Time for my third annual update. MOT passed with no advisories (3rd time in a row) and yet another year of zero faults. Due the retirement of Holgate, this year's service was with The Lanny Man in St Helens. Very impressed and would recommend them- seems they have inherited a lot of ex-Holgate customers. They'll certainly be getting my custom for next year's biggie- the 10-year service and transmission oil & filter change. I like this car as much now as much as I did on the day I got it, which is saying something as I do tend to get itchy feet and yearn to try something different.

The decision not to renew my warranty after the first year of ownership has paid off, though I certainly wouldn't have taken this decision if it had been a 3 ltr diesel. Talking to the Lanny Man after he'd finished the service and he mentioned he's already done three snapped crank engine replacements this year. 2013 L494 5.0 SC in Chile Red

Great write up, glad yourstill enjoying it.

Great to hear yours is still going well after 3 years in your ownership. I’ve just swapped my 14 SDV6 for a 13 5.0 s/c and despite the crazy fuel prices at the moment I cannot stop smiling. Mine’s also an ex LR management car and I think has identical options to yours - ie everything apart from side steps (thank god!) and towbar which I would have liked.

Now get yours remapped like I did last week  2014 L494 V8 s/c Autobiography Dynamic

Four happy years of ownership now, still with zero faults. Just had the 10-year service (including replacement flexible brake hoses) gearbox flush and oil replacement and MOT (no advisories) done by Lanny Man in St Helens- whose services I can thoroughly recommend.

It's unusual for me to keep a car for more than 4 years, but can't think of anything that could replace it, apart from another RR, but why replace something that's working so well.


 2013 L494 5.0 SC in Chile Red

Always good to hear good news stories. Most people still harbour this idea that they're all unreliable when the truth is that they don't have to be - one just needs the right people looking after them.  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Five years now and still loving it. No breakdowns/problems, though I have had to replace front and rear anti-roll bar bushes and although the bushes themselves were cheap enough, the labour costs were fairly excruciating. I suppose I can't really complain as in three months, it will be an eleven-year-old car and everything wears out eventually. Apart from a new battery when I first got the car, this is the only expense apart from routine service and maintenance.

Have been toying with the idea of replacing it with a low mileage 2017/2018 FF SV AB Dynamic, but my other half wanted a new kitchen, which has wiped out two-years-worth of savings, so I think it's going to be a case of 'if it aint broke, don't fix it,' and it will be with me for a few more years now. 2013 L494 5.0 SC in Chile Red

If all you've had to pay for is some ARB bushes plus routine stuff, then I reckon you've got an absolute peach there. Definitely worth keeping it.  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I'm very happy to see a thread like this and glad that you've had a good few years of trouble free driving.

I've had a FL2, L322 (still my absolute favourite car, but far too large for my wife), and an Evoque.

Since the Evoque, I've had a Macan (marvellous car, loved it) and I'm currently trading in my XC60 T8 for a 21 plate Autobiography Dynamic.

I'm buying mine from a main dealer - 1 pervious owner and main dealer serviced, so should hopefully be a good one.

In the past, I've been plagued by problems with my LR cars, but this has mainly been due to the lack of decent work done at my local dealer (one particularly joyful time when they neglected to replace the oil sump plug and had to be trailered away from the office car park after spewing oil all over the motorway).

I have a good local indy here, so here's hoping for as much trouble-free motoring as you've had!

Hello @Three-Six Charlie.

Great write up, I enjoyed the read.
I also appreciate that you've given us annual updates.

I am here from the https://www.fullfatrr.com/ forum, thank you for sharing and steering me in the right direction to this RR Sport forum and this thread.

As I mentioned, the wife currently drives a Range Rover Evoque 2.0 Si4 Dynamic.
I am in the market for a 2020-2022 L494 Range Rover Sport, as it is time to get something bigger and more enjoyable for our family.
I am going back and forth between the SDV8 and the P525 (5.0SC).
We are in South Africa, where emission control is not as rigid - so that does not play a role in my decision. Not too worried about fuel costs either. Although, I love your data and breakdown of the SC fuel consumption - very impressive.

I think I am now leaning more towards the 5.0SC.

Another topic I would like to touch on is brakes.
I know it is a sports SUV and I am going to run pads and disks, but what is the usual interval for changing such components? Is it drastically higher than that of the SDV8?

