Buying first L405 - facelift or not?
Discussion
Hi folks,
We're pretty much firmed up that a 4.4 sdv8 L405 autobiography (open to a high spec VSE) will be our next family car, coming from an XFR so quite a change.
I've looked at the brochures etc but just looking for opinions for those that have run both pre and post facelift cars.
I'm currently leaning towards a 2017 model with the updated windscreen infotainment however interested to see the fact that 2018 onwards model has completely different seats (but I don't particularly love the loss of physical buttons for controls)
-what options are there for updating the early infotainment of the pre-2017 models?
- what seats are better from a comfort perspective - pre or post facelift?
Anything else to consider from experience?
We're pretty much firmed up that a 4.4 sdv8 L405 autobiography (open to a high spec VSE) will be our next family car, coming from an XFR so quite a change.
I've looked at the brochures etc but just looking for opinions for those that have run both pre and post facelift cars.
I'm currently leaning towards a 2017 model with the updated windscreen infotainment however interested to see the fact that 2018 onwards model has completely different seats (but I don't particularly love the loss of physical buttons for controls)
-what options are there for updating the early infotainment of the pre-2017 models?
- what seats are better from a comfort perspective - pre or post facelift?
Anything else to consider from experience?
Bear in mind the AB has a lot of extras which, while nice to have are far from essential, and very expensive to repair - i.e. massage seats, deployable steps, opening pano roof. No such risk with the VSE.
Also, you lose the front door storage in the 2018+ facelifts which is a shame as they are quite useful.
I have heard the seats are softer on the facelift, though a lot seems to depend on your seating position as to how comfy they are. Squab far forward is the general consensus. My Land Cruiser had better seats, which surprised me.
When I was looking I wanted 2016 onwards (Euro6, lower tax, ULEZ), but wasn't fussy about the facelift.
Also, you lose the front door storage in the 2018+ facelifts which is a shame as they are quite useful.
I have heard the seats are softer on the facelift, though a lot seems to depend on your seating position as to how comfy they are. Squab far forward is the general consensus. My Land Cruiser had better seats, which surprised me.
When I was looking I wanted 2016 onwards (Euro6, lower tax, ULEZ), but wasn't fussy about the facelift.
WH16 said:
Bear in mind the AB has a lot of extras which, while nice to have are far from essential, and very expensive to repair - i.e. massage seats, deployable steps, opening pano roof. No such risk with the VSE.
Also, you lose the front door storage in the 2018+ facelifts which is a shame as they are quite useful.
I have heard the seats are softer on the facelift, though a lot seems to depend on your seating position as to how comfy they are. Squab far forward is the general consensus. My Land Cruiser had better seats, which surprised me.
When I was looking I wanted 2016 onwards (Euro6, lower tax, ULEZ), but wasn't fussy about the facelift.
I'd go with the 2017 if it was me as that infotainment is still pretty good and its what I have in my D5. Also, you lose the front door storage in the 2018+ facelifts which is a shame as they are quite useful.
I have heard the seats are softer on the facelift, though a lot seems to depend on your seating position as to how comfy they are. Squab far forward is the general consensus. My Land Cruiser had better seats, which surprised me.
When I was looking I wanted 2016 onwards (Euro6, lower tax, ULEZ), but wasn't fussy about the facelift.
Retro fitting won't be an option.
On a car like that, you want the Pan roof. Also if you go with the vue of more things that break, you are probably best to avoid LRs all together (I'm on number four!)
bakerstreet said:
I'd go with the 2017 if it was me as that infotainment is still pretty good and its what I have in my D5.
Retro fitting won't be an option.
On a car like that, you want the Pan roof. Also if you go with the vue of more things that break, you are probably best to avoid LRs all together (I'm on number four!)
Not necessarily - Fixed side steps vs deployable for instance. The deployable are exposed to the worst road grime and salt, and will fail, at which point it is £££s to fix or replace. To me that just seems a silly expense for something which adds zero value to the car. Retro fitting won't be an option.
On a car like that, you want the Pan roof. Also if you go with the vue of more things that break, you are probably best to avoid LRs all together (I'm on number four!)
I'm fully aware the RR will be less reliable than my LC, and don't mind the odd thing failing but in my research it tended not to be major engine-related show stoppers that caused the problems, it was avoidable stuff like that.
YMMV and some might prefer the appeal of a fully loaded AB, whereas my logic was it was far more likely to cost me money, without any real upside.
Same with the wheels. Unlike many RR owners I live in the countryside, so the 20"s of the VSE are far more suitable than the 22"s on the AB, with the pleasant upside that tyres are much more affordable too.
In terms of pre face lift cars I'd say avoid the very early built cars as they were pretty under developed when it went on sale and those early cars had lots of problems and probably a warranty repair history as long as your arm! After a year or so the quality picked up and they got a lot better. I don't have much experience with the facelift cars but from memory they took a new infotainment system, the old system was pretty simple and robust but not sure how it compares to todays systems in terms of smartphone integration etc. which people tend to like, the navi system will almost certainly be out of date and not much use now.
I have a facelift version.
The "new" infotainment system is painfully slow to start up. Sure, you can just drive off but if you want to enter destination into the satnav it's quite an annoying delay. OK, not much in the grand scheme of a journey but still annoying.
Re: side steps. Surprised anyone specs either variant of these as you can set the air suspension to "comfort access" which drops the ride height for ingress/egress.
The "new" infotainment system is painfully slow to start up. Sure, you can just drive off but if you want to enter destination into the satnav it's quite an annoying delay. OK, not much in the grand scheme of a journey but still annoying.
