| Author | Message | ||
     Barto de Koning (Bart) New Member Username: Bart Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2003 |
Hi guys I'm currently looking at buying a 4x4 again, but being 25 years old, I don't have a lot to spend. Until I can afford a newer Disco, I want to get hold of a Series 1 Disco of which there are many available here in South Africa, '94-'97 with +/-100 000miles on the clock. My question is this, should I go for Tdi or V8(not bothered by V8's thirst) and how reliable are Disco's of this age? Your comments will be much appreciated. | ||
| Dean Chrismon (Chrismonda) Member Username: Chrismonda Post Number: 143 Registered: 12-2002 |
I suggest as many on this BB that you would be better off with a TDI. I myself have owned two diesels a Mercedes and a Volvo which had over 80K Miles and were a delight to own I wish I had kept my 83 Mercedes TD that is still on the road. You unlike us in the US have many routes to take with a Rover. Just like any thing else take it to a reputable mechanic and pay to have them do a thourough once over before bying. Hope this helps. | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 57 Registered: 08-2003 |
TDI TDI TDI TDI TDI  Jeff | ||
| Barto de Koning (Bart) New Member Username: Bart Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2003 |
This is weird, you US guys say I must go TDI and the South Africans say I must go V8. Tdi's apparently give a lot of problems over here. Here are a few things that happen often... overheating and engine blowing before guage shows anything, head gaskets fail due to flexible gasket not aluminium gasket, cam belts break prematurely due to misalignment of pulleys. Check out the TDI register at http://www.landyonline.co.za/issues/tdi_longevity.htm | ||
| Shaun Power (Shaunp) Member Username: Shaunp Post Number: 225 Registered: 05-2003 |
TDI 300 engines are prone to timing belt failure. This leads to bent push rods normally. There is 3 seperate retro fit kitts to fix the problem depending on when the car was built. Once the engine has been retro fitted and if you change the belt every 80 000 KM you won't have a problem. This is really the only problem they have. Some engines also suffer from worn key way in the front of the crank shaft under the front pully. | ||
| Gerard Brooks (Wizard) New Member Username: Wizard Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2003 |
TDI every time. As shaun said check that the timing belt has been moded,if it was required. It only needed doing on some Tdi engines. With regular oil changes it will see you through 300 k miles, and you can run the bugger under water ( with a snorkel)unlike a V8. cheers wizard | ||
| DiscoDon (Discodon) New Member Username: Discodon Post Number: 32 Registered: 08-2003 |
Well, to go against everyone else, I would say go for the V8.....I imagine most of us UK drivers would say the same.....if we had cheap fuel. Why?????..... In reality, how often do you drive under water?? How often could you do with the extra grunt a V8 gives you? Look after a V8 (regular oil changes etc)and it will give you as many miles as the Tdi. Fuel consumption - who cares in S.A - it's cheap!! Do you not think the v8 is easier for bush-repairs? Just my 2cents worth..... as for reliability - my 3.5v8i has 120000 miles and is as strong as it was when new!!!! | ||
| eric johnson (Eric2) Member Username: Eric2 Post Number: 187 Registered: 05-2003 |
Well, why not test drive each, if you haven't already, and see if the V8 is THAT much better - powerwise. The '94's have the 3.9 engine - same displacement as the 4.0, but different engine management system, I think. The '95's and up have the 4.0's and also seem to have more problems. Fuel injection systems are Lucas(Bosch)Hotwire for '94 and earlier - GEMS for '95 and later. No carburators in any U.S. models. '96 - '97 have a higher number of problems than other years. You will never see 300K out of a Rover V8 - unless personally blessed by Big Daddy Jehovah. | ||
| Barto de Koning (Bart) New Member Username: Bart Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2003 |
I agree with discodon, I've had a snorkel on my Diesel Toyota Double Cab for a couple of months and so far haven't been able to find water deep enough to test it. On the other hand, I often have to go up really steep hills in 1st low with my diesel screiming at 4500rpm to have enough power and to maintain momentum, so I want lots of power. The Tdi's just don't seem to have good record for reliabilty in SA. I test drove both and I think I'm going V8. | ||
| Peter J. Kelly (Pjkbrit) Member Username: Pjkbrit Post Number: 62 Registered: 05-2003 |
Pete (US); If the fuel is cheap...V8...use synthetic oil and it'll do 300K. You MAY need a camshaft at some point, but it's no big deal if you a DIY guy. The TDI is a great engine...but replace the belt as a normal routine maintenence item. It cannot compare with V8 grunt ... but 30mpg is a wonderful thing whatever country you live in. Pete 99 Disco2 | ||
| Nathan Hindman (Nathanh) Member Username: Nathanh Post Number: 116 Registered: 07-2002 |
