Pretty impressive

[tiddy]

Just a quick post, I drove our new Discovery from Canberra to Brisbane today & according to the trip computer it average 8L/100km's and given that it had a tad over a 1000k's on it before today's drive, I'm pretty happy with that result even allowing for a bit of an optimistic trip computer.

Who knows with some K's on it, that consumption rate may even improve a bit more too.

Overall it was a great trip, it was spoilt when only 30 minutes from Canberra on the Federal Hwy, a car in front of me throw up a large stone which has put an 18" crack in the windscreen, I was fairly ****** off to say the least, but that's what insurance is for & it will cover the replacement screen.

[Jimlr]

That is brilliant news on consumption - and all done with ease no doubt!!

On the screen, see here - http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic112943.html

Be interesting to see what the local glass places come up with (hopefully the correct oem screen) for you....

[phl]

The figure is very optimistic; the standard setting is -7%, the corrected setting for mine is +3.5%.

But for long highway drives, I do get around the 9L/100km mark.

[nat_89]

The figure is very optimistic; the standard setting is -7%, the corrected setting for mine is +3.5%.

But for long highway drives, I do get around the 9L/100km mark.

Yeah I'll have to agree there the figures it shows are pretty optimistic compared to what I actually get when I refuel and do the calculations all around I get about 10 on the highway which doesn't bother me to much, it's pushing a 2.7 ton brick along that's an awesome machine and we love it so we don't worry haha

[Rich84]

7.5 - 8 on my RRS TDV6. Over 1000km to 80L on long drives, sitting on speed limit. Admittedly the RRS doesn't quite have the weight / wind footprint that the D3/4 does, although it is close.


Still gets around 700-750 to a tank towing a fully loaded camper (about 2 tonne).


My own 'combined cycle' - an equal mix of hills/freeway/city, it gets about 800-850.

[nat_89]

7.5 - 8 on my RRS TDV6. Over 1000km to 80L on long drives, sitting on speed limit. Admittedly the RRS doesn't quite have the weight / wind footprint that the D3/4 does, although it is close.


Still gets around 700-750 to a tank towing a fully loaded camper (about 2 tonne).


My own 'combined cycle' - an equal mix of hills/freeway/city, it gets about 800-850.

Wow thats pretty awesome 1000kms a tank I'm lucky to get 700 on the highway before i fill up, mind you i sit on 110km and give it a good boot over taking so maybe my driving style is effecting it haha

[dukemasterpro]

Pretty good been getting around 420km a tank in a 2.7 pulling a soft floor camper trailer and fully loaded inside with roof rack around the outback. Dreaming of 8l / 100 or something better if only they sorted the wheel sizes as well. Enjoy the new car smell while it lasts!

[DI5CO]

WTF is it with new cars and rocks!! 😧 I recon there are rocks and stones on the road looking for new cars and throw themselves at them. Had that problem with a new car we bought 10 yrs ago now, straight into the bumper and had to get that re sprayed!
Dave.

[joel0407]

Just new cars and rocks.

My last 2 cars that I have bought Brand spanking new have copped rocks to the windscreen within the first 500km. The WRX needed replacing but I'm living with the Yeti as it's just a chip and well out of the way.

Happy Days.

[bertness]

Yeah, I agree, what is it with rocks and new cars?????
Picked up our new Black, Black Pack HSE in January in Melbourne. Drove to Townsville over three days to get back to the caravan. 45kms short of Townsville, a clown flew past hurling a stone at the windscreen. A huge crack on the passengers side. New windscreen two days later. Not happy. Insurance paid!!!
BTW. We averaged 8.4l/100km for the almost 3000km trip back. (On the trip computer.) Pretty damn happy we are. And it's an awesome tow vehicle for our 3 tonne caravan.

