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View Full Version : TDV8 Drive day in Sydney. Long



sniegy
25th February 2007, 02:11 PM
Afternoon all,
Well all I can say is that the TDV8 is an exceptional vehicle to drive.
Whether it be the LM RR Vogue or The LS RR Sport.
I arrived in Sydney Thus night (left Melb at 7pm & arrived at the hotel at 11:55pm-thanks Dick Cheney) pretty much just a quick look around the hotel before I went to sleep, does anybody else think that hotel pillows are really really s*#t!?
After not a lot of good sleep I awoke at 6:30am to have a nice shower & then head off downstairs to get some “energy” food. I helped myself to some very nice breakfast & then went back up to clean the remaining bits from my teeth & pack to meet in the foyer & then shuttled to the PAG HQ in Nth Ryde.
Upon arrival we saw in the car park the 6 vehicles we would drive during the day, these vehicles consisted of 2 LM RR Vogue TDV8’s, 2 LS RR Sport TDV8’s & 1 each of the Supercharged variant just for comparison.
We then were given our passes & headed off to the training centre, where there was 1 more each of the TDV8 vehicles for us to have a quick look at. We were split into 2 groups & one did the drive in the morning & the others (me included) did the theory first & the drive in the afternoon. The theory consisted of looking at the difference in the outgoing TD6 motor in the LM RR & that of the new variant. The new specs on the Sport & where they both sat in the new line up. Very sales orientated but I had to put up with it.
Also a note on the LM RR Vogue, there are now only 2 engines in the lineup now The TDV8 & the SuperCharged. The LS RR Sport now has 4 engines, 2.7TDV6, 3.6TDV8, 4.4V8 & 4.2V8 S/C.
I wont bore you all with the whole theory content but just some figures for those who are interested.

LM RR Vogue - TDV8
RRP for the TDV8 is Approx $140,900 + ORC etc.
Power is 200kw (64% more than the outgoing TD6)
Torque is 640Nm (54% more than the outgoing TD6)
Fuel Consuption is the same as the TD6 (maybe marginally better!)
Gearbox is now the ZF 6 speed Commandshift unit. Previously a 5 spd.
Front Brakes are now upgraded to the Brembo unit 4 pot variants.
19” rims are now std.
Interior has also been re-vamped as it now incorporated the Terrain response system. http://www.landrover.com.au/au/en/Vehicles/Range_Rover06/interior/Overview.htm (http://www.landrover.com.au/au/en/Vehicles/Range_Rover06/interior/Overview.htm)?

LS RR Sport – TDV8
RRP for the TDV8 is $112,890 + ORC etc.
Power is 200kw
Torque is 640Nm
These figures are obviously the same but a reminder that the vehicle is lighter & smaller than the Vogue model. So performance is very noticeable.
Fuel consumption is 11-13L/100km combined. (these figures aren’t printed as such, but I had noticed the figures on both Sports prior to & at the end of the drive days. We were the last group at the end of the week & the combined figures we had were 13.1 & 12.9L/100km.) Both vehicle were driven Hard & then had to come back to Nth Ryde via Sydney traffic down Lane Cove Rd!!
Brembo’s are now standard (on both the TDV8 & S/C) as is Dynamic Response (Similar to ACE in the D2, but much better).
19” rims are also Std on TDV8.
TDV8 Sport gets the Aluminium look front grille & side vents.

The Drive…
We left PAG HQ in Epping Rd Nth Ryde & made our way Nth along Lane Cove Rd which then became Mona Vale Rd, we turned left into McCarrs Creek Rd, Left again onto West Head Rd Via a toll booth & into the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
This led to a lookout at West Head. Vehicle swap.
The roads are all very very nice, hairpin turns, sweeping bends, long straights & a good workout for all the systems the vehicle has. Dynamic Response in the Sport is just sensational, no leaning into corners & the vehicle sits remarkably flat for a 2tonne + beast.
The dampers in the Vogue have been changed also which has changed the vehicles on road manners, the vehicle has had all the suspension upgrades from the SuperCharged dropped into this beast, which gives good handling characteristics.
We left West Head & headed towards Cottage Point via Liberator General San Martin Drive(who thinks of these names!?) along the river, very nice part of the world I must say. We stopped for an Iced Coffee & ChocolateBananaCoconut muffin at the Boathouse, bit of a discussion about the vehicles & just relaxed. Vehicle swap. Then headed back into Sydney via the same route but stopped into the St Ives Showground for a chat & another vehicle swap. The final drive back to PAG was slow due to the build up in traffic on a Friday afternoon, I must say though the Brembo’s are just sensational they just STOP u again & again.

