D3... TDV6 or V8..?

[Coasting]

Hi all
I am going to purchase a D3 either a TDV6 or a V8 I would like some constructive input from any owners out there that might help me make a decision.... Where to start ..Mmmm

OK I am going to be towing a 23ft Van and it will be our home for the next 3 years or more. I guess the van will weigh around 2300Klgms, we will be mainly living in Narooma and travelling back to Victoria every 3 months. Now I must admit I'm a V8 Man from way back especially when towing heavy loads. From the research I've done so far it appears that a V8 sells for less than a TDV6 and with fuel prices etc I can understand why.

I anticipate that the TDV6 will return around 18ltrs per 100 maybe a little more and I guess the V8 will be more like 25Ltrs per 100, I also would imagine that over time the Diesel would work a lot harder than the V8 and the V8 would handle the job better apart from the fuel costs.

I am looking at 2005 or 2006 model D3 and I know I can pick up a good one under 50K with not too much K's on the clock. I would like to hear from someone who has a V8 and let me know about the fuel economy and general feeling on the performance especially on towing a big van.

Regards
Coasting

[sniegy]

Hi Mate,
This may help give u an idea of fuel runs as i was querying the same
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-zone/77208-fuel-consumption-v8-d3.html
when i had one for a week or so.
The torque is amazing, coming out of the Otway ranges was excellent, point & shoot, so much fun on the bitumen.
I have been the opposite mostly always had diesels. A couple of V8's & with the consumption, it annoyed the heck out of me.
Hated stoping to fill up every 400k's or so with the early V8's.
The D3 is different, it has a better engine all up.
Sooo much torque & the fuel consumption is very bearable to the point where i nearly bought one..well nearly..
They drive excellent, do all things very very well.

Engine choice is a very personal thing, get your butt into one & see what please's you, in the end its your money & you have to live with it.

We just wanna see all the pictures you take when travelling.

Cheers & good luck.

[rmp]

I've not towed with a V8, but it is a nice motor. The car is quicker than the TDV6 but only if you get the revs up. Of more importance is the quicker response, none of the wait-a-sec turbodiesel lag. Plenty of torque to it. Both engines are very quiet and smooth.

The big V8 downside is range. The TDV6 is not ultra-frugal but it uses less compared to the V8, and the difference will widen as the the load increases.

I reckon the V8s are great buying secondhand at a discount rather than pay the premium new.

Now although I've not towed with the V8, the figures are interesting. The TDV6 puts out 440Nm at 1900rpm, and the V8 425Nm but at 4000rpm. Both have six-speed gearboxes. I can say the TDV6 is an excellent tower.

[Coasting]

Hi Robert
Thanks for the input much appreciated and to the others also, Robert how big and heavy is your Van you tow with a TDV6, I just presume you have one ... the Van I am going to be towing is 23ft and could weigh up to 2500 klgms I may be towing it around up to 6000Klms a year but this is not set in stone. I suppose my dilemma is the initial cost,the long term cost and also the pulling power. Yes it will cost less to buy a V8 but I will maybe pay for it in the long term with fuel costs, decisions decisions ....
Ok thanks guys I just would like to hear from someone who has towed with a D3 V8 and towed a decent size van, anyway I'll keep digging ....
Regards
Coasting

[rmp]

I don't own a van but have towed up to 1600kg with the TDV6 and it does it beautifully.

If you opt for the V8 and intend to go trailer touring then a long-range tank would be a very wise investment as otherwise you'll be quite short-legged. It's not a bad idea for the TDV6 either. The V8's range is no problem for towing a boat to the ramp or bikes to a forest, but touring out in the sticks with servos few and far between, plus few 24x7 options it will be an inconvenience at least. Can't remember if the V8 requires premium only.

I would not say the V8 would handle the towing job better than the diesel, in fact I'd prefer the diesel for low-down torque and efficiency.

[Neil P]

Towing 2500kg with a 2600kg vehicle is alot of mass.
Neither engine is up for it . Those with remapped diesels report
that the standard output is inadequate. The V8 will be dropping
down all the time , just as the 4.7 LC's do. Consider the diesel
with remap . Mid 500's Nm will cut it ........

[Gullible]

Just to confuse you some more.

Australian LPG warehouse are developing a liquid gas system for the D3 V8 (should be out December), check out

Australian LPG Warehouse - Systems (http://www.australianlpgwarehouse.com.au/Products/Systems/JTG-Liquid-Injection.aspx)

The cost of a D3 V8 is a lot less than a TDV6 as mentioned, but also check out the cost of the big service's (I think 80K is a big one) and also minor out of warranty repairs.

You have to do a lot of miles for quite a few years to make up the fuel cost difference.

The question is, do you like watching your money disappear in large chucks or a constant trickle?

[Garry]

Well Im on my 3rd V8 and wouldnt buy anything else, I however only use my car less than 6 months of the year as the other 6 are spent at sea or Singapore.

So the cost of fuel is not a factor for me, I just love the performance and the V8 badge on the back :)

G

[rmp]

I think you boys really need the TDV8 slotted into your D3s. Performance AND economy.

[Neil P]

... and the V8 badge on the back :) G

You can get the V8 HSE badge for 7 bucks ;)

[Dingmark Jim]

I've had a V8 for 3 yrs now. Towing a heavy load at 100 km/hr it burned about 20 litres/100 km, but increase to 110 kmh and it went up to 26:mad:. The reason I got it was that the V8 was so much less expensive than a diesel that I had to drive 1 million kms or so to make up the difference. The V8 needs premium fuel and I find with a load on back 98 octane improves the fuel burn by about 6-8%. From what I've read on the posts if anything the V8 has less engine problems/issues than the turbodiesel (they have turbos, intercoolers and extra kit) but the extra fuel tank is needed in the V8, which means a spare tyre carrier is needed (thing $2300 for both). Either way can't go wrong. Be aware that the V8 comes with 19" wheels, but it can take 18's. Sidewalls on the road tyres are dead easy to cut and they're $500-600/tire (my biggest gripe with the V8 is tyre prices, not fuel burn).