LPG conversion- suggestions for which model are best?

[Jimmy2000]

Hi All
First time posting so I’m just interested in hearing the opinions of knowledgeable people...

To cut a long story short I’ve recentky relocated out of London and I’m on the outlook for a car (no point having a car in London IMO- I could walk to work, public transport etc). I used to drive a Lexus LS430 which I bought with a LPG conversion already done. It never let me down and despite the fact that I probably over paid for it I was very happy with it. I’ve thought about getting another one as I can pick one up on autotrader for under £3k and get it converted. I did see one for 4K recently but it had gone before I could get to it.

However, I’m interested to know what other cars you’d consider might be good for a lpg conversion? My criteria is-

• something big (3 litre plus)
• reliable (I’m talking about general rep)
• under £5k as I have insurance, tax, conversion costs to think of

As I said, I’m still leaning towards a big Lexus, but if anyone has any others ideas then I’d like to hear them? I also like the look of the Chrysler 300C but I don’t know anything about it.

Cheers

Jim

[stevieturbo]

Old Lexus would be hard to beat.

Lots of stuff like Mercs or BM's can be expensive unreliable pieces if st.

Although as much as many Audi's could fall into the same category.....an old Audi S8 is cool.

Another I hadnt seen for some time, although rarity might make parts more expensive etc...Honda Legend. Or another comfy big cruiser, Volvo S80 if it's that sort of car you're after.

[stevieturbo]

eg although above the price range...something like this should be a comfy cruise anywhere machine, 4wd etc.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-VOLVO-S80-4-4-V8-A...

I think if you can stay older than 2007 or so road tax can also be a lot cheaper ?

[Jimmy2000]

I hadn’t even considered a Volvo so thanks for that I have a mate who swears by ‘em too.

I’ve been looking at a long wheel base Audi A8 too- the one with the W12 unit but a bit out of my range for now. The LS460 looks like a great car but and should take lpg well. They’re coming down in price, but I’ve heard things the steering column. I’ve seen an SC430 with an lpg conversion already done for around £6.5k and I’m tempted as I know the engine is pretty much bullet proof.

I guess there’s worse problems to have!

[stevieturbo]

W12 would be cool..VW Phaeton ?

But anything going wrong with something like that would just be scary.

A more common model like a V8 would just be a little safer in terms of maintenance costs.

[Boosted LS1]

I met the chief engineer at Bentley a good few years ago. He showed me a w12 engine in pieces and commented on how narrow the big end shells were. They really are narrow but it all seems to work :-)

[Jimmy2000]

stevieturbo said:

W12 would be cool..VW Phaeton ?

But anything going wrong with something like that would just be scary.

A more common model like a V8 would just be a little safer in terms of maintenance costs.

Good point.

I’d forgotten about the big Phaeton. Very difficult to come by though, which suggests that current owners might be holding on to them. Got to be looking at about £2.5k for a conversion on that, but I’d like to own something like that just once

[Omaruk]

I have just passed 100K of completely trouble free LPG motoring in my 1997 BMW E36 328i. She has now done a total of 189000. The BRC system has been faultless.

[stevieturbo]

Omaruk said:

I have just passed 100K of completely trouble free LPG motoring in my 1997 BMW E36 328i. She has now done a total of 189000. The BRC system has been faultless.

I'd say most systems now are bound to be good...the biggest variable will always be the installer.

[wuckfitracing]

Honda Legend.