L405 3.0 SDV6 vs 4.4 SDV8?

L405 3.0 SDV6 vs 4.4 SDV8?

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RT964

Original Poster:

291 posts

85 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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Am looking to get back into a FFRR AB but wondering about whether the 3.0 is the better engine than the 4.4 ? Have driven both and didn’t seem to be a huge amount in it on the tame accompanied test drive route I was allowed, so wanted to find out about other people’s experiences.

Have had FFRR and RRS for about 12 years but fell off the wagon into a Cayenne S for a while - very quick, but not Range Rover comfortable, so am coming back to a FFRR whilst I wait for my 510e Sport to be built …

Carbon Sasquatch

4,926 posts

71 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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Define better smile

There have been more issues with the 3.0 - in particular, crankshaft failures - and across the entire range of vehicles it is fitted to.

I preferred the 4.4 to drive, not just the engine, but something active in the suspension too.

RT964

Original Poster:

291 posts

85 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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Yes, good point, I guess “better” falls into the same category as beauty and is in the eye of the beholder !!

From my perspective, my leaning would be for the 4.4 on the basis that the 3.6TDV8 was way better than the 3.0 TDV6 and the 4.2 V8 in my cayenne is light years better than the 3.0 V6 I had in a previous cayenne (both diesels), however the 3.0 SDV6 I had in my last RRS wasn’t noticeably down on performance to the TDV8 I traded up to it from. Having said that, I didn’t find that much more grunt from the 4.4 when I drove it back to back with the 3.0 SDV6, which surprised me, hence my question.

Apologies for the waffly answer, just trying to give some context to my experiences of the different engines. My concern on the 3.0 is mainly down to its ability to accelerate the car at motorway speeds - we do quite a few trips from Surrey to Devon and the ability to have the power to comfortably overtake where possible is an important consideration (and where I have been significantly spoilt by the Cayenne).

I did wonder if there was a difference to the steering rack setup between the two engines ? The V8 is heavier than the V6 so suspect the suspension would have been tweaked to suit ?


Carbon Sasquatch

4,926 posts

71 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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I can't help much other than to say the SDV8 accelerates almost too well at those speeds, but I'm coming from earlier models rather than a Cayenne.

It also accelerates well when towing.

SmithCorona

729 posts

36 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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4.4 has adaptive dynamics which is both a blessing and a curse. It will give less lean in corners, but more patter in the overall ride quality.

If its a stop gap I would 3.0, chocolate crankshafts aside. Performance is fine on a motorway.

There's always the 5.0l...

911wise

1,872 posts

216 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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Are crankshaft failures as frequent on FFRR?

I know there maybe fewer of them but you don’t seem to hear about it as much as on say RRS and Discoveries.

Would the lower state of time help matters?

Caddyshack

11,832 posts

213 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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I bought the 4.4 and it feels just the right amount of grunt.

I spoke to a chap who buys v6s with broken cranks and rebuilds the car for profit. He said you would buy a v6 expecting the crank to break. I am sure it isn’t that bad but would recommend the v8 but get the suspension checked as the dynamic stuff eats bushes for fun. My car had virtually new suspension throughout under warranty but still lunches bushes every year or so.

RT964

Original Poster:

291 posts

85 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2023
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SmithCorona said:
There's always the 5.0l...
That’s true, but I’ve already got one gas guzzler on the fleet which does less than 16mpg, so don’t need another one that requires it’s own fuel tanker in attendance for every journey smile

AndrewO

664 posts

190 months

Wednesday 4th January 2023
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I've a 2016 SDv8....specifically went for the v8 over the v6. Had a couple of Discovery cars before this and did come across someone who had the Crank Shaft issue.

I get 31mpg average in mine, its used for trips and not local runs. Other thing is the front brakes on the V8 are huge compared to the V6, not that its going on a track or anything but its nice to have plenty of braking power.

RT964

Original Poster:

291 posts

85 months

Saturday 7th January 2023
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AndrewO said:
I've a 2016 SDv8....specifically went for the v8 over the v6. Had a couple of Discovery cars before this and did come across someone who had the Crank Shaft issue.

I get 31mpg average in mine, its used for trips and not local runs. Other thing is the front brakes on the V8 are huge compared to the V6, not that its going on a track or anything but its nice to have plenty of braking power.
That’s useful to know, always good to have big brakes !

