I have a l405 vogue on order - wondering whether I should be getting the SE. Most of the extras on the SE I don't want and would rather use the money to spec up a vogue (sunroof etc.). Difference between the two models that I can't spec up seems to be the leather finish. Vogue has "Oxford", SE has "Semi Aniline". I am sure the semi aniline is better - but how much better and in practical terms what's the benefit? I also hear terms (for other land rover models) like "grain" and "Windsor". Can anyone explain all this? Geoff

If it were me I'd buy the best I could afford otherwise you will always regret having not gone for the Vogue SE  Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

Agree - but where do you stop. I went to Land Rover planning to pay £50k for a discovery - I'm already 50% over planned budget with the vogue. Not worried about fancy headlights, soft close etc. - would rather spend money on sunroof, winged headrests etc. Geoff

Hi, difficult choices as ever. I had both Vogue and Vogue SE in the L322 which had similar choices. Semi-analine is much softer but could also be more vulnerable. In terms of comfort the Vogue was fine for 20k miles a year.

You are right to spec the things you appreciate. If you buy on the basis of future desirability you'll miss the point of having the car you want not the second owner. I did similar with mine. Winged headrests before lane departure, panoramic roof rather than blindspot monitoring, electric towbar before leather headlining. I have to say I find the active headlights fantastic.

BUY it for you. 2019 D5 HSE Lux SDV6 Indus
55 D3 SE
98 MX5 1.8 RS
gone 17 older variants of FFRR

Better still buy it for me Vogue spec fine  Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

Same dilemma I had when choosing vogue or SE on the old version. All I can say is there was a big difference in the leathers back then & I went the SE route & never regretted it. You will use the extra's you get as standard and consiquently would miss them when you come to change. I suspect most SE or AB owners wouldn't go back to a standard Vogue

The only thing you can do is go & try both on a decent journey just to be sure.

On the old ones, if you specced the front seats to be cooled on the vogue (standard on SE) you did get perforated Oxford leather at least. Is that still the same for the new one ?
If so, you need to try all 3 - standard vogue, cooled seats Vogue & then SE.

It's always a nightmare if you're not sure, cause I've yet to find a dealer who has all the options on hand to try them out

Thanks for your thoughts. If Oxford leather is more durable that sounds good, wonder if you can feel the benefit of softer leather through a pair of jeans - I'll have to try. Would have to be a lot better though to justify the additional £6,500 for the SE - actually £5,000 because I would be buying the ACC if I didn't get the SE. Oxford leather looks likely I think - seats are perforated and cooling is an option. I've had leather seats before but not found the need for a cooling system - in the UK do you think they're worthwhile - interested to hear from the forum on that. Geoff

If you look at it another way, either leather option will be vastly superior to anything you'll find in another Land Rover product, whether that be a top-end RRS or a Discovery.

The Oxford leather is not as soft as the semi-analine, and, in my opinion, you can definitely tell which is better quality. The Oxford leather has a more plastic-like feel but it is by no means bad. In the L322 it was more noticeable because the Oxford leather had piping, whereas now they all have contrast stitch across the range.

The semi-analine in the L405 seemed no different to me than the semi-analine in the L322.

I'd say, go for the combo you like best (if the budget allows for that). In my experience, most "extras" don't yield a higher second hand price the further you get from new. So if you intend to keep the car for some years, the return on investment so to say will be getting less and less.

While the "pleasure" of driving it comes back every single drive you do, so the stuff you like will pay you back every time you use it and for the leather that is every single time you plant your behind in it

The other way of looking at it, is the better feel worth the extra money when you buy it. Is it worth it for you as you will be in that car a lot. If the answer is yes, go for it would be my take on things. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

http://www.carpages.co.uk/land_rover/range-rover-22-10-12.asp

https://www.facebook.com/BOWLeather

Bridge of Weir supply the leather

Thank you for all the helpful posts. I'm going to stick with the Vogue and Oxford leather. Not sure whether or not to get climate seats. In a climate like the UK is it necessary - do you use it regularly if you have it? I understand the cooling comes from cold air but where does it come from - is it plumbed into the cars air con? When you have climate seats does heat come from an electrical element (as in my Disco 3) or is it from air blown through? If warm air, is that a better effect than the electrical element in my Disco 3? Geoff

The climate seats are a must IMO. I use the cooling function in mine a lot - not just in summer.

I think the air is drawn in and either cooled and heated by a separate system - not part of the HVAC system as far as I know. They do not heat up as quick as the heated element style seats you describe but the heat is more natural and pleasant as it is blown air.

+1
Slower to heat up. Nice when cooled at anytime. 2019 D5 HSE Lux SDV6 Indus
55 D3 SE
98 MX5 1.8 RS
gone 17 older variants of FFRR

Thanks - if I can still change the build I'm going to get climate seats Geoff

Cooled seat function is great on a hot day but the heated ventilated seats are rubbish, they take forever to heat up, way longer than the old style element type. When they eventually get warm, you get a horrible dry air blowing up towards your face which makes you feel drowsy. Nobody has mentioned what a pain it is on the new model to turn the seats on to a low heat setting, in the old model you could turn a knob one notch, now you have to press a button, then jab at the touchscreen about three times, this can only be done if you are not reversing etc as the camera then takes over the screen. 2015 RR SDV8 Vogue SE
2014 RR Sport Dynamic
1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster