Advice re buying a 200/300TDi Discovery
Discussion
Hi all,
I've been looking at these, but just can't seem to find any that are priced more in line with the value, rather than the inflated numbers we've seen due to the weather.
I've been researching these since November, and wanted one just before we got the snow - the inflated prices, and the volume of sheds for sale put me off then. However, I fancy one again - primarily because my SAAB has decided to bugger its gearbox. So, I know what to look for - roughly, the weak points and that sort of thing.
I'm still a bit indecisive when it comes to the economy matter. I think I should be lucky to see above 30MPG on a run? I do have a decent source of Biodiesel though...
I'm 20, and the insurance would certainly be a big positive. However, how much money should I have 'floating', for repairs? I imagine parts would be relatively cheap etc?
Anyway, silly idea? Wait out 'til a decent one comes along ~£1500, or will I be waiting a while?
Cheers!
I've been looking at these, but just can't seem to find any that are priced more in line with the value, rather than the inflated numbers we've seen due to the weather.
I've been researching these since November, and wanted one just before we got the snow - the inflated prices, and the volume of sheds for sale put me off then. However, I fancy one again - primarily because my SAAB has decided to bugger its gearbox. So, I know what to look for - roughly, the weak points and that sort of thing.
I'm still a bit indecisive when it comes to the economy matter. I think I should be lucky to see above 30MPG on a run? I do have a decent source of Biodiesel though...
I'm 20, and the insurance would certainly be a big positive. However, how much money should I have 'floating', for repairs? I imagine parts would be relatively cheap etc?
Anyway, silly idea? Wait out 'til a decent one comes along ~£1500, or will I be waiting a while?
Cheers!
Rum Runner said:
Buy a V8 on LPG it will work out similar penny per mile. Cheaper to buy and make a better noise..
This was the plan - but the price of LPG cannot justify the running of a V8. In saying that I think people need to work out just exactly how much these differences and stuff are, because it could probably be offset by refraining to buy a couple of cups of coffee, fast food and/or service station sandwiches... Anyway - cheers guys, i'll be keeping my eye out for a decent (non-
) one 
JeS10 said:
Hi all,
I've been looking at these, but just can't seem to find any that are priced more in line with the value, rather than the inflated numbers we've seen due to the weather.
I've been researching these since November, and wanted one just before we got the snow - the inflated prices, and the volume of sheds for sale put me off then. However, I fancy one again - primarily because my SAAB has decided to bugger its gearbox. So, I know what to look for - roughly, the weak points and that sort of thing.
I'm still a bit indecisive when it comes to the economy matter. I think I should be lucky to see above 30MPG on a run? I do have a decent source of Biodiesel though...
I'm 20, and the insurance would certainly be a big positive. However, how much money should I have 'floating', for repairs? I imagine parts would be relatively cheap etc?
Anyway, silly idea? Wait out 'til a decent one comes along ~£1500, or will I be waiting a while?
Cheers!
Disco prices are usually fairly stable. The snow might have inflated them a bit, but as a rule they've never been £200 motors if you know what I mean. I've been looking at these, but just can't seem to find any that are priced more in line with the value, rather than the inflated numbers we've seen due to the weather.
I've been researching these since November, and wanted one just before we got the snow - the inflated prices, and the volume of sheds for sale put me off then. However, I fancy one again - primarily because my SAAB has decided to bugger its gearbox. So, I know what to look for - roughly, the weak points and that sort of thing.
I'm still a bit indecisive when it comes to the economy matter. I think I should be lucky to see above 30MPG on a run? I do have a decent source of Biodiesel though...
I'm 20, and the insurance would certainly be a big positive. However, how much money should I have 'floating', for repairs? I imagine parts would be relatively cheap etc?
Anyway, silly idea? Wait out 'til a decent one comes along ~£1500, or will I be waiting a while?
Cheers!
As for mpg. Well this will vary on how you drive, where you drive and what sort of tyres. I'd say on normal road tyres driven sensibly then 25-28mpg is a realistic average. On a run 28-32mpg is possible, but not all people will achieve it. If you drive hard and or mod then you can get a lot lower, reckon mine used to do 19-22mpg average and mid 20's on a run at best.
