Hi All,

I'm now in fortunate position where i can start a search for a new (to me) supercharged L494. 18 Plate onwards x

Although I do a lot of miles (20k) I'm still not interested in the diesel variants. a p400e just doesn't have the EV range for it to be viable for me.

Now at the moment i'm leaning towards a 69 plate 5.0 AB. in grey with daft black wheels that would have to be changed to the diamond cut wheel as they're not for me. over the SVR due to its extra comfort features and slightly less rambunctious image. However i have many questions that i hope some of you can answer.

1.) Until we move in a few months we are in a very built up area. I'm slightly concerned about how loud either are from a cold start. How loud is the supercharged AB on startup?

2.) Is there any noticeable difference in MPG between the AB & SVR?

3.) How much attention do you get in the SVR? It's probably one of the biggest reasons im leaning towards the AB. it's what i believe you call a sleeper. Nobody pays any attention to it yet will leave 99% of traffic for dead if required.

4.) how much cabin noise from the engine is there when cruising at 70? (yes, unbelievably i'm a boring fart who sits the cruise at 72 (GPS)).

5.0) what sort of fuel tank range are you getting from a motorway speed limit friendly cruise.

6.) how difficult do you find parking the thing. i'm a reasonable parker so the act is not the issue. however, I am concerned about finding you cant get in the thing because you've parked with equal space both sides and two cars have parked either side of you.

7.) Its my first auto (currently have a very boring company eurobox), when you're sat at a set of lights and want to rest your foot, do you apply the Automatic parking brake leaving it in gear, and then when youre ready to set off (if i've read the manual correctly), just apply the throttle to release it?

8.) If i have a set of winter wheels and tyres can yoy have two sets of TMS or do you have to change the valve that the car came with across?

9.) How effective is the cooler in the centre armrest.

10.) is there any park heater in the 5.0 AB or any way to preheat the car on these cold mornings?

Thanks.

1 With the standard exhaust it shouldn’t be a problem (I took the middle box & resonator out of mine & woke the neighbours up at 7.20 every morning)
2 I’m guessing not much difference
3 it’s not as in your face as a SVR as the AB SC doesn’t look any different then any other sport
4 cruising at 70ish will be quite in the cabin
5 I would say 250-300 miles
6 depends how good a driver you are
7 you can apply the PB then when you put your foot on the accelerator it will automatically release the PB
8 yes you can purchase another set of tpms & they will be 👌 they automatically connect to vehicle
9 it’s ok but is only turned on with ignition
10 I’m sure their is but it ain’t cheap
11 you won’t be disappointed,I regret selling my SC. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

Thanks Andy.

Like i said im reasonably competent at parking but I am more concerned about the size of the doors and width of the vehicle making it difficult to get into if somebody parks in a normal position at the side of me once parked.

When I park in the supermarket car park I either park in the child & parent parking spaces which are wider or park as far from the entrance as possible as no one likes walking any more.i would sooner walk a little further rather than having to have a door painted. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

I don't like parking in the P&C bays as child seats are way to bulky and bays way too narrow these days so leave them for their intended users. but I think the latter option is the winner just park away from everybody else.

Park at the far end of the car park and someone will still come and park next to you. I reckon they do it just to annoy the "park out of the way" types...  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I park so far away in a Supermarket car park that my frozen stuff has defrosted by the time I get back to the car However no matter how far I am away from the nearest car, when I return some is parked right next to me. These Range Rovers must have a magnetic field that attracts other cars

I have run a 5.0S for the last two years and 60,000 miles.. the reason I bought this over an SVR was for the exact same reason.. I wanted it to blend in with the crowd and not show out...

It is a totally awesome car that I use everyday on my travels around the UK. It has just returned from a 3000 mile round trip of Italy where it performed magnificently...up in the snow in the Alps to the sunny Amalfi coast. The car was totally sublime.

You certainly know it when it starts .... but once it’s warm it’s got a superb burble.... you certainly do not need a faster car... it is a total monster! 500 bhp .....
Best car I have ever owned!

