Just had my two months old MY09 RRS TDV6 soft close fixed under warranty by Guy Salmon in Portsmouth. I was without the car for four days (including a weekend) and was provided with a FFRR Vogue 08 plate with 6K miles on the clock. Black in colour with a sort of mid grey piped leather.

It provided an interesting comparison.

The FFRR is bigger on the outside and on the inside. In fact maybe too much space in the front on the inside. Getting back into the TDV6 HSE felt a little snug this morning.

I thought the FFRR interior was a little dated looking and the switches were low down and too far away.

I loved the heated steering wheel and the reversing camera. The optional electric side steps were ‘bling’ of the highest order and made all my mates jealous. I loved the reversing camera and the extended touch screen stuff (including radio and CD features). I couldn’t figure out timer device to preheat the car before you get into it in the morning – but that’s a great feature.

The FFRR looks a little staid and ‘old man’ on the outside – maybe lacks the sex appeal of the RRS.
The FFRR had a TDV8 engine, which is noticeably more willing than my TDV6, but both appear as smooth as each other. On the downside, I averaged 23.1 mpg over nearly 300 miles in the FFRR whereas I get 29.3 mpg out of my RRS. That’s quite significant (more than 20% less in the FFRR) ... although, maybe in the context of all of the other costs is not as significant.

In general, the suspension and tyres of the 19” alloyed FFRR gave a smoother ride than my TDV6 HSE (I have stock 19” alloys). Maybe that’s something to do with the longer wheelbase?

I felt a bit ‘posher’ in the FFRR.

My assessment is that I would seriously consider a FFRR next time ‘round - if JLR is still in business at that point (3 – 4 years time). Although, if the rumoured 3.0 litre diesel lump ever appears in the RRS – and if it has more grunt AND better consumption, then that might be worth considering.

Then again, the current FFRR is a 2002 design, so maybe the next update (whenever or if ever that is) would be get rid of some of the dated and old man elements. I've been mad for flipping years, absolutely years, over the edge for yonks.

Felt just the same after the LR TDV8 track day

But i still would have the RRS over a FFRR like you say a bit to much space in the FFRR for me  RRS TDV6 Gone but still around
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mercuryl wrote:

I loved the heated steering wheel and the reversing camera.

Heated steering wheel is shown as a standalone, "Late Availability" option on MY09 RRS sold here in North America (it must be ordered with Cold Climate Package), so it appears Land Rover is going to address that request soon. Still no reversing camera, though. 

I had a FFRR before this RRS and the last RRS! My impression of the TD6 version that I ran for 3 years was that it might have been a BMW engine but it wasn't one of their finest, rattlely and noisey when cold. I loved the interior even though mine was the lowly SE version (I saved for 28 years to be buy a Range Rover, any Range Rover and that was all I could afford) but it still felt very special inside even without the mock tudor wood which was very nice but not even an option on the SE. I drive 99% of the time by myself but when I carried passengers in the back there was always two comments they made - how difficult it was to get in the back seat for such a huge car and how did I stop myself from falling asleep at the wheel as it was as comfortable as a luxury bed! I would have another any day and don't think there is a "stigma" about it being an old man's car (just shut up VA and ST, you'll soon get to 50 too) it's a waftmobile and not intended to ahve any sporty pretentions.
I love my RRS's, I have a TDv8 now but had a Tdv6 from launch day until Oct 07. The TDv6 was an SE on 18" wheels and the ride comfort was as good as the FFRR on it's 18's but compared to the FFRR the RRS banged and crashed into potholes, the FFRR just passed over them without even a shimmy of the steering wheel. The TDv8 set-up is much harder than I have had on any Land Rover except my Defender, it isn't uncomfortable but not as nice as the FFRR. I haven't yet driven a FF with the Dynamic Responce that my TDV8 has so maybe the two cars are similarly set-up, I don't know. I still don't feel as completely at ease with the world and laid back driving the RRS over long drives as I did in the FFR but the extra poke of the TDv8 in the RRS is really useful whereas the 100litre fuel tank menat I could drive the legth of the UK in a oneer without having to stop for fuel, only for my comfort.
I hate the roller blind parcel shelf in my RRS and much preferred the solid multileafed system the FF had. The split tailgate of the FF didin't both me except that being of average height it was difficult to reach stuff that had rolled to the front of the boot with the lower section of the tailgate down and often I ended up climbing up on it to recover things. The carrying capacity of the FF leaves the RRS in the shade and must nearly be the same as a D3's.
The cars are not really comparable and while I would be happy to have a 3rd RRS after this one I would seriously look into a TDv8 FFRR even though it is way bigger than my needs. What really used to amuse me was the look on people's faces when I took my FFRR offroading, they just couldn't believe what it could do, and mine was a prefacelift one without TR. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
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Some silly poll was done and basically the ladies would rather drive a RRS, but would like to know a man who drove the FFRR

Even with it's issues the RRS is STILL a good car, but for sheer opulence and presence it has to be the FFRR - it wipes the floor clean in comparison to anything else LR produce and also the competition.  L322 Big Daddy SUPERCHARGED 5.0 Autobiography - Here & Now!

5 series for the miles

RRS S/C factory built HST - Gone

45 others have been and gone!

Does the FFRR have dynamic response and does it suffer from the 'knocking'??

Don't think it does (but i could be wrong).......the 2 I have driven have been as quiet as a mouse........even on my driveway of destruction  L322 Big Daddy SUPERCHARGED 5.0 Autobiography - Here & Now!

5 series for the miles

RRS S/C factory built HST - Gone

45 others have been and gone!

2nd Rower wrote:

Does the FFRR have dynamic response and does it suffer from the 'knocking'??

Leo wrote:

2nd Rower wrote:

Does the FFRR have dynamic response and does it suffer from the 'knocking'??

The new ones do, but I haven't heard of any suffering from the 'knocking'.

Huh. AFAIK, Dynamic Response is still N/A on the FFRR, regardless of trim. Terrain Response is (since MY07, I think), but that's a whole different animal. 

Second version of the DR will appear for the first time on the next generation of the FFRR in 2010/12 ish. TDV6 - gone
TDV8 - gone
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The FFRR is not designed to be a Dynamic Response type of vehicle, it could certainly be improved with it that's for sure, but those of us who have one like the way it drives.

It's a stable cruiser, smooth, refined and luxurious and needs no introductions. Everyone knows what a Range Rover is about, it carries a reputation and persona no other car can match. It draws respect and dignity (as long as it's not blinged up and looks stupid)

Even though mine has the TD6 engine, I'd not swap it for a RRS now, I love it, and I quite often have 5 people in it, everyone gets a full size comfortable seat in the back, unlike the Sport which drew moans and complaints.

There was a classic Land Rover advert in the 1980's which still rings true today. It showed a picture of a Range Rover outside a country house in the deep snow, with the strap-line,

"It not only says you've arrived, it also says you'll get home"


Precisely!  L319 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB

There is something new about the suspension in the newer FFRRs though, isn't there?

I was in a TDV8 FFRR for the last LRE I went on, which was one of the new-fangled sales exercises with both on and off-road driving... and I thought the guy was explaining that the newest FFRRs now had a similar system to DR. He was demonstrating it by throwing it into a roundabout and booting it out the exit and the car remained much flatter than a FFRR might normally.

 

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Well done RRUK - great post. Sums it up very well. I've been mad for flipping years, absolutely years, over the edge for yonks.

I thought it had DR Shmoogle Porsche Cayenne S Diesel 66 Plate