The vehicles “behaved” very well, Handling was extremely good & remarkably fuel consumption was surprisingly good. The vehicles did get a hard workout that week, everybody stuck the boot in to see what these would do…they did Bloody Good.
The TDV8 is very quiet, cant really tell it’s a diesel until u start to accelerate, then a hint of diesel clatter appears (not much though) The Vogue has had extra sound deadening fitted & the front windscreen & front side glass are both double insulated (thicker than previous) to get rid of road noise & noise in general.
Its remarkably good to sit in a diesel a have a chat quietly with the radio crystal clear. Something that’s a little difficult in a TD5..I am saving I promise..

While at the training centre we had a sneak peak at the new Freelander2. It was the petrol variant 3.2Ltr inline 6 cylinder.
Vehicle is remarkably bigger than the outgoing variant & was very nice, kind of looks like a Mini RR Sport.. That course is next month.:) :)

spudboy
25th February 2007, 02:47 PM
Lucky you - good day out. Hope they sell a bunch of them so there are some 2nd hand ones around in 3 -4 years. Then I might get one.....

DiscoDave
25th February 2007, 11:10 PM
Sounds cool - thanks for the write up Sniegy. :)

camel_landy
26th February 2007, 05:16 AM
The best bit is that no matter how hard you drive it, it'll still return decent fuel figures (mid 20s MPG).

BTW - Did you try turning DSC off and then nailing it... :angel:

:cool:

M

Ace
26th February 2007, 08:55 AM
Thanks for the write up, very interesting.

Was it a press day or something, or a customer drive day?

Scouse
26th February 2007, 11:20 AM
It was a great 1/2 day drive, wasn't it :) .
I did the drive on Thursday morning :p .


I've heard from various sources that the Friday arvo group "tested" the cars out ;) .

Ace
26th February 2007, 11:53 AM
It was a great 1/2 day drive, wasn't it :) .
I did the drive on Thursday morning :p .


I've heard from various sources that the Friday arvo group "tested" the cars out ;) .

Is this an employee thing or do you need the dosh to actually buy one before you are allowed, or is there a secret handshake :cool:

Scouse
26th February 2007, 11:57 AM
Is this an employee thing or do you need the dosh to actually buy one before you are allowed, or is there a secret handshake :cool:Sorry Matt, LR dealer staff only :p .

I don't know what was more fun: manually changing down in the Supercharged sport through the twisty bits or enjoying the torque of the TDV8.
We had a couple of spare seats - I was going to give you a call but I knew you'd be working that day.

PCH
26th February 2007, 06:11 PM
Hey Pete,

I read on another Forum the TDV8 has a coolant problem (i.e uses it).

Is this a known problem or are there only isolated cases do far?

Chris

LRHybrid100
26th February 2007, 06:11 PM
Should have brought them to the Watagans!!!

LRH

sniegy
26th February 2007, 08:43 PM
Sorry Matt, LR dealer staff only :p .

I don't know what was more fun: manually changing down in the Supercharged sport through the twisty bits or enjoying the torque of the TDV8.
We had a couple of spare seats - I was going to give you a call but I knew you'd be working that day.

Scouse,
It was just sensational,;) The torque of the TDV8 is just enormous. It just pulls & pulls. I tried to notice the "Postive torque" of the gearbox(what a **** name) just blips the gearbox on downshift in the TDV8 it was only just noticeable, not like the SC V8.
And yes sorry Matt LR dealer staff only.:(

landrovermick
26th February 2007, 09:06 PM
Scouse you should have called me.... i would have gone sick to come !

and i work just up the road.....

Mick

sniegy
26th February 2007, 09:36 PM
Hey Pete,

I read on another Forum the TDV8 has a coolant problem (i.e uses it).

Is this a known problem or are there only isolated cases do far?

Chris

Hi Chris,
I havent heard of this as of yet. We have a TDV8 demo Vogue at the moment & it gets checked weekly & all ok so far.

