NEWBIE YANK - fuel mileage on TDI in a 90?

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I have a 1993 200tdi (one of the last) and I love her but I couldn't recommend one if that makes sense. I spend every weekend fixing something but it's fine because she's got a personality and heart.
If I was importing one I'd get a 90 with a 200tdi engine. Replace the exhaust with a straight through one and do a bit of adjusting to the engine and they are quite fast. My engine is only slightly tuned because I don't want to over stress anything but it's worth doing. I get about 22mpg on huge off road tyres.
 
Langers said:
Ya but think about how big their country is compared to ours, and how expensive it is to fly. Trains etc are also virtually non-existant. They have to drive a HELL of a lot more than us here in the UK.
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Still doesn't give our thieving scumbags of a government the right to pocket 80p a litre from us.
 
khaos said:
I have a 1993 200tdi (one of the last) and I love her but I couldn't recommend one if that makes sense. I spend every weekend fixing something but it's fine because she's got a personality and heart.
If I was importing one I'd get a 90 with a 200tdi engine. Replace the exhaust with a straight through one and do a bit of adjusting to the engine and they are quite fast. My engine is only slightly tuned because I don't want to over stress anything but it's worth doing. I get about 22mpg on huge off road tyres.
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I know what you mean about loving it but not recommending it. I have this same love affair with my Audi S6. It always needs little things and has 190k miles on it but I love it. I would never sell it to friend unless they had some mad mechanical skills.

Some questions, if I may...
What years was the TDI available (from the factory) in the 90?
What are the different models? I see pick-ups, and wagons with solid backs or windowed backs. It appears the made different versions for different applications. I am interested in one with windows and a rear seat. Was this configuration available in the early 90 models?
 
DiscoSux said:
I know what you mean about loving it but not recommending it. I have this same love affair with my Audi S6. It always needs little things and has 190k miles on it but I love it. I would never sell it to friend unless they had some mad mechanical skills.

Some questions, if I may...
What years was the TDI available (from the factory) in the 90?
What are the different models? I see pick-ups, and wagons with solid backs or windowed backs. It appears the made different versions for different applications. I am interested in one with windows and a rear seat. Was this configuration available in the early 90 models?
Click to expand...

The 200tdi started in 1990 and ended in 1994 and then became the 300tdi.
The ones with windows are called county station wagons. If you have children, I would never put them in a 90 csw because the seats just aren't safe. I have a proper seat in the back of my 90 instead. A 110 csw has proper seats in the back that you can stick children in but a 90 will be better off road.
 
How much is diesel in the US, with the huge distances involved I've always wondered why the diesel engine doesn't seem to factor in the there

When I was in Florida in April I don't even remember seeing it for sale in the car section of the gas station.

I'd have thought a BMW 5 series size car with 50-60mpg fuel economy would have been a winner.

I've just bought a 1994 300TDI Hi Cap pickup, before buying it i'd never even sat in a defender before and I have to say if you're after an authentic 1950s feel vehicle the defender is the way to go.

When I got mine I drove it 150 miles home with a dodgy steering box which was interesting

A big factor in the UK is they're mega cheap to fix, secondhand parts are easily available but unless you can find something similar in the US it could be an expensive car
 
wack61 said:
How much is diesel in the US, with the huge distances involved I've always wondered why the diesel engine doesn't seem to factor in the there

When I was in Florida in April I don't even remember seeing it for sale in the car section of the gas station.

I'd have thought a BMW 5 series size car with 50-60mpg fuel economy would have been a winner.

I've just bought a 1994 300TDI Hi Cap pickup, before buying it i'd never even sat in a defender before and I have to say if you're after an authentic 1950s feel vehicle the defender is the way to go.

When I got mine I drove it 150 miles home with a dodgy steering box which was interesting

A big factor in the UK is they're mega cheap to fix, secondhand parts are easily available but unless you can find something similar in the US it could be an expensive car
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Paddocks do international delivery. Not sure about the price but their stuff is cheap anyway. Probably best ordering in bulk.
 
In simple terms, cheap petrol keeps diesel cars from being popular in the US. In the US, if you drive 12,000 miles a year, your petrol V8 that gets 12 mpg costs $2,800 for fuel. In the UK, your diesel TDi gets 24 mpg, and it costs £3,000, or $4,500.

Diesel engines in large pickups are popular, and a few companies are starting to offer diesel cars in the US again -- VW, BMW and Mercedes primarily. GM, Chrysler and Ford obviously have the diesels in their corporate parts bin -- they sell them here. Biodiesel production is growing in the US too. Second hand diesel cars are in demand for running bio and WVO/SVO.
 
khaos said:
The 200tdi started in 1990 and ended in 1994 and then became the 300tdi.
The ones with windows are called county station wagons. If you have children, I would never put them in a 90 csw because the seats just aren't safe. I have a proper seat in the back of my 90 instead. A 110 csw has proper seats in the back that you can stick children in but a 90 will be better off road.
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For a 90:
:CSW - county station wagons - glass windows at sides
: Van - solid panel at sides
: Truck cab - just the front 2 seats enclosure, with open air utility/pick up load bed at rear
: soft tops

The standard rear seats either in a CSW or van are inward facing with only lap belts. Hence it's not save to be seated in my opinion. You can fit foldable forward facing seats with proper 3 point safety belts from Exmoor Trims.

