3 weeks in with my new L405 (TDV6) and I've concluded that the ride feels a lot softer than my old TDV8 L322. It's more "bouncy" in general driving and feels like it rolls a lot more in the corners. So, am I imagining it? My irritating brain keeps telling me that I should have gone for the SDV8 not the TDV6! What difference does the Dynamic Response of the SDV8 actually make in "normal" road driving?

Also I notice that the new car with the 8 speed box seems to change down all too eagerly at low speeds (or at least the pick up seems a little sluggish for a second when I've slowed down to take a slow corner and then hit the gas to pull away). Is this the box arguing with itself over gears or is this specific to the TDV6 and a lack of low speed grunt?

This is going to have been an expensive mistake if the SDV8 really does drive that much better?

Any thoughts, especially from anyone that has driven both engines for longer than a test drive?

I love the L405, don't get me wrong, I'm just arguing with myself that I specced the wrong engine... and maybe I need to eat humble pie with the dealer and order an expensive trade up (Mrs will never know!)

I think you may have the same issue as Carlos50 and others. There seem to be issues with the ride of some L405s. Have a look at Carlos posts and see if that helps  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

There's a few who have driven both - Craig has commented on several posts that he prefers the TDV6

I asked a similar question here

As stated above, Carl has a well documented similar issue (more here)

My best advice - as given to Carl - is get a test drive of another similar vehicle & see whether it feels different to yours.

Having just swapped a 4.4 TDV8 L332 for a new 4.4 SDV8 L405, I can confirm the ride is improved, with less roll on cornering. I had a new TDV6 L405 on loan a couple of years ago for 3 days. I couldn't wait to give it back and get in to my L332 which I found far more relaxing to drive, just as FFRR should be IMO.

I don't think you have the much discussed 'Carlos issue' but you do need to drive a SDV8 and make a decision.

Good luck! MY23 D350 HSE
On my 7th RR plus various other JLR vehicles

hi, had a 3.6 tdv8 my10 for 5 years and have owned a 3.0 tdv6 my15 for 11 months now. the tdv8 rolled around a lot more on corners than my tdv6. the tdv8 felt more torquey in top gear but the tdv6 is a lot quicker, I think the l405 makes use of all 8 gears but does feel a bit gutless in top gear, ive noticed a slight lag if you are going uphill around 75/80 mph but once it changes down a gear the torque and power is back. overall the l405 tdv6 is in a different league to my old tdv8 and fuel consumption is amazing - my tdv8 averaged 21mpg and the tdv6 is 36mpg.

''There's no replacement for displacement''

MattyB

The ride on the 405 is much more lazy than I imagined and I have the SDV8, but, and its a big but, the 15 MY V8 is much better, not as soft and more direct. I have a 13 plate and its bad, the 15 MY loaner was a lot better in the ride but both are very sluggish, lots of lag / lack of throttle feel.

I was driving down the A1M yesterday and a 15 plate TDV6 came past me, it seemed much flatter and lively, the V8 has a lot of power but doesnt really use it well, the V6 will possibly be similar unless full on driving the nuts off it, and all but the very latest V8 Dynamic Response is dog sh*t. One massive plus for you, no risk of it becoming noisy over pot holes etc. as the system tries to do its stuff, its been a long term achilles heel on here.

Does your new one have the Adaptive Dynamics as standard, the Dynamic Response is not that great, it still rolls in the corners and the TDV6 wont be that far away in terms of performance, dont beat yourself up, I have and its ruined it for me.

Carl

How can you tell how something drives as it goes past you on the motorway?

L405 TDV6 performance is fairly matched with a 4.4 TDV8 L322; SDV8 L405 is considerably quicker and feels it. They all have Adaptive Dynamics - the magnetorheological damper system.

I could feel and see mine moving around on the uneven road surface, and that one was more stable, it seemed at the time.

I had a TDV6 (which was stolen) and have now a SDV8. The dynamic response makes a big difference. In my TDV6 my dog got sick on curvy roads - and sometimes she puked ... nothing happens with the SDV8.

I am a slow driver .... I could live with both ... but my dog loves the new car

Stuempf Using your brain is useful. Sometimes.

I have driven all three versions and my thoughts are:

V6 diesel: handles better than an L322 but still a lot of body roll when taking corners quickly. Engine more refined and much quieter than the V8 diesel. It's perfectly adequate if you are just wafting around at sensible speeds but if you need/like to press on it is underpowered and makes up for it by dropping down the gears which is when you lose all sense of refinement.

V8 diesel - lots of NVH and lots of lag but has the performance and handling capability if you like to drive that bit faster.

V8 petrol - if you value peace, quiet and refinement and want a large helping of performance as well its the only choice.

Ditto 5.0.... The s/c is totally different to my previous L405 4.4......

5.0 wrote:

V8 petrol - if you value peace, quiet and refinement and want a large helping of performance as well its the only choice.

Exactly! 5.0 SC is the engine of choice for this car.

I'm dying to test drive a used 5.0 S/C but at £20k more than Id get for mine in px I cant stretch that far

Thanks for everyone's thoughts / experiences.

I think the only thing to do is go and drive a 16MY SDV8 and see how much of a difference i can feel. Both driving on the straight (where the TDV6 seems to wallow and float more than the L322) and in the corners (where the TDV6 seems to lean a hell of a lot more).

I didn't spec the 4.4 in the first place because when I test drove that and the TDV6 back to back, I felt a lot of vibration / resonance coming through the steering wheel and drivers footwell in the SDV8 and I didn't like it. In fact I thought it was a fault so I swapped to another SDV8 for a second test drive and it did the same thing. Maybe I'm too sensitive