It may just be a one off or a teething problem.:)

Pedro_The_Swift
26th February 2007, 10:02 PM
just blips the gearbox on downshift in the TDV8 it was only just noticeable, not like the SC V8.


will someone PLEASE tell us about the petrol one---

Please,,:(

sniegy
26th February 2007, 10:20 PM
will someone PLEASE tell us about the petrol one---

Please,,:(

Pedro if u like V8's then the SuperCharged is for you.
The Sport S/C is quick damn quick for a 2tonne + vehicle
Power 287Kw
Torque 550Nm
0-100kph in 7.5sec. from memory +- 0.2:) :)
Handling is Extremely good especially with the dynamic pack & Brembo's. They corner flat & stop on a 20c piece. I did the drive launch at Darlington Park in Queensland 2 years ago, 2 laps around the race track flat out litterally.
The sound of the exhaust is awesome something LR have done brilliantly as with all of there V8's.
Anything elsu u would like to know about.?;)

Scouse
27th February 2007, 08:03 AM
Scouse,
It was just sensational,;) The torque of the TDV8 is just enormous. It just pulls & pulls. I tried to notice the "Postive torque" of the gearbox(what a **** name) just blips the gearbox on downshift in the TDV8 it was only just noticeable, not like the SC V8.I was hoping to do the drive in the arvo so I could put into practice what I learnt in the mornings theory.
I read about the positive torque while doing the online tutorial. I manually downshifted on the twisty sections & while I could feel the revs come up to match the gear, I couldn't make out the throttle "blip" they raved about.

dobbo
27th February 2007, 10:35 AM
do you need the dosh to actually buy one before you are allowed, or is there a secret handshake :cool:



A six figure handshake, should get an invite.

Daniel
27th February 2007, 11:29 AM
What about the front diff input splines?
Have they fixed that one?
Or like the present RR's, is it a matter of carrying a spare front diff in your lugggage compartment?

Quiggers
27th February 2007, 11:57 AM
Quote: does anybody else think that hotel pillows are really really s*#t!?

Yes sniegy - a quick funny story:

We were staying in a flash boutique hotel in Washington DC - the missus said as much and rang room service to get a few more.

The concierge himself, arrived with a dozen pillows! and a dark scowl.

"This enough for you ma'am?" he said.

Bit of 'black humour' there..........

Weird place - we were they only whities in a flash black establishment hotel - was a bit like one of those black US sitcoms......

I'll have a D3V8D when you've finished with it - I need it for an extended test so I can write it up in my newspaper.;)

GQ

Pedro_The_Swift
27th February 2007, 07:36 PM
Pedro if u like V8's then the SuperCharged is for you.
The Sport S/C is quick damn quick for a 2tonne + vehicle
Power 287Kw
Torque 550Nm
0-100kph in 7.5sec. from memory +- 0.2:) :)
Handling is Extremely good especially with the dynamic pack & Brembo's. They corner flat & stop on a 20c piece. I did the drive launch at Darlington Park in Queensland 2 years ago, 2 laps around the race track flat out litterally.
The sound of the exhaust is awesome something LR have done brilliantly as with all of there V8's.
Anything elsu u would like to know about.?;)


next weeks lotto numbers?;)

no,, thanks Pete,,:D

have to keep my options open,,:D:D:D:D

drivesafe
27th February 2007, 07:59 PM
What about the front diff input splines?
Have they fixed that one?
Or like the present RR's, is it a matter of carrying a spare front diff in your lugggage compartment?

No thank god, it's a new front diff.

sniegy
27th February 2007, 09:52 PM
No thank god, it's a new front diff.
Daniel, Drivesafe..
Funny u should mention that, I did question that to both the engineers that were there. This problem has been addressed as there is a new design for the front diff assembly. Didnt go much into it but for the 07my it is all new:)

Hope this helps.

UncleHo
27th February 2007, 10:21 PM
G'day Folks :)

There was mention in an overseas mag that there may be a throttle cable/wire problem with thhe TDV8D and they would runaway:confused: are you aware of it.


cheers

Scouse
28th February 2007, 07:37 AM
Daniel, Drivesafe..
Funny u should mention that, I did question that to both the engineers that were there. This problem has been addressed as there is a new design for the front diff assembly. Didnt go much into it but for the 07my it is all new:)

Hope this helps.I've just checked on the new repair times disc for the 07 RR. It shows the front diff pinion now having a flange.

spudboy
28th February 2007, 08:06 AM
I wonder if that will be a retro-fit to 03-06 RRs when their diffs go, or it is a whole new design. Be nice it it was a generic fix for all of them.

Scouse
28th February 2007, 08:08 AM
I wonder if that will be a retro-fit to 03-06 RRs when their diffs go, or it is a whole new design. Be nice it it was a generic fix for all of them.I doubt it would be a retro fit. It's a whole new underside apparently & similar to the D3 & Sport.
There has been a replacement propshaft developed in the US(?) though that looks the goods.