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Thread: My New L405 Autobiography

  1. #11
    Join Date
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    I too often wonder what an L322 would feel like on the same roads. I've heard from some that the L405 is way ahead in every respect, but then again I'd like to try for myself to see if I agree.

    Black certainly won't be easy to keep clean, nor will my light coloured leather but I just love how it looks when clean. My last three cars have been white so I guess it's time I do some work keeping my car looking shiny

    I'm looking forward to putting more Kay's on the car and the next few months and years hopefullyn

  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jkay View Post
    Hello All

    New member here from Sydney. Recently picked up a brand new L405 Autobiography and thought I'd just share some of my thoughts on the car.

    Any other L405 owners here?

    Car had around 40 miles/60km on the clock when I picked her up. Will be interesting to see if and how the engine loosens up and feels different after a few thousand

    Like DrFox1969, I Had it coated with Opticoat Pro as well and am happy so far with he results. I only wash it myself.

    Seats - Still the most comfortable I've ever experienced in any of my cars. Winged headrests are a nice touch and a must in my opinion. So much so I find myself getting sleepy on the motorway. I haven't really used the massage seats much

    Heated/Cooled Seats: Heated what? In the pleasant 23-28 degree weather these aren't required. I do however on occasion need the cooled seats which could do with being a tad cooler I think on the odd day it gets above 35 degrees.

    Engine - I must admit I find it a bit noisy at idle and at low revs. However once she's up to speed I can't hear anything, and I didn't buy the car to be sat around idling the engine The mountain of torque makes it very relaxing to drive, especially when I want to push on a bit. There is some lag present, which again isn't ideal I must say, but its only momentary before the mountain of torque comes kicking in! I really really want to test drive a 5.0 Supercharged, but am not sure if thats a good idea!

    Fuel Consumption - I averaged a true 8.55 L/100km or 33 MPG (UK) the other day between fills, measured at the pump. When pushing on today that dropped to 25 but this figure was just off the trip. Not bad for a car this size and weight. I used to average 12MPG in my V8 M3.

    Infotainment/SatNav - I hate the interface. I find the system slow and hard to use, and my 2006 E46 BMW Convertible I just sold put the LR system, to shame in this respect. However once the destination is in, directions are good and easy to follow. Its just getting the damn destinations in which take some ages in this car.

    Blind Spot Assist and Lane Departure warning - Blind spot assist is really handy, but the way I position my wing mirrors means I don't have a blind spot anyway, but every other person I know doesn't do this so I can see how this option will benefit many.

    Surround Cameras - Handy, but don't like the way the interface works. Id like to click on a camera and have it enlarge automatically. Not have to click on it, then find the enlarge button just to make it bigger.

    Park Assist - Never use it, but tested it twice. First time it worked like a dream, second time I think my alloys may have suffered had it not been for some intervention by yours truly.

    Adaptive Cruise - It gets confused and its brain sometimes, so best suited to the motorway or motorway type roads only. On these roads it works great! Also a must have in my opinion

    General Ride/Handling - Rides and handles like a dream in my opinion. Glides and wafts along. The L405 hides its hefty weight pretty well in my opinion. When pushing on through the twisties, it doesn't rock side to side anywhere near as much as I expect a car of this weight and size to. You still know you're in a heavy car tho.

    Rear Seat Entertainment - Keeps my 6 year old daughter very happy. We don't like taking the iPads out with us and this keeps her (and an occasional friend) quiet and occupied, just the way I like it sometimes.

    Side Steps - Had Fixed side steps fitted. These in my opinion finish the car off in the looks dept, and allows me to actually step in and out, as opposed to sliding in and off the seat, hopefully doing my leather some favours in the process. Daughter and Missus make use of them all the time as well.

    825W Meridian Sound System - All this man could ever want. No complaints. Tested a 1700W system and although great, would be wasted on me

    Bottom line is I'm happy wth the waft/glide along, torquey, luxurious feeling, plus love the road presence this car has. Ive never driven anything else from the Land Rover stable so can't really compare it to an L322.

    Heres hoping for relative trouble free motoring ahead (famous last words)

    Now for some pictures








    Great update JKay, she is still looking fantastic. I especially like the shot up on the coast.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Geelong Vic
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    Hi JK, good to hear from another L405 owner.
    Mine is a white TDV6 Vogue, which I have had for 9 months and 11k so far.
    Re the seats, it is all a matter of where you, are my heated seats and steering wheel are brilliant at the snow.
    The engine in mine is the June 15 update 199Kw I think, disappointed they don't fit the 225kw to this car, but I guess they wouldn't sell a lot of V8's if they did that. Apart from the cost saving I went for the TDV6 on the basis that I hope to be able to fit 18"wheels for more reliable outback travel. Hopefully Gordon at GOE will be able to come up with the mods needed for this car and the L494.
    I am really happy with the performance of this engine, easily tows 1.6 tonne van with good overtaking ability. Economy on trips to Mt Buller between 7.2 and 7.5 L/100k dependent on load in car, and observance of speed limits !
    Of course the most outstanding feature of this car is the ride, it is really a significant step up from the L322, I had my L322 for 11 years and major outback trips with it included Ghan track to Alice springs, Gulf road, Cobourg Peninsula, cape York and Kimberley, and we were very happy with the ride. Particularly when compared with my earlier D1. However after just from a few trips on local unsealed roads, I am sure the L405 is significantly better, love the "wafty" ride. Some may think it a little too wafty for European autobahns etc, however we dont have many roads of that standard in Oz,particularly Vic which I think has the lowest roadbuilding standards here. To my mind the RR ride much better suits our conditions here than the BMW etc, particularly if you venture outback.
    So to any L322 owners wondering about the difference, I suggest a test drive, could be expensive though !
    On the negative side the rear seats do not fold up to extend the rear loadspace, the backs simply fold over on top of the seats, a bit of a pain when you want to transport something bulky.
    For the L322 guys I have just listed in marketplace, driveline and suspension sections some spares from my L322, (I had originally planned to keep it for much longer, but obviously no regrets about the changeover).
    Cheers, Peter

