Choice to make SE or HSE ?? Comments please

[Meken]

Looking at low km (less than 30k) discovery 4 sdv6.
Choice is 2012 hse at around 30,000kms or 2015 SE (with tech pack) with only 4500kms (dealer demo) for around the same money. Brain is telling me the SE.
Appreciate comments from both owners.
I think I like the 8 speed over the 6
Sat Nav & rear camera is a must & tech pack brings that.
What is a fair cost in members eyes for either?

[LandyAndy]

I wanted an up spec D4,it was a no brainer in the end,a brand new pov pack with a handfull of dealer ordered goodies wasnt much dearer than the early D4 SE/HSE units available.
LOVE the 8 speed,its a smooth gearbox,the steering wheel gearshift is great off-road.
If you can forgo a few HSE niceties go the newish SE.
Andrew

[letherm]

Price would certainly come into it. If it were me and the cost were the same or close I'd go for the SE - full warranty, latest technology etc. I think some of the stuff on a 2012 HSE would be in the latest SE versions. HSE would have a few extra nice bits too but that's a judgement call for you. I bought a D4 HSE in 2013 over an SE with the Tech Pack because I got a very good price on the HSE and it was new. Like you I was looking at buying a dealer demo SE with low kilometres and missed a few that I was interested in. I just happened to drop into the dealer I bought from when we were out to lunch one day and he gave me an excellent price. Good luck with it.:)

Martin

[Bytemrk]

Meken,

How people choose what is right for them is quite varied...

But for me, I simply wrote a couple of lists for myself and started looking at LOTS of vehicles on line and in the flesh.

My lists were:


Things it must have
Things I definitely dont want
Nice to haves


The lists helped me rule out lots of vehicles and gave me clear guidelines to compare vehicles. After spending enough time looking at the market, when I found the right car, I knew it was the right price and a great deal, so i grabbed it and don't regret it at all.

HSE was on my nice to haves.

[Meken]

Has anyone got a comprehensive list of the differences SE to hse?

[Bytemrk]

From my understanding it varies from year to year. That's why I focused on specific features I liked rather that a model.

I may be wrong though.

[letherm]

From my understanding it varies from year to year. That's why I focused on specific features I liked rather that a model.

I may be wrong though.

If no-one does, the best way to do it is go to the LR site and "build" a car and print it out and do a side by side comparison - it's what I did before i bought mine to decide what I really wanted.

Martin

[rar110]

I drove the BILs 2015 sdv6 on the beach the other day. The only thing missing for me was the memory drivers seat. Otherwise was similar to my 08MY RR Vogue povo pack. The 8 speed was nice but my 6 speed is also nice. The tranny is not a decider for me. Drive both and you decide. For me, if price is similar then easy choice, newer car as warranty, newer off road algorithms, electronics are newer & so more reliable.

[Meken]

Thanks all - newer car is definitely the way I'm swaying ... Although taking a $90k car on the beach ??
I had been thinking of spending about $60+ but the mileage seems to really escalate on vehicles in that price range... And there's nothing like that new car smell ;)
Mainly looking for satnav & rear camera (which I believe should be compulsory) and good sound system with Bluetooth (streaming too?).
Good headlights
Electric seats (memory not essential)

[Meken]

So now I'm talking to dealers a bit more they are saying you don't really notice the difference between the tdv6 & sdv6 - time for a test drive & more opinions please :)

[LandyAndy]

Mine is the pov pack with the dealer ordered options to make it almost an SE.
It was $79990 drive away.
TDV6,love it,much more grunt than my chipped D2,much better on fuel.
Leather 7 seats(back 2 removed)
Bi Xenons and LED DRLs
Rear camera,fullsize screen.
Upgraded Meridian duke box(has USB/iphone/bluetooth/intergaded mobile phone),awesome sound.
Front/rear mats
Free 3 year extended warranty.
At the time secondhand SE D4s with the 2.7TDV6 with 100000km were selling for over $60000.
No sat nav,from what Im told a $150 TomTom does a better job!!!!!
Andrew

[Meken]

Thanks Andrew - coming from a fr 2 2.2 td4 so almost 400nm in 1600kg car - need a test drive I feel

[Meken]

Took both tdv6 & sdv6 for a test drive .... No competition for my lead foot - has to be the sdv6 - I've got permagrin and I haven't bought anything yet :)

[rar110]

If your looking to spend $90k, you should consider taking a 2012 Range Rover Vogue for a drive and experience the 4.4 tdv8 with 700nm of torque.

