[Impasse]

Wills2 said:

Old habits die hard with these RR's don't they, so disappointing that they still can't get the electrics right.

Should we not wait to hear what the actual problem was before condemning a whole production line? A flat battery can be caused by so many things, including user error...

[George111]

"and ridiculous £1,500 optional carbon engine cover."

At least we'll all know to avoid any used SVR with the carbon engine cover - who in their right mind would buy one so they'll more than likely all be fitted to press cars or demonstrators.

[jhonn]

Not surprised that this happened - a little disappointed for you Dan, but not surprised.

It shouldn't have happened - a modern vehicle should be capable of being left weeks without the battery draining. I know that I can leave my Jeep Grand Cherokee for two weeks in Scottish winter weather and it will fire right up; same with our Landcruiser (which is fitted with twin batteries).

Would be happy to be informed otherwise - but until then, this reaffirms for me why I will never buy another prestigious Land Rover product.

YMMV

[freshkid]

I left my 1972 Mercedes 250 parked up from November to February with the battery still connected and it started first turn of the key

[cautiontothewind]

nicfaz said:

The car shouldn't be draining the battery - design fault. If it can't isolate itself down to an absolute trickle (which would take *months* to drain) then it is flawed.

I agree.

I spend 3 month away at a time and have never had any issues with batteries draining themselves.

7-Series, A8 and Lexus have all been fine.

In fact my Mk3 Golf that had been sitting since last April, untouched, without any sort of trickle charger started first time only 2 weeks ago.

[Ruaraidh_Gamma]

Normal for JLR. Keeping an eye on dark current (the load on battery with the car switched off) has always been poor across a large and complex electrical project with many different departments involved. Coupled that with marginally sized batteries and then "They all do that sir".

"I don't lay blame with the car really; turning over a big engine after a couple of weeks stationary in cold weather is probably asking a lot of any battery"

You're way too generous. That they are still doing this after years to improve things is very poor. The most common thing at Gaydon was wandering down to the cupboard where all the jump packs were on charge so that you could then go and start the dev car you'd not driven for a week. This was nearly 15 years ago, glad to see they're still as bad....

[jamieduff1981]

I've never owned a Land Rover but this isn't "common" for the J part of JLR - I have owned lots of those.

Do these press cars have any additional trackers or some such gubbins fitted or are they usually completely standard?

[dpittard]

George111 said:

You can tell even from that clip that it's not happy changing direction. It might have a bit of grunt in a straight line but it's not handling the corners very well, looks like you have to back off completely.

I was under instruction from the owner to bring it back in one piece lol! I thought it handled it pretty well for 2.3 tonnes! Great fun!

[Hamma]

Impasse said:

What you're missing is the fact that the Range Rover could have towed the Clio to Brands on a trailer, done a handful of laps, then a few circuits of the off-road course before towing the Clio back home again to be ready for the school run on Monday. All while making the driver grin.

I think everyone in the world is missing that 'fact'. Perfect example of 'on paper bragging rights' while the real-world product is in fact a minivan.

BTW if you're intelligent enough (and don't live in a 3rd world country) you can manage without having to tow all kinds of stuff and drive off road. With your only car.

That Clio managed to get to the track without being towed, I'm sure the Range Rover is worse in that sense...

But hey, let's make an even better 'car' for housewives: an off-road flatbed truck so it can transport the Range Rover that is towing the Clio, then go off-road, go around the track (it'll have no exhaust so the buyers will think that it's quick and 'sporty') and then go back to driving in traffic to the school and back. That's better in every way (as long as some people can think of something to say to rationalise it), right?

Sorry, but that barge is ridiculously slow. And hugely expensive just to do a few laps in it, the tire and brake replacement costs must be huge! I'd refuse to be a passenger too, on track or in the city, as anyone would instantly get seasick with all that back and forth wallowing from braking point to corner exit. I honestly don't understand how people can stand being in SUVs in stop-and-go city driving with their heaving and pitching, nowadays thankfully only in front-to-back direction but that makes one sick too.

Edited by Hamma on Wednesday 16th March 13:30

[anonymous-user]

"I don't lay blame with the car really; turning over a big engine after a couple of weeks stationary in cold weather is probably asking a lot of any battery."

[MIDangerfield]

That's the first time I've ever heard of a car having to be reset. If you're going to load a car with more electrical gizmos than a Japanese bathroom and charge the price of a house for it I'd expect the thing to be reliable and not throw a wobbler from something as simple as not being used for two weeks! Imagine if JLR did make houses. You'd come back from holiday and spend half the time sat in darkness and the other seizing on the floor as your house abruptly and unexpectedly turned in to a local discotheque. Unable to switch off the madness as your consumer unit was in the loft, which had an electrically operated hatch door....... I have no idea where I'm going with this..... Basically the battery should have lasted longer....

Edited by MIDangerfield on Wednesday 16th March 19:53