Td5 or V8

First post - so be gentle.

I'm looking to buy a D2 manual. I've had a 110 (v8) and a Classic RR (3.9 V8) in the past. I sold my camaro (v8) as the kids were too big for the back and got a BM 540 (v8) and then a Holden (v8). Now I've sold the Holden as a dog has arrived. So its back to LRs for me...

Despite being rather a v8 fan, I was actually planning on going Diesel for the first time in my lfe, as I am going tired of petrol pumps! but I can't help notice that v8s are so much cheaper and have much lower miles. I guess I'm budgeting up to £6k but if I find a decent car at 2k thats fine! Family hols and Green laning expected.

I'll do about 5k miles per year, so based on 15mpg of a the V8 & 25mpg for the diesel thats only £800 per year extra. Given its looks like I might get a lower miles V8 for £2k less, I'm getting tempted back to my natural home.

I have used the searches, but I would be interested in any thoughts particularly around:
- is 15 verses 25 sensible mpg for mixed driving?
- I don't like using gargages - are both equally DIY friendly? I'm a little unsure about the td5...

Cheers,
Jim

Here's a pic of my mate on the old 110 awaiting the RR to rescue...

i like both but got a td5 as couldnt live with the petrol bills ,and td5 isnt a slow coach ,ive struggled to keep up with a td5 ,td5 has seemed fairly reliable ,is prone to injector looms,fuel pumps and fuel pressure regulators which is what i see commonly but all easy diy fixes ,i have had some run on oil from knackered turbo ,but have had cracked blocks on v8s both not cheap fixes, mine td5 is auto so cold town driving, isnt economic but on a good run does 30 ish which is a lot better han a v8 ,and to have fuel left over after a long journey is better than filling again before you get there

I get anything between 18 and 20 mpg in my V8 D2 - and living on the continent do not restrict myself to 70mph. The car is converted to LPG - so more or less half running cost of petrol and I haven't noticed any drop off in performance or mpg figure. And of course I still have the V8 under the bonnet which I am sure you'd miss with your history of motors. I don't think there is any competition!

The Td5 has proven good enough to have ended my love affair with the V8, wish I'd bought one much sooner

v8nut said:

First post - so be gentle.

I'm looking to buy a D2 manual. I've had a 110 (v8) and a Classic RR (3.9 V8) in the past. I sold my camaro (v8) as the kids were too big for the back and got a BM 540 (v8) and then a Holden (v8). Now I've sold the Holden as a dog has arrived. So its back to LRs for me...

Despite being rather a v8 fan, I was actually planning on going Diesel for the first time in my lfe, as I am going tired of petrol pumps! but I can't help notice that v8s are so much cheaper and have much lower miles. I guess I'm budgeting up to £6k but if I find a decent car at 2k thats fine! Family hols and Green laning expected.

I'll do about 5k miles per year, so based on 15mpg of a the V8 & 25mpg for the diesel thats only £800 per year extra. Given its looks like I might get a lower miles V8 for £2k less, I'm getting tempted back to my natural home.

I have used the searches, but I would be interested in any thoughts particularly around:
- is 15 verses 25 sensible mpg for mixed driving?
- I don't like using gargages - are both equally DIY friendly? I'm a little unsure about the td5...

Cheers,
Jim

Here's a pic of my mate on the old 110 awaiting the RR to rescue...

Click to expand...

Hi Jim, I am also a V8 nut: 1976 Triumph STag (manual of course); 1970 351 Mustang convertible; 1996 BMW 740i; 2001 Disco II v8.

However, I've also had 4 TD5's and none of them ever broke down. I'm very much a preventative maintenance kin of a guy and TD5's are straightforward to work on, but you need a good diagnostic Nano EVO or Hawkeye (about £300) will save lots of money and tears.

Re mpg all my TD5's have been auto and all have deliver over 30mpg on a run at 65-75mph.

They are excellent offroad and tow really well.

They start off at 138bhp but it's easy-peasy and cheap to get them to 165bhp, so from the perspective of performance they are v8 comparable.

You can buy TD5's from £2000 (1999, 150,000mls); but if you can manage it a facelift car (post 2002)is the one to have. Don't worry about mileage, they are still an LR with bits that can be changed as they wear out.

Do not pay too much for a TD5 - be patient and you'll get a good'un; keep back 20% of your budget for putting things right once you've bought your car, as there will be stuff to do. Not big deal stuff - but stuff nevertheless.

The big thing to be careful of is the chassis, or more specifically the rear chassis as lots are showing proper signs of tin-worm.

There are now galvy chassis available (£1850 from memory), not cheap but good. The body doesn't seem to suffer must rust at all.

I still remember my 2002 TD5 aut ES spec with a fond smile - all the luxuries a man could desire, with 30+ mpg - luvverley !



The very best of luck to you in your search, if I can be of further service just pm me.

Dave

I've driven both TD5 and V8, and for me they seemed much of a muchness, bar the noise factor (for that brief period when a V8 is working right, it's beautiful). In a disco I'd get a V8, in a Defender I'd get a TD5.

Best of luck