Since you live in South Africa, I'd say go Tdi all the way. I say this for a couple of reasons, 1. Engine longevity - A Tdi has a lot more life left in it than a V8 with comporable mileage. If the timing belt is regularly changed on your Tdi, you should expect to get another 15-200K miles out of it. 2. Electrics - The Tdi has the edge over the V8 here in terms of robustness and durability. If you're going out into the bush at all, the African dust will just destroy the V8 ECU. The last thing that you want to do is have you're engine crap out on you 200 miles from nowhere. 3. Fuel Economy - You said that you're not bothered by the thirst of the V8 engine, but think about the extra crusing range that a Tdi can provide. Again, if you're going out into the bush this can be very critical for getting from one place to the next. 4. Power - You may not have quite the power of a V8 with a 300 Tdi, but with a few minor tweaks, those engines REALLY come alive. You'll have most of the power of a V8, and all of the low end torque, which is where it really matters in most off-road situations... That's my 2¢ worth, Nathan Hindman http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com | ||
| Shaun Power (Shaunp) Member Username: Shaunp Post Number: 229 Registered: 05-2003 |
Tdi's have really one main advantage over V8 cars and that is fuel consumption. They have a much longer touring range around 200km per tank on the highway at 100kph. I'm in Australia and petrol is not that expensive so I run a V8. The V8 cars are dynamically nicer to drive, quieter, smoother and they steer and turn into corners better due to less weight over the front wheels, not to mention some extra power. I would expect the SA cars to be a similar spec to Australian ones so many of the problems encountered by US owners will not effect them. All Australian D1 cars run a distributor and 14cux injection and while they run on unleaded they do not have cats. As for longevity, personally in my opinion a well maintianed V8 seems to last longer then a TDI any day, clean oil and don't get them hot. As for for dust and crap roads,thats all there is in central Australia,and the V8 are fine here if you carry enough fuel,infact many car makers (including LR) test new models here for dust sealing,cooling system performance and generally see what else falls off them so I wouldn't worry to much about the climate and terrain in SA effecting your choice. | ||
| eric johnson (Eric2) Member Username: Eric2 Post Number: 192 Registered: 05-2003 |
Just read the latest Land Rover World. In it, they have a bunch of top 10 lists for Land Rovers. One list is Top 10 Land Rover Complaints. Coming in at number 8, is, amazingly enough, Tdi timing belts. I quothe - "A co-joint design and manufacturing venture between Cadbury and Trebor Bassets resulted in the licorice Tdi timing belt that we've come to know and love for it's self-destructive properties. Ignore the recommended replacement intervals at your peril, that is, if your belt gets anywhere near its expected 72,000 mile lifespan. Plenty don't. A design flaw within the timing case meant misaligned belts were lucky to survive beyond half their expected milage. Cured by a factory upgrade kit. Note the clever use of the word upgrade, not repair. -unquothe (did I spell "quothe" right?) | ||
| Gerard Brooks (Wizard) New Member Username: Wizard Post Number: 28 Registered: 11-2003 |
If you have never driven a Tdi before you will be supprised at the "power". Where a V8 has a lot of grunt the Tdi will make up for it with Torque. A Tdi in 1st gear low box will take you up and over anything at tick over speeds. You dont need loads of power to over come obsticals just loads of torque. The V8 sounds great but a TDi will get you places a V8 wont. I lived in South Africa ( Ngodwana)for over 20 years and I would never consider fuel there as cheap. Regars wizard | ||
| DiscoDon (Discodon) New Member Username: Discodon Post Number: 33 Registered: 08-2003 |
Wizard - fair comment r.e. fuel prices in S.A. I'm just used to spending US$6:20 per gallon!!!!! Cheers, Don | ||
| Matt (Doc175) Member Username: Doc175 Post Number: 203 Registered: 11-2002 |
Nathan, What type of "tweeks" in the Tdi can you do to get more power? | ||
| Shaun Power (Shaunp) Member Username: Shaunp Post Number: 230 Registered: 05-2003 |
You can tweak the TDI up by adjusting the boost and the pump. TDi 200 engines run less than 1 bar while 300's run 1 bar. You can shorten the waste gate linkage to raise the boost a little. The biggest problem I have with them is the Turbo lag, off the line they are slow until you get the blower spinning. You can tune this out some what by adjusting the smoke control valve in the pump,this will make them puff a bit of soot when you take off. You can also adjust the power valve in the pump to give more mid range if you want but if you go to rich the exhaust temp rises and you can damage stuff. Some of the guys here in oz also fit bigger intercoolers, this makes heaps of differance when combined with waste-gate and pump tweaks. I'm actually going to look at 94 model tomorrow it's done 180k km, the bloke want's $14k oz for it. |
