Hi there,
New to the forum, just thought I'd start off by telling you about my first sight of an L405, which oddly turned up in a small local village (Cheshire) today. Unfortunately didn't get a chance to take pics, was driving in a rush! Spec was Autobiography, SDV8 in Barolo with Cherry/Brogue interior (couldn't see closely enough and sitting low in an original Mini!) had the silver stripe on the flank and panoramic roof. Come to think about it, similar spec to the Paris show car. No. plate was VX12 O?? last couple of letters escape me... Actually quite good marketing to park it in this particular village; place is crawling with late model L322s and saw a couple of jealous glances towards the new car from current owners driving past!

First impressions are however a little disappointing for me it is tall like traditional FFRRs, and it certainly has presence in the flesh however the front lights seem too fussy with the odd SLR camera detailing, the roof also slopes a little too much at the rear and this particular one had some rather tacky new style wheels..

Perhaps I'm nitpicking but LR had to improve on design perfection, and it isn't quite right: the main issue is that without the surprisingly large cheese-grater of a RR grille and branding covering the car, this could have been a Lexus. Just personal opinions anyway: I was also wondering who else has seen these out and about and what do you guys reckon??

PS one good thing is that at the same, the much derided new door gills are barely noticeable in a dark colour...


Last edited by campaj1 on 28th Nov 2012 11:57am. Edited 1 time in total

I saw a new style and thought it looked fine. That said we were on opposite lanes on the M42.

One thing for sure it doesn't look like a Lexus, to me it still has the Land Rover DNA in the design.

I have the definitive test for Landrover DNA in a car, when my 2 and 9 year old daughters call it "Pappas car" it is still a Landrover. And they are good at picking the LRs from all the other SUVs/4WDs here. When they see L405 pictures (my screensaver ) they correctly identify it as Pappas car (Pappa wishes it was parked outside right now ). MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Ebajema we must be related.

My 7 year old knows which are, "Papa's cars," too.

The L405 doesn't cut it with him at the moment though.

How can one tell the difference between a SDV6 and a SDV8 on an Autobiography???
Sorry just wondering...

JJ

^^^ And the interior if you we're in an original mini

How can one tell the difference between a SDV6 and a SDV8 on an Autobiography???
Sorry just wondering...

Oops my mistake assumed Abphys only got SDV8/5.0SC for some reason... could indeed have been SDV6 then... Soz!

And the interior if you we're in an original mini

Could see the headrests and tops of the seats clear enough even from down there, also didn't have privacy glass so a bit easier to see, but as I said, can't be totally sure whether it was brogue/cherry

Hi Allan, maybe your boy needs to see it in real life for him to be convinced.

It is so funny to hear and see the girls pick out the LRs without any problem. And the Ford Explorer (that you see quite a bit here) is NOT identified as Pappa's car so that settles that dispute as well !! MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

It can be embarrassing when we are out and about especially if he spies an Evoque...

"A Defender Land Rover, they're good on muddy roads

A RR Sport Land Rover they're fast

An Evoque Land Rover they're good for going to the hair dressers in!"

I kid you not...!