^^^ Yup, a time when we told computers what to do, look at when things failed on Apollo 13 and how they managed to get those guys back to earth.......now it seems the other way around with computers ruling us  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

The decision to have non-fold flat seats probably follows the same marketing logic that gave us the optional off road ability. They've probably carried out focus groups and got the answer "oh, I very seldom use the vehicle as a load carrier" and so decided that fold flat seats aren't worth worrying about. Probably had lots of urban school-run mums in the groups and very few rural / off roading / farming types.

LR are probably looking at the Asian markets too - I bet your typical Chinese buyer won't use his Sport to take things to the tip or to go off road anywhere. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I buy RR´s for 3 main reasons... in no particular order..
(and reliability is noticeably not one of them!! )

1: Prestige Still does it
2: Off road Now optional
3. Practicality Obviously not high on their priority list any more

And ill still buy one because the alternatives aren´t that much better and they are not RR´s 2014.5 SDV6 AB Dynamic ... Fuji /Santorini Pan roof and 22's
2013 Porsche Boxster S 3.4
2014 Audi A3 S line Quattro
---------------------------------

I would have swore that an option was the fold flat rear seats, at £100 but I cannot for the life of me find it!

I'll speak to my dealer as I ordered it originally. MY10 HSE 3.0 TDV6 : Santorini Black : Ebony Interior w/Anigre wood : Privacy Glass (total) : Sunroof : Sidesteps : Hybrid TV : Detachable Tow Kit : Spare Wheel Cover : 22" Dished Supersports

I hope it's just the fact that they were crushed not enough.
Perhaps, with the weight of the load, they become more flat ...

big pimp wrote:

I would have swore that an option was the fold flat rear seats, at £100 but I cannot for the life of me find it!

I'll speak to my dealer as I ordered it originally.

You sure that's not the 'through load' option as that's £100 too  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Ive been playing with a few today again...the inability to not load flat is a big deal day to day, ive used this many times. Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

Yes, I think LR may have underestimated this. The fold-flat function of the current RRS is a big reason I bought the car in the first place. The lack of it detracts dramatically from the usefulness of the new model. It bemuses me as to why it wasn't considered and implemented at least as an option.
The Chinese may not want it. But much of the rest of the world, footballers' wives excepted, would probably find it something of a deal-breaker. Greg Milner
Perth, Western Australia

2010 RRS 3.0. For towing boats and bashing corrugated outback roads.
2007 Audi TT Quattro (wife's shopping cart. Time to go)
2013 Polo GTI (wife's new shopping cart.)
2007 Holden Caprice V8 ('cos it's not worth selling it)

gmilner wrote:

Yes, I think LR may have underestimated this. The fold-flat function of the current RRS is a big reason I bought the car in the first place. The lack of it detracts dramatically from the usefulness of the new model. It bemuses me as to why it wasn't considered and implemented at least as an option.
The Chinese may not want it. But much of the rest of the world, footballers' wives excepted, would probably find it something of a deal-breaker.

 2014.5 SDV6 AB Dynamic ... Fuji /Santorini Pan roof and 22's
2013 Porsche Boxster S 3.4
2014 Audi A3 S line Quattro
---------------------------------

I'm not so sure Greg, I think they'll sell the new RRS as fast as they can build them. There are enough people out there who buy these vehicles for the badge alone and don't really care about anything else. Load lugging, towing capacity, off road ability are all irrelevant to these sort of people.

The Cayenne is evidence that the market cares less about the stuff that matters to some us. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

RRSTDV8 wrote:

I'm not so sure Greg, I think they'll sell the new RRS as fast as they can build them. There are enough people out there who buy these vehicles for the badge alone and don't really care about anything else. Load lugging, towing capacity, off road ability are all irrelevant to these sort of people.

The Cayenne is evidence that the market cares less about the stuff that matters to some us.

Yes but what happens, is a general erosion and increase in the slow slagging off that leads people away.

Also say i dont buy a new sport, ok that's 1 person - no biggie. Say I tell 10 people of the stupid reasons i wont buy one...thats 11 people I probably have better influence over than an advert.

Say i then buy a jeep (and ive looked ) and leave, what are the chances of my return - easier or more difficult than retaining me to begin with?

Its supposed to be an iterative process to success, that builds, develops innovates etc - no point someone buying a sport then selling it a year later because it doesnt do what they expected it to do.

I think now more than ever, people walk and dont come back - brand loyalty is not a garuntee Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

mse wrote:

RRSTDV8 wrote:

I'm not so sure Greg, I think they'll sell the new RRS as fast as they can build them. There are enough people out there who buy these vehicles for the badge alone and don't really care about anything else. Load lugging, towing capacity, off road ability are all irrelevant to these sort of people.

The Cayenne is evidence that the market cares less about the stuff that matters to some us.

Yes but what happens, is a general erosion and increase in the slow slagging off that leads people away.

Also say i dont buy a new sport, ok that's 1 person - no biggie. Say I tell 10 people of the stupid reasons i wont buy one...thats 11 people I probably have better influence over than an advert.

Say i then buy a jeep (and ive looked ) and leave, what are the chances of my return - easier or more difficult than retaining me to begin with?

Its supposed to be an iterative process to success, that builds, develops innovates etc - no point someone buying a sport then selling it a year later because it doesnt do what they expected it to do.

I think now more than ever, people walk and dont come back - brand loyalty is not a garuntee

SPOT ON

Absolutely... Brand loyalty is the most powerful sales tool a manufacturer has...... A virtual guaranteed sale at no cost !!!!
(Advertising, marketing, launches etc)

Stupidity ... is having a successful formula... changing it and not being true to the core values that brought that success !!

Progress ....is about innovation.... innovation usually is not about taking steps backwards...

I am seriously looking at my proposed purchase again... and looking at other marques.... I am sure i´m not alone in this.....
What business wants a customer ever doing that.... allbeit I still will probably end up with a RRS.. or FFRR
3 years down the road... sales certainly won´t be as strong as they are today.. and who knows what else may have come to the market....
I guess they can always re introduce the flat folding seats..... maybe it´s all part of the marketing !!!  2014.5 SDV6 AB Dynamic ... Fuji /Santorini Pan roof and 22's
2013 Porsche Boxster S 3.4
2014 Audi A3 S line Quattro
---------------------------------

I don't think the seats in a Disco 4 fold anything like flat, it is handy to have though, i'll probably miss the flat boot floor. 2014 Nara Bronze SDV6
GONE TDV6 HSE RRS in Giverny green,Ebony interior, Side steps,Tints, PTI, Tow pack, mud flaps, Side strips and Dynamics pack.

I believe the Transit van has a flat floor.

simonsti wrote:

I don't think the seats in a Disco 4 fold anything like flat, it is handy to have though, i'll probably miss the flat boot floor.