Evoque Autobiography
Discussion
First of all, full disclosure.This is not mine, it belongs to my wife, an early retirement present to herself after an injury.
Unfortunately we picked it up two days before lockdown so as yet it has not been used for any of the trips that we intended. Hopefully this will be more a log of our adventures rather than a catalogue of problems.
Anyway, about the car. It is a 2 litre petrol, automatic with 290 bhp (I didn’t realise that such a thing existed until we found this one) in Carpathia grey. Being the Autobiography it has many toys, in fact as far as I can tell, the only thing that it does not have is the head up display.
First impressions are good, it is a very nice place to be. It drives far better than I expected it to, although you can definitely feel the weight if pushing on. It certainly goes if you try. It is far more comfortable than I anticipated too, even in the rear. The only downsides so far seem to be a bit of tyre noise (I’m being picky, it’s not too bad) and paranoia about it being stolen.
Most importantly she is very happy with it, so much so that I have caught her hoovering it twice.
Unfortunately we picked it up two days before lockdown so as yet it has not been used for any of the trips that we intended. Hopefully this will be more a log of our adventures rather than a catalogue of problems.
Anyway, about the car. It is a 2 litre petrol, automatic with 290 bhp (I didn’t realise that such a thing existed until we found this one) in Carpathia grey. Being the Autobiography it has many toys, in fact as far as I can tell, the only thing that it does not have is the head up display.
First impressions are good, it is a very nice place to be. It drives far better than I expected it to, although you can definitely feel the weight if pushing on. It certainly goes if you try. It is far more comfortable than I anticipated too, even in the rear. The only downsides so far seem to be a bit of tyre noise (I’m being picky, it’s not too bad) and paranoia about it being stolen.
Most importantly she is very happy with it, so much so that I have caught her hoovering it twice.
There are a few of them about but most seem to be the 240 bhp version. I think that it is just the Autobiography that gets the extra power.
I am looking forward to the Land Rover experience day that we got with it. I did one in a Discovery years ago and was impressed at how well the Evoques were doing.
I am looking forward to the Land Rover experience day that we got with it. I did one in a Discovery years ago and was impressed at how well the Evoques were doing.
LanceRS said:
There are a few of them about but most seem to be the 240 bhp version. I think that it is just the Autobiography that gets the extra power.
I am looking forward to the Land Rover experience day that we got with it. I did one in a Discovery years ago and was impressed at how well the Evoques were doing.
What kind of fuel economy do you think you can expect to enjoy?I am looking forward to the Land Rover experience day that we got with it. I did one in a Discovery years ago and was impressed at how well the Evoques were doing.
Not a lot. I used it to go to work once. On my mainly motorway commute, travelling at some Leptons, it was worse than my 3ltr BMW. It was showing 21 mpg! I’m guessing that in normal combined driving, it will be less bad. It shouldn’t be doing too much mileage so hopefully it won’t matter that much.
Once we’ve had a chance to use it a bit, I shall report back.
I should also mention that although the engine is smoother than I expected, the gear changes are not. They are not terrible, but more pronounced than I thought they would be. I test drove a couple of others which were the same.
Once we’ve had a chance to use it a bit, I shall report back.
I should also mention that although the engine is smoother than I expected, the gear changes are not. They are not terrible, but more pronounced than I thought they would be. I test drove a couple of others which were the same.
In answer to the mpg question,
This is where it seems to have settled with a good mixture of town, country and motorway driving.
Today the cooled seats were most welcome.
What I have neglected to mention so far, is the total debacle of buying it in the first place.
Three separate JLR dealers were visited during our search, none of whom had any interest in speaking to us. In the nearest, we found and test drove a suitable candidate. A couple of weeks later, I checked the website and it was still in stock. We returned with a view to buy it, were ignored by the staff for about 20 minutes before the polite young man checked where the car was, only to announce that it had sold a week earlier!
I spotted the subject of this thread at the dealer near where I work, so I popped in and eventually was dealt with by a very helpful young lady.
A week or so later I called and made an appointment to view the car with my wife. The helpful lady was not working that day and we waited 40 minutes before deciding to leave as once again we were ignored. We were then presented with someone who ‘could not sell us the car because he was a Jaguar salesman’.
We left.
