I currently drive a 2015 RRS 3.0SDV6 AutoB 42k miles and it's PCP ends in May next year. It's a great car and my current thoughts are 1) Keep it and pay £35k or 2) Give it back and go for either a slightly newer RRS (maybe SDV8) or 3) Go for a Full Fat Range Rover Vogue SE or AB. I would really appreciate opinions on what you feel are the key differences between the RRS and the FF RR - comfort, performance and handling and how you feel when you drive one vs the other?

Thanks!

In a similar position and keen to see responses MY16, 3.0D HSE Dynamic, Barola Black, TV, Rear Entertainment, Opening Pan Roof, Meridian

Hope all is well Prashan!

I went from a 2012 sdv6 Sport to a 2011 4.4 tdv8 Full Fat Visitor from fullfatrr.com
* GONE. 2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Now being piloted by RRSTDV8
* GONE: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* Current. 1974 Lightweight 2.25L petrol. Old skool
* GONE. Freelander GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* GONE. Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

A friend went from a SDV6 RRS to a 4.4 SDV8 FFRR A/B. The comfort is better, the performance is better, the handling isn't quite as good but still decent. The rear seats don't fold flat like the L320 RRS or the L319 Disco, but then they don't in the L494 RRS either. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Been in both over time and in an RRS now.

If you enjoy spirited driving in your LR vehicle, you will want an RRS, its just the better drivers car by a large margin.

If you enjoy the more luxurious interior and more comfortable ride and never really want to push on - the car to get is the RR.

In the end the trade off for me in the RR wasn't worth it as the RRS on a motorway (even an SVR) is 80-90% as good as the RR, but then when I get onto an interesting road the RRS is much more enjoyable to drive, its surprising how good it is to drive for a car its size.

If you have a separate sports/drivers car or don't look for that in a car at all, then its much easier to suggest the RR as the main choice.

Again it will come down to personal preference entirely and both are good choices, I'd suggest taking both out for a back to back drive so you can make a comparison and decide what works better for you.

Good luck! Non JLR Vehicle

I wanted a FFRR and went to the dealer with the intention of trading in my 62 plate SDV6 but was talked out of it by the dealer who said I would hate the body roll and handeling after coming from a sport. I wanted a SDV8 car but ended up doing a full u-turn and walked out with petrol sport and as much as I love it I still think maybe I should of stuck to my guns and bought a Full Fat. 2017 SVR. SVO Scafell grey Ebony interior
2012 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography santorini black with ebony/cirrus interior. Gone

I believe the lower spec / smaller engined FFRR does roll a bit but the bigger engined versions have a similar active antiroll bar to the RRS and so are better in controlling roll when going more quickly.

As mentioned by others, you really need to drive both along the same piece of road and decide. Ideally a drive would cover all road types but that might be tricky depending on where you live. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Great feedback - really appreciate it!

The car will be our main family car and most of the time will be used to ferry kids around. Comfort, relaxation when the kids are sleeping and effortless performance are the key priorities. Any known issues with the SDV8?

Cheers

I have owned six full fats over many years, the final one being a 4.4 TDV8 SE for eight years, I decided on a change and went for a 300D Velar, similar power and torque better handling but much smaller, more uncomfortable , no end of problems with the infotainment but very stable towing a big caravan.

Our local dealer had an open day where you could book test rides so went out in a 3L Vogue and both my wife and I felt car sick after five miles on country roads and I was driving, when we got back and I mentioned the ride they said I should have put it in Sport mode, took a 3L Sport out and loved it straight away.

After eight months I traded the Velar for a 2018 Sport SDV6 AB and very happy with it, always found the old Sport cramped in the front, certainly a better ride than the 3L Vogue and superbly stable when towing, came back from Spain at the beginning of lockdown, 1836 miles in five days, and I am 68, no problems except it drinks adblue when towing.

You will have to test drive both and then decide on how much you are willing to pay.

Ian 2018 Indus Silver SDV6 Autobiography normally towing a Buccaneer Cruiser.

Many thanks for your feedback Ian.. I love my RRS. I'm interested if I will love the FF RR more....

Cheers

Ive had 4 RRS, 2.7 a 4.2 a 5.0 supercharged and an SVR.

After travelling up to Scotland with the SVR it was decided it had to go. Seats were too uncomfortable and the constant drone of the exhaust, dont get me wrong, at first it was a thrill and a hoot but maybe its my age, the noise got tiresome.

I’m now in a FF RR SVA Dynamic with the 565 bhp engine. This will probably be my last RR as I will never sell it, an absolutely fabulous car.

The previous RRS’s were all great cars individually and i did love them all to a point. The FFRR just ticks all the boxes for me.
 Watching from the Full Fat RR Forum
19MY RR SVA-Dynamic Spectral Chromoflair Blue
2016 RRS SVR Estoril Blue-Gone
2010 RRS 5.0 L Supercharged Navara Bronze-Gone
2008 RRS 4.2 L Supercharged Black-Gone
2006 RRS 2.7 Diesel Rimini Red-gone

IVe drriven quite a few of the Full Fat Rovers in the US and the ab dynamic is a great ride I luve the split tailgate which I do mis on the L494 I know it wasnt a full split but the window tailgate was quite handy!

Id take a full fat one if it would fit in my garage but is just that bit longer to squeeze in and would then make getting in and out harder, and I feel the same would be when trying to park the thing int he UK, in the US its acutally quite small compared to Escalades and the F150's, Rams, etc... but over here parking spaces seem to be getting narrower even though nearly ever other car is getting bigger, look at the mini or the golf! a new VW golf is pretty big but the current polo is still bigger than the MK2 Golf.

My l494 is often parked just inside the lines on a parking spot so Im I leave space at the rear ech time just incase some one who cant park gets too close otherwise im not getting in the car!

The sport is a little bit smaller and firmer and daya to day is a bit more manageable for me, but if you have kids and you can use the larger parking spaces it probably not a problem.

Most of the features are the saem in both really so apart from the split tailgate (which is just cool) and the extra glove box at the top, there isnt much in them. If you were looking at the AB then it should have the dynamic pack on it anyway so the roll will be a minimal as it can be but worse than the sport just cos it heavier and taller.

I reckon take one for a test drive on your own and go try and park it, take it for a bit of a thrash on a b road and stick in your drive way, garage or side street parrallel park it and see what you think.

Either of them is a good choice really this is just my take on it (who said size doesnt matter!  If a jobs worth doing, get a someone who knows what they are doing to do it!

RRS Autobiography Indus
RR P38 HSE V8
RRS Supercharged Santorini
AMG CLK Rear Tyre Shredder

I'm now in a L405 Vogue SE and absolutely love it, having previously had the L320 Sport, not the L494.

I went for the 4.4 SDV8 for three main reasons. Firstly, the effortless drive as a result of the bags of power and torque available. 0-60 in 6.4 seconds for such a large vehicle powered by diesel is very impressive and it pulls like a train. Secondly, I was previously stung with my 3.0 and didn't want to accept the risk of another potential rebuild as a result of a spun bearing, however small the risk. Thirdly, Dynamic Response is standard on the SDV8 and surprisingly, in my opinion, it handles much better than my old Sport, cornering very flat indeed yet having the 'magic carpet' ride when cruising on the motorway.

No regrets here. Kev

MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

Great info guys - thanks so much. I will arrange a test drive and see how I get on.

It’s it just the height and length that is different than the RRS size wise?