After the purchase of my SC RRS at the start of January a surprise work contract has presented itself to me. Basically, instead of doing my normal 24000mls per year, this contract will mean that i'll be doing more like 30-40k/year - making the SC's 15mpg an unrealistic vehicle to use for the travelling.

The main reason that stopped me buying the TDV6 in the 1st place was LR's published performance data - i.e. 12 seconds 0-60time.

Coming from an M3 (5.5sec 0-60) to something like that, I imagined would be a nightmare.

So, my question to you all is this... With or without the chip/reprogram how do you cope with what appears to be such a sluggish car and with the chip how does this affect the 12 seconds time?

Any comments from either side of the fence would be appreciated as this contract is likely to start fairly quickly so i'll need to act fast whichever way.

My other alternative is to go for an LPG converstion at £2400+VAT and save at least 50% on my current fuel bill. Which should pay for itself in about 6-8months time.

Thanks in advance!

iCE.

Well if an LPG conversion saves money that quick, then that seems the route to take and have the best of both worlds. If the LPG convesion is done properly, I'm sure it would make it sell easily on the private markget.

As a diesel driver, I would say you soon get used to the performance and the car doesn't feel slow to drive now (had it 7 months). In fact, it feels pretty lively at times. The only times the performance is an issue is overtaking when you really shouldn't be! Generally, I would say that I still feel as if I'm in a car that is faster than the majority of other drivers.
Taking the TC upgrade, I'm sure they diesel is fantastic, but for now I don't think I need to spend the money on making it any better. I too come from a history of fast cars and I thought that that the diesel performance was going to be an issue, but it isn't after about two months of ownership - you get used to it and the engine improves massively as it beds in. Matt
-------------------------------------------
RRS ownership for 1 yr, then D3 for 2 yrs. Then cut back to old bangers and working my way back up through two Peugeots in 6 months. Now got Saab 9-5 2.3t and enjoying the performance!

The only thing that is SUPERCHARGED is my Wallet I rarely get to use the performance thats on tap and just find myself pottering around town. I reaaly should be driving a Diesel but I'm a sucker for the big V8  
" WITH MORE EXTRAS THAN A HOLLYWOOD EPIC "

Iceman, I too came from an M3 to a diesel RRS. I too thought "holy crap! 12 seconds???" but there's two things I'd say. 1) I've never timed it, but I really don't think it takes 12 secs to get to 60 - maybe nearer 10 secs. OK, this is still twice the time for the M3, but because of the type of car this is it doesn't seem quite so slow. 2) If you want to drive it quickly you can - in Sport mode using CommandShift it's quite easy to ride the torque "wave" and make good progress. 3) My driving style has actually changed to accommodate for the different style of car. This a good thing when I'm transporting the wife and sprog about and also keeps my already smitten license from being endorsed any further than it is.

So in summary - it's not as bad as all that. To be honest with you, in comparison with the M3, even the SC isn't comparable in performance - you'll only get that straight line buzz in a 4x4 from a Cayenne Turbo and thats going to cost you 70k+ (and is ugly as sin)....

Get the diesel. The fuel bills are less scary, the performance isn't all that bad plus you get to keep all the RRS bells and whistles that you're already used to. 

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Agree with all the above, but the question i would ask is, would you really be saving that much swapping into a diesel?
I get 20.8 mpg around town and to and fro from work, and achieve realistically 27mpg on the motorway. How much can an SC achieve on the motorway? i know a figure of between 12-15mpg is realistic around town, but how much more can it do on longer steadier runs?

I agree with all the comments above. The RRS is a strange animal and certainly seems better than it's LR figures. 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
2009 Alaska TDV8 - Gone and much missed.



WINNER - 2009 �Idler Of The Year� Award
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kam100 wrote:

Agree with all the above, but the question i would ask is, would you really be saving that much swapping into a diesel?
I get 20.8 mpg around town and to and fro from work, and achieve realistically 27mpg on the motorway. How much can an SC achieve on the motorway? i know a figure of between 12-15mpg is realistic around town, but how much more can it do on longer steadier runs?

I expect an SC owner would be lucky/glad to get 20mpg out of it, even on longer runs... which it looks like Iceman will be doing. 

2009 Outstanding Contribution Award - Joint Runner Up
2009 'Tech-Head Of The Year' Award - Runner Up

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I've had my TDV6 chipped and I now suspect it is damn near as quick as the non-S/C V8. The torque is tremendous.
The big hit on the preformance in standard spec. is getting it off the line due to the turbo lag, but once rolling, it's no slouch.

Paul RRS TDV8 - Stornoway Grey, Irory Leather with Dark Zebrano, Privacy Glass, Tow Pack.
1967 Cobra 427 S/C
1951 Vincent Comet
2001 Harley Davidson Fat Boy

Iceman wrote:

The main reason that stopped me buying the TDV6 in the 1st place was LR's published performance data - i.e. 12 seconds 0-60time.

Coming from an M3 (5.5sec 0-60) to something like that, I imagined would be a nightmare.

So, my question to you all is this... With or without the chip/reprogram how do you cope with what appears to be such a sluggish car and with the chip how does this affect the 12 seconds time?

Any comments from either side of the fence would be appreciated as this contract is likely to start fairly quickly so i'll need to act fast whichever way.


iCE.

I currently drive a TDV6 D3 (RRS on order) and i have covered 11k. Personly i think it goes like stink, once your on the move it can catch you out with its low rev pick up. I used to drive a 4.2 V8 classic RR and it,s as quick as that. I also average 24mpg driving like i would a quick car. You wont be dissaponted and you've always got the chip option if you are. Plus your less likely to come out one morning and find Greenpeace handcuffed to your grill.

I stepped out of an S4 into my D3 HSE. First week was a little odd however I am now more than happy with the performance - it has run in nicely and pulls in gear like a steam train. It certainly aint no M3 / S4 off the line but in gear and moving it shifts quite nicely......

It could easily cope with another 50 / 60bhp - i think we all know where you could get that sorted!!

I haven't had mine done but those that have will tell you that it really does shift. Stories have been quoted that the chipped car will keep up quite nicely with the 4.4V8 off the line and then go on to trounce it through the gears once up and running - the increase in torque makes a hell of a difference.........and it will still turn you over 24 to the gallon into the deal Currently: Carbon Black 535d
RIP: RRSTDV6 HSE & DISCO3 HSE

ST wrote:

I stepped out of an S4 into my D3 HSE. First week was a little odd however I am now more than happy with the performance - it has run in nicely and pulls in gear like a steam train. It certainly aint no M3 / S4 off the line but in gear and moving it shifts quite nicely......

It could easily cope with another 50 / 60bhp - i think we all know where you could get that sorted!!

I haven't had mine done but those that have will tell you that it really does shift. Stories have been quoted that the chipped car will keep up quite nicely with the 4.4V8 off the line and then go on to trounce it through the gears once up and running - the increase in torque makes a hell of a difference.........and it will still turn you over 24 to the gallon into the deal

24mpg...you must be kidding...I do a 30mile commute into London each day on the M4 to Hammersmith...make around 29mpg  HSE TD6 (Java Black/Ivory)
911GT3 (Guards Red, carbon interior)
ElanSE (BRG)
Panamera Turbo S
Boxster S

Thanks for all your replies! It certainly looks as though the diesel is the way to go if this contract does come off.

Just have to weigh up how much i'd loose on a 1.5month old, 2k/mls £58k car against how much i'll save by changing to the diesel machine.

Guy Salmon, who I bought it, off have offered me a whopping £50k for the car as a px against a TDV6!!! So unless I do a private sale it'll be a no go situation or a LPG conversion.

Any more comments would be appreciated in the mean time!

Quote:

Plus your less likely to come out one morning and find Greenpeace handcuffed to your grill.

I bought my D3 HSE from Guy Salmon - when I started looking at the RRS they offered me a pants figure for PX.
Stratstone - Doncaster offered significantly more........it pays to shop around I think. Currently: Carbon Black 535d
RIP: RRSTDV6 HSE & DISCO3 HSE

I would have thought the price hit - £50k offer - will be one issue that might swing the conversion into favour but, you are also likely to loose much more in the long term on the SC, particularly when/if the TDV8 goes into the RRS.

RRS prices are beginning to soften slightly already and if it were my money I would let the SC go and get the TDV6 which will almost certainly loose you less than even a gas bodged SC.

As for performance, chipping makes a big difference and it does seem to bring the TDV6 close to if not better in the mid range than the 4.4. Our TDV6 will certainly out drag a V8 D3 from 0- disappeared over the horizon.

We also have a DB9 which gets driven not polished and our RRS doesn’t feel ridiculously slow even by comparison with that – just higher. Also we were recently lent an SC by our dealer for 3 days while a trim issue was sorted on our car. Apart from the sound track, which is much better of course than the diesel, neither I nor anyone else who had a go in the SC thought it was worth the price difference and during that 3 days, driving as I usually do, I got 9mpg rather than 23mpg from my car. 11 XFR

08 RRS TDV8 HSE with the good bits taken off the first RRS

05 RR Sport TDV6 HSE Rimini Red (Rimini Brown at events), Stormer wheels (original 19's for events), PTI, towpack. TV tuner (now driven by an employee)

1923 Ford Model T (serious ground clearance)


FFRR TDV8 Vogue my07 (wife won't let me use it in case I go to Salisbury with VA in it)

plus some other bits n' pieces