Supercharge or not Supercharge - that is my question

Hi all !
I haven't used the forum since about '06/'07 so treat me as a newby.
I used to own a 91 Vogue SE 3.9v8 - then I had a P38 for a short while.
Been driving a Jeep Patriot 2.4 for the last 7 years, but having bought a caravan I now need something
to tow it with, since the Jeep wouldn't pull a pint....
I love the shape of the L322, and think I've narrowed it down now to '07 or '08
I absolutely categorically do not want a diesel.
So, here's the biggy....
Do I want a 4.2 or a 4.4 and do I want Supercharger or not ?
Is the Jag engine better than the Beemer ? or vice versa ?

Welcome to LandyZone

Freddie Fox said:

Hi all !
I haven't used the forum since about '06/'07 so treat me as a newby.
I used to own a 91 Vogue SE 3.9v8 - then I had a P38 for a short while.
Been driving a Jeep Patriot 2.4 for the last 7 years, but having bought a caravan I now need something
to tow it with, since the Jeep wouldn't pull a pint....
I love the shape of the L322, and think I've narrowed it down now to '07 or '08
I absolutely categorically do not want a diesel.
So, here's the biggy....
Do I want a 4.2 or a 4.4 and do I want Supercharger or not ?
Is the Jag engine better than the Beemer ? or vice versa ?

Click to expand...

Jag engine makes a bit more power. Personally I like the AJ8 engines. Not that the BMW engine is bad. But remember quite a few other changes introduced with the Jaguar engines. Different gearboxes, centre diff, terrain response and the Jaguar Infotainment system.

I believe the BMW powered version has smaller brakes too, allowing you to fit 18" rims (might even be 17") if you want a better choice of AT/MT tyres. Whereas the Jag powered ones need 19" factory rims to clear the brakes.

As for supercharged or not. Well why wouldn't you? You might be an mpg or two down from the na variant. But in every other way the supercharged engine is better.

Hi Freddie Fox,
Welcome back to LZ. I am on my second SC having rolled the first at 70mph on the A1, don’t ask the details, having walked away with all the windows still in place. If you can afford to run at 15 - 23mpg then there can be no question it’s the SC for certain. It has so much power and all the spares and repairs are about the same as a 4.4. Personally I was choosing between a 4.2 SC Jag or Range and once driven it’s the Range no contest. Test drive as many as you can and by the best condition you can afford.
Tricky.

300bhp/ton said:

Jag engine makes a bit more power. Personally I like the AJ8 engines. Not that the BMW engine is bad. But remember quite a few other changes introduced with the Jaguar engines. Different gearboxes, centre diff, terrain response and the Jaguar Infotainment system.

I believe the BMW powered version has smaller brakes too, allowing you to fit 18" rims (might even be 17") if you want a better choice of AT/MT tyres. Whereas the Jag powered ones need 19" factory rims to clear the brakes.

As for supercharged or not. Well why wouldn't you? You might be an mpg or two down from the na variant. But in every other way the supercharged engine is better.

Click to expand...

Tricky of York said:

Hi Freddie Fox,
Welcome back to LZ. I am on my second SC having rolled the first at 70mph on the A1, don’t ask the details, having walked away with all the windows still in place. If you can afford to run at 15 - 23mpg then there can be no question it’s the SC for certain. It has so much power and all the spares and repairs are about the same as a 4.4. Personally I was choosing between a 4.2 SC Jag or Range and once driven it’s the Range no contest. Test drive as many as you can and by the best condition you can afford.
Tricky.

Click to expand...

Thanks very much.
That was pretty much where my train of thought was going.
I don't need racing car performance. I tend to potter about.. 55 / 60 mph.
Cruise control on and relax... well, in my dreams anyway... that's what used to happen when
I drove a Range Rover. In the Jeep you never stop changing gear so no time to relax and enjoy the journey.
But that's really why I'm asking the question... since I don't chase about, will the supercharger be superfluous
extra baggage, more likely to become a problem through lack of use ?

