Range Rover Vs Range Rover Sport - TEST DRIVE RESULTS

[drfrank]

I'm in the market for a RR/RRS and I went with the wife for a test drive at the local Land Rover dealer.....

First Vehicle:

06 RR Supercharged

Wow ! Bar a Bentley I have never been in a car with such luxury. Extremely spacious cabin, beautifully upholstered, everything just superb.
Neither my wife or I have driven a 4x4 and we were blown away with just how easy the RR was to drive. The performance was difficult to assess given the size of the vehicle and our unfamiliarity with the genre, it certainly did shift but not exactly pushing you into your seat.

05 RRS Supercharged

Wow! what an awful car. The two vehicles are like chalk and cheese. The RRS was cramped and felt 'cheap'. There was little space in the back and the luxury just wasn't there.
I have to admit that I was disappointed given that I thought I would really like it. The performance was similar to the RR super (same engine) but I thought it would feel quicker given the smaller body.

05 RR TD6 HSE

Loved it ! Admittedly i wouldn't go for the HSE (I would get the vogue) but the TD6 was superb. OK, the engine is a little 'raw' under harsh acceleration but at cruising speed it is sublime. There is so much space and comfort it is unreal, couple with this is a 'reasonable' fuel return. The wife loved it and I think we have made up our mind !!


Having driven both I really am suprised at just how popular the RRS is ! In the second hand market now the TD6 has to be one of the bargains of the decade, so why pay £5k+ for the (in my opinion) inferior RRS.

(just my thoughts btw, and remember I really wanted a RRS prior to the test drive)

Drfrank

[Plotloss]

Did you not try a TDV8?

Everyone seems to be agreed that its the pick of the bunch...

[PhilCerbera]

I've just been through the same process. Initially wanted the RRS and a couple of weeks ago bought the RR. Test drove a TDV8 08 version of both, like you say, chalk and cheese. The TDV8 is good but still a diesel. I went for the RR Supercharged and it is so refined (and quick) and the V8 produces a great sound. Did 600 miles in my first week and averaged 20mpg. I am fitting a LPG kit next week as I do 25k miles pa and will get far better equivalent consumption than a TDV8. Plus I retain the fun of the Supercharger which makes overtaking simple; and the Supercharged RR comes will all the kit as standard. In fact it is completely over engineered. I doubt they will make a vehicle like this in future; probably the last of its kind? I'd say buy the V8 Supercharged and enjoy it while you still can before it's outlawed!

[drfrank]

the TDV8 is a little out of my price range >£30k

The supercharged RR was nice but I didn't think it was that much better than the TD6 (which still shifted). I don't know if I could justify 12mpg in the supercharged RR around town (which my wife will mainly do) - and before anyone says well why do you want a RR if you are not going off road......well I like the vehicle, my wife likes the vehicle, they are safe, I have always wanted one and currently I can afford one.

PS

What are the figures on the TD6 and the Supercharged ??

Also what has the autobiography got on it as a special edition ?

What is the venture cam ?

Thanks

[Deva Link]

drfrank said:

around town (which my wife will mainly do) - and before anyone says well why do you want a RR if you are not going off road......well I like the vehicle, my wife likes the vehicle, they are safe, I have always wanted one and currently I can afford one.

To my mind it's the ease of driving, which you referred to in your first post, which is this type of cars' main real world advantage.

However if your wife is mainly using it around town she might get pretty fed up of looking for suitable parking spaces.

[RedLeicester]

drfrank said:

Having driven both I really am suprised at just how popular the RRS is ! In the second hand market now the TD6 has to be one of the bargains of the decade, so why pay £5k+ for the (in my opinion) inferior RRS.

(just my thoughts btw, and remember I really wanted a RRS prior to the test drive)

Drfrank

Then go try a V8 Rangie.... £5k less than the TD6s, quicker, smoother, quieter, and 20mpg on cheap fuel instead of 24mpg on expensive log burning....

[Plotloss]

Autobiography is the equivalent of BMW's Individual Programme or Audi's quattro GMBH programme, it allows the buyer to specify off list options essentially such as non standard colours etc.

The Venture Cam is a removable camera that you can attach to the outside of the vehicle.

[drfrank]

thanks people

[drfrank]

Any ideas where I can find the fuel figures for the TD6 - 4.4V8 - Supercharged


Is there really that small a difference between them ?

For the price of diesel/noise etc I am more than happy to sacrifice 4mpg and get the petrol !

[custardkid]

Having driven a RR TD6 - RR 4.4 v8 - a RRS 2.7v6

the 4.4 rangie is the nicest to drive, the v6 derv is more refined than the td6.

RRS sport is too fidgety and makes you drive more agressively, which is at odds with the relatively under powered log burner under the bonnet. In the RR the power is irrelavent as it softens you into a relax state where you couldn't give a monkeys about whats going on out side your leather clad palace

the derv cars are glacially slow, with the 4.4 feeling marginally quicker. but both times i had just stepped out of the Tuscan so my judgement may have been clouded

due to the extra refinement swinging towards a 4.4v8 as they are 3-5k cheaper than a TD6 and will give similar running costs with an LPG kit.

not driven the V8 derv yet.....
but this pimp machine was delivered to the folks on friday:
14miles on the clock artic white 3.6 V8 vogue
Custard

[RedLeicester]

drfrank said:

Any ideas where I can find the fuel figures for the TD6 - 4.4V8 - Supercharged


Is there really that small a difference between them ?

For the price of diesel/noise etc I am more than happy to sacrifice 4mpg and get the petrol !

