Back into the hippo fold...

Hello LZers,
Following a period without any hippos, it is nearly time for me to acquire another cheapie.
The question is what do i go for this time? Previous hippos have been L series and TD4.

Will be used for bimbling around the cotswolds complete with black labrador approx 6k miles a year.
I am an aerospace engineer and always work on my own cars.

Got about £1500ish to spend: at Least half leather and some toys would be nice.
Should I gamble on a petrol K series this time and get more for my money? Obvs I would take all precautions possible with regards to HGF.

Im thinking that if something major goes wrong with TD4 (turbo, injectors, hp pump) then its £££, but at least the K series is cheaper to fix. I will be keeping this vehicle for possibly a long time.

What you reckon?

If you want a heated front screen or auto transmission, then the TD4 or KV6 are the only choices. If you're not bothered about either of those, then the K1.8 is generally the cheapest engine to repair.

Thats my thinking, did a 1.8 clutch on a drive in a morning before. Pretty cheap to do too.
Whats the 1.8 like driving compared to the TD4? I drove one years ago and remembered thinking it was actually quite nippy.

bigdenbailey said:

Thats my thinking, did a 1.8 clutch on a drive in a morning before. Pretty cheap to do too.
Whats the 1.8 like driving compared to the TD4? I drove one years ago and remembered thinking it was actually quite nippy.

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The K1.8 is more nippy and more powerful. It lacks the low down torque of the TD4, but it's geared to take full advantage of the torque it does have.

I've often wondered what they'd be like with the 1.8 VVC 160 engine?

oddbob said:

I've often wondered what they'd be like with the 1.8 VVC 160 engine?

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Mee too.... or the Turbo engine from the Coupe' or 620... Have had a go in a 1.8VVC Metro Van many years back and that was very amusing...

oddbob said:

I've often wondered what they'd be like with the 1.8 VVC 160 engine?

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Been done. From memory it was pretty good.

Tannaton said:

Mee too.... or the Turbo engine from the Coupe' or 620... Have had a go in a 1.8VVC Metro Van many years back and that was very amusing...

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Also been done, although it was FWD which is kinda pointless imo.
DiscoMikey on here made a 1.8 K series turbo Freelander which was still 4WD. Performance was very impressive for such a small engine in a pretty heavy vehicle.