Hello All,

Currently on my second RR and looking for its replacement. It will be a MY07 onwards, and I’m undecided about whether the Supercharged or TDV8 is the better long term ownership proposition, i.e. at least 5 years beyond warranty expiry.

Neither vehicle configuration has been around for 5 years yet so it’s all conjecture but what I’d like to establish is which vehicle is likely to give the least trouble overall in the reliability and maintenance aspect.

The operating environment consists mainly of long distance, often rough bitumen highway at 100 kmh, frequent gravel roads and thick dust with temperatures usually in the 25-40 deg C range. Fuel quality can be dubious at best. No towing.

On the engine side of things, having extensive first hand operating experience of current diesel technology in other marques including 45,000 km in a twin turbo V8 diesel, my suspicions are that petrol is the way forward.

Your thoughts please ……..

I’ll emphasise that fuel consumption is not a consideration, neither is performance, the vehicles initial purchase price or depreciation so I’d appreciate it if any suggestions could avoid these factors.

I’d also like to locate copies of the Land Rover Maintenance Schedules for the Supercharged and TDV8 and wondering whether anyone could point me towards a link?

Regards

I can't help you with your decision (I wish I had such a touch choice to make, pal!), but all the other information you may require is available from the Global Tech Reference site ... Regards,
Mick

'Bertha' - 2014 SDV8 Autobigraphy
'Vincent' - 2010 TdV8 Vogue SE
- 'Molly' - 2005 HSE Auto
'Dixie' - 2000 D2 Td5 ES

This is a really difficult one to answer, and unless somebody has owned vehicles with both engines in and operated them in the environment which you are subjecting them to, it would be very difficult to give advice.

The problem is nearly everybody clouds their judgement with either MPG, 0-60, BHP, depreciation and purchase price. As your decision will be based on reliability and is not going to be influenced by any of these other factors an unbiased view may be difficult to obtain.

If I was in the same position, I would be tempted to approach a dealer with a good reputation and speak to their mechanics and service manager - if anybody would be able to give an informed view on the likely problems of each engine and their longevity they will. They may also be able to hilight any patterns regarding problems, e.g blown turbos or supercharger belts breaking etc...

As I read it your question is, "Which engine would be more reliable?" You may have answered it yourself with the comment about fuel quality. Modern diesels are not at all tolerant of poor quality fuel. That in itself would push me towards the petrol, though if you have to carry extra fuel I'd rather carry diesel! Either way I'd disregard the service schedule and service much more often because of your conditions. EG I think the interval for changing the fuel filter on a S/C is 150k miles and the air filter is 60k miles. Fine in the damp and non-dusty UK but not for your conditions, though you probably know that anyway! It's a nice dilemma, let us know how you get on,
Ivan FF RR S/C (Gone)
TVR Chimaera 500(Gone)
TR7 V8

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

Spooky - That’s a good link which I’ll investigate over the weekend thanks.

Vogue - It is a difficult question that I’ve been struggling with for a while. I’ve posted it here hoping for some feedback ! You’re quite correct about the clouded judgement issues as well. Everyone has an opinion on the usual cost topics and there’s plenty of forum discussion on these, but I haven’t seen much commentary on what are potentially large future cost items when the latest complex engines age and become less reliable.
Difficult to find a dealer in Oz never mind one with a good reputation! However I was hoping someone on this forum with 'inside knowledge' may contribute.

Ivan - You may be right with the question but I tried to avoid limiting it to a simple “which engine” in case there were other factors to be considered, maybe suspension concerns on the S/C? I see you have a S/C, has any unusual negative taken you by surprise?

On air filters, it’s possible daily cleaning may be required in heavy dust, 6000 miles would be an absolute minimum, can these be removed easily on both engines? I’ve seen some recent prestige Euro cars require an hour in the workshop to change an air filter.

The modern electronic high pressure diesel requires the best of fuel, quite unlike the trusty mechanical devices of old, but also I’ve read somewhere that the S/C is susceptible to dust. Aargh!

Cheers.

RealRR,

just to throw a spanner in the works, if it was me I would plump for the Diesel. I am fortunate enough to own and drive both Petrol and Diesel RR's - I would go for the Diesel every time.

They put stomping great diesel engines in high milage trucks, Road Trains diggers, tractors and other plant for a very good reason.

If I was to go for a petrol for your environment it wouldn't have a supercharger - on the KISS basis - keep it simple stupid

Think its a no brainer personally, just based on the sound of the Supercharger would swing it for me. Don't like to mention the 'D word' very often. If you go down this route common conversation topics down the pub will always involve MPG stats and you'll have wished you purchased the SC.  2005 Audi A8 W12
1978 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9
1986 Mercedes 420 SL 4.2

RRR, I was assuming the deciscion to buy a RR was already made and the cars are pretty much the same apart from the engine. The S/C is definalty firmer (suspension wise) than my 4.4 (BMW). The S/C air cleaner is a 5 min with a screwdriver, don't know about the V8D. The only thing which gas annoyed the S/C in my ownership was the management light, a download of the latest engine map sorted that. My concern, like you, would be what will it all be like several years and many miles or km down the road? Mind you I have an old run-about, a diesel (common rail) Citroen with 185k miles on it and it never coughs or gets looked at too much! The most simple car on sale today would have looked very complex 20 years ago. It probably will come down to personal preference but once used to a S/C it's addictive!
Ivan FF RR S/C (Gone)
TVR Chimaera 500(Gone)
TR7 V8

Vogue wrote:

RealRR,

just to throw a spanner in the works, if it was me I would plump for the Diesel. I am fortunate enough to own and drive both Petrol and Diesel RR's - I would go for the Diesel every time.

They put stomping great diesel engines in high milage trucks, Road Trains diggers, tractors and other plant for a very good reason.

If I was to go for a petrol for your environment it wouldn't have a supercharger - on the KISS basis - keep it simple stupid

+1 I only have one thing to add...the efficiency of its supercharger would be greatly hampered by high ambient temperature(LESS HORSEPOWER) which is where you are! Unless of course LR have already taken the high ambient temp into account and have fitted an extra large intercooler to cool down the inlet air temperature

Simple is not a word I'd use for any L322! The point about diesel durability was more valid when car diesels and plant, lorry etc. engines were more similar and petrol engines not as durable.
Ivan FF RR S/C (Gone)
TVR Chimaera 500(Gone)
TR7 V8

I've owned the 4.2 Supercharged engine in my previous car, the RRS. It is a very nice engine to drive and ultimately for any petrol head will satisfasy more than a diesel. However the TDV8 is an awesome engine, with bags of low down torque and still great fun to drive. If you got one chipped its got the torque to pull out tree stumps, yet still sounds like a V8.

The main downside to my SC was filling it up, it seemed to happen every other day and that gets tedious, especially as it takes so long a the pump to fill it up. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

RRUK wrote:

The main downside to my SC was filling it up, it seemed to happen every other day and that gets tedious, especially as it takes so long a the pump to fill it up.

No, I thoroughly enjoyed the car and all my fuel was free anyway, but it was just the AMOUNT of time spent at patrol pumps as I was doing lots of miles, it got really boring after a while.  Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

well maybe you were at the wrong pumps

The free ones are always the right ones!  Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB