Hey up,

I am considering purchasing a new Range Rover Sport, the car that is local to me does not have low range in the gearbox-what is the point of specifying one without low range????

Other than that, the spec is ok, I did use low range in my 2010 Sport and also in my FF from time to time, so the question is whether it is essential or not in the new sport

Your thoughts please

Thanks in advance

Reecy

Low range is not standard in the entry level HSE. LR decided to make it an optional extra for HSE and standard only in HSE Dynamic and Autobiography Dynamic, probably because not many people use it. Helps with weight reduction and more £££ in LR pockets.

I would think it is euqally useful or equally pointless (depending on your usage) in L494 as in L320. Current: Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Pro PHEV with some optionals on top
Gone: MY16 RRS2 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic, Carpathian Grey & Santorini Black Sliding Pano/Ebony & Ivory 2 Tone
Gone: MY13 RRS 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition, Orkney Grey/Ivory
Gone: MY09 RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSE, Santorini Black/Almond

Hi, must admit, not used very often on mine but when i have (4/5 times a year) certainly worth it  2007, HSE, Cairnes Blue, Factory tints, Love it !!!

As above I would say it depends on your usage of the vehicle, and it's always a nice thing to have in reserve when the going gets tough.
My personal opinion is although terrain response is amazing sometimes low range is needed for more control offroad so I wouldn't have one without it  2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18� Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎

For the yummy-mummys and badge buyers, low range is pointless. LR recognise that so they made a version to suit. I would say that 99% of RRS owners have never used low range. Hell, most have probably never even tried the switch.

Expect to see the 2-speed transfer box become an option across the LR range over the next few years. It won't be long before LR's off road heritage is just that - heritage. Sad really.

For the remaining 1%, low range is essential off road and extremely useful when towing. It gives enhanced control and precision. The new 9-speed gearbox in the Evoque et al has an extra low crawler gear to give the same effect as low range in certain situations. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

The car is still pretty capable without the transfer case/ low range gear box, Leaving it off plus the other bits that the HSE without Dynamic doesn't get saves some 25-30kgs and is enough to drop it a couple of tax bands and allegedly reduces the fuel consumption. Personnally I don't see the point of buying one without the full monty offroad gear, but then I'm one of the few that does take my Land Rover cars off into the muck and I can assure you that the latest cars with the dynamic pack are as capable with proper tyres on them as a Defender, possibly more capable with deeping wading and the TR system with the bonus of the eDiff, the only issue is doing Defender type stuff in a car that costs £70000+, it is a bit OTT! I know folks that are buying up early L322 last generation FFRR's just for offroading them as they are really capable cars that can go most places a Disco3 or a Defender will go but in the case of a Defender in considerably more comfort both on and off the tarred road. Prior to this RRS I owned two Evoques and apart from not great ground clearance, on a set of MTR tyres even without a low range gear box the 9 speed auto Evoque can achieve a lot offroad, certainly way more than the BMW/Audi/Mini and Mercedes competition. 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

I don't off-road my car but even I have used low range to get out of sticky situations a couple of times (although not in L494 yet) when engaging grass/gravel/snow mode on TR and switching off DSC wasn't enough. It is very reassuring to have it even though I will not be using it frequently apart from may be once a month just to keep it in working order. Current: Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Pro PHEV with some optionals on top
Gone: MY16 RRS2 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic, Carpathian Grey & Santorini Black Sliding Pano/Ebony & Ivory 2 Tone
Gone: MY13 RRS 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition, Orkney Grey/Ivory
Gone: MY09 RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSE, Santorini Black/Almond

Thanks for the replies chaps,

I have my L322 for exactly what Tim describes- it's my bad weather, forest/off road car and it's a monster.

