Looking for a TD6....

I've got a budget of £12k, and that's my absolute maximum.

I've been to see a couple, and I'd just like to know what I need to look out for. I've got a friend with a 2003 4.4 Vogue, and he's told me to steer well clear and look for something else. He said about the gearboxes being problematic, and the electrics being a common fault as well.

I test drove a 2003 52 plate with 146k on the clock, and it drove like new, and the seller didn't know if it'd had a new box in it's life.

Do the boxes just go without any warning, or is it a myth because a couple of poorly maintained ones have went pop?

Any info is much appreciated folks!

Thank you!


Craig

£12K the bottom end of the pricing, but the 52 plate sounds nice, they still got it?

There are numerous stories about the auto box in the TD6. Like everything that is second hand, check, check and recheck, try and get a warranty and budget for repairs as it will require some at some time, also check if it has had a filter and oil change, the filter and gasket are around £97+ VAT from LR and the ATF is £14.50+ VAT per litre

I've just rebuilt the front suspension on my TD6 and even though I did it myself it was expensive, so make sure that the vehicles you are viewing the suspension is all ok

Your question was... "do they just go without warning".... the answer to this is YES the GM autobox's are well known to be rubbish, one of my friends has a 2003 TD6 and has had 3 replacement transmissions in the last 3 years he has had the car. 12K is at the very bottom end of these vehicles and with any vehicle over 100K you need to ensure that the timing chain has been/need to be replaced, this can be very expensive if it needs replacing. You will need to ensure you have a budget of around 2-3k for maintenance, and it will need a lot of it. You cannot run these cars on a shoe string, they are not ones you can just park up on Friday and expect it to be 100% working on Monday, you need to take care of these vehicles. Check out my website www.myrangerover.co.uk and you will find a long before purchase check list that you can use when looking for on of these cars.

Good Luck, and if you find a good one you will love it! they are the best cars ever!!

Matt

Craig,

I've had two TD6's and to be honest wouldnt go near another one again in a hurry. The early ones are problematic, I had a 2002 Vogue in 2008 that had electrical gremlins and a 2003 HSE with mechanical issues this year.

Unless you've got deep pockets to keep them on the road and are totally set on owning one I'd steer well clear. They are great vehicles when working properly and you do feel like king of the road but like the P38's, problems are becoming very common and repairs are costly. I had my last one 6 months before I'd had enough of fixing it and spent/lost £3k in that time keeping it road worthy.

I'd love a newish one and would have no hesitation buying a car with land rover warranty but other than that I'm done with them until I win the lottery.

Just my two pennies worth having got the bug well and truly out of my system.

The thing is, I'm in need of a new car, and strangely enough, this car is giving me the best insurance quotes. I'm used to problematic cars, as I've got a 280(ish)bhp Fiat Coupé 20vt, and I've got the good old reliable Mitsubishi Shogun Sport (54 plate) that has managed to smash a manual gearbox and transfer box.

I've got a lot of dispensable income, probably around a grand a month, and I'm just looking for something to spend some pennies on. But I'm one of them who want something, and want it yesterday. I could save for longer, but my Fiat needs a bit of work, and it's just a weekend toy really (because it breaks every time it goes out) and I can't insure the Shogun since it's been stolen and recovered, even with a cat 1 Clifford on it.


Thanks for the replies though!

Sounds like you need a reliable motor for the stable-not a rr

Maybe I should have added... I've just split up with my girlfriend as well, and I'm in need of something to cheer me up. That's how I ended up with my Fiat Coupé haha! I just want a Range, even if it's only for a couple of months. I only drive around 9 miles a day to and from work, and I only work 13 days a month.

Buy a TVR!

I really miss my T350!

I can't afford to buy and insure a TVR ha ha! Trust me, I've looked ha ha!

If you have got plenty of disposable income then get a 4.4 petrol V8, more reliable and rather than spending your cash on new gearboxes you can give it to Mr Shell and BP. Plus they are more powerful, sound nicer and are generally much cooler as you can tell all the girls you meet that you have a massive V8 (note: don't actually do this, they'll think you are a cock).

Craig G said:

I can't afford to buy and insure a TVR ha ha! Trust me, I've looked ha ha!

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Insurance is nothing!

I payed 703£ fully comp when i was 21!

nice! every one will come and tell you about the problem ones. i had my 54 td6 since febuary and not had a single problem with it yet, best advise would be buy the best one you can afford and look after it. the gm gearbox is only a problem if you drive it like you stole it and fail to change the oil and filter, they dont like boy racer traffic light grand prix which is understandable realy considering the weight they have to tug along. look on rangerovers.net and you will see the v8 has plenty of problems too, engine and gearbox.

I'm a leisurely driver anyway. I work for the North West Ambulance Service, so I see and hear about a lot of RTC's, and I've got my Fiat to drive fast in anyway.

I'd love a petrol one, but again, it's all down to the insurance. Being 24, and not having any no claims (I've always had motor trade insurance, so my no claims aren't valid on personal insurance), insurance is a massive factor for me.

Craig G said:

I'm a leisurely driver anyway. I work for the North West Ambulance Service, so I see and hear about a lot of RTC's, and I've got my Fiat to drive fast in anyway.

I'd love a petrol one, but again, it's all down to the insurance. Being 24, and not having any no claims (I've always had motor trade insurance, so my no claims aren't valid on personal insurance), insurance is a massive factor for me.

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The insurance on the petrol and diesel should be about the same, they are still the same car in the same insurance group. I managed to insure mine for less than £800 the first year I had it, with no no-claims and I'm also a bloke in my 20s. Now it is less still with a bit of no claims.

Hmmmmm.... I hope you know you're a bad, bad man!


I've just done a quote... And the 4.4 V8 is actually £20 per year less than the TD6....

get the v8.I did.

I've seen a couple now, but I've been put off by ones that don't have sat nav...

Now I've seen some sat nav units on eBay, would it be worth getting one from there and getting a good mate of mine to fit it?

Would you let the lack of sat nav put you off buying one?

Whenever i buy a vehicle my first question is always, how good is the sat-nav? This is because i'm a bit of a spacker and can't find my arse with my hands.

The mechanical condition is of no interest as i rely on my labrador to service it.

storm99 said:

Whenever i buy a vehicle my first question is always, how good is the sat-nav? This is because i'm a bit of a spacker and can't find my arse with my hands.

The mechanical condition is of no interest as i rely on my labrador to service it.

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my staffy reckons td6's are ****e and the satnav is fooked