Morning,

Not new to the forum but new to this particular area of it, I joined many years ago having lusted after a RRS since they first came out.

Back in 2020 I made it happen and was lucky enough to pick up this beautiful forum owned car -

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Hi, I made the change from a late 2012 reg AB model to a 2015 reg AB model and have no regrets. My 2012 car was fantastic and the 2015 even better. Totally different cars. 2015 car much quicker, lots more toys available from new, cheaper car tax and great just to look at. The 2012 car had 2 glove compartments and the rear seats actually folded flat where the newer car has 1 glove box and the rear seats don’t fold totally flat, they are the only things I miss from the older model. The older model was also quieter with hardly any engine noise at all where the new one you can hear it.

Many thanks for your reply, I love the colour of your car in the avatar! Interesting to hear you owned both and prefer the newer model - it sort of makes sense as you would expect LR to evolve the car so I suppose that was to be expected. Although sometimes you hear that people move to a newer model but for various reasons prefer the older model.

My 2010 was super luxurious and I do remember it being very quiet, night time journeys were wonderful and often helped my daughter fall asleep especially with the heated seat on.

The dreaded crankshaft issue doesn't seem to have been designed out but I think its a very similar situation to the 'bore score' stories with the 911.

Si 2012 RRS HSE SDV6 - current
2006 911 Carrera convertible
2016 L200 Barbarian pickup
2010 RRS Lux
2008 E93 M3
2004 VX220 Turbo Stg 2
2010 E70 X5 30d M Sport
2006 Golf R32

I moved from a 2007 L320 to a new L494 in late 2014 and for a while kept both as I initially felt that the L320 had more sole to it!

However after driving the L494 more and more, the L320 just sat around doing nothing so in 2016 I moved it on. As previous poster said the L494 is just better in every way. I went for the SDV6 HSE Dynamic as I wanted the low range box and rear
E-Diff as I felt that I'd miss it from having it in my earlier car.

Reliability wise the L494 is so much better than the previous version, mine now has 230K miles on it and only a few issues over it's life thus far. Saying that my old L320 now has 417K on it!

For the record, I was also annoyed that the rear seats didn't fold flat, that was until I discovered that they do! You just have to take the seat bases out, 4 clips and out they come, literally 2 minutes - you then have to store them somewhere though!

Wow that's amazing mileage across both!!!!

Good to hear you warmed to the newer car over time, I would ideally want the low range/diff for towing so I guess I need to hunt out a Dynamic whether that's an HSE or AB.

It is odd that the seats don't fold flat unless you take the bases out!!! Weird! Thanks for another recommendation for the newer car I also fear that buying another L320, although it would be SDV6 this time, wouldn't feel like a new car after my last.

If the car has a tow pack will it always be the electric deployable tow bar or did they still offer the detachable manual version? Just trying to work out from advert pictures whether a car has the tow bar or not if the buttons in the boot will be the only giveaway?

Si 2012 RRS HSE SDV6 - current
2006 911 Carrera convertible
2016 L200 Barbarian pickup
2010 RRS Lux
2008 E93 M3
2004 VX220 Turbo Stg 2
2010 E70 X5 30d M Sport
2006 Golf R32

I didn’t even know that you could take the rear seats out so easily, something to think about next time I need to move anything large. Mine has the electric deployable tow bar and like you say it has the buttons in the boot. Never used it but nice to have as a selling point when I eventually sell the car. Had the car for nearly 6 years now and can’t even think of anything to replace it just yet. It really is that good.

First I heard about how easy it was to remove the rear seats to get a flat back.
Any tips/advice? RRS HSE Dynamic SDV6 2014

Nemo mortalium omnibus horus sapit

I saw it on Powerful UK youtube channel. Mine has heated and cooled rear seats so there is no wiring to the seat base as it uses Peltier devices. If you have only heated rears I think you have to remove the base and one wiring connector. There are some little white clips with a black plastic cam that you just push across and lift the base up from the front, once you know where they are, it's literally seconds to do.

It used to really annoy me as the L320 had a flat loadspace, now I just pop them out whenever I need to carry something big and flat!

Thanks, will have a go! RRS HSE Dynamic SDV6 2014

Nemo mortalium omnibus horus sapit

I bought mine from a LR dealer just before it reached 7 years old. It therefore still qualified for the LR approved warranty and it meant the dealer had to do the 7 year service which is the very expensive one that includes all the belts. Current - 2020 Range Rover Sport P400e
Gone - 2014 Range Rover Sport HSE SDV6
Gone - 2017 Audi A8 Sport
Gone - 2007 Range Rover Sport HSE TDV8 - Great car.

If you don't do much mileage, skip the SDV6 and rather go for the SDV8 or the SCV8

You seem to enjoy the fast lane, I think you will enjoy the SCV8 more --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport Supercharged V8 HSE Dynamic



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ

Plus 1 for what Naks says!

I had L320 MY2012 SDV6 and then SDV6 MY2014 which I loved - massive leap from previous model. You definitely need the dynamic pack if you like fast road driving and also at least the middle option Meridian sound system.

I then swapped 2 months ago into a MY2013 V8 s/c which makes me
smile every time I start it, drive it or even think about it…getting it remapped next week as even 510hp doesn’t feel too much for this chassis, gearbox, brake set-up. Incredible cars! 2014 L494 V8 s/c Autobiography Dynamic

So after some number juggling and some house stuff to do I am going to be going for an L320, thanks for all the advice on the L494 - they are stunning but don’t want to use up all my cash so an nice low mile L320 should fit the bill perfectly.

Si 2012 RRS HSE SDV6 - current
2006 911 Carrera convertible
2016 L200 Barbarian pickup
2010 RRS Lux
2008 E93 M3
2004 VX220 Turbo Stg 2
2010 E70 X5 30d M Sport
2006 Golf R32

2 RRS wrote:

I moved from a 2007 L320 to a new L494 in late 2014 and for a while kept both as I initially felt that the L320 had more sole to it!

However after driving the L494 more and more, the L320 just sat around doing nothing so in 2016 I moved it on. As previous poster said the L494 is just better in every way. I went for the SDV6 HSE Dynamic as I wanted the low range box and rear
E-Diff as I felt that I'd miss it from having it in my earlier car.

Reliability wise the L494 is so much better than the previous version, mine now has 230K miles on it and only a few issues over it's life thus far. Saying that my old L320 now has 417K on it!

For the record, I was also annoyed that the rear seats didn't fold flat, that was until I discovered that they do! You just have to take the seat bases out, 4 clips and out they come, literally 2 minutes - you then have to store them somewhere though!