Choices...

[longix]

Hi

Need to tap the colective wisdom here. I'm moving on from a 2012 RR Sport (too harsh a ride, too cramped) to a Discovery. And I'm having a hard time deciding between 3 models
- 2013 SDV6 with the 8-speed 'box. Love the flappy paddles and the rotary dial, but worried about the slow 'box off the start
- 2012 SDV6 Limited Edition. All bells and whistles incl. rear seat entertainment, responsive 6-speed 'box (yes, our 2012 model was your 2011); but not the latest model, no flappy paddles
- 2012 V8. All the bells and whistles as well, peach of an engine - smooth, healthy in the rpms; but limited range, no flappy paddles

All three about the same price and fuel cost doesn't matter

Which should I pick, and why?

Cheers

[Phoenix12]

V8......................and as for the flappy paddles - IMO !! - unless its a Formula 1, other actual race car or a super car........it's absolutely ridiculous !

But then again, if they float your boat then any of the three you mentioned would be fine !

Cheers

[Ivan]

If you think the ride is too harsh in a RRS then it will be no different in a Discovery. They are the same vehicles with a different bodyshell.

Ivan

[Tombie]

If you think the ride is too harsh in a RRS then it will be no different in a Discovery. They are the same vehicles with a different bodyshell.

Ivan

No they are not... They are similar... :D

The extra Wheelbase in the Disco makes a big difference to ride and handling

[Geedublya]

V8 if fuel economy and resale isn't a problem.

[longix]

If you think the ride is too harsh in a RRS then it will be no different in a Discovery. They are the same vehicles with a different bodyshell.

Ivan

Land Rover explained that the Sport has a very different system (at least the Supercharged) with anti-roll, adaptive damping, etc which the Disco doesn't have. And as Tombie said, the longer wheelbase plays a role.

I rented a Disco for 4 weeks in Europe over the holidays, and found the suspension superb. Better than an Audi A6, for example.

The question now is which engine to pick...

[Epic pooh]

From what you've said, there is, in my opinion, no question as to which one - get the V8 ! (V8 D3 owner) !!

Sounds the best, goes the best, likely to give less issues and has all the fruit :)

[longix]

Heart says V8 too.

What's the range between refuels in the real world? Will that get me in trouble if we go out west for a holiday?

[Tombie]

Put it this way... If the TDV6 max out at 650km highway... I don't hold much hope for any more than 550-600 on a V8 on highway playing Gently!

Offroad - I'd bet the V8 gets 350-400km

You'll never do the Simo in it without a tanker following ;)

[DiscoWeb]

Heart says V8 too.

What's the range between refuels in the real world? Will that get me in trouble if we go out west for a holiday?

Depends how far west you go.

Rarely will you go 500+km without the chance to refuel, unless you are doing remote area travel.

There are after market long range tanks if required but fundamentally the V8 will be thirsty.

Have you driven the V8 and the 3.0 lt back to back as it is a pretty sweet option with plenty of grunt and much better economy.

For me I would stick with the 3.0 lt diesel and the 8 speed not fussed with the flappy paddles either way.

George

[VladTepes]

It's a terrible conundrum for you. Allow me to unburden you of the problem.

Send me the money - I'll buy one - and take it on a long term test drive for you and report back whether I made the right decision.

I anticipate the test drive will take approximately 15 years.

[Epic pooh]

D4 V8 is apparently slightly better than mine (direct injection in 5.0). My realistic range is no less than 450 per tank - best would be a little under 700km. Worst conditions for fuel use is on short stop start trips. Offroad is generally not bad as it is rarely working hard at all (instant torque in low range = surprising economy).

I recently did a 350km trip of mixed high speed (110+), twisty country roads (having a fun/fast time) and about 75km of dirt/tracks (incl about an hour of low range slog) and got a calculated (not indicated) economy of 13.5l/100km. I was pretty impressed with that.

I can easily do a day trip from Wollongong to Canberra return (incl commuting in ACT) on one tank (a bit over 500km).

[longix]

It's a terrible conundrum for you. Allow me to unburden you of the problem.

Send me the money - I'll buy one - and take it on a long term test drive for you and report back whether I made the right decision.

I anticipate the test drive will take approximately 15 years.

What an intriguing idea. Which one would you take first for that long term test of yours? :angel:

[Graeme]

- 2013 SDV6 with the 8-speed 'box. Love the flappy paddles and the rotary dial, but worried about the slow 'box off the start
What is your basis for stating that these boxes are slow off the mark? Have you driven one of these and found it slow off the mark? If so, does it happen with all these boxes and therefore is LR doing anything to overcome the slowness?

[longix]

I tried one 3 weeks ago for about an hour. It's good once it's underway, but that particular vehicle needed something like a second between throttle input and movement. Enough to be annoying.

