Originally Posted by cc1999

There’s the Escalade V series. That’s likely the fastest large luxury SUV should be available for purchase today.

I think the AWD Hellcat powered Durango is coming back for 2025.

My Defender v8 is a 90 2dr.
I have to say I am pretty happy with the performance of mine. Just my opinion but 5 sec 0-60 4x4s are not exactly common place performance stats in the 4x4 SUV segment.

Originally Posted by JayO

I bought a '23 V8 back in January, 2023. I, like several people here, had an X on order, but saw a V8 become available at the dealer and couldn't resist. The only drawback was that I ordered a Carpathian Grey X and the V8 was Yulong white. The white was my second choice, but at least it came with the full Vintage Tan interior, which was a huge bonus to me over the X. Fast forward to last month, I'm still loving the Defender, and planned to keep it for at least a few more years, with the idea of just replacing it with a new one when the time came. Then I saw that they are doing away with the Vintage Tan interior (huge mistake!), and the wheels started turning. I looked around and found one V8 in Carpathian Grey with Tan interior (There were several Carpathian Editions, but I prefer the gloss over the matte). I mentioned the idea of trading now to get the color combo I wished I had to my wife, expecting her to tell me it was a waste of money (which I agreed with), but instead she said I should do it since she liked the grey better too. So, before she came to her senses, the white Defender was gone and the new Carpathian Grey one was in the garage. It may not have been the best financial decision, but I couldn't be happier. It took about a week to get it detailed, PPF applied, running boards and mud guards installed and the rear bumper cover from Powerful UK applied, but it's now exactly how I want it.

Originally Posted by gregtay

Thanks. We already had a Durango SRT 392, loved it, but it was feeling a bit outdated back then, so while the Hellcat sounds like fun, sort of already did that car. I drive a Escalade Duramax... so adding a V alongside it wouldn't be ideal (and she doesn't want something that big).

I don't think she really cares about what the 0-60 number is, but when she puts her foot down, she wants the thing to move. The V8 seems okay (not great) off the line, but when she was rolling along at 20 and floored it, there wasn't much of a reaction or acceleration from the car. Yes, it built speed, but not as fast as you would expect 500hp to do it. Just seemed like the delta between the V8 and the 6 wasn't really all that much (or we just had expectations that it would be a much bigger difference.

Originally Posted by cc1999

There are multiple drive modes, were you all in dynamic mode? That’s basically alters the steering. Suspension, transmission shift point, throttle response, and open the exhaust.
‘The Defender defaults after every restart to normal comfort mode, which does numb the performance compared to dynamic mode.

Originally Posted by gregtay

Thx, that might have been part of tbe issue. My wife just got in, started it up and went for a drive. So we were in the default mode.

Originally Posted by Termite

The truck is an entirely different vehicle in dynamic mode. It is not quite the experience that our 700hp TRX is at full launch, but it is plenty quick in either dynamic or sport mode. It compares favorably to my prior SQ8, Cayenne turbo or ML63. Of course, it weighs more than any of them [but for the TRX] but launches hard and is pretty quick.

Originally Posted by BritCars

My OEM 22s on a 2024 130X are 41.5mm offset

What spec wheels are you running the Nokian on? I want to get 20 inch wheels for winter tires on mine but the ones I currently have from my old Discovery V are 8.5 inch wide and the 255/60R20 tires that would best match the current size are not available in the Hakka R5

Originally Posted by gregtay

Congrats. Beautiful rig. On the Vintage Tan comment... isn't the 2025 Caraway the same color as the 2024 Vintage Tan? They look identical based on what I have seen, but maybe not?

Originally Posted by jrjunior41

No. I sat in both. Caraway is a lighter tan. It's nice and it feels upscale. VT is more orangey and the sales associate said everyone describes VT as peanut butter.

Originally Posted by gregtay

hmm. okay. Hoping that it isn't too much lighter. We wanted VT but couldn't find the right config in stock so had to go with a 2025.