Slimer
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Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
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| D4 Test Drive - My Review |
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I took one of these new fangled D4 thangs out for a spin at lunchtime to see what all the fuss is about...
Spec: 3.0l TDV6 XS
Suspension: Better but probably not the huge improvement over the D3 that some seem to suggest (there again I have no issues with the D3 set-up on my current 08MY D3 SE, which seem a bit less 'wallowy' than my previous 05MY D3 S anyway). Threw it around some twisty corners with ease and at one point accelerated quite hard into one of those ones with chevron signs suggesting it's quite tight, it coped well and there was a brief hint that DSC had cut in (or that may have been my bottle going...), not once did it feel unstable.
Engine: Definitely pokier but no huge wow factor, there is still some lag evident when pulling away normally, I'd say it's worse than my untuned manual D3 which has almost none. It was very new though so no doubt will loosen up. I did manage some tyre squeal though pulling away hard right at a t-junction with it in sport and my foot firmly planted to the floor, wish I'd held it on the brakes and bought the revs up first
Gearbox: Would still prefer a manual but it's a damn fine auto box
Likes: Instant mpg readout - SatNav responds quicker to input
Dislikes: SatNav show less map now due to the chunkier buttons on the screen - No Kmh markings on the speedo (though I gather the digital one in the message centre can be changed to kmh, would prefer it on the dial) - TR knob and height/range change buttons; positioned in front of the gear stick found I had to look and reach for them, on the D3 you just rest your arm on the centre console and they fall naturally to hand. Buttons are just that now, buttons rather than small levers and as such not half as reassuring to use - Manual seats, leather ones slightly comfier than the cloth ones I had on my S but still sadly lacking in adjust-ability and after only a 30min drive I wanted to change them
Will I buy one? It a natural evolution from the D3 so definitely, as soon as they bring out an SE or make the electric seats available on the XS (or I suddenly get rich enough for an HSE) The End
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 8th Sep 2009 3:31 pm |
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Bodsy
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Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
 
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Good review.  Bodsys Brake Bible
D4/D3 Remote FBH heat kits
BAS Remaps/ EGR Blank
Transmission Flush
Software updates/enabling
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset
See It Here
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| 8th Sep 2009 4:12 pm |
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Bodsy
Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
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On the Instant MPG readout, does it have Trip MPG as well as overall MPG since last reset? Bodsys Brake Bible
D4/D3 Remote FBH heat kits
BAS Remaps/ EGR Blank
Transmission Flush
Software updates/enabling
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset
See It Here
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| 8th Sep 2009 4:17 pm |
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Winger
Site Moderator
Member Since: 15 Feb 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 3428
 
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Yes, three of them. One automatic, then A and B. The automatic one get reset with each engine cycle, but can be added together manually to A.
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| 8th Sep 2009 4:24 pm |
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Bodsy
Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
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Excellent, I missed that from my Merc. Bodsys Brake Bible
D4/D3 Remote FBH heat kits
BAS Remaps/ EGR Blank
Transmission Flush
Software updates/enabling
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset
See It Here
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| 8th Sep 2009 5:13 pm |
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DigitalJunior
Member Since: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 4398
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Mental note  - don't buy a demo after Slimer has taken it out SOLD - 23my Range Rover Sport D300 Dynamic SE
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| 8th Sep 2009 5:14 pm |
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promitheus
Member Since: 04 Jul 2009
Location: Afidnes, Greece
Posts: 570
 
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Thanks for the concise review Slimer.
I had a chance to play with a D4 SatNav a few days ago, I think it's identical (or at least very very similar) to the FL2 one. So, regarding the displayed buttons, let me add that although the map is smaller when the buttons are in use, they should automatically disappear as soon as you stop using them and then the map occupies the whole lot of the screen. Good news I hope! 8)
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| 8th Sep 2009 7:19 pm |
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Slimer
Site Moderator
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
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promitheus, sounds good, so I should have left it alone for a while 
DJ, I'm sure someone one here was saying you should thrash them to run them in  TBH I didn't do anything I wouldn't do in my own vehicle in a spirited moment and most of the test drive was just normal driving and chatting to the LR sales guy, if you want to compare how a vehicle is everyday use there's not much point in driving it differently to how you would normally
One thing I forgot to mention above is the brakes, they don't seem to stop it any quicker than the TDV6 D3 brakes do but they do feel 'beefier' and give you a bit more confidence of their ability to do the job (not that the D3 ones have ever let me down or let me thing they would  ) The End
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| 8th Sep 2009 9:38 pm |
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nismo
Member Since: 03 Feb 2009
Location: helsby
Posts: 332
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good wording now do you think the knob for terrain settin will fit on the d3 like the shiny one
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| 8th Sep 2009 9:45 pm |
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Slimer
Site Moderator
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
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Dunno, might be easier just to buy yourself a can of chrome paint  The End
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| 8th Sep 2009 10:05 pm |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
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Getting itchy then Si 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
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| 8th Sep 2009 10:08 pm |
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Slimer
Site Moderator
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
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Na, I'm good for a while After todays drive I'm confident I'm not missing out on anything too much and happy to stick with things the D4 doesn't offer for now; SE spec, manual gearbox and room for a second battery 
Though I have got another test drive booked at a different dealer on Saturday..... The End
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| 8th Sep 2009 10:15 pm |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
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 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
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| 8th Sep 2009 10:17 pm |
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promitheus
Member Since: 04 Jul 2009
Location: Afidnes, Greece
Posts: 570
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So Slimer, we'll be waiting for a longer review and some pics possibly?
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| 9th Sep 2009 9:21 am |
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Landylad
Member Since: 23 Dec 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 366
 
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In response to Slimer's review and comments;
Suspension/Handling - you may have a point there about the 05/08 differences. All I can say is that it's much more firm and much more assertive/positive than my 05 D3. No wallow through the 2nd part of a corner whatsover. So for me, a big, big improvement.
Brakes - well I just replaced my discs and pads on my D3 and although they were better than before, they were still a bit wooly. New D4 brakes are so much better in both feel and sensitivity (not sure by how much, but the discs are bigger are they not, so stands to reason they'll be better).
Lag - On gentle take off, yes, there seems to be a reasonable amount of lag. But plant it and it eliminates this, almosty to the point of being irrelivant.
Box - I'm not a big auto fan, but I'm actually loving the new auto over my old manual. Tis the way forward for lazy oafs in big gas guzzling off roaders. Wouldn't swap it now if LR came out with a manual alternative. So slick and barely any noticable change up through the gears. If in doot, flat oot!!
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| 9th Sep 2009 2:15 pm |
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