RR TD6 running costs
Discussion
So...
My girlfriend needs a new car, and I need a tow car for my M3. We'd agreed on a '04/'05 diesel X5, however the last few dealers we've been to also had some TD6 Rangeys on '02/'03 plates and she's taken a shine to them. In fairness one glance inside makes the BM look rather plain...
We'd be buying at the bottom end of the market though — sub £14/15k so 90,000 plus miles. Is it a recipe for disaster? We're not 'living beyond our means' by any stretch (without wanting to wave my willy I've put miles on M3's Boxster & Cayman S's over the years) and we don't do big miles these days — sub 5k a year.
So, how reliable are these big things? I'm guessing they cost more to run than an X5 diesel would?
My girlfriend needs a new car, and I need a tow car for my M3. We'd agreed on a '04/'05 diesel X5, however the last few dealers we've been to also had some TD6 Rangeys on '02/'03 plates and she's taken a shine to them. In fairness one glance inside makes the BM look rather plain...
We'd be buying at the bottom end of the market though — sub £14/15k so 90,000 plus miles. Is it a recipe for disaster? We're not 'living beyond our means' by any stretch (without wanting to wave my willy I've put miles on M3's Boxster & Cayman S's over the years) and we don't do big miles these days — sub 5k a year.
So, how reliable are these big things? I'm guessing they cost more to run than an X5 diesel would?
Rule No 1. There is no such thing as a cheap Rangie. They are cheap to buy or cheap to run but not both. I use the term "cheap" advisedly as well.
I don't run a TD6. I run a 4.4 V8 but engine aside, there's not a lot in it. Main things to watch for are leaky radiators (£400 or so a go), alternators (water-cooled monsters at about £350 a go), front differentials (free, believe it or not - LR will fit an upgrade for nothing although at 90k, it's probably already been done) and gearboxes (four figures).
From reading the various Range Rover forums, gearboxes seem to go more often in TD6s than V8s. Whether that is due to there being more TD6s, I know not but it's something to be aware of. When they fail, they tend to do so at a little over 100k miles. They should have an oil and filter change in the schedule (every Inspection II ideally) but LR never required that. Some owners have done it but most will probably have not. Check the service history. That's not to say that all will go but if you buy a RR with 90k miles on it, the first thing I would do would be to get the gearbox flushed.
If you get a good one, they're superb and don't rule out a V8 either. The price difference can pay for a lot of fuel or an LPG conversion.
It's worth looking at fullfatrr.com and rangerovers.net for specific info.
For day to day running costs, a decent specialist means my V8 costs less to service than Mrs JW911's Seat Leon. A V8 will do around 17-20 mpg, depending on what you're doing (knock off about 15% for LPG). A TD6 will do low 20s mpg (but the V8 is worth buying just for the sound).
I don't run a TD6. I run a 4.4 V8 but engine aside, there's not a lot in it. Main things to watch for are leaky radiators (£400 or so a go), alternators (water-cooled monsters at about £350 a go), front differentials (free, believe it or not - LR will fit an upgrade for nothing although at 90k, it's probably already been done) and gearboxes (four figures).
From reading the various Range Rover forums, gearboxes seem to go more often in TD6s than V8s. Whether that is due to there being more TD6s, I know not but it's something to be aware of. When they fail, they tend to do so at a little over 100k miles. They should have an oil and filter change in the schedule (every Inspection II ideally) but LR never required that. Some owners have done it but most will probably have not. Check the service history. That's not to say that all will go but if you buy a RR with 90k miles on it, the first thing I would do would be to get the gearbox flushed.
If you get a good one, they're superb and don't rule out a V8 either. The price difference can pay for a lot of fuel or an LPG conversion.
It's worth looking at fullfatrr.com and rangerovers.net for specific info.
For day to day running costs, a decent specialist means my V8 costs less to service than Mrs JW911's Seat Leon. A V8 will do around 17-20 mpg, depending on what you're doing (knock off about 15% for LPG). A TD6 will do low 20s mpg (but the V8 is worth buying just for the sound).
Edited by JW911 on Monday 18th October 22:41
Been running an '02 TD6 for the past 6 months, it has been chipped by previous owner and is great to drive, never going to be sports car fast, but decent all the same. Only problem with mine was a very severe shimmy through the steering wheel which was still there after re-balance, and made the car almost undriveable. Luckily a very cheap fix at £15 for a new caliper seal kit which up until now, is still working ok. Mine has just over 97k miles with a decent service history, not used much oil at all and i get over 25mpg on a run and just under 20 in town. But lets face it, you don't buy one of these if economy is of a concern! The trim on the driver's door handle is a bit mis-shaped but other than that, still in pretty good nick considering. Do check under the spare wheel for water/ rust damage which was a known fault when new, mine looks to have been sorted, but i have painted over the affected area. Any other questions, happy to help.
This is mine:
This is mine:
I wouldnt get an X5 if you want to tow heavy stuff. The spring suspension and the flimsy gearbox dont lend themselves very well to the task in my experience (my old X5 suffered gearbox issues after just towing a horsebox trailer about never mind a car)
If you're not doing huge miles though Id try and go for the v8 petrol RR. Not much difference in fuel consumption and a hugely better drive.
If you're not doing huge miles though Id try and go for the v8 petrol RR. Not much difference in fuel consumption and a hugely better drive.
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