Thread: 'sigh' underwhelmed by MY12 TDV8

Have to agree with a few points; the colour offered today by most manufacturers is sad.

I’ve driven many 02-05, a few 06-08 and a demo12. IMO the best ride is the pre 06, before they changed the front geometry, tho they do have significantly more body roll.

Friends have a 2007 3.6 TDV8 (reflashed to 820nm), it handles/corners much better than my 04 and with 820nm from 1800 it pulls like a train, it actually goes as well as the (standard) V10TDi Toureg . However for long distance cruising on our poor highways once you get away from the major cities it is boarding on annoyingly firm. This is where you notice a huge difference between the 04 and 07. He has 20 inch wheels and road noise is far higher than my 18s.

Unfortunately I’ve only driven the MY12 around town for 30mins or so, and it was very new with very new tyres (combined with good city streets) so at the time I was actually impressed with road noise. Cracker engine but pound for pound compared to the 3.6 IMO it’s not as good – it has more down low but given the size difference I expected better – it’s no where near as good as the 5.0V10 VW engine which is now quite old (actually discontinued) or the 4.2V8 found in the Q7. The 8 speeder is where it shines, the extra ratios enable TC and clutch tightening which should give significantly better fuel consumption than the 3.6 & 6 speed.

I would agree with the ride assessment. The newer cars are definitely targeted to compete with Q7, ML ect and they have firmed them up to get more of a car handling feel to them. Where as your old LSE was more like a luxury yacht.

As for the dealers, I don’t know how they are selling anything. LRA have retracted the network, many parts of the country that had dealers now don’t, while the likes of VW are expanding, which means you can get parts & servicing for your VW, Audi, Skoda even Bentley virtually anywhere. And the attitude is mind blowing (at least here in BNE). Unless you arrive in something EU and are wearing something EU, there’s a chance you won’t even get served. I personally know two Blokes that went into LR to be told they “can’t afford a Disco” – true! These were both cash buyers that travelled to BNE from the country for the sole purpose of buying a D4, and went home with a Pajero Exceed (which he hates) and the other a 200 series.

The 405, with 420-450Kg cut, it will be interesting to see how it behaves, weight distribution will be vastly different.



Personally I’m happy with my reflashed TD6, given the usage it sees I’ll have it for quite a while. If I used it for daily driver in the city I would want the 07, but we have another weapon for that purpose.

Originally Posted by harlie

As for the dealers, I don’t know how they are selling anything. LRA have retracted the network, many parts of the country that had dealers now don’t, while the likes of VW are expanding, which means you can get parts & servicing for your VW, Audi, Skoda even Bentley virtually anywhere. And the attitude is mind blowing (at least here in BNE). Unless you arrive in something EU and are wearing something EU, there’s a chance you won’t even get served. I personally know two Blokes that went into LR to be told they “can’t afford a Disco” – true!

VW service isnt all it should be by any means but at least they try and sell you a vehicle

as for the bne dealers, i have heard so many stories like the above it leaves me astounded. they obviously have a plan but the logic behind that sort of behavior escapes me....

Originally Posted by harlie

and went home with a Pajero Exceed (which he hates)

Fair dinkum! If he came with the intention of buying a Disco and ended up with a Pajero, then I'd suggest that the LR salesman was probably right. In a former life, when I needed a work hack that I wouldn't care too much about if I destroyed it, I purchased an NP Pajero and regretted it almost immediately. My next car was a Disco and I've never looked back.

Having said that, I went to the Perth caravan and camping show when I was looking for the vehicle to replace the Pajero and the staff manning the Land Rover stand were appalling. I wasn't dressed to the nines I suppose. They were very lucky that I was so interested in the Disco that I went to see them at the dealership the next day. I wasn't going to but SWMBO talked me into it.

Cheers

Russ

Originally Posted by away

Fair dinkum! If he came with the intention of buying a Disco and ended up with a Pajero, then I'd suggest that the LR salesman was probably right. ......

Oh-my how forum opinions are experts - yeah thats it, he didn't get one so he can't affort it. He IS a very wealthy guy, the Pajero has since gone, replaced with a $140k Toureg V10Tdi. He definitely CAN afford a Disco and CAN afford to bash it about, I sail with him regularly on his mil$+ 48' catamaran, sit on the deck of his multi mil$ home looking out over the ocean, I can only aspire to be that comfortable in retirement - he isn’t short of coin, he is short of patience.

The Paj was bought because he came down by plane with the purpose of buying a car – his early L322 was already sold. After the LR salesman didn't even let him in the door, he walked down the road and the Mitsubishi Dealer at Newstead actually talked to him, his wife liked it, he signed. They stayed with us for two nights while the dealer did what they do and then drove it home. Within 4 months, His local VW dealer bent over backwards to get him a Treg, and needless to say, that after a history of LR/RR ownership he will never be back.

Originally Posted by incisor

VW service isnt all it should be by any means but at least they try and sell you a vehicle

Totally agree, our runaround car is VW, service is actually the same as LR, it's the same people rotating through the reception centres because it’s the same company that has the dealers in BNE. However – with VW we have a choice, there is more than one dealer for all of BNE and there are dealers spread throughout regional areas, not happy with one go to another, I can get parts easily in regional areas. With LR you can’t, the next dealer is a very long way away (that’s why the person mentioned above had to fly to BNE to buy a LR). And if you do a lot of DIY, there are parts available from these dealers.

I went into the dealer in bne to see if they had any L322 trade ins in the pipe line to save me going to sydney, when he realised i wasnt buying a new one you could see him switch off. couldnt get me out the door fast enough..tosser

neil

interesting replies, seems LR have a job to do in regards to sales service.
We drove a MY12 diesel Cayenne on Thursday, very impressed. On steel springs & 21" alloys it rides better, goes faster!. Very different but I could live with it.
Also being able to use 18" opens up a lot of options for snow tyres and dirt driving [we are not serious off roaders.]
Just a bit smaller, so we have to decide if thats going to be OK, but coming from the MY03 X5 it's pretty close.
So, waiting to see the Grey/sand RR TDV8 to see if the nicer interior can sway us back.
Off to drive a Cayenne S with air suspension........

Its amazing that a salesman of a prestige mark can "talk" a customer out of a purchase.
Passion is what is missing with many sales people when it comes to cars.
Its just a job, be it a lucrative one for some with out much effort so it seems.
LR does it`s self a disservice by not standing by good used vehicles as Toyota do. Sending good RR or LR`s to the auction undermines resale values.

I'm sure the L405 will be improved in all measurable ways. The L322 is rather long in the tooth now and NVH levels have moved on.

I have a 25 year old W126 420SEL Merc with just 75,000 km on the clock and it amazes me how agricultural it feels today for a car that was considered at the time the best sedan in the world.

I like to look of the new L405, but I think the interior is not special enough. Sort of like a derivative of an Evoque's.