Thread: Running Cost V8 D1 Petrol a winner for me

Finally some sense.That is why I bought a V8,they are cheaper.That should be a sticky post.You should post that on one of the mainstream forums,sit back and watch the diesel drivers fire up!. Pat

Good post.
My D1 V8i, is my daily driver and pride and joy and is not and wont be
put on gas.
I had a total engine, air con, clutch and brake rebuild and is now mostly
a 3.9. I also put in a new alternator and I have new Maxi axles waiting
for new diff locks.
Barring accidents, I will continue to maintain it with new only parts
and intend to keep it forever.
I dont have electrickery issues and its very reliable, comfortable and
nice to drive on and off the road.
I am spending money upgrading it for a western desert, extended trip,
which is only making it a better and very capable vehicle.
It has no rust anywhere but I will need to get the spray gun out soon
and give it coat of paint, as its starting to look its age. That wont be a
problem, as I have already purchased the original colour paint to do
the job. The interior is still fit for a King.

I thought about getting a new D3 but cancelled the idea as I consider
that I am way in front financially and with far fewer worries in the
future.
Cheers.

Excellent piece and well written. I agree with your philosophy. I have had a couple of new Landcruisers as well as a Jeep which all lost a fortune in depreciation over three years.

I had a V8 3.5l Disco for 10 years and loved her, unfortunately the running costs were excessive. I bought a Ford Escape (Mazda Tribute rebadged) and it was four cylinder, cheap to run, reliable, everything you'd want in a car but boring as bat****. Sold it cheap to my youngest daughter and got my new baby.

I'm driving a Disco Tdi with a rebuilt motor and gearbox running on diesel/lpg. All already done before I got it and under the magic 10k mark.

I change the filter and oil every 5,000 clicks. I have replaced the shocks, had fixed up a bad steering wobble and stuck on new cheapo tyres.

Apart from that all she costs me is 8.5 k of diesel or biofuel for 100ks. Very happy with it and I reckon she's good for another 250,000k.

My wife thinks I'm mad however I'm fairly sure that was the same before I swapped cars.

Regards


Martin

Originally Posted by Boxhead63

Great insight into what sounds like a great vehicle. Hang on of course it is, it's a Landy. By the way you wouldn't be an accountant by any chance?

If I was an accountant, I would most likely have saved all that money from my insurance premiums in a separate interest bearing account.

I am just a plan old boring V8 aholic trying to defend my spending $140-$160 a tank to some of my colleagues "who just don't get it".

Overall my belief is that fuel (no matter what type) is the cheapest part of 4 x 4 ing. I could run my car for a whole year just on the cost of the accy's fitted to it.

How many $50K vehicles are running around out there that only get $30k or less resale back after a couple of years (don't mention what the actual running costs would have been in that time diesel or petrol). I could buy a lot of accys and fuel for that $20K.

It is good to hear a lot of you V8 guys (and gals) can see my point.
Thanks

Look Im not taking anything away from you loving your V8 Disco, they are a great car but a 300Tdi disco isnt very exxy to run no matter what the V8 brigade say.

I dont fork out for fuel in cash as it is part of my package at work though when I have had to fill my 135ltr tank I have no issue with the near on $200 bill (in far away places most of the time) due to I know that I have more than 1000kms of traveling I will do on that fuel no matter how I drive.

On the weekend I drove 643kms on 83ltrs which is 12.9ltr/100kms, 300 odd of that was pulling a 15'x8' tandam trailer with 2.5 tonnes of knocked down steel shed on it at 100 to 110kmh on the hume hwy.

At current prices of (Welcome to FuelWatch easiest one I could find for reference purposes only) 162.9c it cost me $135.20 to do that trip.

It would cost you @ 153.9 (PULP as stated in your post) 128 ltrs @ $196.99.

Assuming we are both driving 20,000kms per year (I generally do a fair bit more than that but thats average for an aussie) @ 12.9l/100kms = 2580 ltrs

2580 ltrs @ 162.9 = $4202.82

20l/100kms = 4000ltrs @ 153.9c = $6156

Taking in account that I have had my Disco for 4 years and that would mean that I have saved around $8k just in fuel for having a diesel.

I wouldnt include accesories either due to different horses etc but as far as repair costs go, you have plugs and leads that should be changed regularly to keep it running the best, I have the same amount of filters and the same amount of oil which only costs a small amount more if you by the quality that I do but my service intervals (with oil analisys which I dont pay for) is at about 20,000kms then Im changine it half as much as you at least.

To me that means Im also saving there as well, but I wouldnt recomend stretching the intervals without doing analisys due to changes with usage off road in different conditions.

Im not bagging your choice and it was a very well worded and informative thread but I just thought I would add some balance to your statement.

Im glad you love your V8, they are great and I hope you have it for a long time and enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

Cheers
Damo

I originally decided on the V8 Disco as to buy a equivalent diesel Disco or Patrol ect was going to be 5-6 grand dearer.I could buy a lot of ulp for that.My second disco was on gas when i bought it and saves me even more

Originally Posted by Thommo

If I was an accountant, I would most likely have saved all that money from my insurance premiums in a separate interest bearing account.

I am just a plan old boring V8 aholic trying to defend my spending $140-$160 a tank to some of my colleagues "who just don't get it".

Overall my belief is that fuel (no matter what type) is the cheapest part of 4 x 4 ing. I could run my car for a whole year just on the cost of the accy's fitted to it.

How many $50K vehicles are running around out there that only get $30k or less resale back after a couple of years (don't mention what the actual running costs would have been in that time diesel or petrol). I could buy a lot of accys and fuel for that $20K.

It is good to hear a lot of you V8 guys (and gals) can see my point.
Thanks

I have had one diesel fourby in my life, a capable vehichle, a reliable vehicle, good at water crossings, over 5 foot in one crossing ( by mistake ) but at the end of the day it was generally as boring as bats^$%. Give me a V8 any day. Jesus, even my Missus likes the way it sounds and goes. No arguments from us V8's are king.

Nice read

I love my 3.9 also. Just had it converted to gas, so I love it even more. After I bought her I did think that I should have got a TDI, but after a while I got to know the nice rumble of the V8 and have never looked back. Plus what i consider to be a bonus, for me at least .... it's a manual ....


Hucksta