Hi folks

I'm new to this excellent forum and could desperately do with some advice.

I'm looking to buy an RRS as an everyday use vehicle. I do about 20-25,000 miles a year including a 100 mile daily motorway commute and intend to sell it on in 18 - 24 months.

I had bought a RR TD6 HSE a couple of years ago, but found it a bit too wieldy and it was passed on as a retirement present to my Dad last year. Although I love high performance cars, something 'quick' or dare I say 'nippy' should suffice for the next purchase, but I would like 30mpg on the run.

My real dilemma is this: My Bro-in-law works for Land Rover and can pass on his 10% employee discount. I don't want to spend over £40k as the wife hasn't forgiven me since the Lamborghini purchase this summer.

Should I buy a new chipped TDV6 SE with (almost) HSE spec for £38k or a year old S/C with 20k on the clock for £37k and get the JE Engineering LPG conversion (£3k).

Do any of you have the S/C LPG? Will their be demand for it on resale? Although JE say LPG invalidates the warranty - have any of you experience to the contrary? Or does the new TDV6 make more financial and practical sense?

If I go for the S/C, looks like I'm gonna end up with Java or Silver, but with new TDV6, I was considering Alaska or Atacama with Ivory (really appeals to me - no kids/Ribena) and 22s are a given. What do you reckon? Will I get £30k for my 40k mile HSE spec TDV6 in 2 years time?

I'm really stuck here and would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

P.S. Fantastic forum by the way - believe it or not despite numerous reliability issues with the RR, I have chosen to go for an RRS over an X5 and Cayenne, primarily because of it's character and friendly RR enthusiasts. Current Cars
Lamborghini Gallardo 07-
M-Benz SL55 AMG 06-
Range Rover TD6 HSE 05-
MINI Cooper 04-
M-Benz E300 DT Estate 07-

Previous Cars
Porsche 911 Carrera 05-06
Lexus IS200 SE 03-05
Peugeot 306 DTS 98-03

Welcome to the forum, drraj!

Firstly, excellent looking garage you have there.... have you any pics of your Gallardo that we can drool over? You'll notice, if you've been watching for a while that a large proportion of the members here are petrolheads and not part of the average muddy-boots LR brigade.

It's a shame you can't push to a TDV8 RRS as that is the perfect compromise between performance (chipped, it's all over the SC really) and economy. There was a recent discussion here about converting the SC to LPG and in fairness, given the cost of it - it leaves too many questions unanswered. Namely, LR don't like it as JE have told you and secondly, you lose your spare tyre well and there's a question around how this affects the rear of the car in terms of crash protection. The conversion will be suitably certified for your insurance company, but it seems to me there's a lot to cause you a problem there further down the line.

It makes sense to buy the TDV6... for most people, it's nippy enough. More so if chipped. You'll be lucky to get 30mpg out of it long term (though much better than the average 12-15mpg out of the SC), but if all your mileage is motorways you obviously stand the best chance of achieving the better mpg.

In terms of resale, the market seems to be holding up well for the TDV6s even with the introduction of the TDV8. The market is crying out for RRSs and LR can't build new ones quick enough at the moment.

Might I suggest that you send a PM to forum member kam100, a forum sponsor, who may be able to help you source he correct vehicle and if necessary, cut the finance deal for you  

2009 Outstanding Contribution Award - Joint Runner Up
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Not being a cu next tuesday fella, but why in the gods name are you worried about MPG? With those cars in the garage you are in a position where this shouldnt be a concern??

Prob speaking out of turn, but hey, I usually do!

Im with you Schmoo, lets see some pics of that bad ass lambo!

Welcome drraj

The only thing I would say is it's your choice, I have the TDV6 and love it. My Dad has a FFRR Vogue converted to LPG and it does save him a fortune as oppossed to petrol. There is no performance loss at all and the mpg is just the same as petrol. - The conversion did however VOID his LR warranty as it was done by a 3rd party - LR will honour some warranty, but not for any engine related claims. The supplier of the LPG does cover the whole engine under their own warranty though, so there is some protection.

Also agree with the other guys - Give us some pics of the Lambo I was in Rome last year and the misses had to drag me away kicking and screaming from the window of a Lambo Showroom!  2013 Discovery HSE Luxury - 3.0 SDV6 - Santorini Black
2013 Evoque 5 Door Pure Tech SD4 - Orkney Grey with Panoramic Roof (Mrs E's new baby)

GONE - RRS - 3.0 TDV6 HSE - Santorini (2010)
GONE - RRS - 2.7 TDV6 HSE - Java Black (2007)
GONE - Porsche Boxster S - 3.2 - Black

Thanks for the advice. Just hate paying through the nose for fuel.

I'm gonna try and see if my local friendly LR dealer will honour the non-engine aspects of the manufacturers warranty. JE Engineering supply a years warranty that will hopefully cover the rest.

