"PoP" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 20:14:09 +0000 (UTC), "PR"
wrote:

You stick to your Xtrail and you will be happy with it - I will stick
with
my Sorento and I will be happy with it - the only difference is I will
feel
that I have somehow "beaten the system" because everyone else who has
bought
a different vehicle new of the same sort of size and quality, with a nice
3.5v6 engine, auto box, leather, cruise, full time 4x4 plus low ratio box
and loads of other spec will have paid a LOT more for it.

The 3.5v6 causes me a little concern - fuel consumption is probably
nothing to be proud of. What sort of figures do you achieve if you
don't mind me asking?


I get a touch over 20 tootling about - no, its not brilliant, but its better
than some (for example probably 20 to 25% better than the Ssangyong Rexton -
and better than a friend gets from his petrol disco.).

I have 3 vehicles and do not expect to do more than 6000 or so p.a. in the
Sorento so it will only cost me in round terms 50quid more a month than
something that does near to 50mpg.

If I was doing all of my 30000+ miles a year in it I would have bought the
diesel. The v6 is a bit of a luxury, I tried the diesel and it was fine but
the 3.5v6 is obviously much faster and quieter than the 2.5 diesel and costs
the same new so given my mileage in this vehicle I can live with the extra
50/month running cost (the diesel achieves 50% more to the gallon on
average).

Predictions I have seen indicate same residuals for diesel and petrol so it
should be just the fuel difference with any luck.

I think they are selling more petrol versions than they expected based on
what I have seen around here - I think they were expecting 9:1 - but what I
am seeing is obviously just a small sample based on casual observation. Its
easy to be tempted by the 3.5v6 given the price is the same - as long as
mileage is not too high (as long as you want the top spec and auto box -
they only do the petrol in 1 spec and no manual)

The extra weight of the petrol engine makes a big difference to the steering
(sometimes criticised as being too light on the diesel), and I feel there is
a positive effect on the ride as well.