Hi!

I have been lurking on this forum for the past few months and I'm overwhelmed with the knowledge and advice shared between all the members. I am new to RR and the only logical choice for me is FF, hence being led in the direction of this wonderful forum.

I'm sure the veteran members will be fed up with these questions and I'm sure they have been covered before but please go easy on me....

Basically I have a budget of 20K to play with (there may be some extra in the pot if the perfect car appears) and I'm unsure as to the wisest way to spend it. I have many friends who run the TD6 with no qualms and very little issues (none have experienced the dreaded gearbox issue which appears to be prevalent) and would have no concerns with recommending purchasing this RR, taking into account what it would be used for. Towing would be mimimum, only minimal use in the summer months for towing boat to Loch Lomond (and with our summers you can bet that it will be less that 6 trips a year!) I was quite sold on the TD6 at first but the issues that I read about have worried me slightly, and the rave reviews for the TDV8 have led me down the path of the V8.

This is where I am at the moment- buy an older TD6 VSE (about 17k), 2004/ 2005 with c. 80k on the clock and invest in a good warranty for piece of mind (if this is even possible?) leaving some pennies in the bank as contingency, or go for a TDV8 Vogue (cant seem to get SE for this budget) 2007/2008 with c. 65k on the clock with limited pennies in the contingency fund! I appreciate that everyone will have a very different view on this, with the TD6 owners backing their choice and the TDV8 backing theirs (I like a good fight )

The car will be used for 10 mile round trip commute daily and then as main vehicle for all weekend/ holiday travels (The OH is apparently counting the days until he can hang up the keys to his BMW and be chauffeured around in comfort ) I initally considered the SC based on the limited mileage I am doing ATM, however my job is very changeable and I could find myself doing the 100 mile daily round trip that I was doing this time last year, hence my reluctance to go SC

I have read the buying advice, and have printed it in expectation of finally viewing my first FFRR! The problem is that I am struggling to find any suitable vehicles in Scotland and dont want to travel to London to view a car and then not take it! I had a look at Gary's site but there only appears to be one for sale at the moment Do any of you Scottish owners have any guidance regarding this? The amount available from trade sellers seem to minimal? Im looking for black/ buckingham blue with ivory interior, side steps. privacy glass and tow bar. I know side steps and privacy glass can be added after purchase but does anyone know the cost/ ease of fitting tow bar?

Hope this rabble makes sense and thanks in advance for any guidance you lot can give me! MOT on my current car is up and the end of the month and I dont fancy renewing so the race is on to get something sooner rather than later!

Thanks

Low miles are nice , but plenty people have higher miles and few issues .
You want blue with ivory... Could do a lot worse than Gary's blue one.?

http://www.garyelliott.co.uk/prestige_cars...index.html

I know it's v8, but well under your budget , use that £6k saved towards extra fuel IF your circumstances changed

Well respected on here , bet he went over it with fine toothcomb during facelift!? Alcohol and eBay is never a good mix

2006 4.2 Supercharged, Java Black

Welcome along. Since the TDV8 is dropping in price, I would suggest you discount the TD6, as the TDV8 is a much better car.

I have a black TDV8 SE with ivory and black leather, so you're welcome to have a look over it if you aren't too far away from me (oh and I'm not selling it!)  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

I had the TDV6 3.0 in the 2010 Range Rover Sport - excellent, really superb engine. But the 4.4V8 in my current L322 (2012) is another matter altogether. Magnificent engine/gearbox combination, you won't regret spending the extra money. And oh, man, what a difference in ride quality and overall 'feel'.
Compared with the Sport, it's night vs day. 2012 L322 TDV8 Luxury
2013 VW Polo GTI
Gone: 2010 RRS 3.0 TDV6, 2007 Audi TT 3.2V6 Roadster

You've got plenty of choice for your budget - no doubt about that.

First thing I'd suggest it finding a good specialist near you who is knowledgeable of the options you are considering.

