Ok - so am I putting an order in having experienced the new model......No.

I love my TDV8, the sound, the surge of power, and the fact that I have put a few quid in in terms of ICE and personalisation. However - there's not enough new in this courtesy car to justify coughing up £35k on top of my car to get another. In the car park when waiting to pick it up it was difficult to determine which was a 2010 and which was the 'old' model. There are a few nice tweaks on the new model, rear reversing camera, digital display, nicer leather, key less entry and start but I am really struggling to pick anything out that's key to a buying decision.

The biggest problem for me was that the 3.0 engine had no driver appeal at all. The TDV8 has that energy that you feel when you drive it - the 3.0 just gets you there. Difficult to explain but hopefully I have done it.

I am seriously looking forward to a brand new V8 engine and a complete re-engineering of the RR sport - CHPR or whatever you are called now, stick my name down for the new model when i comes out in a few years.

Hope this helps you guys with a few spare £££ at the moment make your decisions!

Jonathan Hirst

PS - if you like this review then recommendme for the next available slot at TopGear! Jaguar XKR Convertible
MY 2012 Range Rover Sport TDV6 Autobiography in Fujian White....Mmmmmmm
Range Rover Evoque 2.2 Prestige in white - gone
Porsche Boxster S White with lots of extras! Gone
Lotus Elise 2011 Touring for sunny days - gone!

Previously....
RRS TDV8 Black 57 Plate
645ci
Jag XKR Convertible (my wife still loves this car!)
BMW 530i
BMW 328i (I loved this car)
Golf R32

Cheers, Jonathan. My TDV6 3.0 arrives in 10 days.

If it breaks, there's no way I'm going to take a TDV8 as a courtesy car. After reading your post, I'll go hire a Renault Twingo. That way, my TDV6 will still be the mutt's nuts in my opinion.

I do have a hankering after the SC, though.  Every silver lining has a cloud

2007 D3 HSE with winch, RAI, sliders, roof rack, ladder, yellow top, Engel etc for the school run
2010 RRS TDV8 HSE for work

NJF - properly sorry to diappoint - there were some positives....... Jaguar XKR Convertible
MY 2012 Range Rover Sport TDV6 Autobiography in Fujian White....Mmmmmmm
Range Rover Evoque 2.2 Prestige in white - gone
Porsche Boxster S White with lots of extras! Gone
Lotus Elise 2011 Touring for sunny days - gone!

Previously....
RRS TDV8 Black 57 Plate
645ci
Jag XKR Convertible (my wife still loves this car!)
BMW 530i
BMW 328i (I loved this car)
Golf R32

Oh, I know there are positives ... 10 days and counting ...  Every silver lining has a cloud

2007 D3 HSE with winch, RAI, sliders, roof rack, ladder, yellow top, Engel etc for the school run
2010 RRS TDV8 HSE for work