[zilch]

noticed a subtle difference between the 2.7 and 3 litre variants, our old MY06 Sport could manage 1000K's on a tank if driven in a conservative manner, whilst our later 3 litre oil burner Sport basically is lucky to get much over 700 K's on the same size tank.. even with a similar driving style. Be interesting to know what any SDV6 drivers are getting out of their Disco's/Sports

[nat_89]

noticed a subtle difference between the 2.7 and 3 litre variants, our old MY06 Sport could manage 1000K's on a tank if driven in a conservative manner, whilst our later 3 litre oil burner Sport basically is lucky to get much over 700 K's on the same size tank.. even with a similar driving style. Be interesting to know what any SDV6 drivers are getting out of their Disco's/Sports

Yeah I've got an SDV6 HSE D4 and I'm the same lucky to get over 700kms a tank on the highway but I cruise on 110kmh and over take with a big boot so I guess I don't mind haha

[Epic pooh]

You've made me feel better about getting ~650 a tank in placid highway cruising ... mine is a V8 ... and no, I'm not going to discuss my around town range ... :D

[LandyAndy]

You've made me feel better about getting ~650 a tank in placid highway cruising ... mine is a V8 ... and no, I'm not going to discuss my around town range ... :D

You could discuss the noise that it can reverbarate off the buildings around town;);););););););););)
Andrew

[Epic pooh]

I have a video for that Jellore SF - YouTube (http://youtu.be/It7L4lzQ4R8).

It sounds even better now since it had the centre section of the exhaust replaced quite recently (with oem part). :)

[joel0407]

You guys and your tanks of fuel. I just shake my head.

How many litres? And don't say it's a XX litre tank because you can fit near 5 Litres up the spout if you continue to fill after the pump clicks off the first time. More if you let the foam settle.

Then are you filling when the light comes on or when you think it's about empty.

I guess you make it about as far as this piece of string I'm holding is long on 10mls of fuel.

Happy Days.

[bertness]

Stop making me cry Epic Pooh!!!
I so miss the sound of my L322 V8 Rangie with its sports exhaust.[bigsad]
But the SDV6 D4 is an awesome tow car.......
It just doesn't have that awesome V8 sound.....[bawl]

[Epic pooh]

Very sorry dude ! My only excuse is that Andy made me do it :)

Which motor did you have in your Rangie (BMW or Jag) and how are you finding your move to the dirty side ? I'm going to admit that I'm envious of your torques and towing economy haha !

And Joel - 650km = about 70-75l used. Or put another way, I can often drive past service stations without stopping.

[Greatsouthernland]

My D4 SDV6 is showing 10.4 l/100k over the last 800km and I'm doing it all in Sport mode - S on the dial because the manual says not to labour the engine during first 2000km running in :).

I'm starting to give it the 'occasional' boot and F1 driving style (it's my interpretation that counts here :D) using the paddles, I reckon there's a slight burble that may get louder when the snorkel install date arrives (4 more weeks:mad:).

Awesome off the line performance which leaves the alongside drivers mouth gaping wide when you leave the lights to beat them to the merging point :angel:

[Meken]

Very sorry dude ! My only excuse is that Andy made me do it :)

Which motor did you have in your Rangie (BMW or Jag) and how are you finding your move to the dirty side ? I'm going to admit that I'm envious of your torques and towing economy haha !

And Joel - 650km = about 70-75l used. Or put another way, I can often drive past service stations without stopping.


I think you should be a gentleman and send Bert an mpg of that v8 burble for him to play inside his car ;)

[bertness]

Very sorry dude ! My only excuse is that Andy made me do it :)

Which motor did you have in your Rangie (BMW or Jag) and how are you finding your move to the dirty side ? I'm going to admit that I'm envious of your torques and towing economy haha !

And Joel - 650km = about 70-75l used. Or put another way, I can often drive past service stations without stopping.

Hey.
It was the BMW motor. They can sound really nice with the right system. Mine did. My daughter kept saying 'dad, your car sounds really awesome'. The system was on it when I bought it.
The move to the 'dirty side' was a reluctant one, but with all it's turbos and torques, the SDV6 D4 8spd really is an amazing tow car. Pulls our three tonne van easily. And I mean EASILY!!!
Might have to record your V8 sound and play it back loud in the car. Then again I could convert the caravan into a petrol tanker and by a V8 Disco. Haha!!!:D

[Epic pooh]

My bil has an e39 with that motor. It is a sweet motor sounds great and goes hard. It's always funny driving the car these motors were intended to be in - I remember my first drive of a jag with the 4.2 version of my motor ... Drool ...

Would not want to tow a 3t van any distance with mine (because it would probably only get about 200kms from the tank haha).