Tweaking them is well worth it, as is adding a bigger intercooler, even one from the scrappy off of a Jap petrol turbo will do. This can lower mpg if you drive hard, but drive more gentle and it'll probably be slightly better.
One thing to remember - everything is repairable if you want it to be.
And you can do most of it yourself. Very easy to work on, although can be time consuming for some parts.
Bushes, track rod ends. Clutch slave and master cylinder are all things that might need doing from time to time. They like tlc rather than being unreliable. The basic parts are actually rather durable.
Rust will be an issue so check carefully. The rear floor is no probs though as it isn't structural. I cut mine out and bolted in an aluminium replacement.
200 and 300 Tdi's are quite similar in performance and reliability. I personally prefer the 200 Series interior, it looks and feels a lot nicer IMO. And oddly I'd say I've also preferred the feel of the lt77's over the R380 gearboxes too.
JeS10 said:
This was the plan - but the price of LPG cannot justify the running of a V8. In saying that I think people need to work out just exactly how much these differences and stuff are, because it could probably be offset by refraining to buy a couple of cups of coffee, fast food and/or service station sandwiches...
Anyway - cheers guys, i'll be keeping my eye out for a decent (non-) one
On LPG ( here 74.99 per lt) it works out at roughly the same cost as a diesel £ per mile . Same amount of money will equal the equivalent of around 23-27mpg.. Probalby better if on Mulitpoint gas.Anyway - cheers guys, i'll be keeping my eye out for a decent (non-
) one If you buy one with the LPG system already installed then they are good value.
Last week a tidy 67,000 mile Mk2 dark blue manual with mulitpoint was on for 4.5K.
Rum Runner said:
JeS10 said:
This was the plan - but the price of LPG cannot justify the running of a V8. In saying that I think people need to work out just exactly how much these differences and stuff are, because it could probably be offset by refraining to buy a couple of cups of coffee, fast food and/or service station sandwiches...
Anyway - cheers guys, i'll be keeping my eye out for a decent (non-) one
On LPG ( here 74.99 per lt) it works out at roughly the same cost as a diesel £ per mile . Same amount of money will equal the equivalent of around 23-27mpg.. Probalby better if on Mulitpoint gas.Anyway - cheers guys, i'll be keeping my eye out for a decent (non-
) one If you buy one with the LPG system already installed then they are good value.
Last week a tidy 67,000 mile Mk2 dark blue manual with mulitpoint was on for 4.5K.
Finding one with it fitted already limits choice massively and for some it may seem scary if they don't know much about it.
Disco 1 V8 doesn't really need a multipoint/sequential LPG injection system.
I have had a 3.5EFi (flapper type air flow meter) Range Rover on LPG for over 10 years now, initially with a simple gas ring & recently with a BLOS LPG carburettor. The latter is better than the gas ring both in performance and fuel economy. Same with the later Hot-Wire air flow meters.
Running cost wise you need to take on board that LPG was roughly half the price of petrol so you get twice the amount of LPG for the same COST as a gallon of petrol.
On that basis, I get around 26 miles running on LPG for the COST of a gallon of petrol. And that includes the car fully laden with a twin axle boat trailer on the back. V8 Range Rovers don't do 26mpg on a gallon of petrol!
BUT the figure is roughly the same return you would get from the same vehicle on diesel, so you need to decide which is best for you. If you buy ready converted it saves you the expense of the work but as anybody can buy LPG kits there are some real bodges out there so get it properly checked.
Down sides of LPG include limited availability, some insurance companies won't touch LPG vehicles, you can't use the Channel Tunnel.
I have had a 3.5EFi (flapper type air flow meter) Range Rover on LPG for over 10 years now, initially with a simple gas ring & recently with a BLOS LPG carburettor. The latter is better than the gas ring both in performance and fuel economy. Same with the later Hot-Wire air flow meters.
Running cost wise you need to take on board that LPG was roughly half the price of petrol so you get twice the amount of LPG for the same COST as a gallon of petrol.
On that basis, I get around 26 miles running on LPG for the COST of a gallon of petrol. And that includes the car fully laden with a twin axle boat trailer on the back. V8 Range Rovers don't do 26mpg on a gallon of petrol!
