Diesel auto or V8 auto?

Dear All,

I have just sold my 1989 Range Rover 3.9V8 - automatic, with lpg.

My intention had been to replace it, and my A4, with a soft dash 1994 or 1995 with lpg.

I really want advice on whether to instead go for a diesel automatic? With the LPG V8 there is hassle worrying on where to fill up, a significantly shorter range, and - on softdash models, with air suspension - having to either have a tank in the boot or reduce the size of the petrol tank by fitting an 80L "doughnut" tank. (A problem when one lives in the Highlands and occasionally is outwith the practical reach of an LPG station).

[with non air-suspension models fitting the 80L doughnut tank in conjunction with a smaller petrol tank is not so much of a problem, as two cylindrical LPG tanks can still be fitted, resulting in a combined total of around 150L - thus 128L filling capacity, roughly 420 miles range, based on my average MPG figure over the time I had my 1989 model]

I'm curious to know whether the 300Tdi automatic is really as slow in reality as it is often made out to be: and whether it enjoys comparitive reliability with the V8.

I am fully aware that pound for pound with my style and type of driving the two cars are essentially the same cost - on fuel - to run.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Regards,

Marcus

Well I don't know about the RR but my 200tdi disco will do 90 if I thrash it.

v8 auto every time for me

redhand said:

Well I don't know about the RR but my 200tdi disco will do 90 if I thrash it.

Click to expand...

I've managed to get my 200TDi Disco to do 100, and yes, I did thrash it, but it's one hell of a fright.

I'm saying the V8 auto is the best, but, if your looking for efficiency, I would say go for the Diesel, I don't like LPG, it's hard to find a station that sell it

The V8 will go better,the lpg will work for a while but the TDI is the most reliable/abusable.They all will be rusty.

I presume you've taken the plunge at this stage but here's my penny's worth.

I have a 92 200tdi manual and a 95 V8 auto soft dash. The tdi has not given a moments trouble in the 2 years I have it (Cant say the same for the body which is now way beyond saving, rear cross member is so far gone that the rear tailgate is sitting on the bumper holding up the rest of the body!) It starts the first whiff of the key and continues to give good mpg even now that it is used 100% offroad. I' not going to pretend that its as nice or relaxing to drive (or listen to, I do love a V8) as the 3.9 but it is appealing in its own way. Its such a willing engine you just have to love it. And when driven with commitment its really not much slower than a V8 auto on the twisty stuff.
The V8 has left me stranded several times with continuos overheating problems (i eventually traced this to a previous owner/garage replacing the fan blade with one from a pre serpentine so it was blowing instead of sucking! I'm sure this has led to a head gasket problem too).
I personally would go for a soft dash vogue se diesel manual. They're rare enough and as I was pressed for time, I took the plunge on a dhse instead which promptly blew its head gasket so I probably should have held out!

I think a lot has to depend on how fast you drive the truck - every diesel i have had has let me down drastically (im pretty sure this is due to the lead boot on my right foot!!) yet i have never had a problem with a v8 as they will take me as fast as i need to go without even trying.
My collegue has had no problems with diesels but has suffered with v8's letting him down (he drives like a wuss!!) so i really think it is 'horses for courses' if you are worried about the speed then i would say stick with the V8 - if you dont mind not being able to tow the skin off a custard then go with the tdi!!

I owned a '94 RRC Soft dash with the 300tdi lump but had a manual box on the back of it. The car went well enough but was a bit too noisy really for a RR. I think putting an auto box on the back would really make it a bit of a slug. The only way to really get it moving was to use most of the rev range. I think the soft dash model was much better inside than the previous RR, its just finding a good one with the set up you really want, now thats the real challenge. Good luck in your hunt.

Hey Dorset, couldn't agree more with you. Auto would take the good out of a tdi. Soft dash definitely the easiest of the classics to live with day to day. At the risk of upsetting the P38 owners I think the soft dash has nearly got a better dash design than the P38. Why did they put the Hevac and stereo down so low? I know it looks great but you have to take yours eyes off the road way too long to do anything. At least with the original RRC you knew you were never going to find what you were looking for anyway so you just didn't bother trying!!

I have owned a 1989 3.9 SE on gas, and a 1994 soft dash 300tdi auto, so may be able to help. I must say that I loved the V8 for a while, felt I was beating the system with the V8 power but low running costs. However, it was a pain having to refuel all the time. I had twin underslung tanks and could only get around 14 mpg, giving a range of 150 miles. I found that I was forever compromising my time and making unneccessary journeys to fill up with gas. I went to the lake district on holiday, and was dismayed to find hardly any gas available, something to do with planning restrictions on above ground tanks in a National Park, I think. I had to drive from Keswick to Penrith to get gas, a round trip of thirty-odd miles, or shell out for petrol. Also, a lot of the gas stations close at 5.00pm, because they are really selling it as a sideline.

The 300tdi was a revelation after that. 450 miles on a tankful is quite liberating! The cost is about the same, but the hassle factor is way less. Also, the diesel servicing and reliability is a lot better. The gas V8 was very sensitive to the wet, and had lots of niggly running issues.

The performance deficit on the diesel is quite a shock when you are not used to it, but that is because you need to change your driving style! Take off is agonisingly slow when cold (but better than my 1998 DSE!), but acceptable when warm, and once you get the engine spinning, you can hustle along nicely. The trick is to keep the revs in the zone, and you can just forget about it. My Tdi was the auto, and I have to disagree with those who would prefer the manual. Given that the engine only produces a measly 105 bhp (the same as my wife's Rover 214), keeping the revs in the zone demands a lot of gearchanges. On the auto that's no problem, but I would hate to be forever changing up and down manually! I used to get 24-7mpg without hanging about, with not much motorway driving, but at 80+ when I got the chance. Now I have the DSE, which is quicker overtaking, but dangerously slow when cold at T junctions in the morning, although is more refined. But it is shockingly thrown together. Since May I've spent around £3k on it.....

By the way, I bought the DSE to replace the Tdi, but never got round to selling it. If anyone fancies a very nice softdash, with good air suspension, Epsom Green, beige leather, memory seats, aircon, loads of service history, let me know. I'll even stick 12 months MOT on!

If you can afford it the V8 petrol is the winner, anything else is a compromise of less power for less money. I think gas is ok if you can fuel up without hassel. So the question is how many miles are you likely to do in it?

Hey Wink,

I'll swap you my 95 3.9 Vogue SE for it!! Same colour/spec but with grey leather and premium sound.

Sorry Spud, I need to end up with one less Rangie! Can't afford to buy petrol either. I need to apply for a mortgage to fill up the DSE as it is...