4.4 diesel or 5.0 petrol choice

[3toes]

Am going to be in the market for a new car either this weekend or in the next 6 months depending on what the garage say on Friday.

Plan was to replace the car mid late next year when it had reached 300k miles however an accident may have brought this forward if repairs cost too much. Even if can repair in budget will not pass the MOT in April due to panel damage forcing a change

Am looking at L332 Range Rovers in the 2010 to 2012 bracket. These were the last update before the end of the model run

Question is which engine to go for?

Economy will of course be better in the diesel however my thinking is that the difference is 25 Mpg diesel or 20 MPG petrol. Have changed jobs and so annual mileage is down from 35k to 15k so while still a consideration not the issue it would have been

Petrol also has the advantage that it is a green environmentally friendly fuel and so does not attract the environment pollution charges that diesel vehicles do

Will be looking at vehicles with about 100 to 120 miles on them which is fairly typical for these vehicles at this age

Usually keep my vehicles rather than making regular changes

Do we think that one engine will be a better proposition than the other if so why?

[rar110]

The UK and EU are continuing to progress more stringent controls over use of diesel vehicles vehicles in cities particularly and eventually all ICE only powered vehicles. Some EU countries already have policies/plans for electric only vehicles. And Boris seems poised to do more to counter the effects of climate change.

I don’t think the policy direction will change any time soon. So for longer term ownership and use a petrol L322 seems to be the choice for the UK. Or maybe a L405 SCV6.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I realise that NOBODY would want more power,,
but the SC 5L might just get you more petrol mpg...
maybe,,


personally I'd like to prove that wrong...

[3toes]

The implications of the pollution from a diesel is the area which is hardest to know what the future holds

There are additional taxes being applied to diesels for driving in areas where the pollution levels are above the standards for air quality. This may be short term as the pollution levels fall back the changes may be removed. Not guaranteed as once an income stream is obtained by government they do not like to give it up and will just reclassify it as something else

These schemes are run via a dedicated camera system which they have paid for and so to walk away from the investment can be difficult. The diesel road taxes have been removed in some places as pollution levels fell back. In others they have changed it to a congestion charge to discourage all travel.

London is the outlier for adding taxes on travel. Others may or may not follow due to the implications of increasing the costs of business who have moved to avoid the costs and so stay competitive with competition who are located where is not charged. Petrol and hybrid are also caught by these schemes

Petrol is attractive as I think it will be more fun to drive. Reading on here though not sure how much more ‘fun’ it would be as they seem closer than you would think. I do like the fact that the petrol only came as an Autobiography.

At 100k miles I have more confidence in a Diesel engine lasting another 100k miles or is this out of date thinking?

I want the petrol however brain is saying diesel

[3toes]

Unfortunately the L405 starts at twice the price of an L332 which puts it out of my budget at this time

[vbrab]

Am going to be in the market for a new car either this weekend or in the next 6 months depending on what the garage say on Friday.

Plan was to replace the car mid late next year when it had reached 300k miles however an accident may have brought this forward if repairs cost too much. Even if can repair in budget will not pass the MOT in April due to panel damage forcing a change

Am looking at L332 Range Rovers in the 2010 to 2012 bracket. These were the last update before the end of the model run

Question is which engine to go for?

Economy will of course be better in the diesel however my thinking is that the difference is 25 Mpg diesel or 20 MPG petrol. Have changed jobs and so annual mileage is down from 35k to 15k so while still a consideration not the issue it would have been

Petrol also has the advantage that it is a green environmentally friendly fuel and so does not attract the environment pollution charges that diesel vehicles do

Will be looking at vehicles with about 100 to 120 miles on them which is fairly typical for these vehicles at this age

Usually keep my vehicles rather than making regular changes

Do we think that one engine will be a better proposition than the other if so why?


All my Land Rovers are diesels (So I might be biased).
Petrol engines are cheaper to repair when they have catastrophies, diesels require regular oil and filter changes and usually big services at every 160,000k's, and are difficult to do cut price repairs on.
No half measures in rebuilding a diesel.
I currently have an 08 re-mapped L322 3.6 diesel, which is returning 10.1 litres to the 100k's about town with lots of stop start, and 7.9 per 100k's in the bush (and probably polluting less than some big petrol V8's), and with the re-map has as much power and torque as you could reasonably need......unless you want to do drag racing perhaps.
If you are not doing lots of K's 9under 15,000 a year then big petrol might not be an issue as far as fuel costs go (I think they are "premium" unleaded which might boost running costs).
If you are stop start/city driving, then petrol seems to manage that better than diesel manages stop start short runs.
Having had over 100 petrol powered vehicles from Alfa's to GTHO's, I am now firmly a diesel lover, in that they deliver all the power and the reliability that I look for as a long distance country driver.

[Graeme]

The UK 4.4's DPF will forever cause problems due to the short runs.

