Thread: V8 or TD5

But factor in higher repair costs, TD5 seem to do harmonic balancers more than V8s, fuel pumps, injector looms, plus servicing costs

The V8 is cheaper to own these days.

Td5 repair costs are too high. And to get decent performance the economy isn't all that great.

My TD5 is getting up to 300kk, and fuel efficiency, while probably better than the V8, is really not brilliant either at 12-13L/100km (fair bit of city driving with that). I've decided recently that if it fell over (for whatever reason) I'd probably get a V8 instead.

Do the calcs. If the difference is 5L/100km, if you're doing 20,000km a year, the difference is maybe $1200 a year. It's going to take you a few years to recoup your costs, even if nothing goes seriously wrong.


But, if you're serious, I'd be happy to talk about swapping rigs

Whats a bog standard pre update V8 worth $6k??

Double that for a good update TD5.

IMO keep the V8. The saved $6000 will buy a lot of jerry cans, and you'll have a
drive train / vehicle you know and trust.

I've just bought an update TD5...... I'm not going anywhere remote until I understand it totally. I had an old 93 S1 V8 and trusted that to go anywhere, only because I had the hours on it and knew every small fault etc. All i'm trying to say is even if your car is an old piece of ****, as long as you know why its crap... that's all that really matters.

knowing the car is all.

Not another thread that may hopefully not degenerate into a slanging match. LOL
IMHO it is personal preference
After 3 RRCs with V8s and never having owned a dieselI thought I would try a diesel that I had heard so much about, and now I don't think I would go back to V8.

The thing that amazed me was even with my stock TD5 pulling my 1tonne camper, it climbed hills far better than my extremely modifed for torque RRC. ( 3.9, sports exhaust, Unichip, Thor manifold, Bosch Gen 111 injectors etc with 50% more torque at 1600RPM)

I think for towing it is no contest TD5 every time , but if you plan to travel light then a V8 will be OK.
I personally find that the larger V8s are fragile, with cams wearing, head gaskets leaking and the possibility of sleeve slippage. I know V8s very well as I have pulled them apart often.
So far no problems with the TD5 but I have left it stock. I have asked the question several times on this forum whether chipping really does any good when you are towing, as it is ultimately the EGT which determines how fast you can go up a big hill towing. I prefer not to have to drive by an EGT gauge. Overtaking I guess is another thing but I have found no problems in that regard.
The fuel savings going about 18,000 Km around Australia were I estimate about $1600 or more as I could get fuel where it is cheap say Port Hedland instead of a roadhouse, the difference sometimes being 50cents a litre..

The other thing is that the range of the diesel is far greater, so I got across the Nullabor with a tank and 2 jerries with some side trips.

So I guess it depends whether you like Vroom vroom or rattle rattle, but it will take a long time to justify a diesel on fuel savings alone.
Regards Philip A

Koen,

I did the same thing near 10 years ago, switched from a 2000 V8 to a 2003 TD5 which I chipped immediately as my right foot couldn't live with a standard TD5.

While I still think I did the right thing, I did own the TD5 for about 8 years and over 200,000Km.

The guys have a fair point that you will need to own it a while before you recoup the cost of change over.

However - as you say you are planning lots of Km's in the coming 1/2 year.... where you are planning on going may be relevant. For remote travel, the longer range is a plus - and everywhere out there has diesel - not everywhere has petrol.

Good luck with the choice....

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Not another thread that may hopefully not degenerate into a slanging match. LOL
IMHO it is personal preference
After 3 RRCs with V8s and never having owned a dieselI thought I would try a diesel that I had heard so much about, and now I don't think I would go back to V8.

The thing that amazed me was even with my stock TD5 pulling my 1tonne camper, it climbed hills far better than my extremely modifed for torque RRC. ( 3.9, sports exhaust, Unichip, Thor manifold, Bosch Gen 111 injectors etc with 50% more torque at 1600RPM)

I think for towing it is no contest TD5 every time , but if you plan to travel light then a V8 will be OK.
I personally find that the larger V8s are fragile, with cams wearing, head gaskets leaking and the possibility of sleeve slippage. I know V8s very well as I have pulled them apart often.
So far no problems with the TD5 but I have left it stock. I have asked the question several times on this forum whether chipping really does any good when you are towing, as it is ultimately the EGT which determines how fast you can go up a big hill towing. I prefer not to have to drive by an EGT gauge. Overtaking I guess is another thing but I have found no problems in that regard.
The fuel savings going about 18,000 Km around Australia were I estimate about $1600 or more as I could get fuel where it is cheap say Port Hedland instead of a roadhouse, the difference sometimes being 50cents a litre..

The other thing is that the range of the diesel is far greater, so I got across the Nullabor with a tank and 2 jerries with some side trips.

So I guess it depends whether you like Vroom vroom or rattle rattle, but it will take a long time to justify a diesel on fuel savings alone.
Regards Philip A

Lets hope it does not sink to another low
It is a personal choice and you will get the horror stories from both sides
My opinion is the Td5 and i have owned a couple of RRC v8`s standard and modified .
Go the diesel not all Td5`s do harmonic balancers and the service cost is not going to be the game changer in my opinion
I have owned 2 Td5`s and id buy another in a heart beat over the V8
This is totaly my opinion

Having traversed a similar path to PhilipA I have to agree with everything he says, the TD5 is far better for towing and you'll get further on a tank. Likewise I'm more than happy with the performance of the standard tune engine and pulling a 1.8 tonne van.

But given the work you have put into your existing car and the kms it has travelled I'd keep it and buy a few Jerry cans.......Or fit a long range tank if you haven't already done so. So I'm also in agreement with 697NoDad.

Cheers

Steve