[l00kin4]

Pretty confident MY15 all have rear camera as standard


I liked the grunt of the SDV6 too so bought a used MY14 last December - 6 months old - with 23k on it. I spent more than I was originally planning to (I was looking at MY12's initially) but I love the car and the permagrin comes to me sometimes when even just thinking about the next trip!


For me the only things I missed out on were the reversing camera (which I have subsequently retrofitted) and rear air conditioning. I would have optioned that into a new purchase... (if I have some more moments of craziness I'll investigate retrofitting that too! )


Lots of other nice goodies on the HSE but nothing I can't live without. Everyone has their own list of things that matter though...


David




Mainly looking for satnav & rear camera (which I believe should be compulsory) )

[Melbourne Park]

The SE 2015 has most of what the 2012 HSE had. Of course the later has the 8 speed. Which goes faster, and uses less fuel. Yep ... In off road mode, the 8 speed give you a higher top speed too. And on road, lower revs on the highway ... the 8 speed grabs gears quicker - it uses the torque converter less. The torque converter is what produces heat, and its heat that kills gearboxes. Hence the 8 speed may be more reliable. I expect it will be if the vehicle is hard used.

The key differences are the memory seats. The side bolster adjustment is really a gimmic. My HSE also has Windsor leather ... which is better leather. But .... you must get the later vehicle. The age of the car makes a huge difference with resale, and more so with Land Rovers, which dive in value a lot when they leave warranty. Cars are valued on the year they were registered primarily - the difference between the HSE (which I have) and an SE are very marginal indeed. A TD is quite a bit more different, due to the seats lacking small back support adjustment if you sit with the seat raised. But in the TD if you sit close to the floor, the seats are just as good as my Windsor leather HSE seats. And the motor ... but I think I would recommend a 2015 TD versus the 2012 HSE. Really, the TD is a loss leader, its a bargain actually. It lacks some go, but really, its got plenty anyhow. That your looking at an SE is incredible - get the 2015 SE for goodness sakes.

A newer car is money in the bank. Many of the features of a 2012 HSE found their way onto the 2015's SE too.

There is no comparison ... and if the SE lacks Sat Nav, then get third party one. And for off road, the third party is much better.

If you want air conditioning in the back, that is really the only big difference ... make the headlamps too ... but I've found my top end headlamps while nice and wide, aren't piercing ... One needs spots anyway if you want great lights.

And the rear comfort can still be found by using the front air ... the roof top stuff is a gimmick unless your in northern QLD and driving five kids to school ...

Get the windows tinted well by the dealer, try to squeeze an extra warranty for a bit extra - and get the newer one. It will be easier to sell, more reliable, it will be be worth quite a bit more. People primarily want a newer vehicle when buying used. You be the same, but try and get the two years extra warranty. Their buy price is likely $2k, but if you get it for nothing, that is a huge win. But its worth $2k actually, and if you pinch it for less than that, your doing great.

The only downer with all this, is that the new very different Disco model will come in a year. That will make all our vehicles leap down in value. But I would not want to buy the new ones either ... the current model is well developed and seems to have the bugs removed. No manufacturer produces new models without heaps of bugs ... and Land Rover would have more than other makers with a whole new model IMO. So ... the 2015 is said to be the last update of the current Disco 4 now Disco vehicle ... your's would be that last excellent series. Go for the later vehicle.

