Having a look around with a thought to Changing to the RRS2, was always thinking 3.0 but have seen a few SDV8 4.4's around which I'd never really considered, any reasons not to consider the 4.4 anyone? ____________________
Current: MY2019 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography in Carpathian Grey
Gone: MY2015 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in Corris Grey with ebony and lunar leather
Gone: MY2013 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition in Orkney Grey, piano trim, black leather with contrast stitch

If you don't cover big annual miles a 5.0ltr S/C would be more fun............. and cost less to buy used too. Unfortunately in Scotland we are canny buyers and don't buy many 5.0ltr S/C's so they are dammed hard to find! My local dealer in Stirling has a used SDv8 in Fuji on their forecourt, it has been there at least 4 months, maybe longer, and it has big miles on it, price may be negotiable. Performance wise the SDV8 has about 0.3sec better 0-60 acceleration over a 306HP SDv6 - so no advantage there. Fuel consumption is worse, tax is higher due to huge emissions and it is heavier than the SDV6 with all the extra weight over the front wheels spoiling the handling a bit. I suppose if you have to have a V8 then go for one but it has few advantages over the SDv6 - a nice throatiness to the engine note and the older ones don't need adblue are all I can think of.......... 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Last edited by Tim in Scotland on Wed Jul 05 2017 10:46pm. Edited 1 time in total

Just cost. The SDV8 engine is awesome, with pulling power that thrusts you back in your seat if you need it, plus it sounds great. Having driven an SDV6 since I bought my SDV8, I couldn't believe how sluggish it seemed, both pulling away from a standstill and also accelerating at motorway speeds. I also get phenomenal mileage (indicated* 30-35 mpg on average, 40+ at motorway speed). However, those that have the V6 engine rate it highly, and I'm sure it achieves everything you'd need.....but, if you can bring yourself to spend an extra £6,500, I would go for it!

(*probably 10% less in reality).

Click image to enlarge

Tim,,Ive been looking at changing my14 sdv6 AB for a 5.0sc as I only do 4K a year & they seam to be 5-7k more for the sc against the sdv6 for same year.

Andy. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

If I just did 4k miles a year, I'd have the 5.0 in a heartbeat.

Heck, doing nearly 30k a year I'm still tempted...  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

If you're a pottering driver, never going above 2.5k revs, there will be little difference between the 6 and the 8. If you like to use a few revs, the SDV8 will be better above 2500 rpm.

Have a look at the specs here: http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/lan.../2016.html and compare power curves for the various versions. You'll see that the the SDV6 and SDV8 are similar below 2.5k rpm.

Add the 5.0 to the list and both diesels out perform it below 3500rpm. Above 4k rpm, the 5.0 is obviously in a league of its own. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Thanks guys, road tax would be the same as my current SDV6 Black edition, insurance would be up and I'm thinking mpg much the same as currently getting? I'm doing around 12K miles a year... so for a bit more power only talking extra for insurance.. bit concerned re the extra weight at the front and the impact on handling... food for thought tho as before tonight I'd have flicked past the 4.4's! ____________________
Current: MY2019 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography in Carpathian Grey
Gone: MY2015 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in Corris Grey with ebony and lunar leather
Gone: MY2013 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition in Orkney Grey, piano trim, black leather with contrast stitch

RRSTDV8 wrote:

If I just did 4k miles a year, I'd have the 5.0 in a heartbeat.

Heck, doing nearly 30k a year I'm still tempted...

KennyR wrote:

Thanks guys, road tax would be the same as my current SDV6 Black edition, insurance would be up and I'm thinking mpg much the same as currently getting? I'm doing around 12K miles a year... so for a bit more power only talking extra for insurance.. bit concerned re the extra weight at the front and the impact on handling... food for thought tho as before tonight I'd have flicked past the 4.4's!

Cheers Donny, I did an insurance comparison last night and the 4.4 did come in more expensive but only by £20! .. amazing how a car I've flicked past while searching is now right up there!! ____________________
Current: MY2019 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography in Carpathian Grey
Gone: MY2015 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography in Corris Grey with ebony and lunar leather
Gone: MY2013 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition in Orkney Grey, piano trim, black leather with contrast stitch

Not sure if this relevant or not but certainly worth a thought. The V8 3.6 I have does not have timing belts....guessing the SDV8 4.4 is the same. One less thing to worry about breaking. Nor the cost of replacing! Had mine retune by BAS. even more grunt and on trips the fuel economy is better!

The TDV8 doesn't have belts, true, but it has sub-optimally positioned turbos which do cause problems. Oh, and access to change most things is much more onerous than the V6s. But it is a cracking engine. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

when you also factor in the habit of SDV6 engines to snap their cranks, the SDV8 is a no-brainer  --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport Supercharged V8 HSE Dynamic



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ

I'd have the SDV8, that's for sure...  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed