New guy looking for a 2.5 DSE

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Nik_B

New Member
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Location
Stockport
Hi all first and most important post (well for me)

I'm just getting a first dog, I fish and shoot and basically my poor old A3 gets a hammering everytime we go down a muddy track or on anything that isn't concrete.

So...I have concluded that I should get a 4x4 but I don't want to give up comfort. This had led me past the usual 4x4s and Discoveries. I have a fairly tight buget of 5-6 grand for the car. It seems to me that you can get something fairly decent for this money of the age 1999-2000 and I was very suprised to see that they are around the same price as a decent discovery and cheaper that Toyota Shogun. So is there something I am missing?

A RR seems like a good option for me as I am not exactly a farmer. most of my miles are on the road but I do like getting out into the stick on a regular basis and with the new pup I'll need a large boot even more.

So the RR to me seems like decent 4x4 capabilities but not the best, good for the road and the diesel will not cost me a bomb on fuel nor insurance.

So any comments on what I am thinking? 2.5 DSE any good?

Edited to say thanks in advance for any help. There is a lot of reviews out there for the V8 but very little I can find on the Deisel, only one quote that it was slow.
 
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hi nic and welcome a tad slow unless it has power box, if you looking for near mint been looked after you have one not far from you. pm gemsdad he got one for sale.
 
Thanks mate much appreciated. I thought they would be a bit slow but appart from that are they pretty reliable?

Seems to me like alot of car for not too much money in comparison to other 4x4
 
a great car even mine tis good best of luck in your hunt, as i said get in touch with gems he a good guy and he looked after his.
 
Hi mate iv got a 2000 w Reg dse westminster special edition for sale, epsom green with cream piped leather 100k miles, its on v car as damaged repaired but was only mechanically damaged, engine been fully rebuilt now
if you not conserned about v car its a cheap buy for £3650
really nice clean car
 
got a 2000 4.6 vogue on lpg for 6k with little over 70k miles and full history as cheap if not cheaper to run as the doosals not sluggish at all an insurance only cost less than 200 beer tokens :clap2:
 
Thanks for the offers guys,

I'm still doing my research at the moment. I want to read as many opinion on the 2.5 deisel as I can get.

Also very interested in how economical a Range Rover is in comparing with the other 4x4s. As I pointed out Toyota Landcruisers seem more expensive than range rovers...or at least for the same money (4-6 grand) they tend to be 1990s rather than 1999-2000. Discoveries seems to cost around the same money for 1999-2000 years which I was suprised about.

So why is this? Is a 2000 Range 2.5 diesel in the 5 grand ball park pretty good motor what what you pay? What are the down sides to having one as opposed to another 4x4? Do people own them because they are so good or is it more to do with brand loyalty?

Please reply with reference to the engine type and age decribed above.

Many thanks for your help in advance...I like to do as much research as pos before making any purchase.

P.S For an example here is one I was looking at

and another this isn't a DSE though, it is a county what is the difference?

What are peoples thoughts on AUTOMATIC instead of manual? More/less reliable? Good or bad idea?
 
This is always going to be a tough one. There will always be those that hail the diesel as king and then there are the likes of myself with LPG v8 who can't believe anyone would consider anything else. Equivilent of 36/7 mpg and the smoothness and power of the v8. But then the diesels are a little less complex but just as likeley to give trouble. I am afraid the best idea is to do like you say and read as much as you can, and then go and try a few.
 
The diesel is great with a power box, reasonably economical, I average 25mpg around and about and up to 30mpg on the autoroute here in France with my DHSE Auto. Go for a post 2000 car, they seem to have fewer faults from what I have read, but do expect to have to pay out for repairs. The air suspension in particular will probably need new airbags at some point. Not very expensive and an easy DIY job if you are prepared to get you hands dirty. Most parts are not as expensive as JapCrap.
It will never be as reliable as a Toyota, hence the big difference in price, a great car all the same and super comfortable.
:welcome2:
 
County is just a fancy way of saying low spec with a stripe. As a general rule, it goes DT, DSE, DHSE,Vogue , vogue being the highest spec. But saying that you can get a DSE that has factory options bringing it up to DHSE spec, and then there is the Autobiography which is extras plus. Don't bother with the inbuilt sat nav it is poor. Look for memory seats, Harmon Kardon sound system, rouched leather seats. I think you've made up your mind in favour of the diesel, so it's worth bearing in mind that evetually you will be fed up with the lack of power so budjet for a trip to Jeremy Fearn. I would stear clear of aftermarket power boxes that are not set up by a competant person who has the ability to check the exhaust gas tempreture. Feel free to ask any more questions. We do enjoy a good versus evil debate. :)
 
rewmer said:
This is always going to be a tough one. There will always be those that hail the diesel as king and then there are the likes of myself with LPG v8 who can't believe anyone would consider anything else. Equivilent of 36/7 mpg and the smoothness and power of the v8. But then the diesels are a little less complex but just as likeley to give trouble. I am afraid the best idea is to do like you say and read as much as you can, and then go and try a few.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mate, i concidered it but I imagine there's a lot more to go wrong in a V8 and the cost of repair and servicing I imagine is much higher.

Definately would love to have a V8 though :)
 
You have to remember the v8 is as old as the hills, the BMW diesel is a relative newcomer. Servicing costs will be on a par with each other. Don't be fooled into thinking the diesel will be cheaper to fix though. Spark plugs are a £1 each, glow plugs £20 +/- .
 
The 2001 model year had a number of small changes, the rouched leather being one of the better ones, they are much more comfy. The one in the link didn't lookoro special for the money, I would expect wood / leather steering wheel, sat nav and better seats for that money and a lot lower milage. 145000 , I would say you will be looking at some big bills soon. I think that is a £4500 car.
 
OK so I should be looking under 100k miles to start with for a diesel?

I'd prefer something with one owner only, 90k miles but they seem hard to find.

It seems though that everyone advocates the V8 over the diesel? Is this right?

Are there any pros for the diesil over the V8 apparet from milage?

Just to be clearer... I work overseas and I am only home for 180 days max per year so I don't use a car for work or anything, it is purely leasure. Dog, fishing, shooting, nip to the shops if I am lazy and can't be arsed walking. Maybe every blue moon I might drive a really long distance but I would be supprised if I drive more than 4000 miles per year.

Now starting to look at LPG V8 versus Diesel 2.5 turbo. I have never had a car with LPG and know zero about them.
 
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For that kind of money you want 70 / 80 k miles and a full history. They are out there, it may take a while but one will turn up. It took me 6 months to find mine, I was just about to buy a 300 mile train ticket to go look at one up north when I found the one I have now 3 miles down the road.

If you road test any diesels, get it nice and hot, switch off, let it stand for 5 mins and see if it re-starts ok. If its not on the button, you are looking at a worn injection pump and a big bill. If they tell you its had the hot start fix - walk away. This is well documented on this site, and in itself its not a bad thing, its just if your paying that sort of money you want to start off with something that is sweetos from the off. Diesels hate dirty oli so a good history is a must. check to see if its had new suspension air bags at all, if its on its originals, 10 years is about the limit for a bag.Air suspension pumps get tired at this age so anew one would be a bonus although repair kits are cheap enough. Avoid anything with greater than 18" wheels .
 
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