SDV6 Lag on take-off

[ocelot]

Hi all,


Apologies if this is covered elsewhere, but I'm confused whether the posts I've seen refer to pre-2012 Discover 4 vehicles.


I've just joined the group because I am on the verge of buying a new SDV6 Discovery 4 but there appears to be one fatal flaw - the distinct lack of action when I attempt to move off from a standing start. The idea of trying to nip into gaps in Sydney traffic with this lag gives me cold sweats.


I have test driven a new TDV6 and done 2 drives on a new SDV6 - the second time specifically to see if I could avoid the lag on starting, but no joy.


Looking at the various posts here and elsewhere and asking sales people who seem to think either the lag doesn't exist or is standard for a turbo diesel, I am getting conflicting opinions and now totally confused.


I have seen posts that suggest the problem can be reduced or eliminated by disabling MAP and/or MAF sensors, updating firmware or "remapping". I have had a suggestion that driving more aggressively through the gears using the flappy paddles will get the smart electronics to wake up and tune themselves to a smarter take-off and seen a few other suggestions, but I haven't been able to get a clear picture of if there is anything I can confidently do to get around this.


Can anyone offer some good advice on whether this lag is avoidable on a new vehicle or not, or should I just give up and stick with my petrol Prado, which is a joy to drive in heavy traffic.


Any advice much appreciated,


Bob

[ScottD4]

Hi all,


Apologies if this is covered elsewhere, but I'm confused whether the posts I've seen refer to pre-2012 Discover 4 vehicles.


I've just joined the group because I am on the verge of buying a new SDV6 Discovery 4 but there appears to be one fatal flaw - the distinct lack of action when I attempt to move off from a standing start. The idea of trying to nip into gaps in Sydney traffic with this lag gives me cold sweats.


I have test driven a new TDV6 and done 2 drives on a new SDV6 - the second time specifically to see if I could avoid the lag on starting, but no joy.


Looking at the various posts here and elsewhere and asking sales people who seem to think either the lag doesn't exist or is standard for a turbo diesel, I am getting conflicting opinions and now totally confused.


I have seen posts that suggest the problem can be reduced or eliminated by disabling MAP and/or MAF sensors, updating firmware or "remapping". I have had a suggestion that driving more aggressively through the gears using the flappy paddles will get the smart electronics to wake up and tune themselves to a smarter take-off and seen a few other suggestions, but I haven't been able to get a clear picture of if there is anything I can confidently do to get around this.


Can anyone offer some good advice on whether this lag is avoidable on a new vehicle or not, or should I just give up and stick with my petrol Prado, which is a joy to drive in heavy traffic.


Any advice much appreciated,


Bob

Bob,

You are not going to be able to 'nip into gaps in Sydney traffic'. It's a 2.5T 4WD, not a Lamborghini.

I have a '14 TDV6 and have taken it into Sydney for the commute a couple of times. I haven't found a problem, but perhaps I'm not as aggressive as you though.

. I LOVE my slow Disco.

[l00kin4]

Hi Bob,

Sorry I don't have a solution for you but I can confirm that I have the same issue. I've been persevering with it thinking it may be a matter of driving style and it is my first turbo diesel vehicle so I've been adjusting to the different characteristics.

The darting in Sydney traffic is definitely unnerving - I just don't even bother trying now.

I hope that someone here has some sort of solution.

David

[AnD3rew]

Yes this has been discussed many times over all the diesel engine variants. The easiest solution is to buy a V8

However a few things.
1. The transmission "learns" how you drive and adjusts a bit, but won't make it completely go away.
2. The driver learns
- how much gap you need
- how much throttle gives the best results, I find about half throttle until it starts to move and then a steady push to full throttle.
3. Sport mode improves it a bit don't know how easy it is to do In the new cars, but in my D3 you just knock the lever over into sport with the back of your hand everytime you need to take off, it is now instinctual for me.

But you do just get used to it, I drive in Sydney traffic with mine everyday for the last 6 years and no problems once you know the car and how it responds, once it does get moving, it is amazingly nippy for a huge brick shaped beast.

[Epic pooh]

Yeah, I have no fear of darting in Sydney traffic

Seriously, maybe take a petrol one for a spin (new scV6 ?).

It's very very sad they don't sell V8 D4s anymore. I've got a good mate with a 4.0 Prado, it has good get up and go ... Almost as good as mine

[RHS58]

I've found that planting the loud pedal really exacerbates the lag issue.
Better to spend a second or two gently pushing the accelerator down and the lag is much less of a problem.
14 months in to D4 ownership and I've adjusted to driving it.
Coming from a Prado diesel where planting the right foot caused a gentle forward progression compared with the D4.

Nowadays I find myself cruising around at quite leisurely paces enjoying the drive, the scenery, the fine sound of the entertainment system. Must be getting old. Certainly no longer in a hurry.

[discotwinturbo]

Drive in sport.

At 500 milliseconds for boost to come on, it's better than all turbo diesels I have driven.

Drive is for normal...Sport is for rapid response.

I have no issue in Sport at all. The boost is almost instant.

Brett....

[mhewitt]

Hi all,
The idea of trying to nip into gaps in Sydney traffic with this lag gives me cold sweats.

Mount a bullbar. They'll stop.

[NavyDiver]

Mount a bullbar. They'll stop.

Or they will help you hit them when you are changing lane to allow you to pay for the damage you do? My brother inlaw got his whole UTE resprayed by contributions by aggressive lane shifters or red light runners. It looked great and he did not pay a cent

Re lag- D3 has some but I find kicking the throttle a few seconds early to get the turbo spinning works But it is not like my former motor bike for zipping around at 3.2 tonnes I am not surprised .

[BobD]

There is enormous lag when the car is cold, but it almost disappears once the engine warms up. If you haven't had a long drive you may not have warmed the engine up enough, although the lag disappears pretty quickly so that would be unlikely.


As others have said, once warmed up the lag is much less than any other turbo diesel I have had (I have had three others) and it is the most petrol like diesel engine both in feel and sound that I have ever driven or been a passenger in.