Freddie Fox said:

Thanks very much.
That was pretty much where my train of thought was going.
I don't need racing car performance. I tend to potter about.. 55 / 60 mph.
Cruise control on and relax... well, in my dreams anyway... that's what used to happen when
I drove a Range Rover. In the Jeep you never stop changing gear so no time to relax and enjoy the journey.
But that's really why I'm asking the question... since I don't chase about, will the supercharger be superfluous
extra baggage, more likely to become a problem through lack of use ?

Click to expand...

In my humble opinion when you drive a 2 ton beast it helps to be able to get out of the way if you need to. The added benefit with the SC is the brakes are Brembo fronts that are rip your face off performance. The icing on the cake is that all SC’s are full option equipped so you don’t have to asked what features one has they’re all the same. Mine has the addition of 22” black rims for drug dealer effect, my 16 year old son is on charge of style upgrades. I would suggest stay with OEM 20” SC wheels for towing though.
Tricky.

That's great advice. Thanks Tricky. I will post pics when I find the right one.

Freddie Fox said:

That's great advice. Thanks Tricky. I will post pics when I find the right one.

Click to expand...

Good luck on your quest, feel free to ask any questions. The Range Rover Forum has a enormous amount of experience and support on tap. Remember to test every function, air suspension and gearshift before you buy as the cost to fix the snag list can be high.
Cheers Tricky.

Yes I've watched all kinds of reviews on YouTube. It strikes me that there's not such a long list.
Typically gearshift, compressor, heated/cooled seats, steering wheel adjustment...
I'm hoping to get one around 100,000mls that's had timing chain done and gearbox serviced.
In your experience is it worth replacing half shafts and cv's with Ashcroft from the get-go ?
My caravan is not massive - 6 berth on single axle - but wondered about stress on an older car...
Your thoughts ?

Freddie Fox said:

Thanks very much.
That was pretty much where my train of thought was going.
I don't need racing car performance. I tend to potter about.. 55 / 60 mph.
Cruise control on and relax... well, in my dreams anyway... that's what used to happen when
I drove a Range Rover. In the Jeep you never stop changing gear so no time to relax and enjoy the journey.
But that's really why I'm asking the question... since I don't chase about, will the supercharger be superfluous
extra baggage, more likely to become a problem through lack of use ?

Click to expand...

The Supercharger is working all the time. Also the type of supercharger is an Eaton Roots type, which is a positive displacement supercharger. This means it gives you more torque and horse power from idle, all the way to the redline. But its best performance is low to mid rpm. So you get the benefit all the time under all driving conditions.

Great help. Thank you.
So, the search begins in earnest....

Hello and welcome back

Freddie Fox said:

Great help. Thank you.
So, the search begins in earnest....

Click to expand...

That said, the regular na V8 is still nice. Just not as speedy or grunty. However if it came down to a choice of two and all things being equal apart from one having the blower. Then I think it would be a no brainer. However, you may find, in the UK at least. That an n/a V8 is somewhat rare, but might be lower mileage as a result. Most will have gone diesel. And if not diesel, then they go the full hog for the SC.

The AJV8 is the best of the bunch of all engines, far superior to the M62 BMW unit, and the wheezy RV8 of the P38..

SC engine would be my pick of the bunch for a few reasons

#1 Loads of grunt
#2 Forged internals
#3 around the same consumption of the N/A engine unless you hoon it constantly
#4 The ZF6hp26 gearbox is a far cry over the boxes used in old Range Rovers.
#5 All Superchargers work from idle, it so happens the Roots is the Least efficent of all superchargers, the Teflon coating on the rotors can also wear and you end up with little boost, which basically turns it into a massive aluminium parasite..
It also has oil in the blower which never gets changed...
If the bearings in the blower fail it makes a lovely noise

The Roots or GMC blower is the evolution of the blower first used on 2 stroke Detroits, their main and only use was Uniflow scavenging.