[Celtoid]

Hi All,


I'm on my second SE (MY10 [AUG 2009 build] and MY13 [SEP 2013 build]) and none were 'standard' SE. I think you'll find it the norm that there are all sorts of smatterings of extra options on these cars. So as everybody says, make your list and shop around.


When I was shopping around early last year, I actually found on the Net a comprehensive list for Australian MY 13 comparing all the options.


From memory standard SE to HSE differences were:

HSE has different wheels (but the SE definitely comes with wheels :D)
HSE has High Ice H&K sound system (which is the enabler for Reverse Camera and SatNav, as this system has a touch-screen)
HSE has Bi-Xenon headlights
HSE has front Park Sensors
HSE has Rear A/C
HSE has memory seats
HSE has SatNav
I don't know what the MY15 differences are. but as stated more stuff is being put in the newer cars .... electric seats for example were not standard in a MY10 SE but were in the MY13.

My first D4 had Bi-Xenon, High Ice and SatNav. The newer one has High Ice, Reverse Camera, Rear Air. So I can talk from experience what I think matters option wise.

Rear Air - I live in Brissy and it rarely gets used.
Reverse Camera - A must (so that means High Ice as a minimum). Well, I lived for 4.5 years without it in the first one .... LOL!!!
SatNav - I don't have it in the newer car and have a range topping TomTom. Whilst the TomTom is definitely better and more flexible/useful in some ways, it isn't perfect and not always accurate. It's also in the way on your windscreen. For my money, I'd go back to OEM integrated. It's in your dash and is integrated with Voice Command. Now while that may not help too many people, most folks probably don't realise that the LR SatNav has the Voice Command module built in. So that means, no SatNav, no Voice Command on anything .... including your phone ..... which I find a massive PITA. Don't know if this is still current in MY15. I've heard rumours that all major brands are looking at open-source touchscreens (MFD) for the future, so that should fix the OEM SatNav shortfalls anyway.
Front Park Sensors - Very helpful I imagine. I didn't have them on the older and don't on the new and wish I did quite often.
Memory Seats - My MY13 has electric (non-memory) and they are pretty good. Due to the seating stance in a D4 I don't find them as susceptible to the same orientation issues suffered in other cars. As in my sedan, the seat has to be just right .... not so in the D4 and I often change it based on what footwear I'm wearing (if any), etc.
Bi-Xenon - I had on the old not on the newer. I think the Halogen suck!
Other considerations:

Think run-out or ex-Demo. Whilst choices can be limited, there are huge saving to be had rather than buying off-the-book. I got an ex-Demo first time and an unregistered run-out for the MY13.
If you go through a dealer remember that location is only a limited constraint. On both occasions, I negotiated the price and then got the dealer to transport from Cairns to Brissy free of charge.
Also, negotiate price and get them to throw in tint, mudflaps, floor mats and the tow pack. Did this both times and they don't balk.
Once in run-out or Ex-Demo land, I'd be surprised if there was a huge price difference between an HSE or SE. Once second hand, any HSE owner charging anywhere near the new car difference, is in dream-land.
Somebody mentioned $90K on the beach ..... Absolutely! They are pretty easy to clean and keep clean. :D
Extended Warranty - There is a lot of reading to do on this forum on this topic .... it's far from black and white.
Hope this helps.

[strydes]

I came from a FL2 td4 as well. Planned to get my D4 up to about 4 years old in higher spec but the lure of the 3ltr and 8 speed in a MY14 runout povo pack was much stronger than the lure of the extra fruit on the older SE and HSE.

Given the warranty and free servicing, it also gave some piece of mind that I should have low ongoings for the next 3 years.

[spottedreptile]

The key differences are the memory seats. The side bolster adjustment is really a gimmick.

Really? Do you mean they don't add any extra support, or is the mechanism a gimmick? I'd like to get better seats but I don't want to spend almost $3k on the pack unless the seats give significantly better support.