BUT the figure is roughly the same return you would get from the same vehicle on diesel, so you need to decide which is best for you. If you buy ready converted it saves you the expense of the work but as anybody can buy LPG kits there are some real bodges out there so get it properly checked.
Down sides of LPG include limited availability, some insurance companies won't touch LPG vehicles, you can't use the Channel Tunnel.
Edited by paintman on Friday 18th March 08:24
Thanks for all the advice. I have spotted a few nice LPG V8's for under £2k - I'm just reluctant to take the plunge if they can't provide the relevent certification. I've found that when asking about things like service history, welding etc. I just get an answer something like 'Its only £X amount, so what do you expect' kinda mentality - which doesn't help.
JeS10 said:
Thanks for all the advice. I have spotted a few nice LPG V8's for under £2k - I'm just reluctant to take the plunge if they can't provide the relevent certification. I've found that when asking about things like service history, welding etc. I just get an answer something like 'Its only £X amount, so what do you expect' kinda mentality - which doesn't help.
Just remember lpg = a smaller range due to tank size and having to find lpg before you run out. Look into twin tanking a tdi for used vegetable oil, find source who wants rid of it and you have free motoring. At the worst its £1 a litre in costco, or about 50p a litre on ebay.I've owned several V8 Discoverys and one Tdi one. I'll never buy another Tdi its just a dreadful engine in anything other than a Defender in my opinion (my daily drive is a Tdi 110 and I love that). The tdi too harsh for the civilised nature of a Discovery. The V8 Discovery is worth every pennys worth of fuel it costs to run, well set up and serviced they can do over 20mpg although we usually recorded just over 18mpg.
As has been said above they rot like hell in the back floor and arches. I couldn't find a decent one 3 years ago and it won't be any easier now for certain. V8s do tend to be better looked after than workhorse Tdis.
If you want a Tdi find an early one and spend some wonga making it nice, it'll hold its value for certain.
Its worth joining LandRoverAddict.com for advice and leads to good vehicles for sale.
Will
As has been said above they rot like hell in the back floor and arches. I couldn't find a decent one 3 years ago and it won't be any easier now for certain. V8s do tend to be better looked after than workhorse Tdis.
If you want a Tdi find an early one and spend some wonga making it nice, it'll hold its value for certain.
Its worth joining LandRoverAddict.com for advice and leads to good vehicles for sale.
Will
Decided to get back on that hunt for one! MX-5 for Summer fun is out the window, i'd look like a prat apparently. So, Disco it is.
Think we've decided on the LPG V8, the running costs fuel wise won't differ too far from the SAAB 9-5 I currently run - presuming I can get 20MPG out of it, on the motorway run, I might save £3 a day! What sort of things should I look out for though, my budget would only secure me a relatively high miler. I'm guessing the usual belts etc, but what about headgasket and that sort of thing?
Think we've decided on the LPG V8, the running costs fuel wise won't differ too far from the SAAB 9-5 I currently run - presuming I can get 20MPG out of it, on the motorway run, I might save £3 a day! What sort of things should I look out for though, my budget would only secure me a relatively high miler. I'm guessing the usual belts etc, but what about headgasket and that sort of thing?
3.9 Mk1 Disco's are little more simple and you will find more manuals than Disco 2's.
The multi point LPG is better and more often found on disco 2 though with the later GEMS version of 4.0.
Apart from normal Disco issues you need to watch for worn cams on the V8, the AFM can get damaged from inlet manifold back fire with LPG and airboxes can look quite broken because of it.
Multi point is not as bad with regards to backfires.
Also any paperwork covering a recent check of the LPG system is a bonus.
Make sure you buy one with LPG system installed though, as you will not get your money back if you have to install at your cost.
The multi point LPG is better and more often found on disco 2 though with the later GEMS version of 4.0.
Apart from normal Disco issues you need to watch for worn cams on the V8, the AFM can get damaged from inlet manifold back fire with LPG and airboxes can look quite broken because of it.
Multi point is not as bad with regards to backfires.
Also any paperwork covering a recent check of the LPG system is a bonus.
Make sure you buy one with LPG system installed though, as you will not get your money back if you have to install at your cost.
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