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Recently sold my RR Sport TDV8 HST and replaced it with an ML 420 CDi Sport (with AMG kit) so I thought I'd share a few of my experiences with owning three different V8 twin-turbo diesels from three different manufacturers, in case anyone was looking at purchasing a vehicle like one of these in the near future.
First up, the Audi Q7 4.2 V8 TDi S-Line:
The only seven seater of the three I owned, the two seats did come in handy at times but once the extra seats are in position there is almost no boot space.
Fuel economy was the worse of the three; I really had to concentrate on a steady 60mph run to achieve anything over 25mpg and around town it always seemed to hang around the 20mpg mark.
Ride was pretty stiff and harsh for what is essentially a Chelski tractor but it made up for that by being the best handling of the three, I could throw it round corners the other two wouldn't dream of. The seats weren't particularly comfortable it must be said, but the second row of seats had the most space of the three, which is quite deceiving.
Tyre wear was hideous, the tyres were all brand new Michelin when I bought it and by the time I came to sell five months and 6000 miles later, the fronts weren't far off needing to be replaced.
The 326bhp/479 lbs/ft torque the engine kicked out was fantastic, although this was the first of the V8 diesels so I didn't have a great deal to compare it to. It never once ran out of puff and the six speed box was more than up to the task.
Cost of maintenance (non wear & tear) during ownership:£500
Next up, the RR Sport TDV8 HST:
The layout of the interior dash is one of this vehicles very few downfalls, the Audi and the Mercedes layouts of knobs and buttons are much easier on the eye, although the RRS is very simple to use; pretty much everything has the one button whereas the Teutonic pair have sub-menus for sub-menus for menus.
Fuel economy was the middle of the three; mid 20s mpg around town and 30mpg on a run.
This was the most comfortable of the three, the seats were like being sat in your favourite armchair; the armrest on your left was bang level with the top of the door card so you didn't have to slump to the side like you end up doing on a long journey in the ML & Q7. The air suspension was also the best of the three, the Q7 had 21" alloys, the ML and the Sport have 22" but the Sport soaked up almost everything whereas whenever the Q7 went over a garden pea you could feel it.
Tyre wear was excellent, I fitted brand new Toyo Proxes when I put the Overfinch alloys on and they had only used maybe 2-3mm all round after approximately 7000 miles.
The 3.6 TDV8 engine put out 272bhp and 472lbs/ft torque but didn't feel anymore sluggish compared to the Q7, if anything it felt quicker when going from 3rd-4th-5th gear.
Cost of maintenance (non wear & tear) during ownership: £0
Last but not least, the ML 420 CDi Sport (with full AMG kit):
I've only had the ML a month, but I've already done circa 2000 miles.
It does have a similar to the driving feel of the Audi, like an estate car on steroids almost, but one noticeable difference is the seats are a lot comfier than the Q7; much better side and back support. Not as good as the RRS though...
Overall fuel economy so far is the best of the three; mid to late 20's mpg locally and I've had it as high as 35mpg on a run.
Performance is good; 306bhp & 516 lbs/ft torque means I can catch out quite a few when the mood takes me, I also found out from a friend that it'll do 120 in 6th gear with another gear to go.
I've not really had it long enough to notice tyre wear too much to be honest.
Cost of maintenance (non wear & tear) during ownership so far: £350.
If I was to choose them in order of preference, it would be:
1. RR Sport
2. Mercedes ML
3. Audi Q7.
First up, the Audi Q7 4.2 V8 TDi S-Line:
The only seven seater of the three I owned, the two seats did come in handy at times but once the extra seats are in position there is almost no boot space.
Fuel economy was the worse of the three; I really had to concentrate on a steady 60mph run to achieve anything over 25mpg and around town it always seemed to hang around the 20mpg mark.
Ride was pretty stiff and harsh for what is essentially a Chelski tractor but it made up for that by being the best handling of the three, I could throw it round corners the other two wouldn't dream of. The seats weren't particularly comfortable it must be said, but the second row of seats had the most space of the three, which is quite deceiving.
Tyre wear was hideous, the tyres were all brand new Michelin when I bought it and by the time I came to sell five months and 6000 miles later, the fronts weren't far off needing to be replaced.
The 326bhp/479 lbs/ft torque the engine kicked out was fantastic, although this was the first of the V8 diesels so I didn't have a great deal to compare it to. It never once ran out of puff and the six speed box was more than up to the task.
Cost of maintenance (non wear & tear) during ownership:£500
Next up, the RR Sport TDV8 HST:
The layout of the interior dash is one of this vehicles very few downfalls, the Audi and the Mercedes layouts of knobs and buttons are much easier on the eye, although the RRS is very simple to use; pretty much everything has the one button whereas the Teutonic pair have sub-menus for sub-menus for menus.
Fuel economy was the middle of the three; mid 20s mpg around town and 30mpg on a run.
This was the most comfortable of the three, the seats were like being sat in your favourite armchair; the armrest on your left was bang level with the top of the door card so you didn't have to slump to the side like you end up doing on a long journey in the ML & Q7. The air suspension was also the best of the three, the Q7 had 21" alloys, the ML and the Sport have 22" but the Sport soaked up almost everything whereas whenever the Q7 went over a garden pea you could feel it.
Tyre wear was excellent, I fitted brand new Toyo Proxes when I put the Overfinch alloys on and they had only used maybe 2-3mm all round after approximately 7000 miles.
The 3.6 TDV8 engine put out 272bhp and 472lbs/ft torque but didn't feel anymore sluggish compared to the Q7, if anything it felt quicker when going from 3rd-4th-5th gear.
Cost of maintenance (non wear & tear) during ownership: £0
Last but not least, the ML 420 CDi Sport (with full AMG kit):
I've only had the ML a month, but I've already done circa 2000 miles.
It does have a similar to the driving feel of the Audi, like an estate car on steroids almost, but one noticeable difference is the seats are a lot comfier than the Q7; much better side and back support. Not as good as the RRS though...
Overall fuel economy so far is the best of the three; mid to late 20's mpg locally and I've had it as high as 35mpg on a run.
Performance is good; 306bhp & 516 lbs/ft torque means I can catch out quite a few when the mood takes me, I also found out from a friend that it'll do 120 in 6th gear with another gear to go.
I've not really had it long enough to notice tyre wear too much to be honest.
Cost of maintenance (non wear & tear) during ownership so far: £350.
If I was to choose them in order of preference, it would be:
1. RR Sport
2. Mercedes ML
3. Audi Q7.