[zilch]

You've made me feel better about getting ~650 a tank in placid highway cruising ... mine is a V8 ... and no, I'm not going to discuss my around town range ... :D

Have a mate with a V8 Disco 3 and he is lucky around Sydney to get around 300 to 350 K's per tank.. would that be about right

[nat_89]

I love the sound of the SDV6 it's one of my favourite diesels sounds weather it's sitting idling or under a big bootful love it!! Sounds grunty and smooth not coarse!!

[bertness]

Hey Nat,
Yeah, they do sound great.
But, a V8, even in a diesel is just something else.
Bob.

[joel0407]

And Joel - 650km = about 70-75l used. Or put another way, I can often drive past service stations without stopping.

So somewhere between 11.5L/100km and 10.7L/100km.

That's nothing to worry about. It's as good as an old TD5 Disco 2. Given you said 650/Tank and a tank is 82L, I though you were getting 12.6L/100Km.

So when you say 650km per tank you mean somewhere between 10.7 and 12.6L per 100km.

FYI My Disco does roughly this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/585.jpg (https://www.fuelly.com/car/land_rover/discovery/2001/joel0407/200296)

I say roughly because I cant guarantee the speedo is accurate.

Happy Days

Happy Days.

[nat_89]

Hey Nat,
Yeah, they do sound great.
But, a V8, even in a diesel is just something else.
Bob.

I do love a good v8 and living in a mining town I hear my fair share of clubsports and fpvs haha I think I've heard ever different exhaust combination on the v8 cruiser utes and all I can say is none sound good!!! I do love the SDV6 sound nice, but I would love I hear the SDV8 haven't heard that yet seen a few videos on YouTube but never in person I'm sure it sounds awesome to!! I just love the SDV6 how it just pulls from so low like 1100rpms and it just pulls along not dropping back just cruising!! But I'm so biased!!

[Epic pooh]

The fuel economy of the V8 is highly variable depending on driving conditions, driving style and foot restraint - over the years, I’ve had a lot of V8 powered vehicles and I’ve had the D3 long enough to know how to baby it or drive it and I know what it’s going to cost me if I ‘drive it’. I have three cars (the other 2 don’t add up to the Disco in weight or engine capacity …) so the Disco does not do short town duties unless its capabilities are required - that said, I could probably replicate that 25+ fuel economy around town if I drove it hard like in my video and stopped every 2 minutes. I’ll admit that getting ~650 was a perfect storm (1 up, overnight bag, cruising 90-100, little traffic and soothing tunes from the Logic7) and my version of relaxed hypermiling ...

Last year and early this year I had “the year of suspension” (shocks, AMK compressor, control arms (front upper and lower), new rack, lower steering column, front wheel bearings). This year has been “the year of engine efficiency and tune” (plugs for the first time, throttle body and sensor clean, coolant change, new thermostat, temp sensor and housing, bleeder hose set, centre section of exhaust, reset engine ecu) and I’ve also dumped AT tyres and returned to Wranglers for normal use. On a recent, very familiar, medium distance trip I returned an indicated improvement just shy of 2L/100km over what I would expect on that trip - real or not, I don’t know - if it is, I don’t expect it will last long enough to pay for itself anyway.

I've never written that all down in one place before ... it's kind of shocking/confronting/mildly depressing all the work/maintenance/repairs done on the Disco in recent memory … and I know there is more in store (noisy A/C compressor, rear suspension needs a good look) … oh well … such is the LR experience, for some :eek2:

In a couple of weeks I’m off to the snow (well known trip, 4 up, medium load) so that will be an opportunity to benchmark against a well known trip … although in Disco style it has developed a ‘very concerning’ driveline noise and is off to get that seen to tomorrow (as I have no time before the trip to investigate myself) … so possibly I’ll get awesome fuel economy going to the snow (as in, my Subaru will get the nod if the Disco issue defies easy/quick resolution) ... happy days.

[Meken]

My bil has an e39 with that motor. It is a sweet motor sounds great and goes hard. It's always funny driving the car these motors were intended to be in - I remember my first drive of a jag with the 4.2 version of my motor ... Drool ...

Would not want to tow a 3t van any distance with mine (because it would probably only get about 200kms from the tank haha).