Respect to those who can deliver all the technical details. I agree the grunt is fantastic and gives the SC real driver appeal making it feel like big sports saloon just higher up. Mine is 151k now but drives so quietly and responsive. The speeds you are looking to drive at it’ll be ticking over silently most of the time anyway.
Tricky.

300bhp/ton said:

That said, the regular na V8 is still nice. Just not as speedy or grunty. However if it came down to a choice of two and all things being equal apart from one having the blower. Then I think it would be a no brainer. However, you may find, in the UK at least. That an n/a V8 is somewhat rare, but might be lower mileage as a result. Most will have gone diesel. And if not diesel, then they go the full hog for the SC.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your comment. I have noticed the scarcity of the n/a 4.2 - diesel is off the cards, not interested, no one will persuade me; and fortunately for me my wife is equally vehemently against the dirty smelly things (;-) so s/c it is then !!!! The search is on...

Tricky of York said:

Hi Freddie Fox,
Welcome back to LZ. I am on my second SC having rolled the first at 70mph on the A1, don’t ask the details, having walked away with all the windows still in place. If you can afford to run at 15 - 23mpg then there can be no question it’s the SC for certain. It has so much power and all the spares and repairs are about the same as a 4.4. Personally I was choosing between a 4.2 SC Jag or Range and once driven it’s the Range no contest. Test drive as many as you can and by the best condition you can afford.
Tricky.

Click to expand...

Hi Tricky, just thought i'd add a comment to follow up on the mpg issue. I mentioned that i drive a Jeep Patriot at the moment, and for about the last 3 years I have been obsessive about keeping a tab on costs. Service, tax, insurance, mot and fuel... yes everything. The Jeep is an under powered lump. 2.4 litre petrol ought really to do better in the power stakes, but hey it is what it is... mpg over the time i've been keeping tabs is averaged at 28.29 with a low of 22.16 and a high of 35.35...
I realise that an s/c will not reach those dizzying heights but comfort and power will be maxed out :-0 !!!!

Freddie Fox said:

Hi Tricky, just thought i'd add a comment to follow up on the mpg issue. I mentioned that i drive a Jeep Patriot at the moment, and for about the last 3 years I have been obsessive about keeping a tab on costs. Service, tax, insurance, mot and fuel... yes everything. The Jeep is an under powered lump. 2.4 litre petrol ought really to do better in the power stakes, but hey it is what it is... mpg over the time i've been keeping tabs is averaged at 28.29 with a low of 22.16 and a high of 35.35...
I realise that an s/c will not reach those dizzying heights but comfort and power will be maxed out :-0 !!!!

Click to expand...

Could you stop swearing please. This is an open forum

Freddie Fox said:

Hi Tricky, just thought i'd add a comment to follow up on the mpg issue. I mentioned that i drive a Jeep Patriot at the moment, and for about the last 3 years I have been obsessive about keeping a tab on costs. Service, tax, insurance, mot and fuel... yes everything. The Jeep is an under powered lump. 2.4 litre petrol ought really to do better in the power stakes, but hey it is what it is... mpg over the time i've been keeping tabs is averaged at 28.29 with a low of 22.16 and a high of 35.35...
I realise that an s/c will not reach those dizzying heights but comfort and power will be maxed out :-0 !!!!

Click to expand...

Good luck with the quest. Don’t forget to try ever button and feature, don’t rush in if not sure ask here for advice.
Tricky.
PS don’t mention J..p again it could cause a storm.

Tricky of York said:

Good luck with the quest. Don’t forget to try ever button and feature, don’t rush in if not sure ask here for advice.
Tricky.
PS don’t mention J..p again it could cause a storm.

Click to expand...

I was treating the forum like Alcoholics Anonymous - I have a problem - i admit it - i'm prepared to do something about it !!