[Melbourne Park]

Really? Do you mean they don't add any extra support, or is the mechanism a gimmick? I'd like to get better seats but I don't want to spend almost $3k on the pack unless the seats give significantly better support.

The side bolters have an electric air bag in them; they are therefore adjustable.

But I think they make no difference. I had a Mercedes with such an option, and although it was more sporty, it made no difference to comfort. On a track day, side bolters would. But for 4WDs, they are not a benefit.

The memory seat settings are great though ... but only if you share the vehicle between two drivers. Lots of times. Ironically, I like the electric memory in the seats, because the seats are very comfortable in lots of positions. With most cars, there seams to be just one comfy setting. Hence the great LR Disco seats in the SE and HSE, because they are comfy in lots of positions, do benefit from a memory setting ... but really .... its a gimmic, forced on us because lots of vehicles have that feature.

There is a big difference between the standard vehicle and the SE seats, due to more adjustments. But ... if you have the basic vehicle, and the seat is close to its lowest setting, their seats are just fine. But if you raise the seats (higher) then one looses back support - hence the SE seats are much better IMO.

The side bolters are a gimmic IMO. The Windsor leather is another option that is costly, and maybe worth it ... but then, heh, its not worth it is it? But I think the electric side bolsters only come with the Windsor leather ... or they used to ...

Doug

[chuck]

Currently I am lucky enough to have a MY16 HSE with black pack as a loan car until my limited edition arrives.

I have found the memory seats to be painful as often they seem to have a mind of their own whether this is accidently pressing one of the pre-sets or not setting it up properly as I have to give the car back.

I can had hardly feel the bolsters as they pump up.

I believe the SE represents much better value than the HSE.

Ended up buying the SE limited edition for not much more than a TDV6 with tech pack.

Cheers

[carlschmid2002]

SE all the way. You don't get a lot for another $10000. One thing I have noticed is all the dealers spruce up the TDV6 so that it costs just as much as an SE with no more features but lacking the more powerful engine. Unless the HSE was an absolute bargain buy the newer car. Factory warranty is the only way to go.

[Meken]

100940hse demo with lots of bling that I would not have ordered but looks good.

[Melbourne Park]

One thing great about my 2015 HSE is the sound system. Although not a digital radio, the FM sound is close to excellent, the base has some punch, and the mid range is crystal clear ... I have read some criticisms of various sound systems, they change the specs a lot ... but the sound system is a real HSE treat.

[sctsprin]

I don't see the point of electric seats if they don't have memory, you might as well just go with manual seats on the tdv6 and option up where you want it

[spottedreptile]

I don't see the point of electric seats if they don't have memory, you might as well just go with manual seats on the tdv6 and option up where you want it

I find manual seats incredibly difficult to adjust because I have some joint problems and weakness in both hands, so electric is the way to go for me, memory or not.

[sctsprin]

Fair enough, the world is full of opinions, it'd be boring otherwise

[Meken]

Sorry I can't hear you over my sound system ;)

[Melbourne Park]

I don't see the point of electric seats if they don't have memory, you might as well just go with manual seats on the tdv6 and option up where you want it

The problem with the manual seats - which is what the standard TD comes with - is that they lack front height adjustability. They have very limited adjustability.

What this means, is that when you raise the seat to a higher position, the seat angles progressively forward. If you put a level gauge on the seat, as it raised, it would tip forward. This may not be a big deal - except that, when it pivots forward, a gap is created between your lower back, and the seat. So if you raise the seat, you progressively loose small back support. This becomes extremely bad ...

So ... if you have a tall body - from waste to your eyes - then you will likely not raise the seat. So, the TD is just fine for that. But if you have long legs but a short body - you will likely want to raise the seat. Buy the SE then ... or get a Ricaro ...

[chuck]

After picking up my new car I found the seats in an SE to be more comfortable than the "Windsor" seats in an HSE.

The electric seats are infinitely more adjustable & as previously mentioned don't seem to tip you forward.