Have had said 40 minutes to look around the car, my better half had made her mind up that this was the one for her.
After a frustrating week of phone calls that went unreturned and staggering conversations, I returned in person after work and found the lady with whom I had originally spoken to (she seemingly to be the only competent employee in the entire organisation).
A deal was done and a deposit left, everybody happy.
Collection was arranged for midday on the Friday.
Upon arrival at the appointed time, we discovered the the car was no longer in the showroom. My friendly and helpful sales lady was unavailable.
We found ourselves waiting 45 minutes before anyone came out of the office to complete the transaction. The man who presented himself, knew nothing about the deal and had to go to find the car! He discovered that it was outside ‘being given a wash’. He was unable to explain why it wasn’t in the showroom, prepped and ready to go.
Eventually, after another hour, my wife was in possession of her dream car and smiling all the way home.
Having battled this far, we were happy with the new toy. Until a week later, when the V5 arrived. For some reason, the idiots had registered it in my name not hers!
Unfortunately, lockdown has thus far prevented suitably remonstrations with the dealer principal.
If you have read this far, we’ll done and I apologise for the rant. The service has been shocking but the vehicle has so far exceeded all expectations.
This is where it seems to have settled with a good mixture of town, country and motorway driving.
Today the cooled seats were most welcome.
What I have neglected to mention so far, is the total debacle of buying it in the first place.
Three separate JLR dealers were visited during our search, none of whom had any interest in speaking to us. In the nearest, we found and test drove a suitable candidate. A couple of weeks later, I checked the website and it was still in stock. We returned with a view to buy it, were ignored by the staff for about 20 minutes before the polite young man checked where the car was, only to announce that it had sold a week earlier!
I spotted the subject of this thread at the dealer near where I work, so I popped in and eventually was dealt with by a very helpful young lady.
A week or so later I called and made an appointment to view the car with my wife. The helpful lady was not working that day and we waited 40 minutes before deciding to leave as once again we were ignored. We were then presented with someone who ‘could not sell us the car because he was a Jaguar salesman’.
We left.
Have had said 40 minutes to look around the car, my better half had made her mind up that this was the one for her.
After a frustrating week of phone calls that went unreturned and staggering conversations, I returned in person after work and found the lady with whom I had originally spoken to (she seemingly to be the only competent employee in the entire organisation).
A deal was done and a deposit left, everybody happy.
Collection was arranged for midday on the Friday.
Upon arrival at the appointed time, we discovered the the car was no longer in the showroom. My friendly and helpful sales lady was unavailable.
We found ourselves waiting 45 minutes before anyone came out of the office to complete the transaction. The man who presented himself, knew nothing about the deal and had to go to find the car! He discovered that it was outside ‘being given a wash’. He was unable to explain why it wasn’t in the showroom, prepped and ready to go.
Eventually, after another hour, my wife was in possession of her dream car and smiling all the way home.
Having battled this far, we were happy with the new toy. Until a week later, when the V5 arrived. For some reason, the idiots had registered it in my name not hers!
Unfortunately, lockdown has thus far prevented suitably remonstrations with the dealer principal.
If you have read this far, we’ll done and I apologise for the rant. The service has been shocking but the vehicle has so far exceeded all expectations.
Firstly congratulations on the new car. I didn't realise JLR made a 290bhp variant of the Evoque.
Secondly, I feel your pain on JLR showrooms. They suck! I do not know how they manage to sell anything. Their sales staff are so stuck up their own arse and for no reason. If anything, their customers should have the attitude, as well, they're the ones who actually can afford to buy these cars.
Fair play for sticking with the dealers, I really hope their after-sales support staff are better. In my experience, they were f
king useless.
Secondly, I feel your pain on JLR showrooms. They suck! I do not know how they manage to sell anything. Their sales staff are so stuck up their own arse and for no reason. If anything, their customers should have the attitude, as well, they're the ones who actually can afford to buy these cars.
Fair play for sticking with the dealers, I really hope their after-sales support staff are better. In my experience, they were f
king useless. MJK 24 said:
I think the 290bhp engine is JLR’s own version. The 240bhp engine is the Focus ST lump and now replaced by what you have.
Enjoy!
Both engines are the JLR's own ingenium. They come in 240PS and 290PS versions. Mainly turbo charger and CR ratio differences. JLR do not use Ford engines anymore. Enjoy!