Forward Facing Fold Up Left Hand

There is a garage I know of who does exports to the USA, Welcome to the Land Rover Centre Huddersfield web site - We buy and sell new and used land rover, Range Rover, and Freelander, series and Discovery models - for sale . Have a word with them, they might be able to help you source a good vehicle, swap the older 2.5 N/A (naturally aspirated) diesel engine or turbo diesel (call turbo diesel, but not tdi, as it's just adding a turbo onto the 2.5 N/A....a whole world of difference compared to the later 200/300tdi) for either a 200tdi or 300tdi unit before exporting to you. They are pricey, but you get what you pay for.
 
TS888 said:
In simple terms, cheap petrol keeps diesel cars from being popular in the US. In the US, if you drive 12,000 miles a year, your petrol V8 that gets 12 mpg costs $2,800 for fuel. In the UK, your diesel TDi gets 24 mpg, and it costs £3,000, or $4,500.

.
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In April my hire car was a Lincoln Town car with a V8 in it, In the UK as well as my defender I have a 1997 Jaguar XK8 V8

after driving the town car for a day I opened the bonnet to see what was in there,a V8 :eek: It was gutless, in the jag you kick down and the trees go by very fast,:D in the town car it just made more noise.

I'd sooner have a diesel than that V8
 
kingsonlim said:
For a 90:
:CSW - county station wagons - glass windows at sides
: Van - solid panel at sides
: Truck cab - just the front 2 seats enclosure, with open air utility/pick up load bed at rear
: soft tops

The standard rear seats either in a CSW or van are inward facing with only lap belts. Hence it's not save to be seated in my opinion. You can fit foldable forward facing seats with proper 3 point safety belts from Exmoor Trims.

Forward Facing Fold Up Left Hand

There is a garage I know of who does exports to the USA, Welcome to the Land Rover Centre Huddersfield web site - We buy and sell new and used land rover, Range Rover, and Freelander, series and Discovery models - for sale . Have a word with them, they might be able to help you source a good vehicle, swap the older 2.5 N/A (naturally aspirated) diesel engine or turbo diesel (call turbo diesel, but not tdi, as it's just adding a turbo onto the 2.5 N/A....a whole world of difference compared to the later 200/300tdi) for either a 200tdi or 300tdi unit before exporting to you. They are pricey, but you get what you pay for.
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:hijacked:kingson you got a defender now then?
 
goonarmy said:
:hijacked:kingson you got a defender now then?
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how would you know....:rolleyes:

it's currently on the ferry from Santander.......getting my hands on it coming Monday......:D

if you're free, there's a pay and play next saturday near Dronfield, between Chesterfield and Sheffield, 20 quid.....could meet up again...
 
wack61 said:
In April my hire car was a Lincoln Town car with a V8 in it, In the UK as well as my defender I have a 1997 Jaguar XK8 V8

after driving the town car for a day I opened the bonnet to see what was in there,a V8 :eek: It was gutless, in the jag you kick down and the trees go by very fast,:D in the town car it just made more noise.

I'd sooner have a diesel than that V8
Click to expand...


The Lincoln Town Car is pretty much the bottom of the barrel in terms of US sedans (saloons). Most V6 cars and a fair few 4 bangers will leave a Town Car like it's pulling an anchor.
 
fanatic said:
Rover renovations or British Atlantic in usa

Rover Renovations Official Home Page
Land Rover Parts & Rover Accessories From Atlantic British | Discovery, Range Rover, LR3, LR2, Defender, Freelander and Land Rover Series Parts & Accessories
Click to expand...

I have been picking up a lot of Rover parts connections. The ones mentioned are some of the main line ones. I use Lucky8 mostly for after-market parts.

I am not loaded with cash but think I can get a decent 90 and get it shipped here for a decent price (with a little help). That is my goal anyway. Still researching/learning.

Thanks to all for the help to date!
 
kingsonlim said:
swap the older 2.5 N/A (naturally aspirated) diesel engine or turbo diesel (call turbo diesel, but not tdi, as it's just adding a turbo onto the 2.5 N/A....a whole world of difference compared to the later 200/300tdi) for either a 200tdi or 300tdi unit before exporting to you. They are pricey, but you get what you pay for.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

Can you explain the comment in the bold print? The addition of a turbo onto a N/A 2.5 is better than a TDI?
 
kingsonlim said:
how would you know....:rolleyes:

it's currently on the ferry from Santander.......getting my hands on it coming Monday......:D

if you're free, there's a pay and play next saturday near Dronfield, between Chesterfield and Sheffield, 20 quid.....could meet up again...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the offer but ive moved back down south so no can do im afraid!
 
DiscoSux said:
Thanks for the info.

Can you explain the comment in the bold print? The addition of a turbo onto a N/A 2.5 is better than a TDI?
Click to expand...

Just re-read what I typed.....my bad..:doh:

I was meant to say the 200tdi & 300tdi's are a lot better than the 2.5 N/A and 2.5 td......:eek:

2.5 N/A and 2.5 td are good engine too in their own right....but are gutless compared to the newer tdi's. If you are never in a hurry, they will be okay.
 
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