My ex father-in-law bought a new jag xjr at one stage when they updated them. It had a digital instant fuel consumption readout on the dash with two numbers.... It was always fun when giving it a boot full watching that display rapidly count up to 99 - yes that's more than 99L/100km... But oh boy that supercharged V8 sounded sweet even idling ;)

[Epic pooh]

My Sube has the same kind of useless readout, calibrated to max at 50L/100km, I can easily keep it reading 50 through the first three gears and when overtaking ... kind of the modern equivalent of those useless old dial 'economy gauges' ... of course keeping my foot flat on the floor is going to use a lot of fuel haha

For any interested readers, my 'concerning drive-line noise' is (I am told with 100% certainty) ... the rear diff ... oh joy:censored: ... hilariously (to the dealer staff), I didn't even flinch when they told me the $$ and it will be fixed before I go to the snow so yay for that. :D

[TerryO]

How many people ever sit down and actually work out how much they spend a year on fuel? I bet most would be surprised at how little they spend on this one of many different running costs of owning any vehicle.

On several occasions I have known people (blokes) who sold a near new V8 vehicle with low kilometres on them that they really liked and then suffered massive depreciation on the sale because someone convinced (nagged) them that they needed to save money by owning a more fuel efficient vehicle.
Then afterwards they sat down only to work out that they could have kept and driven the larger vehicle that they actually wanted for many years before they caught up with the difference they would save in fuel running costs versus the depreciation.

As a rule fuel costs are the cheapest part of owning any vehicle.

[Redback]

So somewhere between 11.5L/100km and 10.7L/100km.

That's nothing to worry about. It's as good as an old TD5 Disco 2. Given you said 650/Tank and a tank is 82L, I though you were getting 12.6L/100Km.

So when you say 650km per tank you mean somewhere between 10.7 and 12.6L per 100km.

FYI My Disco does roughly this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/585.jpg (https://www.fuelly.com/car/land_rover/discovery/2001/joel0407/200296)

I say roughly because I cant guarantee the speedo is accurate.

Happy Days

Happy Days.

That's pretty good if it's a V8, not so if a TD5.

Our old D2 TD5 manual constantly recorded 10.3l to 11l/100k to and from work, bullbar, winch, roof racks, awning, drawers, 32" muds, longrange tank, rear bar, on the highway, best was 10.5l/100k.

Our currant D4, it gets around 12l/100 to and from work, on the highway(last trip) 10.3L/100k.

These are fuel used figures, I only fill to the first click to keep it a constant filling proceedure.

We have never been able to get anywhere near the figures that some of the D3/D4 owners put up.

Baz.

[Epic pooh]

The only relevance that fuel consumption has to me, as far as the Disco goes, is range ... know the consumption, know the safe range ... if any of us actually cared about fuel consumption, I'm sure that we'd all drive much lighter vehicles with smaller engines (or something like that).

My back of a fag packet calc says that I spend something in the order of $5K per annum on fuel across three cars we own. Combined rego, insurance and servicing cost more than that (very significantly in some years ... thanks to the Disco !) - and for most owner profiles, I'd wager that depreciation is the biggest cost component.

A year or so ago, I started doing a back of the fag packet calculation of cost per KM for each of my vehicles (inclusive of depreciation, servicing, rego etc) ... and quickly deleted it as it was too depressing when I got to the Disco :eek:

[Dougal]

How many people ever sit down and actually work out how much they spend a year on fuel? I bet most would be surprised at how little they spend on this one of many different running costs of owning any vehicle.

On several occasions I have known people (blokes) who sold a near new V8 vehicle with low kilometres on them that they really liked and then suffered massive depreciation on the sale because someone convinced (nagged) them that they needed to save money by owning a more fuel efficient vehicle.
Then afterwards they sat down only to work out that they could have kept and driven the larger vehicle that they actually wanted for many years before they caught up with the difference they would save in fuel running costs versus the depreciation.

As a rule fuel costs are the cheapest part of owning any vehicle.

I do.
These days fuel cost can outstrip new purchase price if you buy the wrong vehicle.

Those thinking depreciation is the largest cost were right 30 years ago when fuel was cheap and vehicles were dear.

Over 300,000km you can put more than $45k worth of fuel in an economical diesel 4wd. Double that for a thirsty one.