The reason I ask, I was looking at pulling the trigger on a 2019 L494 P525, when I looked at the claims history, I was a bit unnerved at all the brake component replacements - See below:

7 months after delivery - 5,600KM's - Front brake disc rotor set
22 months later (sat through COVID) - 12,900KM's - Front brake disc rotor set, again...
3 months later - 13,700KM's - Rear brake pads and disc rotor set
19 months later - ?????KM's - Change of ownership (2nd owner)
6 months later - 36,400KM's - Rear brake pads and disc rotor set
3 months later - 40,500KM's - Front brake pads set
5 months later - 46,600KM's - Front brake pads set, again...

Now my inkling is there were noises and vibrations at the beginning of ownership, hence the owner opted for the warranty replacement of the 2 x front rotor sets. But other than that, I believe the car was driven hard, specifically when change of ownership took place.

I looked at another 2018 P525 with similar mileage, and it has only run front brake pads at 37,000Km's.

Any insights please.

Dadev, you're welcome. There's a caveat with my answer ref the question of pad wear as I've not changed any yet and though my car came with a very comprehensive service history, I can't know if anything is missing. Saying that, it's probably complete. Records show that front and rear pads were changed in 2015 when it had a recorded mileage of 36k (miles). I've not changed any myself and current mileage is 58k. I did ask the mechanic to look at wear at the last service and he reported that they still had plenty of meat on them. 2013 L494 5.0 SC in Chile Red

On the L320 and earlier L494 5.0L S/C's they did have a lot of issues with the brakes "squealing" under light braking, L/R did try various thing to overcome this like modified pads etc. that may explain pads/discs being changed at low mileages, however I do not know at what point they cured the issue with the L494 as none of it worked on my L320 until I fitted EBC pads.

Cheers
Col

Dadev wrote:

Hello @Three-Six Charlie.

Great write up, I enjoyed the read.
I also appreciate that you've given us annual updates.

I am here from the https://www.fullfatrr.com/ forum, thank you for sharing and steering me in the right direction to this RR Sport forum and this thread.

As I mentioned, the wife currently drives a Range Rover Evoque 2.0 Si4 Dynamic.
I am in the market for a 2020-2022 L494 Range Rover Sport, as it is time to get something bigger and more enjoyable for our family.
I am going back and forth between the SDV8 and the P525 (5.0SC).
We are in South Africa, where emission control is not as rigid - so that does not play a role in my decision. Not too worried about fuel costs either. Although, I love your data and breakdown of the SC fuel consumption - very impressive.

I think I am now leaning more towards the 5.0SC.

Another topic I would like to touch on is brakes.
I know it is a sports SUV and I am going to run pads and disks, but what is the usual interval for changing such components? Is it drastically higher than that of the SDV8?

The reason I ask, I was looking at pulling the trigger on a 2019 L494 P525, when I looked at the claims history, I was a bit unnerved at all the brake component replacements - See below:

7 months after delivery - 5,600KM's - Front brake disc rotor set
22 months later (sat through COVID) - 12,900KM's - Front brake disc rotor set, again...
3 months later - 13,700KM's - Rear brake pads and disc rotor set
19 months later - ?????KM's - Change of ownership (2nd owner)
6 months later - 36,400KM's - Rear brake pads and disc rotor set
3 months later - 40,500KM's - Front brake pads set
5 months later - 46,600KM's - Front brake pads set, again...

Now my inkling is there were noises and vibrations at the beginning of ownership, hence the owner opted for the warranty replacement of the 2 x front rotor sets. But other than that, I believe the car was driven hard, specifically when change of ownership took place.

I looked at another 2018 P525 with similar mileage, and it has only run front brake pads at 37,000Km's.

Any insights please.

Style of driving makes a massive difference on brake component wear, it’s more like comparing drivers than vehicles!

"Style of driving makes a massive difference on brake component wear, it’s more like comparing drivers than vehicles!"

Couldn't agree more. Was looking at a FFRR a couple of weeks ago and when I found out that it had just had it's third set of pads fitted at 38,000 miles I walked away. Clearly been driven like it was stolen.

Incidentally, there will be no sixth year update as I've just part-exchanged for a 1-owner, 2020 FF P400e AB. Loved my RRS to bits and it never let me down in nearly six years of ownership (I usually change my cars after around 3 years of ownership) and there were certainly an element of sadness when I watched it being driven into the dealer's warehouse yesterday. FF second hand values have tanked so much that it seemed too much of an opportunity to pass up (£70k depreciation in 4 years), especially as the AT Price Tracker app on Autotrader is showing that some dealers are beginning to slowly raise their prices. 2013 L494 5.0 SC in Chile Red