Suggestions please

James2k

Richard53 wrote: »

4.6 petrol. 16 mpg local, 20-ish on a run keeping to legal speeds. To be fair, not a lot worse than the 21/23 I was getting from my 300Tdi Defender..

well i think you should keep it, that's the same mpg as i get in my 4.7 Jeep, don't make em like they used to

davemorton

Keep the RR, and buy a cheap old MX5,get classic car insurance with limited mileage, cheap as chips, and parts are plentiful and dirt cheap. Use the MX5 when going to see the kids.

ginashamz

Get the Ford Focus 1.5 TDCI 120bhp - from 2016 onwards.

Richard53

James2k wrote: »

well i think you should keep it, that's the same mpg as i get in my 4.7 Jeep, don't make em like they used to

You're right there. If it wasn't that the fuel cost was prohibitive for regular long journeys, I wouldn't be thinking of selling. The RR is a lovely car - a proper P38 before Range Rovers started looking like Tonka toys. Actually, I have a Plan B: keep the RR for local journeys only, and do the long journeys by train, carrying a folding bike for the other end.

davemorton wrote: »

Keep the RR, and buy a cheap old MX5,get classic car insurance with limited mileage, cheap as chips, and parts are plentiful and dirt cheap. Use the MX5 when going to see the kids.

I've just sold my MX-5 last month! It failed its MoT on serious chassis rust and I decided to bail while it was worth something. Even so, it was not all that economical, around 30 mpg, and the motorway was where it was least fun. A small diesel would do a lot better than that. Plus only one passenger seat, no boot space, etc etc. No, been there, done that, not going back.

ginashamz wrote: »

Get the Ford Focus 1.5 TDCI 120bhp - from 2016 onwards.

About 3-4 times what I am willing to pay, I'm afraid. Budget £2-3k, 2016 Focuses £8-9k. But thanks anyway.

weeowens

What about a Kia Rio: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201809050184400?sort=sponsored&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&model=RIO&price-to=3000&advertising-location=at_cars&make=KIA&radius=1500&price-from=2500&fuel-type=Diesel&maximum-mileage=60000&postcode=s91ep&page=1


I run one as a works car. I do about 6500 miles per year, on a 6 mile trip. Half is dual carriageway(50mph) & the rest at 30/40mph. I have had it two years & it has not given me any issues. Mine is on a 2007 & had 56000 on when I got it. Full history & I paid just short of £3K.
Basic to work on & no frill motoring. I take it on a 60 mile motorway trip once a month & it cruises at speed easily.

Apodemus

Richard53 wrote:

I have looked at Td4 Freelanders, but they are much pricier than the opposition. Probably rightly so, as those I know who have them like them. (And they have a reputation for reliability that no other Land Rover product has.)

They do seem to have shot up in price since I bought mine last year - in fact I am tempted to sell it just to see if I can make a profit on a car that I have put 30K miles on! :rotfl:

Richard53 wrote:

4.6 petrol. 16 mpg local, 20-ish on a run keeping to legal speeds. To be fair, not a lot worse than the 21/23 I was getting from my 300Tdi Defender.

When I managed a small fleet of Land Rovers, my old V8 returned the same mpg as the 2.5 petrols everyone else had. Such a capable engine that it was never running outside a fairly low rev range - I find the Td4 similar in that it handles everything so well in the 1,500 to 2,000 rpm range. But we were all blown away by the improved mpg (and range) of the 200Tdi when it was first introduced.

Your Plan B sounds like the best option to me! Unless the P38 has serious chassis issues, I’d run it till it dies! (Wish I’d hung onto my old two-door RR Classic, with twin safari roof hatches and internal roll cage!)

facade

Why is LPG uneconomical? It is perfect for a run on the motorway, would cost about £1000 to install, and save you £75 on each trip to see one of your children.


Surely there would be an LPG station somewhere on the route.


I'd keep the P38, as long as you have a supply of airbags, and keep an eye on the pipes, the V8s are pretty reliable.


Like Apodemus, I wish I'd kept my classic Rangerover, and spent on restoration (= rust chasing) what I've wasted on modern rubbish.

Richard53

weeowens wrote: »

What about a Kia Rio:

Interesting and thanks for the suggestion - right size etc and affordable. But at that age it would have a DPF, no? Not a show-stopper, but a definite negative.

Apodemus wrote: »

Your Plan B sounds like the best option to me! Unless the P38 has serious chassis issues, I’d run it till it dies! (Wish I’d hung onto my old two-door RR Classic, with twin safari roof hatches and internal roll cage!)

The P38s don't really rust (not like the Disco 2s, anyway) and the body and chassis is in great order. The only issue I have with running it to the end (apart from the fuel) is that any failures in the future, such as the EAS or HEVAC systems - which are quite common - will be expensive to rectify. I'm trying to move away from that kind of big bucks motoring. I say this, even though the two P38s I have had have been largely problem-free. I talk to a lot of other owners, and I am realistic.

facade wrote: »

Why is LPG uneconomical? It is perfect for a run on the motorway, would cost about £1000 to install, and save you £75 on each trip to see one of your children.


Surely there would be an LPG station somewhere on the route.


I'd keep the P38, as long as you have a supply of airbags, and keep an eye on the pipes, the V8s are pretty reliable.


Like Apodemus, I wish I'd kept my classic Rangerover, and spent on restoration (= rust chasing) what I've wasted on modern rubbish.

Most of the professional installations I have looked at have been upwards of £2000, and I have worked out the payback period for LPG to be about 3-4 years for my existing usage. In the future, my mileage will be less, which makes the payback even longer. Add in having to go out of my way to fuel up and it's just not worth the hassle, in my view.

I've never heard of problems with airbags, but there are known issues with the larger V8s - porous castings, slipped liners etc - that are big, expensive problems. Then there are the known issues with the body electronics. (A simple lost ignition key, if it's the only one, can write the car off because of the way that all the electronics are coded to each other.) P38s are cheap for a reason. I'd have a RRC tomorrow and !!!!!! the fuel consumption, but good ones are unaffordable these days.

knightstyle

Similar choice for us a few years ago, got a Toyota Auris for under £3k.
Sold it after two years trouble free driving as we got a bigger caravan than it was safe for.
Lots around at your price.

Richard53

knightstyle wrote: »

Similar choice for us a few years ago, got a Toyota Auris for under £3k.
Sold it after two years trouble free driving as we got a bigger caravan than it was safe for.
Lots around at your price.

Thanks for this. What was it like to drive? A bit bland?

I know Toyotas have a great reputation for reliability, but I get the impression they are not 'drivers' cars'. Whatever I end up with, it needs to be a bit engaging with an element of fun.