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I had a P400 110 for 30,000 flawless miles over two and a half years of ownership. Just took delivery of a P300 90 and am, so far (with 300 miles on it), quite pleased. I do notice a couple of things that are different: (1) when I turn off the 90, there is an increasingly loud fan in the front driver's side... leaving me to wonder what cooling function the P300 has that the P400 didn't. I mean, especially in a closed garage, it builds up to quite a loud pitch; (2) with the engine off, opening a door triggers three or four rapid clicks that almost sound like turning over a car with a battery so dead that it won't engage the starter... nothing appears wrong, nor is the charging system indicating a fault. Again, not heard on the P400, but have now heard 4 or 5 times on the P300; and (3) the start-up exhaust sound of the P300 (that lasts about 30 seconds before settling in) has quite a bit more of growl than the P400... I like it! Despite what the tiny tailpipes might lead one to think...
One other thing... the windscreen noise from the passenger side that used to bug me in the 110 is not present in the 90. I read somewhere about this being a common complaint to this day. I guess I got lucky with a complete seating of the windscreen adhesive this time around.
Just observations, no complaints.
Here's the 90. Eiger grey with factory paint protection, off-road pack, and advanced off-road pack. So far, I've added wheel arch protection, steelies (with K03s), Thule bars (with a set of European sourced covers when the bars are removed), and Elite 750 driving lights. Lucky8 sill guards go on next. "Signature graphic" removal next week... (more on that in a future thread).
Hey there VT90, I noticed your reference to adding high beam 'Elite 750 driving lights.'
How do you control them when you need to 'dip' from your high beam? As I understand it, these don't have that configuration?
I hardwired them through a relay just like any other driving light... there's a kit that one can buy to activate them through the auto-dimming, but given how bright they are, I don't trust that. Plus, these were over $800.00 delivered as it is. So, I have a switch on the console to queue them on/off and then use the high beam stalk to manually activate them with the high beams (or not, if the switch is off). They most certainly are bright!
I hardwired them through a relay just like any other driving light... there's a kit that one can buy to activate them through the auto-dimming, but given how bright they are, I don't trust that. Plus, these were over $800.00 delivered as it is. So, I have a switch on the console to queue them on/off and then use the high beam stalk to manually activate them with the high beams (or not, if the switch is off). They most certainly are bright!
Thanks VT90, excellent news.
Having seen many vehicles with these lights on, blinding anyone oncoming, it's good to know that if I get a pair I can do like you and control them from the high beam lever.
Last edited by Elektrapops; Aug 19, 2024 at 11:29 AM.
Reason: error
Seems to be the trend these days, or at least in my area. Lots of Jeeps and other jacked up trucks adding scads of LED light bars capable of blinding everything coming their way. I can definitely see the need in a state like Vermont or similar where there are dark roads with no lighting, but in built up areas they are not only annoying, but can be dangerous as well. And in these lifted trucks the million watts of light are at eye level. Hopefully the owners on this forum are courteous enough to dim them when approaching oncoming traffic.
The engine noise is as fake as Pamela Anderson. Here's how you can tell - floor it with the windows up, and then floor it with the windows down. Notice how quiet it is with the windows down. Also, the fake engine noise can be disabled using the Pathfinder software or the Gap tool.
I didn't expect that, since if it was fake, I think it could have been better. I absolutely did suspect that the P400 had a fake sound, though. I don't suppose the V8 has fake exhaust noise too?
Anyway, at 6AM, I'm sure my neighbors are happier about my P300 instead of being treated to the fiercely-delicious cold-start noise of my de-valved R8!
I didn't expect that, since if it was fake, I think it could have been better. I absolutely did suspect that the P400 had a fake sound, though. I don't suppose the V8 has fake exhaust noise too?
Anyway, at 6AM, I'm sure my neighbors are happier about my P300 instead of being treated to the fiercely-delicious cold-start noise of my de-valved R8!
Oddly, the V8 is the only Defender that the press material explicitly stated has fake engine noise despite it being standard across the range. I have been in and driven a few V8 trucks and the fake engine noise in that is nowhere near as obvious as it is in the I4 and I6. It is noticeable at lower rpm, but give it a bit of throttle and the exhaust note takes over.
What kind of R8 do you have? First gen? V8 or V10? or second gen that was only V10?
I have a first-gen V8 Spyder with manual transmission. Such a sweet car!
Such a fantastic car. The first generation R8 was my favorite car growing up, I had countless die cast models of R8s. I always thought the V8 would be the best all-rounder. Not as brutal as the V10, but still a wonderful car, especially with the gated 6-speed. Would love to see a picture if you have one!
Such a fantastic car. The first generation R8 was my favorite car growing up, I had countless die cast models of R8s. I always thought the V8 would be the best all-rounder. Not as brutal as the V10, but still a wonderful car, especially with the gated 6-speed. Would love to see a picture if you have one!
My favorite car as a kid was a McLaren Can-Am race car, but those are just a bit impractical as a daily driver. My first car was also my first (attainable) dream car: a first-gen Toyota MR2, which to me was like a junior Ferrari. A little older, and it was the Acura NSX or maybe the Lotus Esprit. It had to be mid-engined, anyway!
So then came the R8, which I've owned from new. A huge part of the joy of the V8 is how sweet the engine sounds in Spyder form with the top down. The V10 has a distinctive bark and is of course more powerful, but the V8's sound track is a delicious marriage of American muscle plus an F1 shriek up top. The first thing I did (actually the only thing I did) was set the exhaust valves to always be open. Still to this day I exult in the sound and superb handling, etc., and I still think the first-gen Spyder version is especially elegant and beautiful. I also think they are seriously undervalued on the used market and should appreciate quite well over the next decade.
I've been lucky enough to have owned a few other pretty nice or unusual cars, including a Lotus Elise (the GOAT of go-carts), Porsche RS-America (wish I still had it!), and of course an original Defender. At times I've mused about a Ferrari, Lambo or McLaren, but the R8 is more than satisfactory!
My favorite car as a kid was a McLaren Can-Am race car, but those are just a bit impractical as a daily driver. My first car was also my first (attainable) dream car: a first-gen Toyota MR2, which to me was like a junior Ferrari. A little older, and it was the Acura NSX or maybe the Lotus Esprit. It had to be mid-engined, anyway!
So then came the R8, which I've owned from new. A huge part of the joy of the V8 is how sweet the engine sounds in Spyder form with the top down. The V10 has a distinctive bark and is of course more powerful, but the V8's sound track is a delicious marriage of American muscle plus an F1 shriek up top. The first thing I did (actually the only thing I did) was set the exhaust valves to always be open. Still to this day I exult in the sound and superb handling, etc., and I still think the first-gen Spyder version is especially elegant and beautiful. I also think they are seriously undervalued on the used market and should appreciate quite well over the next decade.
I've been lucky enough to have owned a few other pretty nice or unusual cars, including a Lotus Elise (the GOAT of go-carts), Porsche RS-America (wish I still had it!), and of course an original Defender. At times I've mused about a Ferrari, Lambo or McLaren, but the R8 is more than satisfactory!
I couldn't agree more. The V8 is a masterpiece - one of the best sounding European V8s ever produced. My only complaint is that unlike most V8s, it doesn't have a lot of torque. It is there, but you have to rev it out to get all of it. Then again, that's just an excuse to go up to the 8,250 rpm redline.
