Random Land Rover thoughts
Random Land Rover thoughts
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surveyor

Original Poster:

18,695 posts

214 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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We currently have a facelift td6 FFRR. Not many around as not long after the facelift they stuck the V8 in....

Had it for 18 months, now getting itchy fingers. I had really wanted a Discovery, but had allowed the wife to persuade me to choose the Range Rover. Which broke down on day 3. Since then it's been pretty good - touch wood.

I was in Ireland earlier this week, and needed a proper 4wd to reach one site. With trepidation hired a Di4. Fantastic car, nimble, quiet, economical (to a degree). Somehow the hire company had found a unique spec without Sat Nav. 8 speed gearbox was a peach. I was impressed.

So then came back to drive our Range Rover, fearing the worst. But no - it still feels majestic and proud. It still makes a lot of noise and goes nowhere fast, I still don't even look at the fuel consumption (and often not even the gauge). Despite the D4's competence, I am surprised to find that I'm still wandering over to L322 V8's.




SimesJH

768 posts

181 months

Saturday 17th October 2015
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Here's another random thought for you.

Supercharged FFRR.

Clearly, much quicker than the Td6 but much cheaper than the D4. Still (even more so) majestic. The 6-speed gearbox is much better than the GM 5-speed, but admittedly not maybe as nice as the 8-speed. Then again, the purchase price will be much less.

Fuel economy isn't so bad and they're decently quick. They sound nicely old-school, too, albeit tastefully muted.


surveyor

Original Poster:

18,695 posts

214 months

Saturday 17th October 2015
quotequote all
SimesJH said:
Here's another random thought for you.

Supercharged FFRR.

Clearly, much quicker than the Td6 but much cheaper than the D4. Still (even more so) majestic. The 6-speed gearbox is much better than the GM 5-speed, but admittedly not maybe as nice as the 8-speed. Then again, the purchase price will be much less.

Fuel economy isn't so bad and they're decently quick. They sound nicely old-school, too, albeit tastefully muted.
What really puts me off is economy when towing....

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

220 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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surveyor said:
SimesJH said:
Here's another random thought for you.

Supercharged FFRR.

Clearly, much quicker than the Td6 but much cheaper than the D4. Still (even more so) majestic. The 6-speed gearbox is much better than the GM 5-speed, but admittedly not maybe as nice as the 8-speed. Then again, the purchase price will be much less.

Fuel economy isn't so bad and they're decently quick. They sound nicely old-school, too, albeit tastefully muted.
What really puts me off is economy when towing....
I guess the thing to do is work out how much towing you are really going to do and the expected mpg's and see how much it is really likely to cost extra.


If you aren't towing heavy loads, then a supercharged V8 is probably likely to pull it without even noticing it on the back. So long as you don't drive with a heavy foot, mpg's will likely be minimally affected.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

220 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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Oh and while I know it's not the same vehicle. My 4.6 V8 p38a did 17mpg without a trailer on the back, 17mpg with the trailer on the back and 17mpg with the trailer on the back and a Corsa loaded on it.


It can obviously do better and worse mpg depending on roads/driving style. But as a real world test and mpg figures recorded in each configuration. Vehicle was 3 up each time.

CAPP0

20,881 posts

233 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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What do the SCs achieve realistically? My Jag-V8ed L322 makes a realistic 20mpg, give or take 1 or 2, in general mixed non-thrashing use.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

220 months

Monday 19th October 2015
quotequote all
CAPP0 said:
What do the SCs achieve realistically? My Jag-V8ed L322 makes a realistic 20mpg, give or take 1 or 2, in general mixed non-thrashing use.
Like most vehicles, how you drive and where will make a huge difference to the Mode average you will attain.

Also the supercharge is likely to have a larger affect imo, so when you drive it 'hard' it'll drop more than the n/a V8. But the offset it, with so much more power, and critically because it's a PD blower, it has massively more low end grunt, you simply won't need to drive it as hard. So in certain use could be more economical than the n/a version.


SimesJH

768 posts

181 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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My 4.2 SC with a blower pulley upgrade and remap (circa 460bhp) regularly returns an average of 18mpg in mixed driving.

There's so much low-end grunt that it's often driven on a tickle of throttle using no more than 3,500rpm.

On the motorway at a steady 70-80, she'll return up to 23mpg.

Mine has never, ever towed, but I do find that the fuel economy never changes regardless of the number of passengers or the load.

hashtag

1,116 posts

184 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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SimesJH said:
My 4.2 SC with a blower pulley upgrade and remap (circa 460bhp) regularly returns an average of 18mpg in mixed driving.

There's so much low-end grunt that it's often driven on a tickle of throttle using no more than 3,500rpm.

On the motorway at a steady 70-80, she'll return up to 23mpg.

Mine has never, ever towed, but I do find that the fuel economy never changes regardless of the number of passengers or the load.
That is what i used to get with my Td6. Peak District :- lots of hills!

Ayahuasca

27,584 posts

309 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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I must hose the mud out of the interior of my Defender one of these days.

CAPP0

20,881 posts

233 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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Ayahuasca said:
I must hose the mud out of the interior of my Defender one of these days.
Don't do that, the MOT man will be able to see the rust!

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

220 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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CAPP0 said:
Ayahuasca said:
I must hose the mud out of the interior of my Defender one of these days.
Don't do that, the MOT man will be able to see the rust!
Apart from the upper sections of the front footwells, the rest of the floor is Birmabirght and doesn't rust.

Getting the water out however is less easy, unlike early classic Range Rovers with the sloping floors, so the water would pour out. Or unlike the current JK Jeep Wranglers that have drain holes and removable plugs in the floor, for the sole purpose of being able to hose them out.

CAPP0

20,881 posts

233 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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Indeed; I may not have been entirely serious with my previous post wink


Ayahuasca

27,584 posts

309 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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I must drill some drainage holes in the footwells of my Defender one of these days.

CAPP0

20,881 posts

233 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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Ayahuasca said:
I must drill some drainage holes in the footwells of my Defender one of these days.
Mine has plenty; I guess whoever converted it to V8 had to hack the trans tunnel and the adjacent floor around, so there are small gaps here & there. All part of the character!