About to order an MY18. Was thinking AB, but the I can't live with the executive seating as I need the boot space, so would need to delete that option. Speccing an SE comes in at 100k, while the AB is 107k. I can't seem to find what I'm getting for the extra 7k, having specced the SE with AB features I want (wheels, pre-heater, paint, lights). The only thing I can't spec which I want is leather headlining, but the extra is hard to justify just for that option.

There used to be a bullet point list in the brochure, but that's gone now from what I can see. Is there anything on the AB worth having? If executive seating was a small premium on the AB I would probably have gone AB, but deleting it might be a mistake for resale.

From what I’ve read here, quite a few will be deleting it, so the upgraded rear seats may even still be the resale liability that the old ones were when they were added to the MY17.

I went for the AB on the MY17 for one reason only and it’s still valid; having got used to the leather dash and door tops on the D4, I didn’t want to spend this much and have to do without it. But in the AB, the extended leather goes so much further, even across the front of the dash, much deeper on the doors and even (it would appear) on the sides of the centre console. This was not even an option on the SE

Exec seats are nco on AB,

I agree with Red Merle, most people will probably spec the AB without the exec seating as it makes it much more versatile.

In future, as now, when looking for a used FFRR people will just look around for the spec they want and I don't think having the "normal" seats will make it less desirable. Could even be the opposite!

When it comes to resale, the used value for a £107k AB will be far more than a £100k VSE as used values tend to ignore the price of any options, so all that extra cash you spend on the VSE option list will largely be lost when you sell.

Personally, if I had that sort of cash and its only £7k difference, I'd be going with an AB and standard rear seats.

Good luck  2021 D350 Fifty Edition - Carpathian Grey
2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography (2021-2024) - Santorini Black
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster (2016-2021) - Santorini Black

PP Don’t forget to spec the extra soft winged front head rests if you go for the VSE. They are standard on the AB and most people comment on them being so nice. Otherwise having looked at the FY18 builder and brochure, I agree with your assessment. MY23 D350 HSE
On my 7th RR plus various other JLR vehicles

Rob99

If you take a look at approved used RR’s there isn’t much price differentiation between the VSE and AB for similar age, spec etc. Certainly not the same differential as the relative new prices. I think the lesson is that AB’s depreciate at a faster rate compared to VSE’s because most people are happy with a VSE spec when buying used and aren’t prepared to pay much more for an AB. MY23 D350 HSE
On my 7th RR plus various other JLR vehicles

I went the other way and ticked the options on a VSE to the tune of an extra £10k, but then there was a hefty discount off that.

I got the spec I wanted plus there are options that I wanted anyway which were also in addition to an AB spec.

You really need to do what I did, spec both a VSE with the options you want and do the same with an AB and the options you want - then make an informed decision - edited just re read your post and seen you have already done this  2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

Phil. wrote:

PP Don’t forget to spec the extra soft winged front head rests if you go for the VSE. They are standard on the AB and most people comment on them being so nice.

I don’t understand that at all They’re one of the best bits!

I suppose that one way of trying to fathom out the relative future values of a £100k SE vsAB with exec seats vs AB without exec seats is to configure all the on line, and then press the finance quote button.

This will give you the monthly payments on all, which is based on the financing of the list value and LRs projected future value. The bigger the gap = more to finance which will show you which will give you the best/easiest resell in 3 years. A good indicator maybe although not a precise science.

^ That does sound like a reasonable plan. Would be interesting to see what result you get for values in 3 years.

Of course, in 2020 there's supposedly a full electric Range Rover coming out.......or did i just imagine that  2021 D350 Fifty Edition - Carpathian Grey
2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography (2021-2024) - Santorini Black
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster (2016-2021) - Santorini Black

Red Merle wrote:

I went for the AB on the MY17 for one reason only and it’s still valid; having got used to the leather dash and door tops on the D4, I didn’t want to spend this much and have to do without it. But in the AB, the extended leather goes so much further, even across the front of the dash, much deeper on the doors and even (it would appear) on the sides of the centre console. This was not even an option on the SE

My doors are leather, as is the top and most of the dash - headlining isn't 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

A bit of a mystery there; I’ve not seen a VSE with a leather dash before and I looked at quite a few, while none in the brochure photos had it either

Vogue wrote:

My doors are leather, as is the top and most of the dash - headlining isn't