Thread: 3.9 V8 petrol versus TD5

What's the fuel consumption of the unicorn?

Originally Posted by Smileyx

ive never driven the D2 V8's, are they really that different from the 3.9 D1?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Smileyx

i think from a fuel economy stand point, my 3.9 wont compete with the TD5 or anything for that matter, it is indeed, thirsty.

I've never owned a D2 V8, but a really nice guy let me borrow a good one for a long weekend. I'll preface this next bit by saying my TD5 has a mildly tuned chipped MSB ECU. The TD5 seems to me to be better in almost every way. On the highway the performance is similar, but the consumption is no contest. The TD5 is better on fuel than my Barra engined Fairmont, which makes it way better than a V8 Disco. The only thing the V8 had that I would want was the leather seats and ACE, and you can have a TD5 with those.
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Originally Posted by Smileyx

my biggest struggle is the D1 i have is in mint condition and im simply just attached to it. i must say, from a cosmetic stand point, i do prefer the shape of the D1 too.

All that is subjective, and only you can decide. I have to say that I agree with you. Going forward, your "mint" D1 may hold its value better, as good ones are rarer than good D2s.

Originally Posted by Smileyx

hypothetically, if i was to pass up buying the D2 TD5 id save 15k - are engine conversions a viable option then?

$15K buys a lot of fuel, even at today's prices.

Originally Posted by Smileyx

(there use to be a D1 near by with an LS in it, probably had the same fuel economy as my 3.9 but damn it sounded so good)

Nope. It depends on which one, but a properly set up LS would destroy a 3.9 on every metric. They are far more efficient, and are hardly working most of the time, unless you go everywhere full throttle, which would be seriously terrifying in a D1, the performance levels being so different. That said, I went for a ride in an LS powered P38A once, and instantly fell in love. Effortless, silky smooth.

Originally Posted by Tins

Yes.



I've never owned a D2 V8, but a really nice guy let me borrow a good one for a long weekend. I'll preface this next bit by saying my TD5 has a mildly tuned chipped MSB ECU. The TD5 seems to me to be better in almost every way. On the highway the performance is similar, but the consumption is no contest. The TD5 is better on fuel than my Barra engined Fairmont, which makes it way better than a V8 Disco. The only thing the V8 had that I would want was the leather seats and ACE, and you can have a TD5 with those.
.


All that is subjective, and only you can decide. I have to say that I agree with you. Going forward, your "mint" D1 may hold its value better, as good ones are rarer than good D2s.



$15K buys a lot of fuel, even at today's prices.



Nope. It depends on which one, but a properly set up LS would destroy a 3.9 on every metric. They are far more efficient, and are hardly working most of the time, unless you go everywhere full throttle, which would be seriously terrifying in a D1, the performance levels being so different. That said, I went for a ride in an LS powered P38A once, and instantly fell in love. Effortless, silky smooth.

It's a good thing tuning is available for TD5's. I have driven a number of stockers over the years from showroom new to ones with 100k on the motors in auto and manual and they, stock, pretty much took fully twice as long as the stock 4.0 to get from stationery to 100kph (and the 4.6 is a fair bit quicker again) and off idle torque of the V8 offroad is very nice. From what i understand though thr TD5 can be made to go hard but the V8 is harder to liberate more go from. Cheers

Originally Posted by ozscott

It's a good thing tuning is available for TD5's. I have driven a number of stockers over the years from showroom new to ones with 100k on the motors in auto and manual and they, stock, pretty much took fully twice as long as the stock 4.0 to get from stationery to 100kph (and the 4.6 is a fair bit quicker again) and off idle torque of the V8 offroad is very nice. From what i understand though thr TD5 can be made to go hard but the V8 is harder to liberate more go from. Cheers

Twice as long? Really? But tuned or not, a TD5 will easily beat the V8 for fuel while delivering torque when needed. Off the line figures are meaningless for the application IMO. But, if you want that then a TD5 can be made to do it.

Don't get me wrong, I love V8s. But I wouldn't swap my TD5 Disco for a V8. Well, unless it was one of these:

Originally Posted by Tins

Twice as long? Really? But tuned or not, a TD5 will easily beat the V8 for fuel while delivering torque when needed. Off the line figures are meaningless for the application IMO. But, if you want that then a TD5 can be made to do it.

Don't get me wrong, I love V8s. But I wouldn't swap my TD5 Disco for a V8. Well, unless it was one of these:

Yep the official figures at the time from LR when the D2 was released where telling. I am not exaggerating by much . It was actually 3 to 4 seconds from memory but behind the wheel it felt like twice as long. But yes I agree the TD5 can be tuned up well, thankfully. If I built a D2 tourer again I would probably go a Td5 but budget for tuning and other upgrades and definitely an auto. But only for range. Having said that given I have a V8 if I wanted to do remote touring desert style I would opt for a Brown and Davis. I certainly wouldn't sell my V8 to buy a Td5 though and if it was written off i might get a Td5 for somethingdifferent. It is an each to their own topic however. Cheers

Originally Posted by ozscott

D2 had a wider wheel base and is more stable.

I think you mean 'track'. Wheelbase is measured front to rear, from axle centrelines. It is possibly the only thing the two cars have in common if you discount the main glass, and even that is different in tint.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

What's the fuel consumption of the unicorn?

Dunno. I can never catch the bugger.

Originally Posted by ozscott

Yep the official figures at the time from LR when the D2 was released where telling. I am not exaggerating by much . But yes I agree the TD5 can be tuned up well, thankfully. If I built a D2 tourer again I would probably go a Td5 but budget for tuning and other upgrades and definitely an auto. But only for range. Having said that given I have a V8 if I wanted to do remote touring desert style I would opt for a Brown and Davis. I certainly wouldn't sell my V8 to buy a Td5 though and if it was written off i might get a Td5 for somethingdifferent. It is an each to their own topic however. Cheers

Agreed, both have pros and cons. Actually, I prefer a 300TDi to both, purely for simplicity. I always used to regard diesels as tractor engines, before I bought one. D2 was my first ever diesel ( that I owned.. everything I drove for work was diesel ), and it surprised me.

The main thing that separates them for me is the fuel itself. If I go somewhere that necessitates carrying extra then it's diesel hands down, because it is SO much safer than petrol.