disc 3 .... which engine?

[Rob king]

Hi all, I'm in the market for a drive car and would love to hear your informed advice.
Been looking at the d3 SE MY08 and need a direction on which engine to choose.
Is the td6 a reliable and powerful enough engine? the fuel economy seems much better than the petrol although i've ready some posts suggesting the town cycle is a lot worse than quoted my manufacturer.
I don't understand the ford V6 4.0 petrol... seems it uses the same 15l/ 100km in fuel as the Jag V8 4.4 but only develops 106kw v 220 in the Jag and 360nm torque v 430 in the v8... so why buy it?
I do highway, fire trails and snow and live in a regional area. No heavy towing - any suggestions or experience with these would be appreciated.

[winaje]

Hi all, I'm in the market for a drive car and would love to hear your informed advice.
Been looking at the d3 SE MY08 and need a direction on which engine to choose.
Is the td6 a reliable and powerful enough engine? the fuel economy seems much better than the petrol although i've ready some posts suggesting the town cycle is a lot worse than quoted my manufacturer.
I don't understand the ford V6 4.0 petrol... seems it uses the same 15l/ 100km in fuel as the Jag V8 4.4 but only develops 106kw v 220 in the Jag and 360nm torque v 430 in the v8... so why buy it?
I do highway, fire trails and snow and live in a regional area. No heavy towing - any suggestions or experience with these would be appreciated.

Buy the TDV6, you'll love it. Lots of grunt, and can be remapped if you need more. Economical too, especially on the open road. I get about 700kms out of 85 litres around town.

[Marmoset]

It depends on how you see yourself using it and if range is an issue.

I get 450 Km's per tank out of my V8 around town/mixed driving but on the open road it'll be up to around 650 Km's if there was ever a petrol station that corresponded with that distance!

There's no real issues with the V8, just need to check a few cooling system joints. I drove a few petrol V6's before finding mine and they were okay, quite torquey low down but didn't really have that top end fizz that the V8 has when you open it up.

I left the diesels alone due to price, the difference in price can pay for an awful lot of fuel and the diesel generally had close to 100k Km's more on them for the same money.

[Epic pooh]

I totally agree with marmoset. Also the sound ... Hahaha .... :)

[Rob king]

Thanks for the advice guys,
I thought after I posted the request that it may spark a bit of rivalry.... I had already decided against the V6 so guess both the V8 and diesel are OK. My last 3 drive cars have been V8's so maybe that answers it for me.... and I do like the sound.
But I wont be put off by a tidy TD6 either.
Will keep looking.... so any suggestions re SE v HSE?
Rob.

[Epic pooh]

Recommend a HSE with logic 7, rear air and xeon headlights with a V8 motor . This gets you excellent head lights, memory leather seats that are very comfy and a 14 speaker sound system the equal of most modern cars. (I like the glass roof too but ymmv on that one). Try for a ediff too but it's not necessary just nice to have.

[Rob king]

That sounds the goods Epic, is all that on yours? is there a particular year logic 7 was introduced?
It's so well spec'd it may as well be a V8 RRS... which begs the next question....
Rob.

[AnD3rew]

If your primary issue is purchase cost then the petrol V6 is a perfectly good option, the Petrol V8 is better but a bit more expensive but more power for similar or even better fuel costs. Both will probably be cheaper to buy and have lower servicing costs than the Diesel however if you are doing remote touring the Diesel will give you much longer range and overall better fuel availability, and if you are doing high km's there will come a point where the lower fuel usage will overtake the higher purchase price and higher service cost, but it is a pretty high number of k's where it crosses over.

I just live my TDV6 though and if I could afford it I wouldn't buy anything else.

[101RRS]

have lower servicing costs than the Diesel

People keep on saying that diesel service costs are more than petrols and I am not sure I follow this argument.

I have had modern diesels for just over 10 years and at the same time also have petrols - ranging from 12cyl carbs, v8 carbs, v8 injected and 2 cylinder carb.

The diesels require no tuning where the petrols require tuning with spark plug and other bits replaced at regular intervals.

The diesels just require oils and filters and sometime belts as to the petrols (some petrols have belts) but in addition the petrols require plugs etc.

So on balance I would say a petrol is more expensive to service than a diesel though does depend on engine.

