V8 or TD5

Author
Discussion

Richy777

Original Poster:

10 posts

221 months

Wednesday 14th June 2006
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This has probally been asked before but I am concidering buying my wife a discovery and would realy like to know what MPG to expect from the 4.0 V8 auto and the TD5 man and auto. It would be used for less than 100 miles a week but mainly short journeys (school run, shop etc) so the V8 is a possable option esspecially as you can get low mileage 3 year old ones quiet cheap compaired to the TD5.

Denis O

2,141 posts

248 months

Wednesday 14th June 2006
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12-15 mpg on short runs and I guess around 22 on a Td5.

The Td5 has no performance, fuel is more expensive, servicing is more expensive and more of it and a 3 year old V8 will be about £6k cheaper.

No brainer at 5k miles a year in my book.

alfaspiderman2

1,136 posts

224 months

Thursday 15th June 2006
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pretty much exactly the same question that I asked about 3 months ago and, whilst I got a mixed response, the overall flavour was, if you don't do many miles, get the V8

that's what I plan to do based on 6k miles a year and a much more attractive initial purchase price

I plan to use mine for family holidays in Cornwall and France so don't like the idea of not being able to accelerate above 80mph when I need to....of course you can chip the TD5 but that add another grand or so to the already higher price (and probably dents residuals)

I'm looking at nice 04 V8's fully spec'ed (essential for me) for less than £15k - a similar diesel would be more like £18k.

depreciation will be a little heavier for sure but since you're starting from a lower price and I plan to keep it for 5 years, I'm not too concerned - someone will buy an 8yr old V8 from me for circa £5k as a tow car I reckon...

get the V8 (just leave a nice Black or Bonnatti one for me)

Richy777

Original Poster:

10 posts

221 months

Thursday 15th June 2006
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Thanks for that, as I would expect most people on here would go the V8 route. Doyou think it would get 20ish on a steady run? Might plan to use it for family trips now and again, because getting the kids and the dog in my golf is geeting a chore.I supose anyone given the choice would rather have a V8? The wife currently has a Mini which only gets about 30mpg so it would double the fuel bill, but we only use about £45 a month now so its not to bad. So the V8 it is.

Next question is there anythink to look out for? best options to get? best engine to get? etc?

alfaspiderman2

1,136 posts

224 months

Friday 16th June 2006
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similar to me - wife, kids and dog just won't go into my A3 and our other car (Freelander TD4) just feels a bit toy-like

I would have imagined that a steady 80mph in a V8 would yield low 20s mpg but not sure (anyone?)

most V8s are ES Autos with high specs (leather,cruise,harmon kardon speakers,etc)

a few XS and GS models are kicking around and they are about a grand or so cheaper

there seems to be lots of silver ones around

most appear to be lowish miles and the higher mileage ones are commensurately cheap

my choice is going to be a highish mileage black, grey, or green ES Auto with the highest spec that I can find

Skey

40 posts

219 months

Saturday 17th June 2006
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i would opt for the td5 as you get better fuel economy, better towing capabilities and they are a lot more reliable. as for them being underpowered you can have them chipped by a stratstone landrover dealership, which increases power, torque and also mpg. i would go for an auto td5 personally.
steve

church

165 posts

227 months

Saturday 17th June 2006
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I must disagree on 2 points that Td5 is better for towing and more reliable than V8......

Having owned almost every model and engine variant over the years the V8 is always the best to drive and tow with. Could go on at length but for instance the consistent smooth power delivery of the V8 ensures that your not waiting for the turbo lag of the Td5 which can be scary at busy junctions or when that gap is not as big as you thought

The Td5 is probably no more or less reliable than V8, as both have known weaknesses as do all vehicles not just Land Rover products.



Skey

40 posts

219 months

Saturday 17th June 2006
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As a Land Rover mechanic for 8 years i have no doubt that Td5 is more reliable than the V8. Drive the Td5 a bit harder they go really well with loads of low end torque. Put your foot down in a V8 and then stop at the next garage for replacement headgaskets

Church

165 posts

227 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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"drive harder for low end torque" - surely driving harder is at the high end of the rev range and therefore by definition not low end?

