Thread: v8 Pros vs Cons or just pros...

I can answer one of your questions. D3s all have factory tow points front and rear. From The FAQ:
Does the car have recovery points?
Yes, the hooks front and rear under plastic covers, removed with a coin (see manual) are rated to the vehicle's GCM (Gross Combination Mass, GVM + GTM, so over 6000kg) and are used for recovery.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...html#technical
Regards,
Tote

If you have to worry about fuel costs , you can't
afford to own one . There are countless other components
that will take your money . Are you up for 2G$+ for tyres etc. ?

Thanks tote Ill have a read.


Thanks for your concern Neil P. I was more worried about the range than the cost of fuel. I really want at least 400km out of a tank to get to the camping ground and back. i was thinking with gas it could be used as a long range tank. Yup know it is all very expensive to own.

thanks Mike

Are you against the diesel? Better range due to economy and some would argue better useable off-road combination......although the V8 being no slouch, I doubt that there is much in it.

I believe it's no rocket off the mark...but it is a 4WD after all, not a sports car.

Once rolling it's supposed to be a very good bit of kit. The 6 speed auto helps the D3/4 engines play in the correct rev range....most of the time…..and when it's being naughty, a quick flick into Sports Mode re-educates it.

Regarding range with the 4.4l Jag V8 premium 91AKI ,(AntiKnockIndex for North America, close to 98RON in Aus) octane gasoline, I routinely drive about 350 km prior to refueling on a paved 4 lane highway in the summer where traffic speeds average 120 kph and one can be on cruise control.

There is probably a quarter tank of fuel left when I do gas up. Our ground elevation is about 2,400 ft, (750m), above sea level here in Edmonton and about 4,300 ft (1,300m), on the mountain roads. What I am really saying is that the 350 km is more uphill than down so you should not be walking by trying to get 400km out of a full tank, given good road conditions. This also presumes no significant head winds. Particularily in the mountain passes, head winds of 60kph are common. When you have that as a tail wind, the Land Rover is very quiet at speed and range improves as well.

In the winter here, it is a different story. I still go the 350km, but the tank is closer to empty then. I could still get the 400 km range but I would have to be driving to civilization, not away from it before I would be comfortable doing that. Like Oz, 100 km between gas stations is pretty common and that is during the day - at night, well 250 km.

The fuel consumption seems to vary significantly from summer to winter. By summer I mean, +10C to +25C and winter, from -10C to say -30C. It does get colder than that here, however I try to avoid going anywhere distant where the average temp is less than -30C. I do recall a couple of Christmas's ago, I did depart Edmonton here at -40C, but I was driving into warmer weather in the mountains, -20C.

Also I think tyres affect fuel consumption as well. Summer tread tyres seems to get better mileage than winter tread tyres. I suppose the same for pavement tyres vs sand tyres.

Also when it is cold, and driving away from civilization, I do not like to let the tank get less than half in case I get stranded. It takes maybe 3 days to die of heat and thirst, but in about 3 hours, one can freeze to death - it is generally due to the wind as when one drives into white out conditions from a blizzard, you go off the road and ....

Originally Posted by bbyer

The fuel consumption seems to vary significantly from summer to winter. By summer I mean, +10C to +25C and winter, from -10C to say -30C. It does get colder than that here, however I try to avoid going anywhere distant where the average temp is less than -30C. I do recall a couple of Christmas's ago, I did depart Edmonton here at -40C, but I was driving into warmer weather in the mountains, -20C.

Also I think tyres affect fuel consumption as well. Summer tread tyres seems to get better mileage than winter tread tyres. I suppose the same for pavement tyres vs sand tyres.

Also when it is cold, and driving away from civilization, I do not like to let the tank get less than half in case I get stranded. It takes maybe 3 days to die of heat and thirst, but in about 3 hours, one can freeze to death - it is generally due to the wind as when one drives into white out conditions from a blizzard, you go off the road and ....

I laughed out loud when reading this, but I guess it's not funny if you do go off road in a blizzard ..... Your driving conditions are very different to ours!

I'd have to agree about differences in fuel consumption between road tyres and off road tyres if that difference is transferable to summer / winter tyres.

Ian

Originally Posted by Mikes defender

.... I was more worried about the range .....

The biggest problem is finding anything other than useless 91RON
outside of main towns . I carry a couple of 20l plastic cans of 98RON
that give another 300km on the 700ish to get me through the night
. It's getting better in the cities, but not the country ..........

Hi Mike
I to had a defender a 130 , great car air lockers F anr R sola panel, fridge , draws etc etc . The day came after 9 years and I decided to go for a D3 TDV6 SE . Best decision , dont get me wrong I loved my Defener. But the D3 is a differant league all together and the extra cost will be off set by the chyropractic savings of owning a defender.
Good luck
connock