Sorry, should have made the point I was referring to the normally aspirated V8, which as has been mentioned countless times on this forum (and others) is not that much less economical than the TD6 for mixed drivning. I think the S/C comes in 4mpg or so lower.

Edited to add - Of course in terms of things being "quicker" we are not implying that they are in any way speed wagons. Someone on a recent thread took umbrage at people referring to their speed and suggesting we were implying they were tarmac scorchers. I am meaning more in terms of usable speed - we live out in the sticks and regularly find cause to overtake tractors and/or city dwelling dawdlers - for this the V8 N/A is more than capable, whereas we found the TD6 was a tad gutless.

Edited by RedLeicester on Sunday 2nd November 14:55

[PhilCerbera]

drfrank said:

Any ideas where I can find the fuel figures for the TD6 - 4.4V8 - Supercharged

All the RR performance/mpg figures are here

Average consumptions are:

- Supercharged 18mpg
- 4.4 19mpg
- TD6 25mpg

LPG will approx. halve the cost of fuel for a petrol engine and costs between £2k-£3k to have a kit fitted. Only viable for high (15k+) pa mileage and/or lengthy ownership.

[drfrank]

I am really struggling now !!

After Saturday's testdrive I was convinced the TD6 was the sensible choice ! However, the more I think about it (and read on here) the more I think the petrol V8 is the right choice !, there are certainly some bargains to be had !

Thanks for the help

Drfrank

[Camel]

Another vote for the petrol 4.4 V8 over the TD6 here. I used to have one and it is a lovely engine that suits the car far more than the TD6 both in terms of noise and driveability. My long term average was about 17.5.

[TRY 1T]

drfrank,

Superb review and comparisons there.

I've recently been a passenger in a few long distant trips in a RRS lately and found it slightly cramped with 3 guys and luggage.

However, I will never forget the day the heavens really opened and it rained and poured and there were flash floods in the area. What car got us home? The Range Rover Sport and very grateful I was to.

In 'extreme' conditions there really was no better alternative.

Hoping to purchase a 4.4 Vogue in the future.

Good luck drfrank.

[drfrank]

If I am buying from an independent is it worth getting the vehicle checked over at a Land Rover dealer ?

Any idea of costs ?

How happy will an indy be in putting a vehicle through a dealer's checklist ?

[wiffmaster]

Haven't read the entire thread so apologies if already mentioned, but would just like to say that (in my opinion) the TD6 is pointless.

It's much less refined and a fair bit slower than any of the petrol variants, but does not have the increased fuel economy to compensate. In fact, bearing in mind the higher cost of diesel over petrol, I'd be surprised if you saved anything going down the TD6 route. It's not a bad engine, it's just that the petrols are a lot nicer for much the same running costs.

TDV8 - well that's a different kettle of fish altogether. But, if budget won't stretch, go the petrol route.

[Jamster]

PhilCerbera said:

drfrank said:

Any ideas where I can find the fuel figures for the TD6 - 4.4V8 - Supercharged

All the RR performance/mpg figures are here

Average consumptions are:

- Supercharged 18mpg
- 4.4 19mpg
- TD6 25mpg

LPG will approx. halve the cost of fuel for a petrol engine and costs between £2k-£3k to have a kit fitted. Only viable for high (15k+) pa mileage and/or lengthy ownership.

Point to note, the figures above are not average. Theres no way the average mpg for a Supercharged model is 18mpg. If its a combination of driving around town and motorway miles you'll be lucky to get 12mpg. The problem is the powers there and so you use it, youd never drive the Supercharged and the TDV6 the same way so you the figures above are unfortunately invalid.
Cheers,
J
PS Have had both and my bank account can vouch for the petrol hit!

[Tyre Smoke]

drfrank said:

05 RRS Supercharged

Wow! what an awful car. The two vehicles are like chalk and cheese. The RRS was cramped and felt 'cheap'. There was little space in the back and the luxury just wasn't there.
I have to admit that I was disappointed given that I thought I would really like it. The performance was similar to the RR super (same engine) but I thought it would feel quicker given the smaller body.

Surprised at your thoughts there. I love our (06) Sport S/c. Well built, solid feel, comfortable - not as big as the full fat RR but we went from a P38 and although it is definitely narrower, doesn't feel at all cramped - and does shift! Perhaps you drove a bad one, but that wouldn't account for the cramped and 'cheap' feeling. Remember the Sport S/c has 'sports' seats which may be a bit more figure hugging than the wafty big brother.

[PhilCerbera]

Jamster said:

PhilCerbera said:

drfrank said:

Any ideas where I can find the fuel figures for the TD6 - 4.4V8 - Supercharged

All the RR performance/mpg figures are here

Average consumptions are:

- Supercharged 18mpg
- 4.4 19mpg
- TD6 25mpg

LPG will approx. halve the cost of fuel for a petrol engine and costs between £2k-£3k to have a kit fitted. Only viable for high (15k+) pa mileage and/or lengthy ownership.

Point to note, the figures above are not average. Theres no way the average mpg for a Supercharged model is 18mpg. If its a combination of driving around town and motorway miles you'll be lucky to get 12mpg. The problem is the powers there and so you use it, youd never drive the Supercharged and the TDV6 the same way so you the figures above are unfortunately invalid.
Cheers,
J
PS Have had both and my bank account can vouch for the petrol hit!

Have only had my 4.2S for a couple of weeks and do a lot of motorway driving (and will continue to do so) and have averaged 19mpg over a 1000 miles. Expect to get around 35mpg equivalent from LPG.