The fact is that Land Rover diesels have never had enough grunt to make the diesel version as good as the petrol in performance, and this is going back a few decades and the reason why Land Rover lost market share to Toyota etc and still largely applies now. I believe this will change with the V8 diesel, but even TDV6 is not a patch on the V8 (yes I have driven TDV6 RRS, funny how the Jag version gets twin turbos yet the heavier Land Rover gets a single turbo!) I love Land Rover products but the likes of VW and Toyota put diesels in their 4x4's that actually have enough power to make them worthy alternatives to the petrols.

Also be fair Td5 has its problems as well so its not like you by either without pitfalls

Skey

40 posts

219 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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compared to the v8 the td5 only has very few teething problems. if landrover diesels are so bad why have they sold an astonishing amount of them compared to the amount of petrol engined vehicles? also the reason for the tdv6 only having a single turbo is for better low end torque. the tdv6 may have one turbo but its factory boost setting is a whopping 33 psi, now i dont expect the twin turbo jags boost at that do they. and also the jaguars have 2 turbos because they are for road use and not to be thrown around off road as landrovers are.
steve

bluespanner

3,383 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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The TD5 turbo lag is fukin huge. End of. Makes quite a nice motor, but you really have to stir the gears if you want to go places.

V8s are V8s. People were ony put off by fuel consumption, remember, this is an engine coming to the end of a very long and proven life, whereas the oldest TD5s are only 8 years old, all sorts could happen later.

V8 for me, especially with the OP's proposed mileage. Otherwise, gas it is.

Theres really no reason to have 130bhp when you could have 200+.

Skey

40 posts

219 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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see every one that says td5's are poor are all v8 anoracks. since when did the v8 have a long and proven life, almost every land rover with a v8 in it on the road has had to have some major engine work done at some stage during its life due to pi** poor build quality. each to there own but i would rather have the more fuel efficient and more reliable td5. you can over come the turbo lag by having them chipped/enhanced which will also make them leave most v8's in the dust. you can get an intercooler and chip kit for them from jeremy fearn to put them up to the 230bhp mark and it will also imp[rove the fuel economy and torque figures which is detrimental for towing.
steve

bluespanner

3,383 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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you do talk rubbish, to get 230 bhp out of a TD5 you'd have to turn the fuelling right up and overfuelling it, thus using gallons of fuel..

If the question had been V8 vs TDi, i would have voted different, so dont call me an anorak, ta.

skey

40 posts

219 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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why do i talk rubbish then? what do you think a chip does? it remapps the way that the fuel is delivered to the engine it doesnt just throw more in. i didnt refer to you personally as an anorach it was a statement but you all seem very v8 biased and i should imagine none of you have been in a chipped td5 because if you had you would see my side of the argument. as i said its down to personal preference but i personally dont have the money to jkeep throwing at a v8 when they go wrong as they often do. but at the end of the day everyone prefers different things.

bluespanner

3,383 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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ok, so you can chip a TD5 upto V8 power. So what's the difference then? say 10mpg. And the V8 is well smoother than the oil burner. And you're still not going to get rid of the turbo lag, infact it may be worse if you bolt on a bigger turbo for your claimed 230 horse.

Dont forget the OP is only planning on doing 5k miles a year.

skey

40 posts

219 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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ok mate think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one because i dont like the landrover v8's personally, after the 3.5 i went off of them.

bluespanner

3,383 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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skey said:
ok mate think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one because i dont like the landrover v8's personally, after the 3.5 i went off of them.


The 3.5s were gutless though!

agent006

12,058 posts

269 months

Sunday 18th June 2006
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[quote=Skeyhaving them chipped/enhanced which will also make them leave most v8's in the dust. you can get an intercooler and chip kit for them from jeremy fearn to put them up to the 230bhp mark[/quote]

How many head gasket replacments could you buy for the same price?

skey

40 posts

219 months

Monday 19th June 2006
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You would be lucky to get one at main dealer price

GKP

15,099 posts

246 months

Monday 19th June 2006
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Skey you seem to have a different opinion of the V8 to the vast majority of Land Rover people. Which is fine, of course.
Most Land Rover people also are under the impression that main dealers don't know their product very well and no amount of forum chat is ever going to change that opinion!