Well that's exactly it, I don't want every chav in a 2007 corsa trying to race me off the lights constantly. I'd rather him not lose it off the line and smash into my nearly 6 figure car. the softer suspension also is a big hit for me especially as the roads in the UK are like the surface of the moon in places. If its a decent car (it is a bit of a lottery with JLR), I intend to keep it till i kill it so i'm not as worried about depreciation. Although the availability of approved AB 5.0 is somewhat limited.

I do still have the concern about annoying the neighbours in the back of my mind, however There's a lot of the pratted out corsa's previously mentioned, so I really shouldn't worry. Once we move it will just fit in with the crowd.

Farmer Chalk, what has your MPG been over those 60K Miles? and any major problems. Looking on here it seems the 5.0 seems a very reliable old beast.

On the issue of noise and start up, neighbours etc I can only comment from having the 5.0 SC in my MY2013 L320. Its really quite quiet on start up. You know its not a small diesel and is a V8 but its not disruptively loud. There is no replacement for displacement - W O Bentley

MY2013 5.0 Supercharged HSE L320

If you are worried about the Corsa brigade trying to burn you up then you could remove the Supercharged badge from the tailgate , it’s only suck on with double side heavy duty tape, then they won’t know if it is a 2.0ltr diesel version or anSDV6 let alone an S/C version unless they get so close that they can read the tiny print on the P525hp badge under the Autobiograghy badge! TBH I wouldn’t bother about them, ignore them and don’t reduce your driving standards to their stupid inexperienced driving habits, you know that even an SDv6 HSE could blow them well and truly into the weeds and then drive over them....... 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Thanks All. I'm pretty much certain now the Autobiography is the way to go.

Tim - From the pictures of the car i'm looking at, The de-badging of any note regarding the engine has already been done.

This morning i actually went to sit in an SVR and a sdv6 at the local dealer. I didn't test drive either as I didn't have time. a few thing struck me;

1. The seats are so much more pliable in the AB and are ridiculously comfortable.
2. Even just sat in the dealership car park, the SVR gets a huge amount of attention.
3. The reviews about the infotainment being slow is rather unfounded compared to my current company eurobox,
5. The seats! did i mention the seats?

I Had a sit in the L405 whilst at the dealer too and I could not for the life of me work out why people seem to think its so much more comfortable. slightly yes but with the right specced l494 I think you're getting the comfort level of most Full Fat's with better handling and a more sensible size.

I've also been on the comparison websites looking for car insurance. For me a 27 year old with 3 and half years pointsx free driving experience but 0 no claims due to having had a company car for over 2 years and some dipstick in a taxi giving me a non fault accident an SVR or a 2019 l405 are not insurable with any engine choice. However, a supercharged l494 in AB spec is actually quite reasonable (if you do your accounting with man maths).

You are right about the attention the SVR gets, it's not for the shy types.  SVR 2018 in Santorini Black.

People say the L405 and the L322 were wafting cars, the seats might not be any more comfy but the calibration of the airsuspension is softer so they ride softer and smother every bump and pothole silently but they do roll much more. L405 doesn’t have a Dyrnamic setting in the TR settings either as far as I know. One thing I found with both the L322’ FFRRs I owned was the drivers seat was wide and flat and slippery - discouraging any sort of spirited driving!
Actually the best seats I have had in any Range Rover I’ve owned were the genuine Recaro Sports seats that I soecced as the Plus Pack in both the Evoque’s that I’ve owned. Very similar seats are fitted in some sportier Jaguars and in the RRS SVR but they are JLR’s cheapo reproduction of the Recaro seats from the Evoque and I know from sitting in the F Type Jag fitted with the Sports seats I could not have sat all day in them on a drive from Stirling to West London like I regularly did in my Evoques. The seats in my 1996 Defender don’t look much and are unheated fabric clad but they are really very comfortable and well sprung - just that rest of the car would be awful for a day trip from Scotland to London! 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

sbradleyrr wrote:

6.) how difficult do you find parking the thing. i'm a reasonable parker so the act is not the issue. however, I am concerned about finding you cant get in the thing because you've parked with equal space both sides and two cars have parked either side of you.