Looking for some information / advice regarding the SV Autobiography model.

I'm currently looking at a 2017 (667 plate) in Bosphorus Grey with 67k miles and two owners.

Main concern is the timing chain and when it'll be due for replacement. 2019 L405 SDV8 Autobiography
2023 Defender P400e HSE X-dynamic - gone
2020 Defender P300 SE - gone

2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR - gone
2013 SDV8 Autobiography - gone
2011 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE - gone
2006 L322 3.6 Vogue Se - gone
1999 P38 4.0 se - gone
199? Classic 3.5 - gone

Timing chains on a 17MY won't need changing sir... The car will have the uprated parts so unlike its earlier cousins that start to chatter... The SV wont

Thanks for the info Craig.....

Is there Anyone else on the forum who currently own an SVA or have owned such a vehicle? 2019 L405 SDV8 Autobiography
2023 Defender P400e HSE X-dynamic - gone
2020 Defender P300 SE - gone

2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR - gone
2013 SDV8 Autobiography - gone
2011 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE - gone
2006 L322 3.6 Vogue Se - gone
1999 P38 4.0 se - gone
199? Classic 3.5 - gone

Well that's a relief they sorted that out.

Im looking at an L322 and the amount of owners who have waited for problems/misfire/clattering to occur before changing out the chain & gear is astounding.

Great news that you don't have that worry on the L405's!

Not 100% sure all L405’s have the revised parts fitted but, certainly from SVS/2017 they were gents… 👍

Buz1500 wrote:

Is there Anyone else on the forum who currently own an SVA or have owned such a vehicle?

Yep. have an SV

Can you summarise your ownership experiences please 2019 L405 SDV8 Autobiography
2023 Defender P400e HSE X-dynamic - gone
2020 Defender P300 SE - gone

2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR - gone
2013 SDV8 Autobiography - gone
2011 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE - gone
2006 L322 3.6 Vogue Se - gone
1999 P38 4.0 se - gone
199? Classic 3.5 - gone

Mine has been great in the 6 months I had it. The only real issue was a rear seat catch needing to be replaced. Had loads of SVR before, its just bigger lol

My ownership experience, fantastic - but it obviously depends on what you want, what sort of driving you do, and what you're used to doing it in. Vs an ordinary car its stunning in every respect. Vs a Roller/Bentley probably just about holds its own but I've no first hand experience. Vs a real sports/hyper car, its too different to be worth comparing.

I like acceleration when I want/need it. 550bhp makes this quick enough - its a bit "cabin crew, seats for take off" if you need to pull out into a constant stream of fast moving traffic and is excellent at passing other traffic very quickly in the short straights on normal roads. It handles better than any L322 I've had and can be hustled along very quickly, but its not a Lotus and I'm not looking to track it. Having said that I think its better than the Lotus Carlton that I ran for a decade in just about every respect.

Its a lovely place to be, again the best car I've ever had for eg 500 mile trip to Scotland. Very comfy, capable, and unfussed with lots of toys to play with. With a good story to listen to the time flys by, so its nothing like the slog I've experienced in some other cars.

It tows very well. I only need to tow about once a month on avg and its more than capable. Mostly a car or plant trailer at about 2 to 2.5 tons total weight. However, its not as good in that respect as the L322s were (probably due to the lighter weight of the car). Its more sensitive to getting the nose weight right and you're much more conscious that you're towing, but its still excellent.

There's a couple of annoyances.

The powered rear seat mechanisms are just hopeless and far worse than the manual clipped seats, not least because the squabs stay in place but also the daft amount of time required to effect any change and the difficulty with trapping the rear seat belts when putting the seatbacks back upright. I rarely use the rear seats nor need the extra luggage space so not so bad for me, but I couldn't live with it if a daily occurance.

It is still a big old bus with all the parking and narrow lane issues that that involves.

However luxurious, its still a JLR product so will be flakey at times. Mine's been great for the most part over the last 20 months but there's still the odd time when things don't do what you'd expect. There's been the odd time when the deployable steps stick. A couple of times the central screen hasn't come on when starting the car (restarting made it work). The Collision warning and AEB systems can be alarming if they kick in when not required - alarm sound and flashing driver intervene screen msg and me and my passenger are wondering what its seen that we haven't! Worse still if that's combined with automatic heavy braking when not required - only happened a couple of times when overtaking lorries on motorways, but must surprise those following as much as me as the driver. Annoyingly it didn't activate the one time I did need it and I nudged into the back of someone at ~1mph!

Overall the best car I've ever had for what I need and very difficult to know how I'll be happy to move on from it. Maybe the Lotus Eletra... Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)

Hi,

How do you find yours at pulling from a stand still etc. not sure if mine needs a gearbox reset for the addaptions? My previous SVRs just went when you hit the throttle. My SV seems to have a slight delay at first then rockets off.

Interesting. Mostly I'd say it goes when I ask - particularly from stationary at junctions or for overtaking. However, there's been a number of occasions - particularly approaching roundabouts when coasting and I've then wanted to pull into a gap when the response has not been as instantaneous as required. Not yet been dangerous but makes me look a numpty driver - appearing to hesitate too long then leap into the gap a bit late and at a silly speed. Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)

Yeah sounds like mine lol. it's in the dealer at the moment having the transfer case oil flush and reset. Might ask them to reset the adaptions. Wish I had a tool to do it myself but a lot to fork out just for that lol

Following this thread with keen interest as I am considering a 2016 SVAutobiograhy LWB or 2017 SVAutobiography

Will be interesting to note the differences between the 2. I am aware that the tech was updated in the 2016, but not sure if the R200k (GBP10k) is really worth it. Also, the rear seats of the 2016 LWB looks much more comfortable than the “standard seats” in the 2017.

decisions decisions

That's news to me in itself. I thought the SVAs didn't start until the 17 MY (late 2016) and all came with the updated screen (updated again for the 2018 face lift, of course). Maybe different in different market areas... Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)