SLROC Forum

Okay, big help wanted...  I really want to buy a Disco V8  I want to buy the best I can find registered just before 1st March 2001, ie before he tax banding takes effect.  Okay so I know (think) I am looking for a one with LPG and a low millage...(yes I know and you want to win the lottery to)..  Question is what are the key things I am looking for from a mechanical point of view?  I have spotted what look like good discos advertised as having a new engine, tempting as this sounds, it suggest the V8's don't last?  Anything else I want to think about.

Next question, I have a 1994 300tdi auto disco, Jap import in 2004 no rust at all, very well looked after, just MOT'd 138k on the clock, though this cant be accurate as it would have been changed when it was imported.  Timing belt changed last year, good tyres AT'2, new brakes etc ect....  what should I advertise it for?

Why are you going back in age, is it just to have a V8?

Its really just a case of finding an older vehicle in better condition than the one you have. (rust free)
I would learn as much as you can about V8's before buying.
If you can drive a few to compare,
 & have a mechanic with you before buying.
www.v8engines.com
might help some.
maybe check out a good LPG fitters vehicles,
Ask Jim, he might have a customer selling a Disco.
www.wellsidemotors.co.uk

Its going to be important the size of the fuel tank/tanks, if you are not going to have to fall back on petrol.
(depends where you are & how far you are traveliing, the South of the UK appears more expensive than Scotland)
150 litre tank will take around 120 litres of LPG,
if you get 3 miles per litre, thats 360 range on gas.
a 90 litre tank taking 72 litres will only be around 216 miles.
*you might not achieve 3 miles to the litre tho*

Have you noticed the way that LPG prices are going?

Getting towards 70 pence a litre some places.
Each time 2 pence goes on a litre of petrol/diesel the advantage of LPG is being lost if 2 pence a litre goes on it.

10 litres of lpg @ 65pence a litre = ?6.50,
if you get 3 miles to the litres,
thats 30 miles for ?6.50
about the same as a 300tdi if you can average 3.5 miles to the litre of gas.

soon it will possibly work out as worse economy than a 300tdi,
 & getting even worse as prices rise.

have fun in your search.
george

Many thanks George, my 300tdi is a 1994, imported in 2004.  To be honest I do about 4k miles per year so economy is not much an issue.  My late father had a 3.5 Rangie many years ago I just loved it.  So I really want to have a V8 Disco and want to get the best I can find, my theory is if I get a really good one reg pre Mar 1st 2001 I wont pay a fortune in tax every year and I can keep it for may years.

Sorry i missed that it was a 94.

I see that on a national Autotrader search there are a handfull of LPG discos of the right age at reasonable prices,
but possibly a bit far away.

If you are going for one fitted with gas i would speak to a some LPG fitters
 & see if they know of anything for sale.

Check your insurance company & see if they want a Certificate.
I would have a LPG system inspection before buying & at the least a service after purchase.

Maybe worth finding the best V8 you can & have the conversion done for you.
Possibly not the cheapest way, but if you want to keep it, in the long run it might work out.

People like RPI Engineering build/rebuild engines to suit running on LPG,
 which can be more economic & reliable than an older engine converted to gas.

They can be built or converted to start & run on LPG, without requiring petrol for starting.

I think the road tax is good from April 2011 for vehicles registered before March 2006 that run on Gas or Electric.
(alternative fuel), that is probably Gas only without another fuel source carried.
Havnt read up on it, just googled it just now.

all the best
george