  4. #14
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    Aug 2014
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    Peter and all,

    I have a 2014 RRS TDV6, the sort of poverty pack model. I have the stock 19" wheels fitted. I hoped that the GOE 18" compomotive wheels might fit as the brake sizes indicate they might. However I tried some recently and at least on the rear they do not fit. The outer edge of the caliper gently kisses the inner side of the rim. The stock tire size is 235/65R19 which are a slightly taller size than 255/55R19. Only issue is that there is only one available tire in that size, the stock Pirelli. Nothing else. So a potential problem with lack of ready availability of tires. Not the best scenario. Here is hoping that compomotive come up with something that might work.

    Cheers, Simmo

  5. #15
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    Hi Simmo,
    Yes I understood that was the case with the Compomotive rims, hopefully a solution can be found. I opted for the 20" wheels with the new car on the basis that there was little choice in 19" tyres and that the distance between the rim and the road on the standard 255/55/20's is at least as much as on the standard 255/60/18's that were standard on my L322, as we used these tyres for quite a bit of our outback travel without incident. If an 18" compomotive can be found to do the job then I would fit the 265/65/18's which almost exactly match the diameter of the standard 20", so no need to go to anything oversize on the new car as in my view these would give plenty of rubber between rim & road.
    JKay, another thought, you are right about the side steps, definitely a must on this vehicle due to both seat bolsters and height of car (even in low position).
    Cheers
    Peter

  6. #16
    Homestar's Avatar
    Homestar is offline Super Moderator & CA manager Gold Subscriber
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    Quote Originally Posted by Graeme View Post
    Some people think the D4 rides well but 6 months on I'm still being impressed with my L322's ride on what used to be bumpy rural back-roads. I wonder how the latest L405 with 2nd gen CVDs compares with the last of the L322s though.
    Yeah, I can only imagine how good it rides - my Ye olde 03 L322 is a dream to drive on crook roads compared to anything else I've driven, would love to see how much further things have come in the last 13 years.

    Great car.
    If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.

  7. #17
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    I replaced a 2010 D4 after fitting new shocks with an almost new, last of the L322s to get CVDs for a better ride and I haven't been disappointed.
    MY12 RRV 4.4 TDV8 AB, +LLAMS, +e-diff, +ACC stop/go. Produce LLAMS for LR/RR, Jeep GC/Dodge Ram
    VK2HFG and APRS W1 digi

  8. #18
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    Arent they a loverly looking vehicle.
    Andrew
    DISCOVERY IS TO BE DISOWNED
    Midlife Crisis.Im going to get stuck into mine early and ENJOY it.
    Snow White MY14 TDV6 D4
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    2003 Stacer 525 Sea Master Sport
    I made the 1 millionth AULRO post

  9. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by peter g View Post
    Hi JK, good to hear from another L405 owner.
    Mine is a white TDV6 Vogue, which I have had for 9 months and 11k so far.
    Re the seats, it is all a matter of where you, are my heated seats and steering wheel are brilliant at the snow.
    The engine in mine is the June 15 update 199Kw I think, disappointed they don't fit the 225kw to this car, but I guess they wouldn't sell a lot of V8's if they did that. Apart from the cost saving I went for the TDV6 on the basis that I hope to be able to fit 18"wheels for more reliable outback travel. Hopefully Gordon at GOE will be able to come up with the mods needed for this car and the L494.
    I am really happy with the performance of this engine, easily tows 1.6 tonne van with good overtaking ability. Economy on trips to Mt Buller between 7.2 and 7.5 L/100k dependent on load in car, and observance of speed limits !
    Of course the most outstanding feature of this car is the ride, it is really a significant step up from the L322, I had my L322 for 11 years and major outback trips with it included Ghan track to Alice springs, Gulf road, Cobourg Peninsula, cape York and Kimberley, and we were very happy with the ride. Particularly when compared with my earlier D1. However after just from a few trips on local unsealed roads, I am sure the L405 is significantly better, love the "wafty" ride. Some may think it a little too wafty for European autobahns etc, however we dont have many roads of that standard in Oz,particularly Vic which I think has the lowest roadbuilding standards here. To my mind the RR ride much better suits our conditions here than the BMW etc, particularly if you venture outback.
    So to any L322 owners wondering about the difference, I suggest a test drive, could be expensive though !
    On the negative side the rear seats do not fold up to extend the rear loadspace, the backs simply fold over on top of the seats, a bit of a pain when you want to transport something bulky.
    For the L322 guys I have just listed in marketplace, driveline and suspension sections some spares from my L322, (I had originally planned to keep it for much longer, but obviously no regrets about the changeover).
    Cheers, Peter

    I also hear the TDV6 is much more refined than the SDV8, but I've never driven one.
    White was my second choice and had it not been for the fact my last 3/4 cars were white, my Range Rover may have been white too

    Glad you have no regrets moving over to an L405

  10. #20
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    And thanks DrFox1969.

    Hope you're enjoying the new Range Rover Sport and all she has to offer!

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