exactly Mick,

it always amazes me people buy a SC and then drive it like an OAP and still struggle to get 17, exactly what is the point if they are not using the power - they might as well buy a Diesel, drive it the same and get over 30 mpg

[quote="gttastic"]Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum so any offers of help are appreciated.

I have up to 20K to spend on a FFRR and have test driven 3 variants so far:

3.0 TD6
+ Within my budget
- Too slow, noisy when pushed

3.6 TDV8
+ Very refined engine for a diesel, updated dashboard layout
- Outside my budget at the moment

4.2 V8 Supercharged
+ Superb engine, high levels of interior comfort, value for money
- Poor fuel economy

Out of the 3 cars tested only the TDV8 and Supercharged felt "special". If I had the budget I would probably take the safe option and buy the TDV8, but I don't and I want a FFRR soon. My head says buy a TD6, but my heart says buy a Supercharged because it is a phenomenal machine that I think represents superb value for money at the moment. The main downside of course is the poor fuel economy and with petrol at £6 a gallon and rising, it is a problem that will only get worse.

However, I only do about 8000 miles a year so figured that the Supercharged might actually make some sense because my annual fuel bill might be offset by a cheaper buying price relative to a diesel model for instance.

I am trying to make excuses to myself for justifying buying a Supercharged as a "sensible" choice, when I'm sure it is anything but! You only live once though and I have decided that I will gamble on a Supercharged for a year or so until TDV8s become more affordable and then assess the situation at a later date.

Anyway, there is one that has caught my eye:

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

Does anybody know the history of this car? I rang the dealer to ask some questions. All were answered satisfactorily apart from I was surprised to find out that it has had 5 owners, which I think is a lot given that it is less than 6 years old. The last owner had it since February 2008 so that means it has had 4 owners in its first 2.5 years. Is this normal for a car like this? Would it be hard to shift on when I decide to sell?

I think that car looks like fantastic value anyway, I wouldn't hold out too much hope of getting a substantial reduction on it, since it's already at a very good price, but if you can then all the better. I would say you might be better of making sure that you get a really good warranty on it! It's the right colour, great interior, mileage OK, so if it seems straight, and is mechanically sound etc then you should be onto a winner! Range Rover-less at the moment - Pining!

looks a bargain to me, ask Gary Gazeillio, I'm sure he will offer guidance / an alternative.

Fuel for thought though 83K miles @ 12 miles to the gallon = £41.500 in fuel at £6 to the gallon bet the old owners bought a TDV8 this time

Vogue wrote:

looks a bargain to me, ask Gary Gazeillio, I'm sure he will offer guidance / an alternative.

Fuel for thought though 83K miles @ 12 miles to the gallon = £41.500 in fuel at £6 to the gallon bet the old owners bought a TDV8 this time

Or you could do the Un thinkable and in MY OPINION ridiculas thing and LPG your Supercharged.


Edit just noticed above. bozmandb9 my comment wasn't aimed at you personaly in anyway... 


http://gallery.me.com/paul_harland/100010

Range Rover Vogue TD6 2002 "52"
Bonatti Grey

steady on, you'll be advocating driving a Disco next

one thing not to forget is the cost of running a S/C is only ever an issued on the second hand market, because otherwise the original owner would have just bought a new diesel if he coudn't afford or justify the expense in petrol.

Then comes into play the cost of LPG conversions which also have to be factored into the cost of ownership.

As far as Land Rover fuel consumption goes, Diesel I can drive how I like and get 25, my petrol does 10, and several friends SC get 13 - thats real world, not brochure figures.

If you do a search on this forum, there have been literally countless posts going back several years on MPG and what people get realistically.

Yes you can get highish MPG from a Petrol, one friend of mine with the 4.4 gets 21 mpg, but thats all motorway miles, 300 mile round trips and driving like an oap at 60 mph

paul_h_8 wrote:

Or you could do the Un thinkable and in MY OPINION ridiculas thing and LPG your Supercharged.


Edit just noticed above. bozmandb9 my comment wasn't aimed at you personaly in anyway...

Don't worry, I know I'm the antichrist! For bastardising an S/C

I didn't mention it myself since it would take the OP at least four years to get back the cost of the conversion.

Anyway, S/C's on LPG are my little secret!  Range Rover-less at the moment - Pining!

Having read the posts I now realise I have a major problem with my SC and not sure what to do...

I always average 19mpg and I do not drive slow, honestly...shall I take it the dealer for a diagnostic check?

Seriously, buy the SC, I am biased of course but for VFM, you will find it tough to beat. Current MY2020
Gone: 1 x L405 and 2 x L322's

AMD wrote:

Having read the posts I now realise I have a major problem with my SC and not sure what to do...

I always average 19mpg and I do not drive slow, honestly...shall I take it the dealer for a diagnostic check?

Seriously, buy the SC, I am biased of course but for VFM, you will find it tough to beat.

Dont' worry about the diagnostics, just take it around some country roads, put it into Sport or Manual Mode and get that Supercharger singing, that'll fix it!

Seriously though, I'm with you there, I think 17.5 is easily achievable (on the computer at any rate), I didn't say anything for three reasons, firstly I haven't had mine for long enough to judge, secondly I'm running it on LPG, and thirdly and most importantly, apparently if you admit to getting more than 15 mpg from your S/C it makes you some sort of shandy drinker.  Range Rover-less at the moment - Pining!

Thanks for all the replies so far. Just an update regarding the S/C mentioned in my earlier post. I had a look at the car today and decided to leave it for now. The general condition of the car was good enough for the age and mileage but the garage failed to tell me that the car actually had done 88K miles, not 83K miles. Whilst this might not seem much of a difference it does put the mileage ever closer to the psychological 100K miles barrier (it was already borderline for me at 83K miles) meaning come resale time I might have a problem on my hands selling a car of this type.

I am going to try and raise the budget to 25K so that I can get into either a lower mileage S/C or a newer, but higher mileage TDV8 Vogue or Vogue SE. I'll keep looking in the meantime.

Raise it to 27500 and you can buy mine

Mine gets 14-16mpg around town and low 20's on a motorway run.

If you try to drive it like a sportscar everywhere (ahem... MICK!!! ) then yes you'll get low figures.

An S/C running well and as it should get 14mpg urban and 19-21mpg on the motorway with those figures dipping the more you have to accelerate and pick the car's weight back up.

I personally would not look to the very bottom of the heap for ANY model, you will only pick up a dog unless you are VERY good or UTTERLY lucky.

Good luck either way!! Once ours has gone it will be a sad loss even though we'll only be without one for 2 years

gttastic wrote:

Thanks for all the replies so far. Just an update regarding the S/C mentioned in my earlier post. I had a look at the car today and decided to leave it for now. The general condition of the car was good enough for the age and mileage but the garage failed to tell me that the car actually had done 88K miles, not 83K miles. Whilst this might not seem much of a difference it does put the mileage ever closer to the psychological 100K miles barrier (it was already borderline for me at 83K miles) meaning come resale time I might have a problem on my hands selling a car of this type.

I am going to try and raise the budget to 25K so that I can get into either a lower mileage S/C or a newer, but higher mileage TDV8 Vogue or Vogue SE. I'll keep looking in the meantime.

Bah!! That's not sporting Boz...!!!!!

Ah... it's older, far less spec and many more miles... that's ok then