Hi,
I have an MY10 3.0L and a MY13 SDV6 SE. Almost the same performance numbers but the MY13 feels quicker and more powerful, which I'm associating with the gearing. It's definitely noticeably smoother.
What I was going to say though is, I don't like the MY13 at very low speeds and taking off from zero at all. The older D4 generally takes off in second and I'm surmising the new one does too. But I'd wager that second in the new one is lower than the old (due to having two more cogs).
The end result is a very harsh off idle experience, which can be quite a handful. I'm guessing the lower gearing allows the engine to spool up faster. But it's not like a super performance car that has a direct link from acceleration to the position of the accelerator pedal. This is a slight lag and then Holy Crap .... If you accelerate really slowly it's fine, but pulling out into traffic is not such a good experience.
The older D4s have been criticised for 'thinking' about what to do when idling up to a roundabout for instance and the driver then gives it a Welly full. Result being a horrible lag and then push back in the seat as it spools up. I find the MY13 worse than my old one in this regard. The lag is slightly less but the 'hit' feels a lot harder when it comes. Once rolling above 20 or 30KPH ... from that point on, it is absolutely awesome ....
I'm hoping it will settle down, as the car has only done 2K and I vaguely remember the LR Service Rep in the Valley mentioning something about re-doing software if I have an issue with something. It was a rushed conversation so I didn't take it all in ... but I'm now thinking that this is what he was referring to.
Anyway, I'll give it a few more Ks to settle down and then if it hasn't, I'll take it in for once over.
Cheers,
Kev.

