Diesel or petrol Series 3

Apologies if this has been done to death.

Looking at buying a Series 3 LWB. I incline to Diesel generally, cos I've always had Diesel landrovers (currently a 110 estate and a Disco). I'm in Ireland, so Diesel is significantly cheaper, and I've read that diesels do something like 25% better mileage (25mpg vs 20mpg). I won't be doing thousands of miles a year in it, so it's not fortunes I'm talking about, but still...
On the other hand, I've read on here that diesels are (even more) noisy, and not as powerful. They're certainly not anywhere near as easily got hold of, since most Series 3 that come up for sale lately seem to be petrol.

Any views?

Also, any for sale other than on fleabay?

i would go for petrol if your not doing many miles a lot quieter ,feel much better to drive

If you go petrol you could always do a conversion in the future...

can't run a petrol on red or SVO

Put a petrol on lpg.

Does corky stand for corkish?

corky said:

Apologies if this has been done to death.

Looking at buying a Series 3 LWB. I incline to Diesel generally, cos I've always had Diesel landrovers (currently a 110 estate and a Disco). I'm in Ireland, so Diesel is significantly cheaper, and I've read that diesels do something like 25% better mileage (25mpg vs 20mpg). I won't be doing thousands of miles a year in it, so it's not fortunes I'm talking about, but still...
On the other hand, I've read on here that diesels are (even more) noisy, and not as powerful. They're certainly not anywhere near as easily got hold of, since most Series 3 that come up for sale lately seem to be petrol.

Any views?

Also, any for sale other than on fleabay?

Click to expand...

Having had two diesels and two petrol's (2.25) I would go for a petrol every time (unless it was a TDI conversion) now as I find the diesels a bit underpowered and more noisier. I also found the petrols to be a bit cheaper to repair than the diesels.
As regard to fuel consumption there is little in it between them to really worry about .

I have owned both, currently have a petrol 88 SIII 1972 had an 1982 Diesel SWB before.

Pros and Cons...

Diesel is noisy a lot noisier than a petrol, a little cheaper to fuel. Often smokers!
However, a bit more robust in the wet, took a while to preheat the plugs for a smooth start in the cold, but once my diesel started up that was it. I am currently running my petrol SIII as a daily driver and needs a bit of encouragement on very cold or wet days, then a bit of playing with the choke when slowing down and speeding up until shes FULLY warmed up.

Overall I prefer the petrol models. However, if I were using it as a 'work' vehicle (running PTO's. towing frequently etc) I would consider a diesel.

I sought a petrol when buying my current Landy I wouldn't have had a diesel again. Not from a bad experience, but I am happier working on a petrol engine, prefer the quieter less smelly & smoky ride!

My diesel was definitely happier being left for a few days and starting up no probs. My petrol definitely prefers daily use.

Of course each vehicle has their own idiosyncrasies and the two I have owned are not going to represent all! I have driven a lot of diesel 90's 110's Wolfs etc (MOD) so for my own wagon I suppose petrol is a point of difference too.

Either way you'll enjoy it! I think the amount of vehicles you'll have to choose from probably a number of factors will influence you.