Here she is, although not for long, judging by the interest I've had. I will be sorry to see it go, but believe it or not, the SL55 is quicker in most situations. Took the purchase of a Gallardo to realise how good the 55 really was - gutted

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/262072.htm

[/img] Current Cars
Lamborghini Gallardo 07-
M-Benz SL55 AMG 06-
Range Rover TD6 HSE 05-
MINI Cooper 04-
M-Benz E300 DT Estate 07-

Previous Cars
Porsche 911 Carrera 05-06
Lexus IS200 SE 03-05
Peugeot 306 DTS 98-03

Very nice Doc - and now sold. Gone - 2008 TDV8, Stornoway Grey, ebony, zabrano trim, TV, Tasmods, mudflaps.

Just drove to paris and back this weekend. Averaged 13.5mpg. Thinking of buying up a petrol station

Please get the S/C.

That way you can't have atacama with 22s  2002 Discovery Adventurer LE
1998 Freelander xedi
Ertl limited edition RRS model number 817

shmoogle wrote:

Welcome to the forum, drraj!

you lose your spare tyre well and there's a question around how this affects the rear of the car in terms of crash protection.

What can I say PauloAmore.... I was initially told this by the LRE instructor I had when I first got my RRS and I've heard the same thing from other LR staff since. I don't see it as so ridiculous myself although I agree it's not potentially the best way they might have done it. LR's thinking on the topic is such that if you're using the spare wheel, it's a fairly safe assumption that the wheel you're changing will go back in the well and then you'll drive off. Granted, if the tyre is shredded to pieces and there's just a rim left it's not the same... but hey  

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2009 'Tech-Head Of The Year' Award - Runner Up

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I have only ever seen one Atacama RRS and in the bright summer's morning - it looked awesome.

I totally understand your point though. 22s on a 'Gold' car are a bit of an automotive contradiction and at 26 years old - I'd have damn sight better chance of pulling off the 'Java look'

I know Java is the obligatory choice and RRS look especially good in black, but on my way home from work from Stirling to Glasgow, in 25 miles I counted 14 out of 15 RRSs in Java - the other one was Stornoway.

Of the 812 Sports on sale in Autotrader, an astounding 350 are black. Surely supply must exceed demand. If only they did a pearlescent white... Current Cars
Lamborghini Gallardo 07-
M-Benz SL55 AMG 06-
Range Rover TD6 HSE 05-
MINI Cooper 04-
M-Benz E300 DT Estate 07-

Previous Cars
Porsche 911 Carrera 05-06
Lexus IS200 SE 03-05
Peugeot 306 DTS 98-03

There was a poll on here a year or so ago about "what colour is yours" and I think 60% of the respondents had Java. It is common but I do think it looks good... but mine was Java so I would say that

White though... now you're talking

Click image to enlarge

shmoogle wrote:

What can I say PauloAmore.... I was initially told this by the LRE instructor I had when I first got my RRS and I've heard the same thing from other LR staff since. I don't see it as so ridiculous myself although I agree it's not potentially the best way they might have done it. LR's thinking on the topic is such that if you're using the spare wheel, it's a fairly safe assumption that the wheel you're changing will go back in the well and then you'll drive off. Granted, if the tyre is shredded to pieces and there's just a rim left it's not the same... but hey

Shmoo, I think you've been spun a line on this one. Logically I just can't see that Safety Legislation (UK or Europe) would allow a spare wheel to be included in the calculations for the safety performance of a car. It may be the case that having the spare in place may "increase" the safety in a collision but NOT having it will not reduce safety below the minimum level allowed. 2013 Discovery HSE Luxury - 3.0 SDV6 - Santorini Black
2013 Evoque 5 Door Pure Tech SD4 - Orkney Grey with Panoramic Roof (Mrs E's new baby)

GONE - RRS - 3.0 TDV6 HSE - Santorini (2010)
GONE - RRS - 2.7 TDV6 HSE - Java Black (2007)
GONE - Porsche Boxster S - 3.2 - Black

I think further discussion with JE is needed - they appear to be extremely helpful and informative.

Incidently, anybody have any views on or experiences of the Adaptive cruise - as with my daily commute, I thought it may just swing my decision in favour of the S/C?? Current Cars
Lamborghini Gallardo 07-
M-Benz SL55 AMG 06-
Range Rover TD6 HSE 05-
MINI Cooper 04-
M-Benz E300 DT Estate 07-

Previous Cars
Porsche 911 Carrera 05-06
Lexus IS200 SE 03-05
Peugeot 306 DTS 98-03

PauloAmore wrote:

shmoogle wrote:

Welcome to the forum, drraj!

you lose your spare tyre well and there's a question around how this affects the rear of the car in terms of crash protection.

You've said that before and I'm saying this again, I just can't believe that the the crash protection of the car can be affected by the removal of a piece of equipment that is by it's very nature, designed to be removed, i.e. the spare wheel. That's just very dangerous.

Would love to know if JE can fit the LPG tank in the area where the spare wheel hangs (it is not a well that would hold the tank after all). I'd fit the LPG in the spare wheel well and if you need max cargo capacity, then carry 4 x 4 wheel gunk for a puncture and an AA membership in case your tyre shreds.