The last petrol car I bought I paid $8k and put $9k in the tank over 80,000km. Sold the car for $4.5k. Fuel costs almost triple the depreciation.

[Epic pooh]

It comes down to use and ownership profile - in my case I have put (fag packet) something like $6k worth of fuel in my sube in 8 years (42000km driven) vs unrealised depreciation which I would estimate to be more than $20k. Servicing, rego and repairs far outstrip fuel costs and depreciation currently blitzes the other costs combined.

In my little car, I've done 190,000km in 21 years and it is hard to say without doing the calcs what is the greatest cost, but I'd think that servicing and rego would outstrip fuel or depreciation. Note I don't say repairs for that one ... It was built properly haha !

[Meken]

It comes down to how many k's you do per year. If you average 15-20k per yr then fuel is probably the least cost - the more k's the closer fuel will come to being more exxy than rego & servicing

[nat_89]

For me fuel economy is a big part i look at that as a big cost doing around 30 to 40kms a year i keep an eye on it where as servicing and so forth don't play as much as most of the new cars have capped price at the moment, when buying new if i was looking at the Prado for instance there is only about $1000 diff between petrol and diesel i wouldn't even consider the petrol, even the 200 series they run $6000 diff i wouldn't even consider the petrol their either because the difference in economy is huge what i consider each tank fill up and also the price between diesel and 98 petrol is about 20c a litre more for petrol so its just not worth it.

[joel0407]

That's pretty good if it's a V8, not so if a TD5.

Our old D2 TD5 manual constantly recorded 10.3l to 11l/100k to and from work, bullbar, winch, roof racks, awning, drawers, 32" muds, longrange tank, rear bar, on the highway, best was 10.5l/100k.


Sure the TD5 will get much lower out of town. The best I've done was 10.5L/100km while towing a trailer with 5 new tyres on my 16" rims, Roof top tent and awning (both new in its box, not fitted) on top of the trailer. That was from Mt Isa across the Barkley to Three ways on my 18" rims with tyres worn past there markers and sagged suspension.

Now the Roof top tent is on top, 2 inch lift, snorkel, solar panel as a wind deflector in front of the tent, Awning, BFG Mud tyres and the best I can do is 13.8L/100km.

Happy Days

[Dougal]

It comes down to use and ownership profile - in my case I have put (fag packet) something like $6k worth of fuel in my sube in 8 years (42000km driven) vs unrealised depreciation which I would estimate to be more than $20k. Servicing, rego and repairs far outstrip fuel costs and depreciation currently blitzes the other costs combined.

In my little car, I've done 190,000km in 21 years and it is hard to say without doing the calcs what is the greatest cost, but I'd think that servicing and rego would outstrip fuel or depreciation. Note I don't say repairs for that one ... It was built properly haha !

If you barely drive a car (under 6000km a year) then yes depreciation will beat fuel cost for the time you have it.
The extreme example is parking it up and watching the value drop.

But over the useful life of that car the fuel cost will still trump depreciation. The only exception is the car getting destroyed before it reaches high mileage.

Total fuel cost = Total km driven / fuel economy (km/litre) x $ per litre.

Simple example.
Total fuel cost = 300,000km / 10 km/litre x 1.5
Total fuel cost = $45,000

Compare total fuel cost to the total you paid for the vehicle and things start to get really interesting.
There are a staggering number of vehicles which will consume more than they originally cost.

[Greatsouthernland]

How many people ever sit down and actually work out how much they spend a year on fuel? I bet most would be surprised at how little they spend on this one of many different running costs of owning any vehicle.

On several occasions I have known people (blokes) who sold a near new V8 vehicle with low kilometres on them that they really liked and then suffered massive depreciation on the sale because someone convinced (nagged) them that they needed to save money by owning a more fuel efficient vehicle.
Then afterwards they sat down only to work out that they could have kept and driven the larger vehicle that they actually wanted for many years before they caught up with the difference they would save in fuel running costs versus the depreciation.

As a rule fuel costs are the cheapest part of owning any vehicle.

Absolutely! I'm one of those blokes. The strife (before we were married) convinced me to sell my VT Calais 5.7 Gen III V8 ....... And get a 4 cylinder Camry :BigCry:
.

[Meken]

If you barely drive a car (under 6000km a year) then yes depreciation will beat fuel cost for the time you have it.

The extreme example is parking it up and watching the value drop.



But over the useful life of that car the fuel cost will still trump depreciation. The only exception is the car getting destroyed before it reaches high mileage.



Total fuel cost = Total km driven / fuel economy (km/litre) x $ per litre.



Simple example.

Total fuel cost = 300,000km / 10 km/litre x 1.5

Total fuel cost = $45,000



Compare total fuel cost to the total you paid for the vehicle and things start to get really interesting.

There are a staggering number of vehicles which will consume more than they originally cost.


New hse disco 4 circa $100k - 300,000kns about 10 years sell 10yr old disco say $20k -$80k depreciation .... We're not on a Toyota corolla forum ;)

[nat_89]

Absolutely! I'm one of those blokes. The strife (before we were married) convinced me to sell my VT Calais 5.7 Gen III V8 ....... And get a 4 cylinder Camry :BigCry:
.

Haha ive had a couple of V8 Holdens VE SSV ute and VE series II Caprice V they were both awesome on fuel on the highway and not to bad around town but never towed anything really but the Caprice and ute used to average about 8.5L to 9L per 100 on the highway. But probably wouldn't get a petrol 4WD.

[Dougal]

New hse disco 4 circa $100k - 300,000kns about 10 years sell 10yr old disco say $20k -$80k depreciation .... We're not on a Toyota corolla forum ;)

How many members here buy new?

[Greatsouthernland]

How many members here buy new?

:huh: ok I'll bite, yes.

Is this going down the path of hang crap on those buying new while ignoring the fact there can't be second hand LRs if no one buys one new?

FWIW business use...

[Dougal]

:huh: ok I'll bite, yes.

Is this going down the path of hang crap on those buying new while ignoring the fact there can't be second hand LRs if no one buys one new?

FWIW business use...

Not at all. It's the difference in depreciation cost for new vs second/third/etc owners.

[Greatsouthernland]

Not at all. It's the difference in depreciation cost for new vs second/third/etc owners.

Oh, OK... Choice bro :D I wasn't sure where you were going aye.
.

[Dougal]

The other problem with depreciation is that thirstier vehicles suffer more.

Here in NZ we got the diesel P38's. They are generally selling for double (or even more) than the V8's sell for. Despite having ridiculous km, being lower spec and originally selling for $20k less.

[nat_89]

The other problem with depreciation is that thirstier vehicles suffer more.

Here in NZ we got the diesel P38's. They are generally selling for double (or even more) than the V8's sell for. Despite having ridiculous km, being lower spec and originally selling for $20k less.

Yep thats spot on exactly right i know mates with Toyota prados the diesels second hand are getting say $42 and the petrols are getting like $24 when theres only $1k or $2k diff in new price, youve hit the nail on the head there!! Same as most brands from what i can gather the diesel always holds value!

[Meken]

Another factor in resale price of diesel vs petrol is the longevity of the diesel - anyone tossing up between the two and doing any research will certainly realise the diesel will last way longer than the petrol engine.
Sure new buyers take a pretty big depreciation hit the first time they put the key in the ignition.... But there's nothing like that new car smell !!!

[Meken]

Back to fuel consumption - post #16.... http://www.4wdadventurers.com/showthread.php?3150-Check-this-fuel-bill/page2

[letherm]

I was prepared to buy a low km D4 but got a good deal on a new HSE. I intend to keep it a long time. I've averaged about 15 years per car that I've owned so I figure that depreciation is not a big issue for me. When I traded in my old Pajero on the D4 I was told by several dealers that petrol 4wd's with mileage greater than 100k are worth nothing as people generally think they've had it compared to a diesel model. This WAS reflected in the trade in I received and I found I got pretty much the same trade in offer wherever I went.

[Epic pooh]

That's awesome truck fuel economy !

Not convinced that a diesel (modern type anyway) is more inherently reliable in the long term than a well designed low stress petrol engine. Obviously the petrol will hurt more at the bowser and for folks who do long trips and a lot of driving this will be a big issue. Most taxis are petrol engined vehicles with LPG conversions ...

