garyRR
Member Since: 13 Mar 2021
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 1478
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| 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE 5,000 mile update - plus a few Qs | |
I thought I'd post a 5,000 mile update and share my experience on the pristine Vogue SE i picked up in July (yes, I've done 5,000 miles in it already).
Comfort
Well, firstly, it is the most comfortable car I have ever owned and really is at home on motorways. The adaptive bi-xenon headlamps and cornering lamps really are a big upgrade to the standard lights and on the 3.6 vehicles and now the evenings are getting shorter, they really are proving valuable. Whilst the digital dash doesn't serve too much purpose, it brings the car right up to date with brand new cars being released today.
The double glazing makes it whisper quiet inside, especially when driving around town. On motorways, most noise tends to come from the tyres - i have Pirelli Scorpions on the car which are a semi road/off road tyre so, I'm sure Tyre choice makes a difference in this area.
Suspension and Handling
The suspension - a massive massive improvement. Obviously, this is still a big heavy car but, the new suspension components, active body control and lighter and more accurate power steering means the handling of the car is worlds apart to the 2002-2005 and 2006-2010 cars. The steering is Iight and accurate and, the car stays flat around roundabouts, allowing you to carry speed. This, I have to say must be the biggest improvement. The changes make it like an entirely different car.
Engine and Gearbox
The 4.4 is super smooth and SO much quieter than the 3.6, especially when idling. The 3.6 makes a racket when idling, whereas the 4.4 is significantly quieter. This means engine noise in the cabin is also significantly reduced.
The 8 speed pairs well with the 4.4, although the only benefit I've noticed is lower revs meaning lower noise, especially when travelling at motorway speeds.
I do have to say though, that although the 4.4 has slightly more power, the power delivery is entirely different to that of the 3.6, owing to the sequential turbo set up. I actually found that in real world driving, especially around town, the 3.6 felt marginally quicker. With its peak torque around 2,000, being where the engine sits a lot of the time when accelerating, there is almost always instant acceleration, whereas the 8 speed has to think about it for half a second and the engine spool the larger turbo to increase pickup.
Economy
As many have found, I find I get around 10% more in the 4.4 than the 3.6. As a guide, I typically averaged around 26mpg in the 3.6 and around 28/29mpg in the 4.4 combined. I get 31.5mpg (on a run to Edinburgh, it didn't go any higher) on a motorway run and 24-26mpg around town.
Servicing
This is the easiest car to service that I have owned. An oil change requires little more than a bucket and wrench. The fuel filter and pollen filters are easily accessible and require no tools. The air filters are a little more fiddly (namely the drivers side because the rear screws are difficult to access) but, require no more than a screwdriver.
I used the IID tool to activate the Daylight Running Lights. A quick mod i'd recommend anyone do/get done.
Bills
Probably the question many want to know.
There was the seized rear brake caliper to replace which I got the money off for when I bought the car - this cost £110. But, as I got the money off for it as part of the deal, this isn't really a bill.
Air con pressure release valve. A common fault. As mentioned in my original post, from starting the car cold, it takes about 5 minutes for it to release and the air con to come on. This hasn't got any worse and my plan is to get the pump replaced before next summer. Since we're just a few weeks away from cold days and colder nights in the UK, this isn't going to be an issue for the next 6 months so, my plan is to keep an eye out for new old stock and grab a bargain when one comes up.
My Questions
I've got 2 questions that maybe other owners can answer for me.
1. Is there a way to switch between cruise control and speed limiter or, activate a speed limiter? This is something my Mercedes had and I found super useful because, I could set the limiter around town and on the M25, have my foot hard to the floor and still not speed.
2. I know on the newer 3.0L, an oil and filter change every 5,000 miles is considered essential. Is this the same for the 4.4? If so, anyone know why? 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
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18th Sep 2021 10:35pm
