Thinking of RRS '09 TDV8 - Advice please

[Smifffy]

Hi Guys,

I'm considering moving to a RRS TDV8 - probaby an 09 model or thereabouts.

Wha's the collective PH view of these? The dealer has indicated that the 09 cars onwards are generally better built and see fewer issues after the sale of LR in 08. Is this considered accurate?

What options should I be looking for on the car? I was thinking parking sensors, premium ice. Any others that are viewed as essential?

I'm looking at the TDV8 as the MPG looks pretty ruinous on the petrol versions - makes my GTR look frugal! Is this true? The car will be used mostly on motorways, in town with the occasional off road hill climb and bit of towing.

I had considered Q7, Touareg but they look ugly compared to the RRS and the TDV8 looks like the perfect compromise of reasonable performance and MPG.

Any wise words from owners/ex owners?

Thx

[camel_landy]

Go for it, they're cracking cars. I'm in & out of RRSports all the time and I personally own a TDV8 RRS... IMO it is the best engine for that car.

The TDV8 comes as a minimum of HSE spec, so it will have most of the toys anyway, Premium ICE and rear screens are nice to have options though. MPG will vary depending on your right foot, so will be anywhere between 22-29mpg.

However, I think the sales guy you're talking to is talking out of his arse!! '09... Better build coz of sale?? Really??? It takes time to change working practices, etc... It doesn't happen overnight! He's just spinning you a line, wanting you to buy his car and not consider older models!

M

[Smifffy]

Thanks for the reply.

I've test driven the 4.4 TDV8 - Is the 3.6 just as whisper quiet? I don't want to spent £30k to feel like I've driving a diesel transit!

Is the 3.6 reliable? I've not heard any horror stories - just the odd blown turbo.

Were my guesses about the petrol versions being super-thirsty right?

Does the HSE come with the parking sensors as standard then?

Thanks!

[Phil.]

The 3.6 TDV8 is pretty robust. Get it remapped by JE Engineering and it will feel like a 4.4TDV8 with 800NM of torque. And the economy improves a bit

[camel_landy]

The 3.6 TDV8 in the RRS gives you the best of both worlds... It is quiet when tootling around but when you boot it, there is a fantastic, deep V8 thump.

Reliable... Yes.

The petrol cars can be ‘Super Thirsty’, it does depend on how you drive them but it also depends on your annual mileage. The petrol cars come in a bit cheaper than the diesels but then these days there is a big difference in the price of fuel, very much in favour of petrol. If you are doing less than 8,000 miles per year, you might be better off getting a petrol version.

HSE – Yep, front & rear parking sensors. It’ll also come with the adaptive front headlights, Adaptive Cruise Control, ACE, Brembos, etc...

As for re-maps... Don’t!! Sure, you’ll get more power put your repair bills will be higher as you’ll be constantly replacing warped exhaust manifolds!! If you want a sports car, buy a sports car...

M

[Phil.]

Didn't have any problems with my JE remapped 3.6 and ran it for many thousands of miles. The improvement in drivability was significant due to the increased torque.

[camel_landy]

Phil. said:

The improvement in drivability was significant due to the increased torque.

If you're struggling with 640Nm, I'd suggest there may be other 'issues'...

M

[Phil.]

If you haven't tried it, don't knock it It's great

The guy who runs fullfatrr.com has his 3.6 remapped by JE and has done loads of miles without problems. Can't speak for other RR tuners though....... so agree you have to be careful.

[911wise]

Done 30000 miles in a JE remapped tdv8 Range Rover had no issues at all. Totally transformed the car and will be the first port of call when I purchase my next Range Rover.

[Smifffy]

Thanks for the replies all - Very helpful.

I think I've resisted the financially suicidal urge to buy the 5.0 S/C and the 3.6 TDV8 is the way to go.

[Dr_Rick]

Had an 07 plate 3.6 TDV8 for a while. MPG was early/mid 20's with a large portion of motorway and small portion of rural each day (total 70 miles). Only thing I had go was an alternator, thankfully during the first month so the Used Car Warranty covered it as it was a full day in the workshop. Prior to me taking it, there was the usual cosmetic bits that needed attention; chips in paint, some scuffs. But there was also the door rubber on the drivers door that was split. I'd never seen that before and don't know how someone could have caught it, but they had.

Fuel will be an issue as the noise / performance for such a heavy car is addictive. It's certainly not whisper quiet. It sounds like a V8 when you put the boot in. Still wish I didn't have to sell it, but needs must.

Dr Rick

[Smifffy]

Soooooooooooo

I've been looking at reviews and maths.

The TDV8 is the sensible option. It'll depreciate less and it'll be less to run.
But - The difference doesn't look that big on fuel costs on paper. Bear with me here.
If I did 14000 miles a year (probably an over estimate, but let's go with that) then that'd be 1166 miles a month.

In the supercharged 5.0 @ an average of 17mpg, that's 68 gallons @ an average of £1.34 a litre = £418 a month in fuel
In the TDV8 @ an average of 24mpg, that's 48 gallons of diesel @ an average of £1.41 a litre = £312 a month in fuel

Hmm. Only £100 a month difference? £1200 a year.

HMM!

[camel_landy]

Smifffy said:

Soooooooooooo

I've been looking at reviews and maths.

The TDV8 is the sensible option. It'll depreciate less and it'll be less to run.
But - The difference doesn't look that big on fuel costs on paper. Bear with me here.
If I did 14000 miles a year (probably an over estimate, but let's go with that) then that'd be 1166 miles a month.

In the supercharged 5.0 @ an average of 17mpg, that's 68 gallons @ an average of £1.34 a litre = £418 a month in fuel
In the TDV8 @ an average of 24mpg, that's 48 gallons of diesel @ an average of £1.41 a litre = £312 a month in fuel

Hmm. Only £100 a month difference? £1200 a year.

HMM!

As I said... It's close.

you'll probably also find that the 5.0SC is cheaper to purchase than a TDV8 of the same vintage. Oops... That's blown your maths out of the window again.

M

[Smifffy]

Nah, sadly they're holding their value at the mo. Still solidly above £35k.
There are quite a few of the 4.2 SCs around, but I see little point in them compared to the TDV8...

[camel_landy]

Oooohhhh... I don't know, I prefer the exhaust note to the 4.2. The 5.0 is quite refined where as the 4.2 is more 'thuggish'.

M

[jeremyc]

Smifffy said:

I think I've resisted the financially suicidal urge to buy the 5.0 S/C and the 3.6 TDV8 is the way to go.

You've changed, man.

[Dr_Rick]

Smifffy said:

Soooooooooooo

I've been looking at reviews and maths.

The TDV8 is the sensible option. It'll depreciate less and it'll be less to run.
But - The difference doesn't look that big on fuel costs on paper. Bear with me here.
If I did 14000 miles a year (probably an over estimate, but let's go with that) then that'd be 1166 miles a month.

In the supercharged 5.0 @ an average of 17mpg, that's 68 gallons @ an average of £1.34 a litre = £418 a month in fuel
In the TDV8 @ an average of 24mpg, that's 48 gallons of diesel @ an average of £1.41 a litre = £312 a month in fuel

Hmm. Only £100 a month difference? £1200 a year.

HMM!

So you don't think that a 25% saving in fuel costs is significant?

Dr Rick

[nagrom]

I'm on my 3rd diesel RRS, the first one being the V6 and the last 2 the V8. I do between 25 - 30k a year, have had no serious issues and love the grunt and the sound of the V8. Also have an Audi S4 V8 and I actually prefer the V8 diesel, just a linear wave of power. Go for it.

[Podie]

jeremyc said:

Smifffy said:

I think I've resisted the financially suicidal urge to buy the 5.0 S/C and the 3.6 TDV8 is the way to go.

You've changed, man.

[Smifffy]

Hahahaha!

Good to see you both on here and not in the old people's home...

I *did* have a sneaky look at Impreza P1 section. All too old now as a main car, but cheap enough to be a weekend toy. Hmmmmmmmm! Vmax return anyone?

Power has won the day. I test drove a Cayenne Turbo and a V10 Touareg R50 yesterday. Enormous fun.