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

[PAT303]

I was in the same situation about 4 years ago,I looked at T/D disco's and they were all more money than the V8's and good condition ones were very sort after.I was not plaining to go through the centre with it,mostly places on the coast etc like you are,in the end I did the sums,bought a V8 and fitted LPG and never regretted my choice.LPG is only 41cpl in Perth,you get $3000 rebate on the system so that makes the choice easier. Pat

[Coasting]

Thanks Pat
what year D3 do you have Pat, and did you encounter any probs with the LP conversion, also what make is it, with the disco's being as they are (slightly complicated) have you had any probs with the conversion or with the D3 overall.
Thanks in advance
Regards
Coasting







I was in the same situation about 4 years ago,I looked at T/D disco's and they were all more money than the V8's and good condition ones were very sort after.I was not plaining to go through the centre with it,mostly places on the coast etc like you are,in the end I did the sums,bought a V8 and fitted LPG and never regretted my choice.LPG is only 41cpl in Perth,you get $3000 rebate on the system so that makes the choice easier. Pat

[PAT303]

Mine was a D1 not D3.I didn't have any drama's at all,the V8's actually run better on gas than petrol.The money you save over 3-4 years is in the 10's of thousands when you add it all up. Pat

[loanrangie]

Are you sure they are V8's and not V6 petrol for that price, not many V8 D3's around for under 50k- if a TDV6 only gets 18/100 i wouldnt get one, they are more like V6 figures.

[def-90]

ahh just wait and get the new twin turbo V6 diesel only around 600 - 650NM:twisted: thats up there with the V8Tdi RRS

[Ace]

Yeah, as loan rangie said there is a petrol V6 aswell as the diesel so be careful, i dont have a D3 but from what people have said the TDV6 gets on the open road 18L/100km sounds pretty bad, i would think towing a van it would be well under 15L/100km, my D1 towing a 2t van returned 13L/100km on a 500km trip, then on the way home with more uphill stuff it returned 16L/100km, a D3 with more power would do it easier than that.

The V8's are an excellent engine but the fuel economy will be worse as you stated, and when it comes time to sell the V8 models wont be worth as much on the second hand market.

Having said all that test drive both and buy the one you like. If its V8 power you want then get the V8, but the TDV6 is no slouch either and has alot of torque which is good for towing.

[Coasting]

Thanks to all who responded, I will continue to do some research and when the time comes I will do some test drives to make a final decision. I am aware that the V8 will bring less money when it comes time to re-sell but I would buy it at a lower cost in the first place so no big deal. I know I can get a V8 2005... 2006 HSE model for under 50K it's just a matter of finding the right one if I chose that option.

If you look under D3 in this forum you will see one I was looking at but one of our members made the guy an offer of 38K and he accepted it, he wanted 42K I think but was moving overseas so he needed to move it.

Regards
Coasting