Re: side steps. Surprised anyone specs either variant of these as you can set the air suspension to "comfort access" which drops the ride height for ingress/egress.
WH16 said:
Not necessarily - Fixed side steps vs deployable for instance. The deployable are exposed to the worst road grime and salt, and will fail, at which point it is £££s to fix or replace. To me that just seems a silly expense for something which adds zero value to the car.
I'm fully aware the RR will be less reliable than my LC, and don't mind the odd thing failing but in my research it tended not to be major engine-related show stoppers that caused the problems, it was avoidable stuff like that.
YMMV and some might prefer the appeal of a fully loaded AB, whereas my logic was it was far more likely to cost me money, without any real upside.
Same with the wheels. Unlike many RR owners I live in the countryside, so the 20"s of the VSE are far more suitable than the 22"s on the AB, with the pleasant upside that tyres are much more affordable too.
My D5 is running 21s and the ride is pretty bad for the type of car. I've actually been looking at 20s to see if that would improve the ride comfort. I'm fully aware the RR will be less reliable than my LC, and don't mind the odd thing failing but in my research it tended not to be major engine-related show stoppers that caused the problems, it was avoidable stuff like that.
YMMV and some might prefer the appeal of a fully loaded AB, whereas my logic was it was far more likely to cost me money, without any real upside.
Same with the wheels. Unlike many RR owners I live in the countryside, so the 20"s of the VSE are far more suitable than the 22"s on the AB, with the pleasant upside that tyres are much more affordable too.
scrw. said:
Does the 17my dash system have android & apple integration?
It definitely has Apple as I use CarPlay all the time, can’t imagine it wouldn’t have Android. FWIW I came out of a 2016 RRS AB with the updated ICP into a 2017 VSE. The only non-AB thing I missed were the deployable steps so had some aftermarket ones fitted and over around 45k miles they’ve been fine so far. We’ve actually still got the RRS and even though the VSE is a lower spec it actually feels nicer.
bakerstreet said:
WH16 said:
Not necessarily - Fixed side steps vs deployable for instance. The deployable are exposed to the worst road grime and salt, and will fail, at which point it is £££s to fix or replace. To me that just seems a silly expense for something which adds zero value to the car.
I'm fully aware the RR will be less reliable than my LC, and don't mind the odd thing failing but in my research it tended not to be major engine-related show stoppers that caused the problems, it was avoidable stuff like that.
YMMV and some might prefer the appeal of a fully loaded AB, whereas my logic was it was far more likely to cost me money, without any real upside.
Same with the wheels. Unlike many RR owners I live in the countryside, so the 20"s of the VSE are far more suitable than the 22"s on the AB, with the pleasant upside that tyres are much more affordable too.
My D5 is running 21s and the ride is pretty bad for the type of car. I've actually been looking at 20s to see if that would improve the ride comfort. I'm fully aware the RR will be less reliable than my LC, and don't mind the odd thing failing but in my research it tended not to be major engine-related show stoppers that caused the problems, it was avoidable stuff like that.
YMMV and some might prefer the appeal of a fully loaded AB, whereas my logic was it was far more likely to cost me money, without any real upside.
Same with the wheels. Unlike many RR owners I live in the countryside, so the 20"s of the VSE are far more suitable than the 22"s on the AB, with the pleasant upside that tyres are much more affordable too.
Thanks for the reply all!
I do indeed plan to try a few but time is scarce during the hours dealers are open so trying to narrow down.
I was mainly seeking the AB for the massage seats - I do a lot of long trips and it's appealing having had this in a hire Tiguan recently! I don't particularly want the 22" wheels that most of the ABs come with!
I believe that there are some decent aftermarket headunits available for the early cars now which provide Android Auto/carplay so this has swayed me to not be obsessed re seeking a MY17 car.
I do indeed plan to try a few but time is scarce during the hours dealers are open so trying to narrow down.
I was mainly seeking the AB for the massage seats - I do a lot of long trips and it's appealing having had this in a hire Tiguan recently! I don't particularly want the 22" wheels that most of the ABs come with!
I believe that there are some decent aftermarket headunits available for the early cars now which provide Android Auto/carplay so this has swayed me to not be obsessed re seeking a MY17 car.
Had three, pre and post.
Still keep a 100k mile 5L AB pre facelift for lugging stuff and cross continent jaunts, with the 2017 dash and smallest wheels - because it is the best of the generation.
Depends what you need it for, proper range rovering, 2017 is the sweet spot. Driving around town, get a post facelift, the window controls are nicer and it does feel and look a bit more upmarket.
The lower screen annoyed the f
k out of me on the post facelift. Hence why I intentionally went backwards within 8 months.
Still keep a 100k mile 5L AB pre facelift for lugging stuff and cross continent jaunts, with the 2017 dash and smallest wheels - because it is the best of the generation.
Depends what you need it for, proper range rovering, 2017 is the sweet spot. Driving around town, get a post facelift, the window controls are nicer and it does feel and look a bit more upmarket.
The lower screen annoyed the f
k out of me on the post facelift. Hence why I intentionally went backwards within 8 months. markirl said:
I was mainly seeking the AB for the massage seats
One reviewer I watched had the massage function fail at a particular position which meant he was driving around with a very lumpy uncomfortable seat until it was fixed, another seat costing £2k+ IIRC. Bear in mind they won't always fail in a comfortable, useable position.Up to you if you want to take the risk of course.
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