Owners on sites like disco3.co.uk have had robust debates on that topic. Some say their car doesn't do it or that it's no biggie, others that it is driving them mad.

Again, my experience was with one car only, but that and the stories on other forums is enough to make me wonder

[Graeme]

That sounds like the software needs tweaking, which LR did for the 3.0 and the 6-speed for quite a while so I would expect the situation will be improved in due course.

[Epic pooh]

Out of interest, what motor was in your RRS ?

[longix]

Supercharged. Great engine, but I couldn't cope with the harsh ride.

[djambalawa]

It probably had 20"+ rims too which would not help ride comfort? AFAIK they do have a sportier suspension configuration too and probably weigh a fair bit less? All that would make the tide harsher...

My 8 speed has a bit of lag but not like a whole second... Apparently this box goes into neutral when sitting still (even when in D etc) so it might just be engaging again too?

[discotwinturbo]

If you think the ride is too harsh in a RRS then it will be no different in a Discovery. They are the same vehicles with a different bodyshell.

Ivan

Very different in suspensions settings. The sport can handle corners much faster than a D4 and its much more flat. Was in a mates recently and he threw it into a corner, and I thought it would roll....not so, it just hung on and so flat.

Big differences.

Brett.....

[longix]

It probably had 20"+ rims too which would not help ride comfort? AFAIK they do have a sportier suspension configuration too and probably weigh a fair bit less? All that would make the tide harsher...

My 8 speed has a bit of lag but not like a whole second... Apparently this box goes into neutral when sitting still (even when in D etc) so it might just be engaging again too?

Yes, it had stock 20s on. I went to some length to try 19s and see if that mproved the ride (the front brakes are too big for all 19s bar the ugly spare wheel). It does, but not much and certainly not enough.

Box going into neutral would explain it, yes. I wonder if it stays engaged in S mode. Can't remember for sure, though I reckon I would have noticed.

[Epic pooh]

It sounds like a significant step down in horsepower either way, but the step to the V8 will be a lot less and you already pretty much know the motor. Personally having driven a 3.0, it wasn't for me and my next will be either a D4 V8 or a FFRR S/C (most likely D4 as 7 seats is very useful). Good luck !

[longix]

I'm driving a demo 2012 FFRR TDV8 this weekend. Beautiful car. Too many gadgets in there perhaps, but a very nice place to be. Shame that engine didn't make it into the Discovery, it would be a no-brainer.

Back to square one, then. FFRR, Disco 3.0 or Disco V8?

[Graeme]

I suggest taking another 3.0 for a drive and if its still slow to respond to throttle, try holding the throttle open a whisker to get the revs just above idle then open it up when you're ready to go. I do this with my 6-speed if I'm going to jump into traffic to be sure the rocket launches. Sport mode probably works much the same but I don't use sport mode, usually preferring to bump the gears early using my version of paddles.

[CSBrisie]

If you don't need 7 seats, a bull bar / winch, Long range tank, snorkel and a few other serious off road bits - then buy the FFRR with the 4.4TDV8 and 8 speed; I think these will be seriously sort after in the future as their prices drop - and by all reports are a stunning car on and off road; I saw one in Brisbane with 8k on the clock for $139k which with a bit a negotiation probably gets you close to Disco 4 V8 price territory. Just add decent off road tyres and you're set ;)

[longix]

It's a good summary, Stornoway, thanks.

On one hand I like the idea of 7 seats, and 20% more capacity behind the second row. I also like the more down-to-earth, honest character of the Disco.

On the other, I find deepreciation tough for V8 Disco owners. A chap has had his MY11 V8 on Carsales for a while now. He's down to $84k at 22,000km and it's still not selling. The other MY11 only has 11,500km and isnt moving from the dealer at $89k. Considering MY12 demos are $120k with half that mileage already, buying one is knowingly giving away $45k in one year. Tough.

So yeah, a Vogue might not be that bad a deal

[longix]

Update:

Ended up going for the Discovery. A MY12 Luxury Edition with the 3-litre and all the bells and whistles. Picked it up on Saturday from Southern Classic in Wollongong - Sam is a top bloke.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/140.jpg

Didn't realise the Luxury sits on 20s and will be looking for smaller wheels. Are Compomotive still the way to go for 18s?

Cheers

[gghaggis]

Didn't realise the Luxury sits on 20s and will be looking for smaller wheels. Are Compomotive still the way to go for 18s?

Cheers

Yup, only ones that will fit the 3.0 ltr

Cheers,

Gordon

[CSBrisie]

Very nice - welcome to the "grey D4 3.0L" Club!;)

[sniegy]

This years colour is..........


You guessed it.....


GREY ;-)