D3 V6 petrol - tell me the good things

[Gullible]

Well I've seen a lot of threads with people saying how they love their TDV6 or V8 D3, so I thought it was about time the D3 V6's had a say.

Lets hear what you think about the economy, performance, and ride. Tell us if you've gassed it and what you think about the gas.

[AnD3rew]

nothing useful to offer in the way of experience except to note that I was very surprised when buying my TDV6 to note on the spec sheets that the fuel consumption for the V6 Petrol was worse than the V8.

[WhiteD3]

Had mine for just over 2 years, 60,000 km. Apart from tyres, no problems. Today its getting the 60k service and the only faults are the AC fan whines in sync with the motor revs (suspect a suppressor is US somewhere) and the fuel gauge never reads quite full.

Paid 64k on the road. The TDV6 was an additional 14k at the time, which is a lot of diesel!

Combined fwy/suburbia is 15L/100km (according to the carputer) so call it 16. To achieve this I have had to change my driving style to gentle acceleration, etc. Hwy will get down to 11.

The V6 shortcomings vs the TDV6 are economy, range and towing. The advantage is they are significantly cheaper to buy than a TDV6 and there's nothing too technical about the Ford 4.0 V6 under the bonnet.

I love my D3 and would kill for a TDV6, but the TDV6 economics for me just don't add up.

Re the gas; Is there a kit on the market in Australia? Didn't think there was but I had a look at one from the UK. First issue is the tank goes where the spare is thus requiring another 3k to be spent on a rear wheel carrier. The tank hangs down a long way which would impinge on off road ability. Say 4k for the conversion + 3k for the carrier = 7k. That's a lot of petrol.

Try this thread http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-zone/56909-d3-rr-uk-lpg-link.html

[CaverD3]

The V6 engine is cheap and adequate for the job.

[WhiteD3]

The V6 engine is cheap and adequate for the job.

Very Succinct:D

[Neil P]

..... I love my D3 and would kill for a TDV6 .....

I hate diesels and wouldn't swap if they were the same price.
The Ford diesel is an unreliable POS either side of the Pacific .

[loanrangie]

I hate diesels and wouldn't swap if they were the same price.
The Ford diesel is an unreliable POS either side of the Pacific .

There have been no TDV6 failures that i am aware of and never heard of problems with the same motor in the Jag and whatever Puegot they were fitted to so i am surprised by your comment.

[CaverD3]

I hate diesels and wouldn't swap if they were the same price.
The Ford diesel is an unreliable POS either side of the Pacific .

And the TDV6 is not Ford diesel it is a high tech European developed by Peugeot/Citroen and what was Fords Premier Auto Group (Aston, Land Rover Jag and Volvo)
It was adapted by Land Rover who made a number of changes to enable it to run a steep angles and to make it more robust.

You must be confusing it with the Americans or Japanese who can't make decent diesels.

[Ashes]

V6 - much cheaper to get into - good for us as it's our first LR and first 4wd so would be less costly to move on quickly if we didn't like it.
V6 - sucks the fuel like there is no tomorrow when you drop the boot- average around 20 l/100km for off road, about 13-15 around town and down near 10 for highway. I didn't buy the petrol for the economy, for me it would take a long time to recoup the diesel difference. Should be cheaper to service if you were to go to an independant.

Throttle response is pretty good off road and maybe has the edge over the diesel when you need a bit of power in a hurry but not the V8. Pretty marginal really in the power stakes and the TD is a different kind of power. It's definately not a formula 1 racer so not the quickest off the line.

Range not a huge issue for me as we are new to the 4wd world and won't go too far from civilisation for quite a while. If we do end up wanting to do "the trip" then I'll probably consider a diesel and one kitted out for the outback instead of the one I have now. Ours is very much the family car that will go offroad occasionally.

After about 3 months of ownership, I'm not regretting buying a petrol.

It's a great car whatever engine is in it.

[Roger]

I did the sums on Diesel vs Petrol. If diesel is $1.20 and Petrol is $1.50 and we use the LR Combined ltrs/100 of of 15.2ltrs/100 for petrol and 10.2ltrs/100 for diesel then it would take 119,460 kms before break even. As the price difference at the time I was negotiating was $12615.00 more for the diesel. As we swap cars in the company @ 100,000 kms then it was logical for me go with Petrol V6. Plus I had a budget to work within. When we did the purchase that was not the price of diesel vs petrol but I played it safe and did the numbers conservatively using a range of what ifs. But who knows what the future holds in fuel pricing, (diesel was more expensive than petrol when I did the purchase). As far as performance, I think its fine. I have driven it a little off road, and 20,000 kms on road so far and it is great. Fuel consumption when doing some remote tours might become a pain, as I know I will need to fill it more often than a diesel, but I will manage OK. All I know is the car is fantastic, and I am not a car lover/enthusiast normally but I have been seduced by the LR V6 D3. By the way I am also managing to get about an average of 12 to 13 ltrs/100 kms around my regional city in my V6. (however, the diesel would be correspondingly better also). Off road I have been getting about 17ltrs/km, but then I don't hammer it. Once this one is sold, I probably won't get a D4 diesel as it won't come within the companies budget and since they won't have a V6 petrol I might be forced out of the Disco's. Bummer. But then thats in the future eh!