5harp3y said:
all that bad work by the dealers and you still bought it ... i would have walked into another brand
Usually I would have done. I tried finding alternatives, but the closest we could find was a Q5 and the Evoque is just nicer. It was a real fight against instinct not to just walk away but in the end she got the car that she wanted and is happy with it. Once the world opens up again,I shall be doing some serious complaining.
How many people have similar stories about main dealer franchises. It's astonishing. Your wife is literally the perfect customer - she knows what she wants and is happy to pay for it - and still three separate dealers manage to treat her like dirt.
If it was a £10 pizza you wouldn't put up with it, let alone a - what - £20k car?
Evoque looks smart, I'd like one.
If it was a £10 pizza you wouldn't put up with it, let alone a - what - £20k car?
Evoque looks smart, I'd like one.
Nice good car, bet it shifts with 290bhp!
100% have a chat with dealer principle. Just send a polite, mature email highlighting the issues you had to his sales and how it nearly cost him a sale!
I went through similar when i went to buy my BMW, having left a deposit over the phone. Made appointment to make payment and collect. Turned up for my appointment, only for "my" sales chap to be busy and running late... And no one else avaliable to help despite plenty of them sat alone at their computers browsing away.
Nearly 30mins I walked the show room, waiting to pay & collect and there wasn't the slightest bit of urgency to help me. Second biggest cash purchase I'd ever made and it really took the shine off a big day for me. Made worse when the interior was dirty, and they'd touched up the paintwork with they wrong fking paint. 
BMW, and their Labour rate is £130. Main dealers are a con.
100% have a chat with dealer principle. Just send a polite, mature email highlighting the issues you had to his sales and how it nearly cost him a sale!
I went through similar when i went to buy my BMW, having left a deposit over the phone. Made appointment to make payment and collect. Turned up for my appointment, only for "my" sales chap to be busy and running late... And no one else avaliable to help despite plenty of them sat alone at their computers browsing away.
Nearly 30mins I walked the show room, waiting to pay & collect and there wasn't the slightest bit of urgency to help me. Second biggest cash purchase I'd ever made and it really took the shine off a big day for me. Made worse when the interior was dirty, and they'd touched up the paintwork with they wrong f
king paint. BMW, and their Labour rate is £130. Main dealers are a con.
Well, we seem to have our first glitch. While experimenting with using the cameras, the front one briefly displayed a message telling us to contact a dealer, instead of an image from the front bumper.
Whatever it was, I cannot replicate it.
SWMBO has discovered that the cameras can be used to record in the event of an accident though.
Whatever it was, I cannot replicate it.
SWMBO has discovered that the cameras can be used to record in the event of an accident though.
LanceRS said:
Well, we seem to have our first glitch. While experimenting with using the cameras, the front one briefly displayed a message telling us to contact a dealer, instead of an image from the front bumper.
Whatever it was, I cannot replicate it.
SWMBO has discovered that the cameras can be used to record in the event of an accident though.
A friend has a '17 reg one with the 10 inch screen and parking cameras, he's had plenty of glitches with the system since he got the car new. Every now and then it just throws a hissy fit. He's had quite a few issues with the car, mainly electrical (except for the dpf). One recent problem was that it thought the bonnet was open when it wasn't. That was fixed, now it refuses to lock because it thinks the passenger door is open. He's given up, because it goes back next month anyway. The last JLR assistance technician that came out to it commented "I wouldn't want one of these outside of warranty". Whatever it was, I cannot replicate it.
SWMBO has discovered that the cameras can be used to record in the event of an accident though.
I really don't understand dealers. It's not rocket science; people want to buy cars, they want to sell them - why is it so bl**dy difficult? They're either all over you like a rash from the minute you cross the threshold or you have to fight to get them to acknowledge you're there.
I wonder of there are any dealers reading this that can give an explanation on why salesmen/women/unsure can't seem to do the basics. Maybe they get loads of time-wasters or maybe, as the saying goes, you pay peanuts...
I wonder of there are any dealers reading this that can give an explanation on why salesmen/women/unsure can't seem to do the basics. Maybe they get loads of time-wasters or maybe, as the saying goes, you pay peanuts...
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