LR4 Re-purchase (2011 to 2016)

Its been a while since my last post/visit here. I just looked up these threads I started years ago when I bought my 2011 LR4:

http://www.landroverworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22565
http://www.landroverworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23390
http://www.landroverworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22689
http://www.landroverworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22592

Amazingly, very little has changed regarding how I feel about LR4. I love it even more now actually
I think it is the single most capable and versatile vehicle on the market today.
Past few years of ownership were not trouble free, but it brought us so many memories and joy that we overlooked the flaws and bought another.

Our 2011 did not have an HD package, but the 2-speed transfer case has been great. I had purchased a full size spare which came in very very handy on a trip to Moab where one to the Cooper Zeons and a wheel were annihilated (Lesson: Always have a full size spare if you go off road).

Apparently LR corporation decided to remove the 2-speed transfer case as standard equipment. So I had to find a vehicle with HD package (which I did). It just made things a lot more difficult since most units come without it. They come loaded with stuff I don't want, yet missing what makes a Land Rover a Land Rover. Go figure.

I was prepared to being supremely disappointed in the V6 engine, since the V8 was sweet. But the V6 is not bad (that is as far as I'll go). This must be a cost cutting measure also, since the gas mileage is not much better than the far superior V8.

OK then. Enough complaining. Now on to a few more years of happy rover-ing.
Body-on-frame vehicles are a dying breed - so let's enjoy them while we can

Cheers!

Congrats! Any photos of your new puppy?

I think the blown V6, coupled with (questionable) technology such as the standard Stop/Start system, allows Land Rover to achieve fuel economy numbers for the LR4 that they needed to meet certain Federal or State emissions / fuel economy requirements - on paper, anyway. In the real world, I agree with you that mileage on such a heavy vehicle is unlikely to improve in a meaningful way by simply switching from a NAV8 to a very similar SCV6 with a little less horsepower. Also, their marketing dept probably objected to a base LR4 being offered with a standard V8, while their base Range Rover and Range Rover Sport now come fitted with a less powerful V6. Things will likely make more sense when the new, and likely much lighter, Discovery is introduced in a year or two.

Thanks Umberto.
No photos yet. But I'll add them soon

I'll have to agree with your "marketing dept" hypothesis i.e. offering a V8 in a lowly LR4 as standard equipment, while the mighty RR does not come standard with one. I really don't see any other reason for it.

This might sound a bit silly, but I also wanted to get the last year of this LR4/Discovery body style (which I adore). Personally, I am not a fan of the styling direction LR corp is headed. I think some styles look pleasant to the eye at first but over time they become less so.
There are some timeless and iconic designs e.g. Beetle, Porsche 911 and the boxy Land Rovers. I think the current LR4/Discovery is one of those iconic designs.

Welcome back, jamgolf! I certainly remember you. I also had a 2011 and then got a 2013.

Finlayforprez said:

Welcome back, jamgolf! I certainly remember you. I also had a 2011 and then got a 2013.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the greetings back.
Thats quite an impressive list of mods you've got on your '13.
I am glad to be back

Welcome back. I sold my LR3 and then after making a brief stop with BMW I came back to an LR4 myself.

jamgolf said:

Thanks for the greetings back.
Thats quite an impressive list of mods you've got on your '13.
I am glad to be back

Click to expand...

Thanks! It's been quite a journey over the past couple years!

I will say that anything you do to these things requires a lot of patience, tools, and access to a welder. HAHA!

I have a lot of photos all over the place on here and my instagram (that's about all I can handle for the internet and social media). Instagram = same name as here, finlayforprez

Had Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs installed soon after the purchase. We have been on a couple of trips in the last 4 weeks putting on ~3300 miles and both the vehicle and the Duratrac tires have performed very well.

jamgolf said:

Its been a while since my last post/visit here. I just looked up these threads I started years ago when I bought my 2011 LR4:

http://www.landroverworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22565
http://www.landroverworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23390
http://www.landroverworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22689
http://www.landroverworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22592

Amazingly, very little has changed regarding how I feel about LR4. I love it even more now actually
I think it is the single most capable and versatile vehicle on the market today.
Past few years of ownership were not trouble free, but it brought us so many memories and joy that we overlooked the flaws and bought another.

Our 2011 did not have an HD package, but the 2-speed transfer case has been great. I had purchased a full size spare which came in very very handy on a trip to Moab where one to the Cooper Zeons and a wheel were annihilated (Lesson: Always have a full size spare if you go off road).

Apparently LR corporation decided to remove the 2-speed transfer case as standard equipment. So I had to find a vehicle with HD package (which I did). It just made things a lot more difficult since most units come without it. They come loaded with stuff I don't want, yet missing what makes a Land Rover a Land Rover. Go figure.

I was prepared to being supremely disappointed in the V6 engine, since the V8 was sweet. But the V6 is not bad (that is as far as I'll go). This must be a cost cutting measure also, since the gas mileage is not much better than the far superior V8.

OK then. Enough complaining. Now on to a few more years of happy rover-ing.
Body-on-frame vehicles are a dying breed - so let's enjoy them while we can

Cheers!

Click to expand...

I agree on the style piece which is why I decided to go for the last of the current gen (2016) but I can't agree on the engine. I had a 2011 RRS so I am highly familiar with the great (but thirsty!) V8 5L. But this SCV6 is really leaving me nothing to be desired, I even like how it sounds. When I start the car up, it still "sounds like a LR product" if that makes any sense, and the pull when you floor it is most definitely not weak! Impressive. Also, it's damn smooth, like, I think just as smooth as that V8.

As for the start stop tech being questionable ... I ask the Encore Specialist who came to my home to go over anything in the car post-delivery, about it, and he said ever since it was introduced their (large) dealership hasn't had a single issue with this new system or the enhanced twin-solenoid starter it necessitates. Also, you should know that in engine rundown 'change of mind' scenarios, should you change your mind about the stop (or the start), the twin-solenoid system allows the engine to spin back up even while it's turning off, providing seamless power--"while still saving up to 5 percent in fuel and emissions the rest of the time." "It is able to reenergise the engine via rapidly refuelling the cylinders." I tested this out, very good.

And besides, the annoying "shake" of the chassis these systems inherently do, is minimized the most for us LR4 drivers, cuz the car is so heavy and solid, you almost don't feel it

Also guys, you must keep in mind that the outgoing motor yielded 15% more CO2 emissions. Americans are usually like "huh? Wassdat? Whatever, never heard of it" but it's a big, big deal for Europe...and Asia I believe as well.

We all can say whatever we want about the 5L V8, but 12/17 is a far cry from 15/19. Sure, some of it has to do with the new tranny, the dropping of the HD pack as standard, and the stop/start, but it just could not continue across the lineup for the "standard" engine.

This SCV6 for response, smoothness, and real-world get-up-n-go'ness for even a car this heavy leaves little to be desired honestly. I do not miss my 5L in my outgoing RRS. If it turns out I can avg a solid 3+ mpg more over the time I have the vehicle, then I'll certainly not miss it even further!