I am convinced that old style low power low stress diesels last very well (eg my FIL's 26 year old diesel Hilux runs as well today as when it was new), but then so does any well cared for low stress motor.

[Epic pooh]

Trip yesterday to North Sydney return 6 pax = 22.5l used (actual - filled start and end of trip) for 194km travelled in mixed highway/city/stop start (11.6l/100km). No Eco driving, flowed along gently mostly but it got a big bootful on a couple of occasions. Commonly I'd use 13 or so on this trip so seems my engine servicing/plugs etc may have had a short term (?) benefit.

79292

[Dougal]

That's awesome truck fuel economy !

Not convinced that a diesel (modern type anyway) is more inherently reliable in the long term than a well designed low stress petrol engine. Obviously the petrol will hurt more at the bowser and for folks who do long trips and a lot of driving this will be a big issue. Most taxis are petrol engined vehicles with LPG conversions ...

I am convinced that old style low power low stress diesels last very well (eg my FIL's 26 year old diesel Hilux runs as well today as when it was new), but then so does any well cared for low stress motor.

If you strip down that 26 year old hilux engine you'll likely find cracked and broken precombustion chamber cups.

The only reason those engines lasted was by not having enough power to break themselves.

The lpg taxi thing is due to your large cars all being petrol and lpg being cheap. Throughout Europe all the taxis are diesel.

Long term diesels stay in tune far better than petrols as they are intended to run across a wide a/f range. A diesel with half a million km and worn out injectors does a lot better than a petrol with worn out injectors.

My 3.9v8 at 165,000km was so far out of tune it was basically unusable. My 300Tdi has been abused for twice that distance and might only need a new head.

[Epic pooh]

I've driven the FIL's Hilux on and off most of it's life - the 20 factory horses seem to still be there, exhaust smoke is normal, no strange sounds, it just goes - I help him service it (read he's old, I do it while he 'supervises') annually and the same amount of oil comes out each year as went in ... horrid vehicle to drive, but tough as an old boot, and 4wd so useful to me at times. But, yes, you're right, not enough horses to hurt itself - but I reckon you'd notice if more than 2 went missing ;)

My ex-D1 4.0 manual is owned by an uncle now, it has had no significant engine problems (around 220km last I looked), last time I drove it I thought it seemed to still have most of it's horses (again not that it was particularly well endowed when new ... ). He services it every 6mths and (like me) he digs deep if there are any problems. It has had a lot of front end problems (steering etc) from him stupidly mowing down a bollard at 20kmh a few years back (bollard 0, disco 1), that's been exxy but it seems fixed now.

I remember Disesal taxis when I lived in Singapore in the 80's (and the UK in the '70s) ... the Cedrics and Crowns in Singapore were the most rattly smoky heaps ever ... LPG ... so much quieter, more comfortable and I think the average 6cyl Falcon taxi motor lasts half a million k's or so (ie. useful life of vehicle).

I do agree with your general thesis that an unmaintained petrol will compare poorly to an unmaintained diesel in the same application (ie. you don't see many 26 year old petrol hiluxes getting around !).

[Meken]

So now we talk of taxis - even though most of the trips are short most of the time the engine is already at optimum operating temperature ( unlike most folks short trips - where the engine spends a good part of the trip coming up to optimum temperature)

[Epic pooh]

Taxi's are a good example of petrol engines giving longevity, any well designed and cared for engine of either type will give good longevity. My basic point is that I believe the benefits of Diesel engines in most personal use applications are overstated and that the trade offs in most personal use applications can be significant.

I personally don't like Diesels much, but do admit that modern ones have generally awesome 'torques' and that in certain heavy duty applications they make make sense for some people. Specifically, I don't agree that a Disco of any generation with a petrol engine is inferior to a diesel model, they are just different with different strengths and weaknesses.

It's also great that the perception of petrol 4wd's works to my favour as they are, in my opinion, undervalued by the market so buying a slightly used one at a massive discount presents good value to me - eg. my D3 HSE V8 was the most expensive D3 available when new, whereas on the (3 year old) used market it was cheaper than a lower spec Diesel. I understand that this will also manifest at time of sale - but there are others with my mentality so the proportion of depreciation will be interesting to see and I won't be parting with it any time soon so that's theoretical at this point.