Guidance Needed - Looking to buy a TD6 or should I get a 4.4

[mattman73]

New to the forum, and hoping you guys can provide some welcome assistance.

I'm looking to take the plunge and upgrade my current 52 plate V70 for a RR TD6 (most likely 02-04plate with approx 50k).
I hear loads of horror stories about them, but after a few evenings trawling the net I can't actually find much evidence of what I need to be looking out for other than a diff recall and perhaps some iffy electrics.

Can anyone let me know what I should be looking out for and also what they are like to live with every day as this will be my daily vehicle doing approc 25k a year. I'm expecting fuel economy of around 23mpg - is this realistic? I don't really want massive speed or off road ability, but i do want a good looking luxurious car for me and the family and I can't find anything else that really fits the bill quite as well!

Is it worth getting a 4.4 over the TD6 seeing as petrol is virtually 10p a litre cheaper than diesel and so may outweight any benefits of diesel (plus petrol RR's being a little cheaper!!)

Thanks in advance,
Matt

[howlinmadmartin]

personally i prefer the disco three tdv6. yes it may look like a bread van from the outside but if you get a decent spec one they are really comfy and nice to drive and have plenty of gadgets for you all to play with . they have plenty of power for a big car and i can get around 35 mpg average when cruising on the motorway. yes the range rover is better looking but the disco is coming in even cheaper than the range rover. but it all comes down to what you want at the end of the day. hope this helps.

[christhomson]

i would always go for the 4.4 because of there smoothness, dont sound like a tractor when you do put the foot down, the 4.4 comes from the bmw x5 so is a very relaible and strong engine. also the petrol will always be a cheaper option i.e. running costs even though you will be filling up more often you will save more money over a year compared to an equivalent diesel. did the sums myslef and bought a 4.4 and have had nothing mut pleasure from it, especially when on kick down!!

[GKP]

To help with your maths concerning fuel consumption, I average 18-19 mpg. However my Good Lady can squeeze 21mpg out of the car.
We have a 4.4 petrol as only tractors, lorries and generators are fitted with derv engines.

[RedLeicester]

We're the other way around - wifey manages about 17mpg, I'm about 19mpg, with better on a run. Trip reckons we've averaged 19.9 over the last 20k. As you say, given the purchase price is lower, derv is higher, and it's faster, smoother and quieter than the logburner, I can't see the logic in anything but the V8!

[mattman73]

Thanks for the replies guys - i did the sums and did some more searching on this forum and it looks like the only way to go is a 4.4 with LPG - whether I can find one with it already fitted is another matter!

Fingers crossed to becoming a RR owner very soon, let the searching commence!

[JW911]

There aren't a great many 4.4s around which have been converted to LPG. Mine is one of the few and I had it done after I bought it as I could then be sure it had been done properly. If you find one, make sure it has the appropriate conversion certificates.

Alternatively, budget around £2500 for the conversion on top of your purchase price. It will eventually pay for itself over about 15k miles or so and is probably only worth it if you intend to do a lot of miles or are intending to keep the car for the long term.

Either way, buy the V8 anyway.

[eliot]

mattman73 said:

Thanks for the replies guys - i did the sums and did some more searching on this forum and it looks like the only way to go is a 4.4 with LPG - whether I can find one with it already fitted is another matter!

Fingers crossed to becoming a RR owner very soon, let the searching commence!

I have a handy calculator for doing the sums, if you do below average milage PA, then the petrol can work out ok:
http://www.mez.co.uk/derv.html

[christhomson]

in reply again, yesterday drove a friends 2005, td6 vogue. nice enough car, but did absolutely nothing for me, no ooomph when foot is lightly pressed, noise is horrible. after driving this went back into the 4.4 and would not buyy anything else. It is like chalk and cheese.

[nano]

I was in a similar position as yourself. I decided to go for the diesel in the end after looking at the potential resale value, economy, etc.

I recently had it chipped and I'm not exaggerating when I say the difference in power, driveability and economy is out of this world. On a run I can achieve 28mpg!

That is predominently motorway with some localised town driving. If I tow and by tow I mean a car trailer with a car on it I can get around 26mpg with a similar pattern to the above.

I would seriously consider the future resale value of your petrol. If it hasnt got LPG I feel it will put a lot of people off. Diesels always hold there value and are in demand more than petrols no matter what people say.

As for noise its really not that bad. Yes its not quiet but its not intrustive to such a level that your ears bleed!

[89speedster]

Its a complete no brainer for me!
Has to be the petrol with an LPG kit already fitted. Cars like that are a bit rarer but they are out there!
You could get the kit fitted but in my experience there isn't a huge difference in values between fitted/not fitted.

I should know as I've just paid £16150 for a 53 plate Vogue with 40,000 miles with the LPG kit already fitted.

All the benefits of that jewel of a BMW engine without the scary fuel bill!!!

[mike vt1]

bit of a late reply but having owned some pretty quick cars and now a td6 the range rover seems plenty quick enough in derv form and doing 24mpg which is a damn site better than any of my previous petrol ones. The 3.0 diesel is also out of the x5.330.530 bm cars and seems pretty bullet proof after all how many range rovers ever see 3 figure speeds and i don`t intend using it for a track day so it seems to have ample performance for normal road use plus i had an absolute nightmare with a 740 4.4 would`nt touch a petrol with a ten foot barge pole but thats just my opinion and not sure if my rangie has been chipped cause it does seem to go well for an oil burner