They must vary then because mine is down right dangerous at times. One learns to drive around the problem, of course, but shouldn't have to. I've taken to driving in town using the paddles on approach to roundabouts etc. so that I know it's in the correct gear.

----------------------------------------------------------

I had mine remapped. I didn't say there wasn't an occasional hesitancy issue. I never used paddles before remap at all other than occasional downshift to first when stopped if totally necessary at a roundabout which wasn't very often and certainly not in routine daily driving. Unless really hammering it on a fast country road for better overtakes and engine braking for quick corners etc.The gearbox defaults to second at stop position as I understand it on an SDV6 and though the remap does not change that power and torque changes render the need to manually downshift as largely irrelevant. As you say, and probably like all marques and models, variations in same models or between different variants are not uncommon.

I think from all the feedback a TDV6 RRS is probably the best one to go for so far, also the most economical and still decent on performance and if performance is an issue then theres the option for a remap from a reputable company like alive or bas to bring it upto the ball park of the TDV8 power unless the TDV8 owners tell me otherwise  RRS SUPERCHARGED, 22 INCH ALLOYS, JAVA BLACK, FULLY COLOUR CODED
EVERY POSSIBLE SOFTWARE UPDATE INCLUDING - BLUTOOTH UPDATE, SATNAV ON THE MOVE, CLOCK ON DASH, 3 CLICK FLASH, GEARBOX RESET, COMPRESSOR UPDATE AND SUSPENSION LOWERED,
BLACK CODE RE-MAPPED, AUTOBIOGRAPHY'D, NEW EXIDE BATTERY, NEW DENSO ALTERNATOR

Now on my second TDV8 it's an obvious answer from me.
I wouldn't touch one with no history - whats to say it's just been diagnosed with a big problem....

I own and drive a 2007 TDV8, and at work drive a number of 2016 SDV6 Disco 4’s, 2018 SDV6 Discoverys, and a couple of 2016 SDV8 4.4 RR’s.

My 2007 TDV8, albeit slightly smokey, rattling a bit, and isn’t as refined as the newer SDV8’s, still seems quicker, and despite its age and mileage (105000) roars like a dragon and pulls like a train.

 Previously owned 1999 Disco 2 TD5
Disco 3 HSE TDV6 2007
Gone 2007 TDV8 RRS1 in Buckingham Blue.

How do know if the knocking at the front has been sorted?

You can hear the knocking at the rear better

Whatever you get get a warranty and don't touch anything without a full dealer or specialist history.