Garry

[Epic pooh]

Yeah Rob, mine has all that ... the Logic 7 has been available as an option on the HSE since they were introduced (easy way to tell, front doors have two speaker grilles and a tweeter) - the head unit does not support ipod/iphone without an interface, but can play mp3 cd's so I just burn high quality mp3 to cd (lots fit) and load it up (6cds x lots = plenty of music). The glass roof is a matter of taste, LR in their wisdom haven't fitted very good blinds (so on blinding summer days the roof is really bright - my solution a dark bit of cloth above the blind) but it is brilliant in winter etc and brightens up my otherwise black, black and more black interior.

All the motors are good, if you tow heavy loads or tour the TD is best, the V6 has the most accessible torque and is cheapest and the V8 sounds / goes the best. Don't be too put off by anything you read around here as far as the TD reliability goes - they are tough and they are the most common so my sense says they'd have the most reported issues.

A HSE is a more utilitarian RRS = much the same features, more seats, bigger boot and more mud friendly interior layout (all imo). Except for the killer ... no TDV8 in the Disco ... I'm even mildly sad about that.

Garry, I have no idea which would be more expensive to service, but I'd wager plugs are cheaper than belts (v8 has a timing chain). I know that as far as cost of ownership goes, servicing the motor is the least of my concerns (keeping up with the suspension and gearbox and other driveline bits blows anything to do with the motor to oblivion from a cost POV).

[101RRS]

Garry, I have no idea which would be more expensive to service, but I'd wager plugs are cheaper than belts (v8 has a timing chain).

For sure the Jag V8 has chains where the TDV6 has chains and belts but many other petrol engines also have belts - so comes down to design of the engine not whether it is diesel or petrol.

In our vehicles case does 160,000km of tuneups on the petrol cost more than one belt change on the TDV6 - I have no idea.

I guess my point is that because it is a diesel it does not necessarily follow that it is more expensive to service than a petrol which is the prevailing thought.

cheers

garry

[Rob king]

Thanks again Epic, Gary and Andrew,

If money was no object the TDV8 goes without saying.... I have a friend who just bought a brand new TDV8 RRS... it is INSANELY powerful!

I don't do huge Kms so will continue to look primarily for a V8 white, stornaway or Java with beige leather, any of the desirable options will be a bonus.
Because any imperfections or signs of wear will annoy me to the point I'll have to fix them, the condition is important - almost all I've seen have the outside edge of the drivers seat demolished, but at least the ceilings are in tact unlike the D1 + D2's!

Rob

[Epic pooh]

Good luck Rob ! Yes the drivers seats are a bit prone to wear ... I call it character :)


I guess my point is that because it is a diesel it does not necessarily follow that it is more expensive to service than a petrol which is the prevailing thought.


Both my other vehicles have timing belts (5 years on one, 10 on the other) and short interval plugs (2 years and 5 years) so yes, I totally agree with that !!

I've just done my first plug change (140,000km, 9 years) - plugs were $15 each or so (from memory) and it was straightforward ... although I hear for some it could turn into a fiasco if the plugs don't come out easily.

[101RRS]

If money was no object the TDV8 goes without saying.... I have a friend who just bought a brand new TDV8 RRS... it is INSANELY powerful!



Rob,

You cannot get a TDV8 in a D3 or D4. RRS and a Fat RR only.

Garry

[AnD3rew]

Thanks again Epic, Gary and Andrew,

If money was no object the TDV8 goes without saying.... I have a friend who just bought a brand new TDV8 RRS... it is INSANELY powerful!

I don't do huge Kms so will continue to look primarily for a V8 white, stornaway or Java with beige leather, any of the desirable options will be a bonus.
Because any imperfections or signs of wear will annoy me to the point I'll have to fix them, the condition is important - almost all I've seen have the outside edge of the drivers seat demolished, but at least the ceilings are in tact unlike the D1 + D2's!

Rob


Yep my seat is losing a bit of colour on the outside edge, I'm sure it is the height of the vehicle which means you slide out as you leave the car. There are some companies which will exactly match the leather colour and supply you a colored leather recondition.

[catsman]

I just went through the same process. You wont find an 08/09 D3 v8 so might as scrap that from your list- if they exist at all they are very rare.

When buying second hand service costs take a different look as with most diesels you find in those years you will immediately be up for a timing belt change, factor in $2k to the purchase price.

