Thread: D3 V6 Petrol

Welcome to the forum, Terry. Perhaps if you were buying new it would be a quantifiable decision, but when you start to look at 8 to 10 year old vehicles, then you must factor in so many more variables. Stuff like usage, oil change frequency, quality of servicing and parts etc. If your D3 suits you and you are happy with it, I'd suggest sticking with it and just accept the fuel bill.
But if you were looking to upgrade and had $60k+ to spend, then certainly a 2013+ D4 diesel with under, say, 120,000km should be considered as it is probably still one of the best towing vehicles available.

Given there is a whole lot less to go wrong with the V6 petrol, and also you know your vehicle, plus those extra $$ will buy an awful lot (years worth) of fuel, you sort of have your answer already. When it eventually starts costing more to maintain than enjoy, start thinking about a replacement then. I have a D3 TDV6, but if I was in your position I would definitely stick with your current ride.

Low mileage D3 TDV6's can be found around 20k or less,if the belts and oil pump have been done then there isn't much else apart from wear and year items to go wrong. Worst case a territory motor is cheap these days.

My V8 petrol D4 returned 21l/100 towing a 3 tonne van. I suspect the V8 D3 would be similar.

Originally Posted by Geedublya

My V8 petrol D4 returned 21l/100 towing a 3 tonne van. I suspect the V8 D3 would be similar.

Before we bought our D3 I spent quite a while reading up on fuel consumption for the 3 engines and in pretty much every case the V8 appeared to beat the V6 in the real world. I couldn’t quite figure out where the V6 fit into the market. If I had it to do over I’d buy V8 rather than the TDV6.

I have a D3 V6 petrol and have no regrets buying it.
There were no V8's around at the time, that I could get to, so I went with the V6.
I bought it knowing I'd be towing a 2.3 T van and I had no expectations of low fuel consumption with, or without the van.
It has been largely fault free and worry free for 4 years now and I love it.

Originally Posted by BradC

Before we bought our D3 I spent quite a while reading up on fuel consumption for the 3 engines and in pretty much every case the V8 appeared to beat the V6 in the real world. I couldn’t quite figure out where the V6 fit into the market. If I had it to do over I’d buy V8 rather than the TDV6.

The V6 fitted in to the market on cost. In 2007 my new D3 SE V6 was 64k drive away which at the time was a lot of car for a reasonable price. The TDV6 was in the 80s. Never looked at the V8 but I assume similar costs to the TDV6.