[landy821]

Thanks for an intelligent reply to the vexed petrol V diesel Question
Cheers landy821

[CSBrisie]

I'm pretty sure both rear wheel carriers on the market are a heck of alot less than $3000! I think closer to $1500.

[rovers1952]

Re-sale value on the diesel will be better

[Ashes]

Yep resale will be better but offset quite a bit by the petrol model purchase price being cheaper than the diesel. Probably not much in it at the end of the day. Might be easier to sell a Diesel with a few k's on it compared to a petrol though.

The one thing I've finally figure out about cards after nearly 25 years owning cars is not to buy a car with the intention of maintaining resale value. Car's are not assets they are basically consumables.

[tempestv8]

Whilst the petrol V6 in the Disco 3 is the entry level engine, I can assure you that if you were upgrading from a V8 Discovery II, it is definitely a lot more power than what the old Rover V8 could muster.

So for a V8 DII owner used to around 18-20 litres per 100kms and not much acceleration, the D3 V6 petrol is definitely a superior proposition. Maybe much of it could be due to the excellent 6 speed auto, but let's not forget that the D3 is heavier than the D2.


The other good news about the petrol V6 is that if you are buying used, they are far cheaper to buy than a comparable used TDV6.

[djhampson]

The V6 sounds freakin awesome at high revs.

I took the D3 up the beach last weekend and in low range and full throttle the noise coming from the back was V8ish.

Sounds much better than a rattler :D

[Zebedee]

Whilst the petrol V6 in the Disco 3 is the entry level engine, I can assure you that if you were upgrading from a V8 Discovery II, it is definitely a lot more power than what the old Rover V8 could muster.

So for a V8 DII owner used to around 18-20 litres per 100kms and not much acceleration, the D3 V6 petrol is definitely a superior proposition. Maybe much of it could be due to the excellent 6 speed auto, but let's not forget that the D3 is heavier than the D2.


The other good news about the petrol V6 is that if you are buying used, they are far cheaper to buy than a comparable used TDV6.


Not so sure about the D3V6 having a lot more power than a D2V8. On paper, the D3 has about 20kw more and the 6 speed (and at least 1/2 tonne more weight), but 0 to 100km/h the D2 is quicker, apparently.

[Roger]

Just got back from a run Geelong to Gold Coast and back. Average fuel consumption 11.2 ltrs/100km up, 11.8/100 back. Average speed up on the Newell 92kph, back on the Pacific/Hume 80kph (This excludes the breaks sleep etc). Went very well. Used premium unleaded. Found it best when overtaking a truck etc @ 100kph to push the gear stick to sports mode for the over take and went back to normal after completing the pass. Used the GPS for main speedo as according to the GPS the Disco is out by about 8kph @110kph. Too much road work on the Pacific, did most of the boring bits of the Newell in the dark, I was surprised the stock head lights are quite good for standard. Had it serviced a week before the trip so it was roll'in easy! I was surprised at the consumption increase on the return, I suspect it was higher due to the frequent need to slow down and stop for construction zones and small towns. It also seemed that the Newell route had more 110kph zones than the other, but I might be imagining that.

[stig0000]

it must be just me, but if i was going to spend all that money on a new d3, the last engine i would buy is a v6,,,

just me,, but i think its slow as for a 4L, gutless, uses way to much fuel, and but to me it allways sounds like your floging it just to get it to move,

its not a very smoth power eather i think, and this is all on new or car that have about 50k on them,

and they go thru crank sharft sensors every service allmost, id much rather save for the extra 7k or wat ever it is and get the tdv6,;)

[WhiteD3]

it must be just me, but if i was going to spend all that money on a new d3, the last engine i would buy is a v6,,,

just me,, but i think its slow as for a 4L, gutless, uses way to much fuel, and but to me it allways sounds like your floging it just to get it to move,

its not a very smoth power eather i think, and this is all on new or car that have about 50k on them,

and they go thru crank sharft sensors every service allmost, id much rather save for the extra 7k or wat ever it is and get the tdv6,;)

If it were only 7k then that would be OK but when I bought mine the diff was 18k!

