2015 V8R Convertible Vs. 2016 V8 SVR Coupe driven
#1
10-19-2016, 02:11 PM
2015 V8R Convertible Vs. 2016 V8 SVR Coupe driven
After driving several hours to our dealer yesterday (Tuesday 18th), we arranged to test drive a gleaming, Glacier white V8 SVR with a view to possibly part exchanging our car.
So what, if any were the differences between this and our 2015 V8R?
Firstly, the outside.
This particular car was fitted with the CF bonnet vents, which are now louvered and look very sexy through the windscreen, CF mirror caps and blind spot monitoring and heated windscreen, over and above our V8R. The look of the coupe is more appealing than the convertible, as you get much more accentuation of the rear haunches which really balances the look. Moving to the front, the main differences are the air intakes on the right and left hand flanks. Looking straight on, you can almost see a Nissan GTR! The side vents on the forward rocker panels vent air that is now allowed to flow through the inner wheel arch cover at the rear of the front wheels. Around the rear, the CF active spoiler stands proud, which makes the car look at bit boy racer ‘ish. The new 20’’ wheel designs were nice in gloss black and the Pirelli’s are a slightly different wall design/pattern to the ones fitted on our car.
On the inside.
The SVR has Alcantara over the centre vent, down the inside of the passenger grab handle and on top of the rev counter and speedo binnacle, which really looks the part. The diamond quilt stitched seats are a lot more comfortable than the standard F-Type sports seats, that have the ridiculous seam that runs down the middle of them! The rev counter and speedo surrounds are in Piano Black that looks menacing. The steering wheel now has sculpted thumb grips at a quarter past nine positions and in this part of the wheel is narrower in diameter that suited my hands better than the normal round wheel that we have. The diamond stitching on the door panels looks a bit fussy in white.
The newer, larger infotainment centre was only a slight update to the older system; still slow unfortunately and the SD card based SatNav still weird and the nav display looks a little infantile! One useful function was the speed limit was displayed….in case you forgot! No CD slot of course, and no more functionality from the 2015 system.
The fun bit – Driving.
Straight into Dynamic mode! (Vmax shown on the cluster?). We drove a multitude of twisty ‘minor’ county roads and around 10 miles on the motorway. Only noticeable differences were; the extra weight up front from the AWD system that seems to make it feel nose heavy over the RWD. The steering feels sharper, which I guess is a result of the revised mapping, as does the throttle response. The throttle/accelerator also feels a little smoother or more linear on its affect on acceleration. The brake pedal felt a little more linear/smoother as well. This car was fitted with the standard steel discs.
Other than that there were no noticeable power or acceleration/handling differences noted.
The new exhaust (only from centre back) definitely gives a lower more bass note, but is no louder and possibly a little less harsh compared to our V8R. The cabin was noisy, well about the same as the convertible at around mid 80dB, maxing out at 92.
This is obviously our take on the car, based on both (husband and wife team) having previous track experience with the V6, V6S, V8S and V8R models…we are no racing drivers, but enthusiastic twisty revellers!
So, ‘you pays your money and take your choice’.
For us, it was a no brainer over the 2015 V8R; there is little difference for quite a price premium. That said, if you are moving up from a V6 model, then it will seem like a quantum leap.
So what, if any were the differences between this and our 2015 V8R?
Firstly, the outside.
This particular car was fitted with the CF bonnet vents, which are now louvered and look very sexy through the windscreen, CF mirror caps and blind spot monitoring and heated windscreen, over and above our V8R. The look of the coupe is more appealing than the convertible, as you get much more accentuation of the rear haunches which really balances the look. Moving to the front, the main differences are the air intakes on the right and left hand flanks. Looking straight on, you can almost see a Nissan GTR! The side vents on the forward rocker panels vent air that is now allowed to flow through the inner wheel arch cover at the rear of the front wheels. Around the rear, the CF active spoiler stands proud, which makes the car look at bit boy racer ‘ish. The new 20’’ wheel designs were nice in gloss black and the Pirelli’s are a slightly different wall design/pattern to the ones fitted on our car.
On the inside.
The SVR has Alcantara over the centre vent, down the inside of the passenger grab handle and on top of the rev counter and speedo binnacle, which really looks the part. The diamond quilt stitched seats are a lot more comfortable than the standard F-Type sports seats, that have the ridiculous seam that runs down the middle of them! The rev counter and speedo surrounds are in Piano Black that looks menacing. The steering wheel now has sculpted thumb grips at a quarter past nine positions and in this part of the wheel is narrower in diameter that suited my hands better than the normal round wheel that we have. The diamond stitching on the door panels looks a bit fussy in white.
The newer, larger infotainment centre was only a slight update to the older system; still slow unfortunately and the SD card based SatNav still weird and the nav display looks a little infantile! One useful function was the speed limit was displayed….in case you forgot! No CD slot of course, and no more functionality from the 2015 system.
The fun bit – Driving.
Straight into Dynamic mode! (Vmax shown on the cluster?). We drove a multitude of twisty ‘minor’ county roads and around 10 miles on the motorway. Only noticeable differences were; the extra weight up front from the AWD system that seems to make it feel nose heavy over the RWD. The steering feels sharper, which I guess is a result of the revised mapping, as does the throttle response. The throttle/accelerator also feels a little smoother or more linear on its affect on acceleration. The brake pedal felt a little more linear/smoother as well. This car was fitted with the standard steel discs.
Other than that there were no noticeable power or acceleration/handling differences noted.
The new exhaust (only from centre back) definitely gives a lower more bass note, but is no louder and possibly a little less harsh compared to our V8R. The cabin was noisy, well about the same as the convertible at around mid 80dB, maxing out at 92.
This is obviously our take on the car, based on both (husband and wife team) having previous track experience with the V6, V6S, V8S and V8R models…we are no racing drivers, but enthusiastic twisty revellers!
So, ‘you pays your money and take your choice’.
For us, it was a no brainer over the 2015 V8R; there is little difference for quite a price premium. That said, if you are moving up from a V6 model, then it will seem like a quantum leap.