P38 Petrol vs Diesel

Sorry to re visit an already beaten horse but I'm having trouble deciding between looking for 4.6 v8 or the 2.5 TD RR

Looking to trade up from my '96 2.5TD, and although initially I was just looking at diesels, I keep getting swayed by the thought of a nice big v8.

plus you seems to get more for your money going petrol, and I'll also need it for towing a horse box and a race car. I dont find the 2.5 too slow but then again I've not towed with it yet and I dont want to find out its not man enough for the job when Im halfway up a hill with two tonnes of horse and trailer.

also can anyone give real world figures for the mpg on the v8? I mean, is it really gonna cost me *that* much more?

Cheers

arollingstone said:

Sorry to re visit an already beaten horse but I'm having trouble deciding between looking for 4.6 v8 or the 2.5 TD RR

Looking to trade up from my '96 2.5TD, and although initially I was just looking at diesels, I keep getting swayed by the thought of a nice big v8.

plus you seems to get more for your money going petrol, and I'll also need it for towing a horse box and a race car. I dont find the 2.5 too slow but then again I've not towed with it yet and I dont want to find out its not man enough for the job when Im halfway up a hill with two tonnes of horse and trailer.

also can anyone give real world figures for the mpg on the v8? I mean, is it really gonna cost me *that* much more?

Cheers

Click to expand...

Quite a bit more....look to 13mpg around town up to 20mpg on a cruise...less if towing.

The diesel wins hands down on fuel economy and reliability, is (if chipped) about equal in performance to the 4.0 and not much behind the 4.6 (but will eat its gearbox over time (if chipped)), and loses on sound and the "I have a V8" factor.

Also check out this excellent thread on the matter

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/real-world-mpg-260428.html

I get 15 out of my 4.6 and that is mostly towing a 2t caravan and loaded with 2 kids and 2 dogs. I did see 17 once but only once!

If you buy the V8, put £3K to one side for a new engine when the liners slip.
12 to18mpg for the V8, 20 to 30mpg for the diesel. Mine averages 24mpg around and about and gets close to 30mpg on the autoroute to the UK.

And the diesel runs very happily on 100% Biodiesel (B100) - the proper refined stuff. £1 a litre if you shop around.

NikTheGeek said:

And the diesel runs very happily on 100% Biodiesel (B100) - the proper refined stuff. £1 a litre if you shop around.

Click to expand...

And if you come to France, dino is about £0.96 per litre at the moment

If you're having to ask the question about fuel consumption then you should get a diesel. Personally, I wouldn't have a diesel if you gave it to me - I think the engine is just too underpowered and unrefined - even worse it's German! :doh: - it sullies what is supposed to be a luxury SUV - horses for courses of course! If you must buy a diesel - make sure it's an auto which hides most of the turbo lag when towing.

stuckagainsteve said:

if you're having to ask the question about fuel consumption then you should get a diesel. Personally, i wouldn't have a diesel if you gave it to me - i think the engine is just too underpowered and unrefined - even worse it's german! :doh: - it sullies what is supposed to be a luxury suv - horses for courses of course! If you must buy a diesel - make sure it's an auto which hides most of the turbo lag when towing.

Click to expand...

+1

stuckagainsteve said:

if you're having to ask the question about fuel consumption then you should get a diesel. Personally, i wouldn't have a diesel if you gave it to me - i think the engine is just too underpowered and unrefined - even worse it's german! :doh: - it sullies what is supposed to be a luxury suv - horses for courses of course! If you must buy a diesel - make sure it's an auto which hides most of the turbo lag when towing.

Click to expand...

+2

martynv8 said:

+2

Click to expand...

+3 Wouldnt have another diesel if it did 60 mpg....nasty, slow, noisy and gutless....
I hear a lot about "when" the liners slpip but other than on these forums I have NEVER actually met somebody it happened to. Doesnt mean it doesn happen of course but I can see a decent used engine costing 3K My 4.6 Was over 20 on a trip from Spain to Bulgaria loaded with twin roof boxes, three dogs and as much else I could get in it. Happy with that. Seems about 16/17 knocking about here. Fuel is 1.20E per litre here so still ok.

flossdog said:

+3 Wouldnt have another diesel if it did 60 mpg....nasty, slow, noisy and gutless....
I hear a lot about "when" the liners slpip but other than on these forums I have NEVER actually met somebody it happened to. Doesnt mean it doesn happen of course but I can see a decent used engine costing 3K My 4.6 Was over 20 on a trip from Spain to Bulgaria loaded with twin roof boxes, three dogs and as much else I could get in it. Happy with that. Seems about 16/17 knocking about here. Fuel is 1.20E per litre here so still ok.

Click to expand...

Not our fault you bought a knackered diesel is it. By the way your trip computer is broken.

Liner slip is a problem with Rover V8's but not nearly as common as you would be led to beleive by some comments on here. Sadly, there are many cheap & abused, unloved V8's around now that are just not looked after, which doesnt help matters.
Oil changes at least every 6k, a cooling system in good order & the Rover V8 is a good engine to be pulling a P38.

wammers said:

Not our fault you bought a knackered diesel is it. By the way your trip computer is broken.

Click to expand...

All the 2.5 diesels i test drove were the same, so assuming none were chipped as all were gutless.

BTW, Recent trip from Sheffield to Darmouth with 3 adults, one 8 month old, two dogs, one roof box & an obscene amount of cases saw me averaging 16.5 MPG on LPG ( 19-20 on petrol)

martynv8 said:

Liner slip is a problem with Rover V8's but not nearly as common as you would be led to beleive by some comments on here. Sadly, there are many cheap & abused, unloved V8's around now that are just not looked after, which doesnt help matters.
Oil changes at least every 6k, a cooling system in good order & the Rover V8 is a good engine to be pulling a P38.

Click to expand...

There are lots of abused badly maintained P38s about period. But diesel engines stand up to abuse a lot better than petrol engines. But a well maintained example of either should be fine.

martynv8 said:

All the 2.5 diesels i test drove were the same, so assuming none were chipped as all were gutless.

BTW, Recent trip from Sheffield to Darmouth with 3 adults, one 8 month old, two dogs, one roof box & an obscene amount of cases saw me averaging 16.5 MPG on LPG ( 19-20 on petrol)

Click to expand...

Can't believe you are bragging about getting 20 to the gallon.

Hardly bragging, but considering i was getting 16.5 on LPG at 66p / ltr that stands up to any diesel economy figures - at least in this country anyway

martynv8 said:

Hardly bragging, but considering i was getting 16.5 on LPG at 66p / ltr that stands up to any diesel economy figures - at least in this country anyway

Click to expand...

True, it's a good job you have LPG then.

martynv8 said:

All the 2.5 diesels i test drove were the same, so assuming none were chipped as all were gutless.

BTW, Recent trip from Sheffield to Darmouth with 3 adults, one 8 month old, two dogs, one roof box & an obscene amount of cases saw me averaging 16.5 MPG on LPG ( 19-20 on petrol)

Click to expand...

They are far from gutless, they just have an odd throttle action with all the go in the last bit of travel.

martynv8 said:

Hardly bragging, but considering i was getting 16.5 on LPG at 66p / ltr that stands up to any diesel economy figures - at least in this country anyway

Click to expand...

Funny how the LPG fans always forget to add in the petrol needed for cold starts.