Spleen

5,453 posts

128 months

Sunday 8th January 2023
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I have both, the 3.0 in the wife's RRS and the 4.4 in my Fatty. The RRS used to be mine and I was more than happy with the power and the engine but since running the V8 for the last 10 months I know what I prefer now. The V8 just seems to suit the car so much better. The other thing to consider is that the 3.0 in the RRS is 306 but in the FFRR is 275.

When I drive the RRS the engine feels a little rougher than the V8 but it's all relative of course and weirdly, the 3.0 feels more lively than the V8 despite less power. Doubt you'd be disappointed with either of them but if it were me, the V8 every time.

megenzo

261 posts

143 months

Sunday 8th January 2023
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ive just put a deposit on an SDV8, there isn't a lot of difference between the two but for reasons I cant put my finger on, went the SDV8, it just seems to suit the car better.

Carbon Sasquatch

4,926 posts

71 months

Sunday 8th January 2023
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megenzo said:
ive just put a deposit on an SDV8, there isn't a lot of difference between the two but for reasons I cant put my finger on, went the SDV8, it just seems to suit the car better.
That was kind of where I ended up - I needed the V8 simply because it existed - the V6 wasn't bad, but there was a V8......

RT964

Original Poster:

291 posts

85 months

Monday 9th January 2023
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Carbon Sasquatch said:
That was kind of where I ended up - I needed the V8 simply because it existed - the V6 wasn't bad, but there was a V8......
I know what you mean - if the v8 wasn’t a “better” car, why build it. And as they built it, surely it’d be rude not to buy one ?

RT964

Original Poster:

291 posts

85 months

Monday 9th January 2023
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Spleen said:
I have both, the 3.0 in the wife's RRS and the 4.4 in my Fatty. The RRS used to be mine and I was more than happy with the power and the engine but since running the V8 for the last 10 months I know what I prefer now. The V8 just seems to suit the car so much better. The other thing to consider is that the 3.0 in the RRS is 306 but in the FFRR is 275.

When I drive the RRS the engine feels a little rougher than the V8 but it's all relative of course and weirdly, the 3.0 feels more lively than the V8 despite less power. Doubt you'd be disappointed with either of them but if it were me, the V8 every time.
It’s interesting that you also noted that the V6 felt a little more lively than the V8. That was my experience too, however it was a fairly restricted accompanied test drive, so couldn’t properly stretch the legs of the cars to see how they coped at accelerating at motorway speeds for overtaking.

I think it doesn’t really matter which engine you go for, as they are both good engines. I will just look for the car with the right combination of colours, spec, mileage, age and price. The good news is that there are lots to choose from and prices have certainly softened from a few months back.

NomduJour

19,586 posts

266 months

Monday 9th January 2023
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The V6 is definitely a bit smoother, but I much prefer the way the V8 drives. One thing I don’t like is that stop/start is a constant reminder that the SDV8 is a big, old diesel - the new straight sixes are a lot nicer in that respect.

Spleen

5,453 posts

128 months

Monday 9th January 2023
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NomduJour said:
The V6 is definitely a bit smoother, but I much prefer the way the V8 drives. One thing I don’t like is that stop/start is a constant reminder that the SDV8 is a big, old diesel - the new straight sixes are a lot nicer in that respect.
Interesting, I would argue that the V8 is a lot smoother and as for the start/stop, it’s the first thing I disable when I get in the car. Can’t stand it!

cayman-black

12,925 posts

223 months

Tuesday 10th January 2023
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megenzo said:
ive just put a deposit on an SDV8, there isn't a lot of difference between the two but for reasons I cant put my finger on, went the SDV8, it just seems to suit the car better.
Congratulations, good choice. I purchased one in December Overfinch, I love it.

megenzo

261 posts

143 months

Tuesday 10th January 2023
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thanks cayman, I will hopefully pick it up on Sunday, dead excited

RT964

Original Poster:

291 posts

85 months

Friday 27th January 2023
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So just to update this thread, have put a deposit on a 2019 3.0 AB which should come next week. In the end I decided that there wasn’t enough of a difference of one engine over the other to me, so instead went looking for a car with the right combo of colour/interior/options/age/mileage and price.

Now I’m looking in to insurance options as I was surprised at the premiums being charged for one of these - more than double what I am paying for my Cayenne ! Currently with admiral on a multi-car policy, any recommendations of other insurance companies to try ?