I am looking to get back into a FFRR. My budget is around the 35k mark. Looking at Autotrader, this gets me a +/- 70k miles 2016 Autobiography or a 2017 Vogue / Vogue SE.
Is the 2017 upgrade of the sat-nav and audio interface something worth having? Is there something else the 2017 models had which the 2016 models didn’t?

The 2017 model year FFRR is a bit of an oddity, being virtually identical to previous years except for the nav system, this came with an update to the networking systems within the vehicle which means some diagnostic systems may not be able to fully read the vehicle.
The update of the nav system is worth having (having user updatable mapping via USB) but the telematic system which provides traffic info only supports 3G networks for data which are in the process of being phased out (4G support came with the 2018 systems). 3G switch-off info here
Other than this I wouldn't consider it worth going for a 2017 over a potentially higher spec'd 2016, there are third party options for upgrading the ICE system.
Personally I'd look for a 2018 facelift model, worth it for the MUCH improved headlights alone (living in the countryside I found the main beam on my previous 2017 fattie pathetic coming from a D4), also the telematics should retain full function following the switch off of the 3G networks.

Thank you, your view is much appreciated. I agree, the massage seats and the auxiliary heater are probably much more use to me than the faster ICE. The 2018 facelift models are out of my reach as the are all +45k. Just to add, I am looking for a SDV8.

Another benefit of cars registered after 1 April 2017 vs the 2016 ones is that from its 6th birthday the VED/road tax reduces to only £180 p.a.

Even at todays prices a £500 annual saving buys around 2400 miles of motoring!

I think all 2016 models with the start/stop are £395 tax, are they not? 2015 and earlier are £675 for the SDV8.

scan autotrader for the type of FF you want...then go to running costs bit and you'll see the cost of tax... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Pits, sea, is correct. The April onwards 2017 model is £180.

Pitsnow your dogs are just beautiful. overfinch modified

Pitsnow - Thanks for the reminder, I'd forgotten that the VED also reduced a fair bit for the EU6/adblue models from 2016. I think for me that with the updates for 2017 and VED further reduced, the sweet spot though would still be a 2017 one. It'll be my next change I hope.

Good luck with your searches

I looked at both and went for a 2017. There were so few 2018s on the market at reasonable money when I was looking last year. The screen is a bit nicer than earlier ones as mentioned, the cheap road tax came as a pleasant shock to me, but you'll probably spend half the saving on Adblue, mine seems to drink it.

Go for the best of both worlds and find a 2017 AB if you can. Although, the differences are minimal and the massage seats are nothing to shout about IMO. I think I've used them twice.

Interesting comment above by Fifth Horseman, that sheds some contextual light on the issue I have that I have no traffic info (seemingly I should insert a SIM card), but my old L322 had traffic info all on its own somehow. 2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in black
2018 D300 SE Velar in champagne
Spiffing wheel centre caps, L322 sill repair panels, etc

Did the L322 have the old RDS-TMC traffic system? Cars I had when that was new did and while it’s better than nothing, it’s nowhere near as good as more modern internet based live traffic.

I had a couple of BMWs before the RR and both had built in SIM cards, so it was a bit strange having to buy a SIM card for the RR, but it’s not much of a hassle as I bought a Three Data SIM which lasts 24 months. MY23 Panamera E-Hybrid
MY19 SDV8 Autobiography - Sold