So maybe I will keep the full fat and buy a 2013 RRS1 for my daily driver instead- I did figure that the RRS2 was a bit pricey for taking into forests 😗

Thanks again

Reecy

I have taken my 2015 RRS2 HSE Dynamic offroad a fair bit and I run on the 22" wheels and road tyres all the time, OK so I don't take it to the more extreme places I would venture in my 1996 Defender 90 but it is great to see the looks on hill walker's and mountain bikers faces when they encounter a newish Range Rover on forest trails and shooting roads, covered in mud and dirt just like all the Disco1's 2,3,and 4's as well as the old series Landies. In both the offroading clubs I'm a member of we see more and more L322 and L405's coming to events along with the usual collection of Disco3 and 4's. Shame that so few RRS owners don't use their car to its full capability occassionally. You don't have to take it ti a pay and play mud fest to have a great day out in the countryside on tracks and lanes. In England you are also a lot better off than we are in Scotland were we have to have the land owner's permission to venture off the beaten track, we have no Public Rights of Way/ drove roads etc like there are down south. 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

This issue is significantly affected by the fact that it does not seem possible to obtain all terrain tyres for 19 inch rims and the only tyre for 20 & 21 inch rims seems to be the General Grabber AT which is at best a 50/50 tyre. The manufacturer fitted Pirelli Verde tyres are 85/15 (road/offroad bias). These perform well in 'average' off road use but anything 'wet & sticky' needs a much more aggressive tyre pattern and even the Grabbers will struggle. Mud Terrains do not seem to be available from any manufacturer. In my view low ratio boxes will not do anything to help on say wet grass or deep mud that the Terrain Response system is not capable of doing.

Low range will help with control in poor traction conditions and on steep inclines. Sure, you can do without it but it is better with it.

As for why RRSs aren't used off road I don't understand it. It's brilliant off road.

You can get the Duratrac in 19inch. This has good reviews with the D3/4 guys. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

[quote="Buckster"]As above I would say it depends on your usage of the vehicle, and it's always a nice thing to have in reserve when the going gets tough.
My personal opinion is although terrain response is amazing sometimes low range is needed for more control offroad so I wouldn't have one without it [/quote

Hi Buk -we all know you like green laning though. Mind you without low range and dynamic one wonders why one would spend that amount of money on a RRS? Current Merc GLE 3.5d 2016 model, 2011 RRS HSE standard
Previous 2012 FL2 liked but boot too small
Previous to LR's 3 x Merc E320 estates - fantastic load carriers and long distance cruisers, ultra reliable. Only changed as needed a 4x4 high tow vehicle. Did have a 1955 early LR drop down windscreen and fuel tank under the drivers seat; again very reliable and super rugged.

RRSTDV8 wrote:

Low range will help with control in poor traction conditions and on steep inclines. Sure, you can do without it but it is better with it.

As for why RRSs aren't used off road I don't understand it. It's brilliant off road.

You can get the Duratrac in 19inch. This has good reviews with the D3/4 guys.

I have 275/55/20 Pirelli Scorpion ATRs on my Sport. Very happy with them.. A bit better then Verdes on our dirt road when wet. Had many "interesting" moments on that road with the original tyres on. ATRs much better in the mountains and in the desert. Only down side is ride very slightly harder due to tougher sidewall. No extra noise. There is also a Cooper Zeon LTZ ( I think) same size that has a more aggressive tread.
Sport without Low Range still pretty handy off-road having driven one at an LR training day.. RRS P460e
1983 2 door Range Rover ARB Bar X9000 winch ARB Rear Bar now semi retired.
Many big trips done in this one.
1982 Rangerover nearly restored.
22 Defender D250 with lots of stuff for outback touring
Nice 2013 Freelander TD4 manual (for daughter to learn on) with much better stereo compared with previous SD4 SE with Meridian which sounded bad!
2013 Land Rover Defender ute.

http://www.reigate-tyres.co.uk/

Try giving Andy a ring at AJS Tyres. He is a site sponsor and I would put my house on him having a container full of duratrac in 19s!  2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18� Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