I drove both and the petrol has more poke but uses more fuel, for my mix of round town driving and rare long distance which diesels are good for plus i never tow I opted for the petrol. Around $8k cheaper to get into than equivalent diesel, plus no major service needed.

So while a lot of the answers will blankly state the diesel is better, you have to ask yourself is it $8-10k better?? You can get petrols with under 100ks as well, not that many diesels with as low mileage.

Also dont be fooled by kw and torque numbers, i have a torque curve for the coyote engine somewhere, in the range you actually use it 1000 to 3000 rpm it has more than say toyota 200kw vtec engine. VTEC is completely useless as it doesnt kick in until around 3000rpm which you will rarely use in real world driving unless you drive like lewis hamilton. A better test is how it feels in drivers seat so i suggest drivig both then working out if the price difference is worth it to you.

Good luck

[Epic pooh]

Do you have the V6 petrol catsman ?

I know someone who has one of those, was impressed when I drove it, nice torquey motor in normal driving. Three very different motors in the same vehicle !

[Rob king]

Update...
I drove everything,... D3's in SE and HSE then RRS all the while increasing my budget! The tdv8 was the pick (didn't try a supercharged 4.2)
All engines were sufficient, even the tdv6 did the job but having only V8 drive cars the last 20 years, I needed a bit more.
In the end considering value for money, power and luxury,..I ended up buying a RRS petrol V8. Expect I'll always yearn for the tdV8, but then this won't be my last car!
Now it's been rescued from the city streets I'm looking forward to using it in the way it was intended
Thanks for all your advice.
Rob.

[Barbaresco]

Hi Rob,
Congratulations on buying the RRS V8.
I have been lurking around here for research as I am considering a D3 or RRS.
Could you please share the details of the RRS you have bought - photos, ks, condition private/ dealer, etc.
Cheers
Gav

[Rich84]

Congrats Rob, you won't be disappointed with it.


Had my RRS TDV6 for a couple of years now and I still smile every time I get in it!

[Rob king]

Thanks Rich,
And Gav, I can PM you all the nitty gritty if you like..
It's something for which each of us will have differing priorities and needs, and so my preferences are totally subjective - otherwise we'd all have the same car!...
But Im happy with it so far, everything seems to work and I'm sorting the little bits that need replacing or buying so it can look new.
Will quickly learn where to get the best price on spares I expect..
drivers door seal, new rubber matts... the missing key I only found out about after the purchase!
I spent 4 hrs reading the manual last night and learning a few things.
Had to find out how to pair the bluetooth system off the net though.
the specs said I had 255/50 19" wheels - turned out to be 275/45 20".... not great for offroad, may need a 2nd set.
I rang the dealer in wollongong who carried out the last 2 logged services so I could get some infor on what's been done and what is due any recalls or software updates etc ..and was told they have no service history on the vehicle and cant give me any details?... I thought that info was kept on their TOPIx website according to thye VIN and accessible by all landrover service centres....
She suggested instead that I bring it in for a full service and have it checked out....of course.
might call another service agent to see what they can tell me.
regards
Rob.

[TerryO]

I asked a similar question recently when looking at the D4 and was told that the privacy laws stop LR's work shops from telling anyone what the previous maintenance history was. They could tell me that all recalls had been completed and what spec the car was but basically nothing else.

As for Topix you can register for that and check your vehicles build history and what other stuff if you like.

[Meken]

I asked a similar question recently when looking at the D4 and was told that the privacy laws stop LR's work shops from telling anyone what the previous maintenance history was. They could tell me that all recalls had been completed and what spec the car was but basically nothing else.



As for Topix you can register for that and check your vehicles build history and what other stuff if you like.


Lodge a foi request ?

[Rob king]

Well if previous owners details were involved, it's a privacy issue. But if I'm just seeking safety and other reasonable service details for an object that has no privacy rights, that I paid for and am entitled to know about, rely on for safe transport and have personal investment in, then refusal to assist seems more commercially motivated rather than for any legitimate privacy concerns.
Surely the maintenance records of the vehicle are now my property since ownership has passed to me.
Perhaps this needs to be taken further for a legal ruling. It smells of commercial interest to me.
Rob.

[sheerluck]

Lodge a foi request ?

Go into a nice restaurant and lodge a fois gras request?