Td6 - You'll be looking at the very best at your budget. Make sure it's an 06 model year car (referred to on here as a facelifted car) - so that'll be either 05 (not all) 55 or 06 (not all) registered. In this range the VEL is £200 less than later. I had one of these cars for 18mths, bought at 5yrs old with 75k, sold 18mths later with 92k. Flat battery was the ONLY problem I had. Always did around 28mpg and took us to Italy on hols - great car.
Lots of people slate the Td6 for the performance. If you go into it with your eyes open It's not a problem. It does, after all, weigh over 2 tons . . .

I've had my second FF for four months now and was in a similar situation as you. When I was looking I found alot of the TDV8's were very leggy - meaning I was struggling to get a worthwhile warranty. This would have been my ideal choice, but on reflection, the TDV8' are not without their own problems - and they're £500 to tax as well.

I settled on an AJV8 petrol. It's got the Jag 4.4 engine with over 300bhp and the ZF gearbox. It's the one you don't read about much . . . Again, I bought a low tax car. I average 20 mpg all the time with upto 24mpg on a motorway run. For my mileage it's perfect. I saved thousands buying this car over a TDV8 and have decided against a warranty although I could have easily got one - I've gone for the "piggy bank breakdown" approach.

Here's a similar car -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...?logcode=p

Have you looked at the LR Approved website - there's usually a handful available within your budget.

Good luck !

 Where do you go after one of these . . . ?

I know it's not black, but it's a lot of car for the money!

http://www.expresswaycars.co.uk/used-cars/...9309032712 Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Thank you so much for all your replies! I appreciate all the advice/ experience! To be honest I'm now even more confused as it looks like the Td6, TDV8 and the SC are all potential contenders

TugRR- I have now started looking at similar to what you suggested and I'm blown away and what I can get for my money, and would have 6/7k in the bank or, more likely, the petrol fund. Have you got any niggles with the petrol? Although all would be well running that just now, I think I would struggle if my commute changed back to the 500 miles per week I used to do, not taking into account weekend trips

Alan- thanks for that link, strangely enough I have been persusing this for the past half hour! Thoughts?? -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...?logcode=p

I've seen another two that I like so if you wouldnt mind casting your eye over them for any red flags that would be greatly appreciated!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...?logcode=p

The challenge is really to find one closer to home as I am extremely nervous about buying them based on internet photos, however a trip to London/ Wales only to discover faults with it really isnt a viable option.

Tax runs out in 16 days so the countdown is on

Plus it would be a very generous early birthday present to myself

Thanks again!

They all "look" ok, but as distance is an issue, why not go and take a look at the one in the link I sent you?

If you go back to doing 500 miles a week in an SC, you'd better get shares in BP!  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Didnt even notice how close that was! Dont like the strip across the bottom quarter of the door panels (I'm sure their is a technical term which I am not familar with ) but that aside it really is a lot of car for the money. Will need to give them a call and pop over on Saturday. Much appreciated

I'm sure someone else had these (maybe Stan?). If they're just stuck on, it's an easy deal to take them off. If they're clipped on, that might be a different issue.

That's the closest one I've seen in a while, and being a VSE, it's even rarer! Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

"Dont like the strip across the bottom quarter of the door panels (I'm sure their is a technical term which I am not familar with Confused )"

I think you may be referring to the plastic trim fitted on the bottom quarter of the doors and front wings, this is standard on all the L322's. regardless of year.

I don't have them on mine..........  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

The rubber strips the OP refers to are non standard door protection strips

Ah, I was looking at the black car, Just noticed them on the Stornaway Grey Expressway car.

VSK, having owned a TD6 for 6 years and now having moved to the TDV8, all I can say is if you go for a diesel try to get the TDV8 if you can. While the TD6 is a good engine, it is still down on power in comparison the the later TDV8. The engine in the TD6 is also a bit more agricultural in terms of noise in comparison to the TDV8 engine.

Also as you will pay the same road tax in a later TD6 as you do for the TDV8, you might as well have the TDV8's more powerful and refined engine with the later gearbox etc.

And as TugRR stated don't rule out the AJV8 4.4 petrol. There are not a lot of these around and they have the silky smooth power delivery only a petrol seems to give, and in reality are not that much worse on fuel than the TDV8's especially when you take into account petrol vs diesel fuel prices and car purchase price.