[3toes]

Think I have decided to go diesel. Have looked at a petrol and done some serious fuel cost maths. Think the way way I would end up driving it my fuel bill would be about £3k plus per annum

Nothing is near by here so a drive of 20 miles is a fairly standard rather than short stop start city hops so filters should be OK. Of course do not know how the last owner used it

[3toes]

Thought an update was in order. Have placed a deposit on a 2011 Autobiography TDV8 4.4. Will post some pictures once take delivery early next week

First thing to do once is in my hands is to replace the tyres as the current fit are of a brand I do not know and tread while still legal are worn. Have seen the purchase invoice for the tyres and they were fitted 18 months and 10k miles ago. My thought is to go for some Pirelli tyres as have had a good run with these on previous Range Rovers. That though was a few years ago and things move on. Any thoughts ? Tyres are 255/50 R20

[Laurie]

Great find !
I searched for 18 months to find a 4.4 TdV8 Luxury or Autobiography at a realistic price ! the only one that came up was Black on Black; couldn't do it [bighmmm]

I finally brought a 2010 Autobiography, this car was fitted with 255/55x19 Cooper Zeon LTZ's. I was happy with the tyres, but not the handling. I tried a borrowed set of 255/50x20 an improvement. A member here was selling their D4 rims with 275/45x20 Zeon LTZ's, (same rolling circumference as the stock 255/50x20) I wanted the rims so I brought the 5. Well after fitting and driving with these tyres I wouldn't go back. The comfort is better, handling is better again, even my wife noticed !!! I always used to run Yokohama Geolanders before, but their 255/55 + tyres are H/Way tread patterns now unfortunately. I have found the Coopers more than acceptable for H,way and dirt tracks within reason. I would go a harder sidewall tyre and different rim size if possible for doing a big outback trip.

Tyre Brand can be a very interesting conversation, amongst members.[bigwhistle]

I don't know where you live, but if your ever around Canberra your more than welcome to drive mine and get a feel for these size tyres.

Laurie

166274166273

[3toes]

Thanks for the suggestions and offer to see what you have. Am in North Yorkshire so while had intended to be back for a holiday in August 2021 to visit universities in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra not so sure that will happen now

Think I was lucky to turn up something at the right price and condition so quickly. Had allowed myself until March next year for the search. There was a short list of 3 within 100 miles of me. 2 diesel and 1 petrol. The other diesel was a 2010 40th anniversary autobiography black edition. A check on the insurance costs ruled that one out as it was 30% more expensive to insure that the one I bought. Both priced the same with similar miles. Not sure why as spec is very similar to the one I bought. One of those mysteries of the opaque world of insurance

Have spoken to my garage who advised me to stay with the current wheels as if I change can have problems with insurance. Have to notify of the modification and most will refuse as do not cover modified vehicles. So needing a specialist insurer when have just paid for 12 months cover most of which I would not get back if cancelling

For an ATR tyre need to change the wheels as for this size wheel only have all season road and light snow rated tyres that will fit. From their customer feed back the Pirelli Zero can do OK in muddy tracks just do not expect it to be an ATR tyre in these conditions

For tyres they recommended the Pirelli Scorpion zero. This is what they say 80% of similar Range Rovers are on around here. Alternatives were Michelin Latitude or Cooper Cross Contact.

[3toes]

Has it really been 12 months since I picked up the Range Rover. Hard to believe time in lock down can go so quick

This was a purchase made in the rain and was able to start the engine but not drive it due to restrictions that were in place. At least know it does not leak. Not ideal way to buy a car but times were not normal and needed a new car as rust was killing my current drive which as a result was not going to pass the next MOT. Still looked like it ticked enough boxes - full service history with only last service not Land Rover with supporting invoices, 2 owners, second owner had even kept a spreadsheet of costs, gear box had been serviced at 100k with invoice in the service history, now at 110k miles so took the plunge and drove home with a new car.

The owner had a new shape Range Rover on the driveway which had replaced the one I was buying. But you just never know. Nothing more scary than a new second hand car. What maintenance has been skipped as were going to sell or did they sell due to knowing a big bill was going to have to be paid soon and decided to move it on instead?

So what has happened? What has broken? Sorry to say nothing has gone wrong, Passed MOT last month with only a recommendation replace lower ball joints at some time in future. Only caveat on this is that due to lock downs it has only done 5k miles since purchase so barely know the car. That said have managed to fit in a couple of trips taking in Solihull, Exeter, Millbrook and Edinburgh where it provided the relaxed ride that I remember from a Range Rover. With the world slowly opening up (trips to Ireland and France are off at moment) will do more miles next year so lets see what that brings

While I say no problems there are a couple of niggles with the comfort features that will need investigation:
The radio occasionally makes a noise like a needle running across a record and then cuts out. Not normally for long then starts up again
Volume control on the radio can on occasion be erratic going up when you turn it down or just not responding at all. Steering wheel controls work fine
The automatic air conditioning temperature seems to only know high or low and nothing in between. Works on automatic temperature if after starting car you switch to manual then press auto

Ultimate vote of confidence being asked the other day - If we move back to Australia can we take this car with us?

[rar110]

Thanks for the update.

That’s what my radio was doing about 6 mths ago. Then about 5 mths ago stopped working altogether, so now I only get the LR splash on the centre display.

Have had two LR specialists look at it with no advice what’s wrong or how to repair. Having a go with another repairer next week.

[irubix]

Thanks for the update.

That’s what my radio was doing about 6 mths ago. Then about 5 mths ago stopped working altogether, so now I only get the LR splash on the centre display.

Have had two LR specialists look at it with no advice what’s wrong or how to repair. Having a go with another repairer next week.

For these types of issues, you can remove each module to test, and complete the fibre circuit with a cheap joiner. This can isolate the offending item from the loop.

FITS Range Rover Sport Diagnostic Loop MOST Fibre Optic Video GPS Bluetooth | eBay (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153071383237)

If a module in the chain is faulty, likely it wont be passing through the signal as expected.

A common cause of the LR splash screen is like this, caused by water ingress into the boot section.

I have removed the headunit, CD player, Bluetooth etc from the loop with those connectors, i run an android headunit in place using the OEM amp, speakers, connected via the fibre loop

[rar110]

Thanks. Yes I did that with the Nokia unit. Also checked the back for moisture, and checked for the driver side rear interior wheel arch cover to ensure cabling not squashed.

Will need to check the rest of the series canbus.