300 TDi manual or V8 auto with LPG?

[Droptheclutch]

Hi all.

I am going to get a Land/Range Rover to tow the race car and am wondering which of the above would be best?

Can anyone pass on their experiences/thoughts/etc?

The car will be used during the week also as a daily driver...

Cheers,

DTC

Edited by Droptheclutch on Wednesday 20th February 12:35

[JSG]

Hi,

You don't state age or budget but assuming not that new based on the 300tdi comment if its a Range Rover you will end up with a V8 or a BMW diesel if its a P38 or a V8 or 300tdi in a late classic.

With a Defender (assume thats what you mean by Landrover) the 300tdi is great for towing as is the later TD5 if it meets your budget. Discoverys tend to be cheaper and have the same engine options but the V8 was available later in Discoverys than Defenders.

The V8 will sound better but I'd go with a diesel for what you want. A 110 Defender will make a better tow car than a 90.

[Droptheclutch]

[quote=JSG]Hi,

You don't state age or budget but assuming not that new based on the 300tdi comment if its a Range Rover you will end up with a V8 or a BMW diesel if its a P38 or a V8 or 300tdi in a late classic.

With a Defender (assume thats what you mean by Landrover) the 300tdi is great for towing as is the later TD5 if it meets your budget. Discoverys tend to be cheaper and have the same engine options but the V8 was available later in Discoverys than Defenders.
quote]

Hi and thanks for your comments.

Budget? I wouldn't think I'd need to spend any more than £3K to £4k - it's going to be used and abused afterall.

Also - Disco preferred - for the 300TDi option (due to better on-road manners - so I 've been told)

Cheers,

dtc.

[JSG]

You will get more for your budget with a Disco, should get a good 300tdi possible an early TD5 (but not perfect).

Check the boot floor for rot as that is a good indication of the general state and easier to get at than the sills

Mind you V8 Discos are even cheaper

[Liszt]

Or a late Range Rover classic with LPG easy for that money

[Droptheclutch]

Liszt said:

Or a late Range Rover classic with LPG easy for that money

Can anyone give me an approx mpg figure for the V8 on LPG?

Cheers,

dtc

[ingrowtn]

Droptheclutch said:

Liszt said:

Or a late Range Rover classic with LPG easy for that money

Can anyone give me an approx mpg figure for the V8 on LPG?

Cheers,

dtc

I run a 4.6 P38 V8 with LPG (currently for sale but outside of your budget). MPG on LPG is pretty much the same as it is on petrol. I've seen details that quote 20% less than petrol equivalent, my experience doesn't bear this out. Mine quoted 12.6 in the book for petrol and I'm averaging 11.5 on LPG. The bonus on LPG is that the cost is less so what you are asking for is cash equivalent MPG for diesel compared to LPG. For mine I rekon 26 equivalent around town and 41 equivalent for motorway.

Towing would impact these figures.

[Hybrids]

We did a similar exercise recently.
Needed a tow car for our race car (only 1500kg inc. trailer), decided on a Disco as we had used them in the past.
We found the V8 LPG's were generally Auto's and high spec which was great, the downside was most had tanks in the rear and if your carrying your race spares too it was going to be a pain.
In the end we went for a 300TDi, plenty more choice around though didn't find one with high trim spec in our budget.
We can get around 26mpg loaded & towing.

HTH's

[ingrowtn]

Hybrids said:

the downside was most had tanks in the rear and if your carrying your race spares too it was going to be a pain.

HTH's

Mine has the donught tank in the spare wheel well, no loss of carrying capacity at all. Only downside is a can of tyre weld instead of a spare.

[Hybrids]

ingrowtn said:

Hybrids said:

the downside was most had tanks in the rear and if your carrying your race spares too it was going to be a pain.

HTH's

Mine has the donught tank in the spare wheel well, no loss of carrying capacity at all. Only downside is a can of tyre weld instead of a spare.

The OP expressed a preference for a Disco, so a donut tank is not possible hence my comment, P38's I agree no loss of carrying space

[Range Rover Blue]

I run a 3.9 V8 on LPG and a 300TDi, both are RRC and cost roughly the same to run per mile. The recent rise in fuel prices has hit LPG the hardest, making it slightly more expensive.

Add to that you can run a TDi on biodeisel or TBH veg oil in a 50/50 mix, saving about £12 per tank.

If you are towing a lot then I'd suggest the auto. A TDi has a lower 1st gear which helps starting off but eventually you will get sick of using the clutch in either.

My sister has another TDi and that's auto. Towing her 'van she has had 21MPG out of it and 30mpg solo, the 'van weighs about 1,500kg loaded and that was on a trip from Yorkshire to Wales.

My caravan is a lot heavier, 1,900kg loaded and I much prefer to tow it with my LSE (yet another RRC), it's the 4.2 auto with all the toys, electric windscreen and cruise control being 2 of the best.

You do use more LPG than petrol as it has a lower calorific value, so you either loose power by running lean (avoid older single point systems) or you loose economy, I choose to loose economy and have the same power on LPG.

The LSE will happily tow 3 tonnes, legally it will tow more but I've never tried. The air suspension if fitted makes it more stable so it's an ideal tow car.

[Droptheclutch]

Thanks for all the input chaps. Much appreciated! Will keep you posted.

[JUST PANTS]

I have a 300tdi auto and tow a comp ski boat of about 2000 kgs.
It pulls it very well even from standing starts.Its an XS model so is fitted with cruise control as standard so long distance motorway towing is a doddle.
Have also towed our 25ft hobby 4 wheel cvan with it no problems at all and about 25mpg.

[Range Rover Blue]

Ooooh, mr pants a word of warning. The Hobby range of caravans is too large to tow under catagory B+E of your licence. IIRC you are restricted to a max length of 23 feet and width of 7'6" unless your tow vehicle is in excess of 3,500KG MAM, ie cat C1+E. This discounts any LR product.

[JUST PANTS]

Range Rover Blue said:

Ooooh, mr pants a word of warning. The Hobby range of caravans is too large to tow under catagory B+E of your licence. IIRC you are restricted to a max length of 23 feet and width of 7'6" unless your tow vehicle is in excess of 3,500KG MAM, ie cat C1+E. This discounts any LR product.

Yes i know all about it,have towed it many times without plod looking side ways at me as they plod along past.
Its rubbish law but it cant be changed so i have actualy sold the van.

Just to correct you on one thing though (This discounts any LR product.

) NOT TRUE !
You can tow a hobby with a Defender 130

[DucatiGary]

im returning about 18mpg on lpg in a 4.6 vogue.

multipoint no loss of power, never thought id like it as much as i do