[Ashes]

If it were only 7k then that would be OK but when I bought mine the diff was 18k!

I'm with you on that one. A major factor for me when buying the D3 was price. I certainly valued the $ savings higher over the possible benefits of a diesel engine. I won't recoup the difference through fuel economy savings and I don't think the diesel would give me much else in the way of benefit for the type of driving I do. Had it only been a couple of K difference I might have gone for a diesel for economy and range but it certainly wasn't, even in the used market (more like $10k for similar KM vehicles).

[Roger]

Re last 3 posts, we would have bought a diesel, but the budget from the company was set and when I did all of the figures, and the company accountant vetted them, the petrol V6 was a more economical option only looking at the dollars over our 100000 km ownership cycle. Re: gutless, I have not had any problems, you work with what you have got, and its a better car for me than anything else I could find at the time in its class. If I wanted power/speed, I put the foot down and I got power. I am sure the diesel behaves quite differently, different power peaks etc. but the petrol does the job fine for me. Does it sound like I am flogging it? when you listen with ears tuned to a diesel, it probably does sound like its reving high, but I drive both diesels and petrol cars and trucks and they are just different, both get from A to B. Re crank shaft sensor, had it serviced three times so far, no crank shaft sensor replacements, I would argue warranty if it did need one. Price difference for me was over $12k.

[stig0000]

If it were only 7k then that would be OK but when I bought mine the diff was 18k!


oh is it that much,, well in that case then yes, cos when my dad bort the 09 d3 he drove all the engines and specs, was looking for a tdv6 hse with
the primiem leather but it was a 5month wate:eek::eek:,, so just went for the es, im just going off what he sead for the price diff, he sead wouldent bother with the v6 and pay the bit more for the tdv6, and he thort the most refind and best to drive was the tdv6,,

i no every one feels diffrent to each car,, but iv driven all of them and yes if i had the money id go the v8 ( only cos im such a child:D:D and cant go past a good v8) but of every day use,, the tdv6,

[Brute]

we`ve had the V6SE for 2 1/2 years nearly 60,000 km other than needing new tyres and brake discs at 40,000 not had a single problem.

In my opinion they drive and perform much better than the TDV6 on road and off and we average 14.6 l/100km on the trip computor no matter what type of driving it does.

$64 K on the road at the time compared with nearly 80K for the TDV6
figured we could put a lot of petrol in for the price difference

Intend to change it out at 5 years but dont know what for if they dont continue with this cheap option in the D4

[Roger]

Another bit of data for the body of V6 petrol knowledge. Just got back from a 1 week trip around the east coast of Tassie. Did not do all that many Km only about 1000 (went down/up on ferry- met the family at the airport -great storm going over!) With the narrow windy roads we got about 13.2 ltrs/100 kms average. No off road. Average speed was 48.8 kph (lots of slow moving traffic on unsafe to pass roads). Performed very well. When safe it passed everything very well when asked, left a few OLD smok'en diesels crawling up some of the steep windy hills. Found the cruise control conservative on the steep hills, if the speed dropped I just did a bit of accelerating myself and it then dropped down a gear and then all was fine. Great ride, family enjoyed it and with 4 females (plus me) in the car thats amazing!:D

[andyrover]

Just traded the D2 TD5 for an '05 D3 on LPG (BRC injection) from James Deacon in Melbourne and I must say it is an awesome machine! Drove home via Brindabellas at speeds not previously experienced due to limousine-like handling, didn't even notice the blown tyre until too late...

LPG tank is tucked under the rear in place of the spare tyre, which is moved to a swing-away on rear bumper. 50 litres of LPG costs about $30 in my part of the world and provides a range of 300 km. Of course, there is also a full petrol tank for backup but who needs it?

Now, just picked up the latest Overlander mag which made reference to July article by Mark Allen on D3 suspension mods not recommended by LR. Also quoted some tricky device by Andrew Trafford, no further details. Any clues? I can see a possible area of improvement in upping the sit-down speed from 40 kph as it could reduce transit times past Big Red. Also seem to recall a while ago a bit of trickery to fool the EAS computer to rise higher than factory settings eg. for serious crawling over rocks.

Could be useful?

[tempestv8]

Hi Andy,

What engine is your vehicle? V6 or V8?

Also, how much usable LPG litres can you fit into your tank and how far does that take you?

:)

[andyrover]

Hi, its a V6 and I agree with previous comments about it being a BIG V6, at 4 litres it beats the pants off the old V8 and sounds just as good! LPG tank capacity is a nominal 60 litres but you cannot fill much past 50, goes for 300 km. Tank hangs down a bit at rear but it is protected by a thick steel plate so I'm not too worried, would like to be able to dial in a bit more ground clearance though, hence my interest in suspension mods...