Hi all,

In a final, fossil-fuelled fling before we all have to go electric I thought I’d swap my 14 plate SDV6 Autobiography for an almost identical car but with the V8 supercharged engine. (Same year etc).

It’s going to cost me about £10k due to slight spec upgrade (meridian signature ref sound, rear TVs) and mileage difference (new one has 50k and mine has 75k).

Would really appreciate people’s opinions having driven or owned both - I know MPG will be low 20s if I’m lucky (I don’t drive in town) but are the performance and noise worth the extra running costs?

Anything to really look out for?

Also, is insurance much worse than the diesel?

All thoughts really welcome as planning to swap next week.

Thanks a lot

Matt

I had the 5.0sc l494 & it was a nice motor,I was only getting around 13-14 as mine were only short trips.I also went from a my14 AB sdv6 into a my14 SC.My next sport will be a svr,I got rid of my sc for another my15 AB sdv6 & regretted it straight away.You will be in the petrol station every few days for the first month Just do it you only live once. 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

Personal opinion?
I havent drove the charged but they look fun.

What it comes down to to me, do you really have the money to do it? Your asking here which makes me think its tight tbh. I personally wouldnt unless I was absolutely loaded. Fuel prices are insane atm, insurance will be more. How fast do you really need? I am happy with a mapped 3.0SDV6 for the type of vehicle it is. Also I dont know when your belts are due, and the difference with it.

Have a think is my honest advice, dont just go for speed and noise unless you can afford to double your outgoings on it.

Thanks for both replies.

I’m certainly not “loaded” but I only average around 7k miles a year and so fuel costs are not horrendous and my other car is a DB9 Volante so running this will seem cheap in comparison!

I’ve just had 3 diesel RRs (322, 320 and 494) in a row, am a massive “petrolhead” and before we’re all forced into electric cars, I’d love to go out on a high!

Finally, I go to London once a month at least and amazingly the V8S is ULEZ compliant and the SDV6 isn’t!

More thoughts and first hand experience very welcome!

Thanks again

lol, you sound loaded to me hahaha - we dont even have these odd zones here

If its what you want, go for it mate - long as your happy

Do it..
I started with a 14 plate SDV6, next one was a 5.0S Autobiography and currently got the SVR…

I always commented that Tyrefitter must have had lead boots… I used to get mid thirties with the SDV6, 27-28’s on the 5.0S and 23-24 with the SVR…

You will not be disappointed as the V8’s are sublime cars…

Had the best holiday ever driving to the South of Italy in the 5.0S…beautiful car … can’t wait to do the same trip in the SVR…

The 5.0S is actually quite discreet and other than the noise and huge speed it looks like any other RRS..

The SVR is in another league but is not subtle…. I love it …

What you trying to say Farmer Chalk,,,
Fuelly figures top one Sdv6,,next Ford ranger 2.0 bi-turbo,,3rd one focus RS & last one is the wife’s fiat 500 that’s never been out of town.I’ve deleted the SC but to be honest best I got out of it on a run iirc was 29mpg,,running round town was 13mpg but like the op I only do about 7000 miles a year.

 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 Farmer Chalk and Tyrefitter!

To be fair Tyrefitter I have to agree with Farmer Chalk - 25mpg in an SDV6 is proper “lead boot” stuff as I’ve always got over 30 in mine

Think I’m going to go for it, just waiting to see if the dealer will stick on some new front discs as latest MOT says they’re well worn but not a fail…let’s see!

Anyone got any experience of the Signature Reference sound system - it should be pretty good considering the original price premium LR charged for it…

My SDV6 gives around 26mpg but it is running on AT tyres that will not be helping the fuel economy. I don't worry about it and just drive as required at the time - sometimes it's "driving Miss Daisy", other times it's "qualifying for the Monte Carlo".

(This is on the older L320 SDV6, note, not the L494) 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

And just to put it in perspective, my weedy 2.7 gets 28/29 mpg for zero performance. So go for it . Be conscious that they say the discs don’t need doing yet come service time they’ll say they’re very low. Is in Ottons? (Will always be Ottons to me). 2006 2.7 TDV6 HSE in Cairns Blue.

Albeit a different age, i went from a SDV6 to an SVR as my daily driver and it was 100% worth it.
The sound, performance etc are all so much better and you only sacrifice about 2% of the comfort on a long journey.

My insurance actually went down by about £50 for switching to the SVR....not sure why, but i wasn't going to argue! LOL

In terms of fuel, there is no easy way to escape the fact it costs more than the SDV6, but i was pleasantly surprised. On a 600 mile drive to the highlands in November, i averaged nearly 30mpg on the motorway (72mph average over a fair few hours)....but this drops down to single figures once you start to have fun.

I have a few other cars, including a DB9 Volante and the AM is much, much better on the fuel....so don't underestimate it.

But if you can afford it....you won't regret it. I love my SVR so much, i bought another (Unregistered) to put in storage for a rainy day!  Now
-----------------------
2022 SVR
2021 Bentley Continental GT
2020 Defender 110
2022 Defender 90 V8
Plus 16 other toys!

Yes - re discs that’s exactly what’ll happen. Still waiting to hear whether they’ll replace them or not…

It’s not at “Ottons” although I still think of it as that too!

I've got the L320 V8 4.2 supercharger upgraded from a p38 2.5td I get 19 mpg in V8 pottering about and 26 mpg on long runs

have to admit I was always a diesel fan for economy but the V8 is much more fun and milage is nearly on comparison with my 20 year old diesel

I agree that the V8 is enticing but when are you going to use the performance? There's really nowhere apart from a track where the potential of a performance car can be used, especially one a large as a RRS. I've got my Sport for comfort and ease of driving, just no hassles. For fun though, I do have an Alpine A110 which is compact and quick.

what ever you do have fun,
atb
Tim Tim
RRS sold and replaced with a Skoda Kodiaq after appalling RR Dealer experience and LR inability to supply new cars in any sort of reasonable time frame..

Re the Reference sound system…if it’s got it definitely do it…
The system I found was exquisite and across all ranges… it made it the place to go and listen to music…. You can tell if it’s fitted as there are small oblong speakers next to the sun visors in the headlining. The others are less obvious..

Stunning car and you won’t be disappointed…