New shape range rover
Discussion
I've had the Full Fat (L405) for two years. I have the 4.4SDV8.
Faults on mine have been few and far between. The most major thing was a creak from the suspension when the weather was hot. They rebuilt the front suspension all under warranty. Still not sure why.
I had a sensor go which put it into limp mode and the glovebox jammed.
In two years and 20k miles.
I love it and would have another one.
Faults on mine have been few and far between. The most major thing was a creak from the suspension when the weather was hot. They rebuilt the front suspension all under warranty. Still not sure why.
I had a sensor go which put it into limp mode and the glovebox jammed.
In two years and 20k miles.
I love it and would have another one.
Hmm. Tough one.
I have to preface this with an admission that I haven't driven a 5.0SC partly on the basis that, if I did, I might actually buy one.
A little bit of history to explain. I did have the 4.2SC (petrol) L322 and moved from that to the 4.4TDV8 version before getting into an L405 4.4SDV8.
The 4.4TDV8 was the first diesel I'd owned as one of my personal cars. The reason I switched from petrol was fuel consumption. It isn't the cost of the fuel but it is the time you waste in fuel stations. You stick £100+ in every time and that just takes forever - other cars come, fill up and go while you are stuck there. I never got more than about 250 miles out of a tank of petrol, so you do that a lot. The 4.4 on the other hand gives you almost 600 miles. It isn't quite so offensive.
The diesel is quiet and refined but, if you listen carefully, you will know it is an oil burner. You also have to fill it with smelly DERV.
The car is as quick in the real world as the petrol and actually, I think the lazy, torquey nature of the engine is more in tune with the ethos of the car than the 5.0SC. Also, I have the Aston for when I want 500+bhp petrol hooning.
That said, I still rather fancy the petrol. But I feel it is just a bit too excessive.
Actually, I'm think for my next one that I will go for the hybrid - 3.0 diesel economy with 4.4 performance.
tl;dr - 4.4SDV8 is probably the best real-world compromise but the petrol one is great if you don't mind living half your life in petrol stations.
I have to preface this with an admission that I haven't driven a 5.0SC partly on the basis that, if I did, I might actually buy one.
A little bit of history to explain. I did have the 4.2SC (petrol) L322 and moved from that to the 4.4TDV8 version before getting into an L405 4.4SDV8.
The 4.4TDV8 was the first diesel I'd owned as one of my personal cars. The reason I switched from petrol was fuel consumption. It isn't the cost of the fuel but it is the time you waste in fuel stations. You stick £100+ in every time and that just takes forever - other cars come, fill up and go while you are stuck there. I never got more than about 250 miles out of a tank of petrol, so you do that a lot. The 4.4 on the other hand gives you almost 600 miles. It isn't quite so offensive.
The diesel is quiet and refined but, if you listen carefully, you will know it is an oil burner. You also have to fill it with smelly DERV.
The car is as quick in the real world as the petrol and actually, I think the lazy, torquey nature of the engine is more in tune with the ethos of the car than the 5.0SC. Also, I have the Aston for when I want 500+bhp petrol hooning.
That said, I still rather fancy the petrol. But I feel it is just a bit too excessive.
Actually, I'm think for my next one that I will go for the hybrid - 3.0 diesel economy with 4.4 performance.
tl;dr - 4.4SDV8 is probably the best real-world compromise but the petrol one is great if you don't mind living half your life in petrol stations.
Edited by AstonZagato on Friday 13th January 18:29
Well, I don't post in here, more of a lurker but I do have an L405, the Full-Fat 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE. I came to this from a L322 Supercharged and the 2nd car in the family is a Jag XFR 5.0 S/C.
2 reasons I went diesel this time. 1, more low down torque for towing, and 2, even with over a 100 litre tank in the L322 I was forever filling up.
In terms of the drive the petrol is way better by a country mile but I still get to enjoy this in the XF. The L405 is now a family outing car (have dogs) and for what it is there is no finer place to be. Comfortable, powerful, economical (34mpg average) and will do about 650 miles on a tank. I don't really care about fuel economy but filling up is a balls ache and something to be avoided for me. The Mrs doesn't even know how to fill up a car either so I end up doing both.
Reliability. Hmmm, well mine hasn't been fault free but it has never failed to get me home. Faults to look out for on either of the V8 models are to do with Active Roll Control. Make sure the car has the modified ARC valve block or it knocks and rattles like an old Gatling gun. The 3.0 TDV6 doesn't have ARC. Land Rover started fitting the new valve block in late 2014 but the old one will be replaced under warranty.
Deployable steps. Cool and useful but temperamental.
EGR valves. Standard diseasal stuff and no blanking kits available yet.
Wheels & Tyres. The 22" wheels really do make for a harsh ride. Mine came on these and I swapped to 20" to get the comfort back. No personal experience of the 21" rims - couldn't find any I like. The 22's also tramline quite a lot.
Overall the car is excellent. I can't think of a better way to travel personally. UK Midlands to Bordeaux, 3 up with 3 dogs in the back and loads of luggage. Stopped once for fuel and arrived without so much as a crease in my shirt.
Check out Fullfatrr.com where I am one of the more regular posters if you like. I've had Range Rovers for 30 years now and am very happy with the L405 overall.
Dom
2 reasons I went diesel this time. 1, more low down torque for towing, and 2, even with over a 100 litre tank in the L322 I was forever filling up.
In terms of the drive the petrol is way better by a country mile but I still get to enjoy this in the XF. The L405 is now a family outing car (have dogs) and for what it is there is no finer place to be. Comfortable, powerful, economical (34mpg average) and will do about 650 miles on a tank. I don't really care about fuel economy but filling up is a balls ache and something to be avoided for me. The Mrs doesn't even know how to fill up a car either so I end up doing both.
Reliability. Hmmm, well mine hasn't been fault free but it has never failed to get me home. Faults to look out for on either of the V8 models are to do with Active Roll Control. Make sure the car has the modified ARC valve block or it knocks and rattles like an old Gatling gun. The 3.0 TDV6 doesn't have ARC. Land Rover started fitting the new valve block in late 2014 but the old one will be replaced under warranty.
Deployable steps. Cool and useful but temperamental.
EGR valves. Standard diseasal stuff and no blanking kits available yet.
Wheels & Tyres. The 22" wheels really do make for a harsh ride. Mine came on these and I swapped to 20" to get the comfort back. No personal experience of the 21" rims - couldn't find any I like. The 22's also tramline quite a lot.
Overall the car is excellent. I can't think of a better way to travel personally. UK Midlands to Bordeaux, 3 up with 3 dogs in the back and loads of luggage. Stopped once for fuel and arrived without so much as a crease in my shirt.
Check out Fullfatrr.com where I am one of the more regular posters if you like. I've had Range Rovers for 30 years now and am very happy with the L405 overall.
Dom
A good summary and very similar to my own thoughts.
One other thing. The 4.4SDV8 and 5.0S/C both have Dynamic Response (part of which is the Anti-Roll Control "ARC" system that caused the knocking). This is very good - it makes the car much more stable in corners (not that it is a sports car in any way). Neither the 3.0TDV6 nor the Hybrid have this (not sure about the new 3.0S/C - probably not).
If better handling in important, then there isn't much choice.
One other thing. The 4.4SDV8 and 5.0S/C both have Dynamic Response (part of which is the Anti-Roll Control "ARC" system that caused the knocking). This is very good - it makes the car much more stable in corners (not that it is a sports car in any way). Neither the 3.0TDV6 nor the Hybrid have this (not sure about the new 3.0S/C - probably not).
If better handling in important, then there isn't much choice.
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