Can't decide disco/p38

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T

TerryM

New Member
Posts
23
Location
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Hi Chaps

My trusty R reg Disco 1 V8 ES has finally given up the ghost and will be sold for spares soon so I need to replace it.Cats gone, heads gone exhaust gone, body sound.
I've had RR Classics and this Disco and am struggling to decide on a replacement. the choice is between a P38 DSE Diesel Auto or Disco 2 ES Auto, budget £7k or so.
I've two children(teenagers) and two dogs. The seven seats have been useful on occasion, and the leather is a must with the dogs hair!!
Up to now I've not been doing much mileage but this will change this year, so the V8 option is gone. The reliability is crucial.
The Disco's seem to hold their price better but the Rangies look like a more comfortable ride/drive.
Both cars seem to have their fans and detractors.
So what to choose, all opinions gratefully received.

Cheers

Terry
 
TerryM said:
Hi Chaps

My rusty R reg Disco 1 V8 ES has finally given up the ghost and will be sold for spares soon so I need to replace it.Cats gone, heads gone exhaust gone, body gone.
I've had RR Classics and this Disco and am struggling to decide on a replacement. the choice is between a P38 DSE Diesel Auto or Disco 2 ES Auto, budget £7k or so.
I've two children(teenagers) and two dogs. The seven seats have been useful on occasion, and the leather is a must with the dogs hair!!
Up to now I've not been doing much mileage but this will change this year, so the V8 option is gone. The reliability is crucial.
The Disco's seem to hold their price better but the Rangies look like a more comfortable ride/drive.
Both cars seem to have their fans and detractors.
So what to choose, all opinions gratefully received.

Cheers

Terry
Click to expand...

Get a 110 and put disco seats in it ;):D:D
 
I'd advise having a look around both cars and having a drive of both cars. Personally I like the P38 Diesels, despite their electrical problems.
 
Thanks for all the opinions.
I've driven the TD5, on and off road and it's much better than the Disco 1, but I'll have to try the P38. One problem is availability down here on the coast, guess I'll have to keep trawling ebay and autotrader.

The 110 idea is okay apart from the lack of an auto option.

What exactly are the electrical problems on the P38. Is it specific components or just generally rubbish electrics. Apart from making sure everything is working at the time of viewing is there anything to look out for.

Cheers

Terry
 
TerryM said:
Thanks for all the opinions.
I've driven the TD5, on and off road and it's much better than the Disco 1, but I'll have to try the P38. One problem is availability down here on the coast, guess I'll have to keep trawling ebay and autotrader.

The 110 idea is okay apart from the lack of an auto option.

What exactly are the electrical problems on the P38. Is it specific components or just generally rubbish electrics. Apart from making sure everything is working at the time of viewing is there anything to look out for.

Cheers

Terry
Click to expand...

P38s are complex vehicles which are completely stuffed full of electrics, which was no real problem when they were new, but they're getting a bit old now, and from time-to-time there will be gremlins, as with any older luxury vehicle.

I dunno how anybody else feels, but there's just something a bit special more special about the RR over a Disco. They are a bit classier imo.
 
Thanks again for the opinions

The Defender/110 option is ruled out by the lack of an Auto. I have seen auto conversions but that seems to substantially hike the price.
I do like the JE Engineering special with the 4.4 v8. £60k anyone?

Still pondering and looking

Cheers
 
TerryM said:
Thanks again for the opinions

The Defender/110 option is ruled out by the lack of an Auto. I have seen auto conversions but that seems to substantially hike the price.
I do like the JE Engineering special with the 4.4 v8. £60k anyone?

Still pondering and looking

Cheers
Click to expand...

If you could possibly compromise to a 90, they made a special 50th Anniversary edition which was a 3.9 V8 with a 4 speed Auto. Don't know if that would suit you or not, but it is another option.
 
I have owned a P38 4.0 SE A defender 90 300TDI a td6 RR Vogue and 3 Disco 2s

The P38 will go wrong at this age - The diesel will overheat & is underpowered. The 4.0 or 4.6 will eat fuel, probably end up with a cracked block and both will give you electrical probs
The 90 will get stolen if you dont sleep in it !
A TD6 RR is great but will start to give problems at around 80 - 100K Miles Various things will need replacing like rear bushes, sat nav unit, CD Player, intercoolers blow the bottom out, Injectors fail at a cost of £140 each Lift pump fails. They will return 20 mpg

I would go for the Disco 2 facelift I bought an adventurer 2003 with 77K on it for £7500 recently
Placed some Safari 5000s in the A bar Fitted a set of RR sport 20inch alloys & it looks well.
IMO the manual is much better than the auto but thats down to you. You may well find you need to change front shock lower bushes, rear airbags if its 7 seats & be cautious of ACE models as this is failing now & expensive to repair (peeps are looking for anti roll bars and taking the ace off). The Fuel block will probably leak oh & buy a 2002 or later as the head has been modified
Mine is returning 30 - 35 mpg
 
Thanks again for the suggestions.
Wasn't there a limited edition 110 as well in Cream and green with an auto option?

The list of problems is leaning me towards the Disco td5 but the prices seem to have crept up lately and a 2002/3 with halfway sensible mileage is getting up to silly money, but I'll keep looking in the usual places.

Cheers

Terry
 
Hello mate, I have just bought a P38 2.5 diesel after selling a Disco 2.5.
In my opinion the Rangey is a better vehicle, better build quality, better ride, smoother, more econimical.
BUT beware,, Aircon/heater control common fault, very expensive to put right,
some have overheating issues,
air suspension is expensive to maintain, however a spring conversion is an easy option, mine has already had the spring conversion and handles ok.
Hope this helps, cheers, Jim.
 
TerryM said:
Hi Chaps

Up to now I've not been doing much mileage but this will change this year, so the V8 option is gone.
Click to expand...

P38 4.6 on lpg! More economical than a tractor engine. :)

Electricals aren't too bad - problems are over hyped. They're generally niggles rather than problems.
EAS is fine as long as it's maintained - fairly simple and cheap to overhaul now.
V8s can have block problems, but get a good one and they're lovely.

Guy
 
kooky_guy said:
P38 4.6 on lpg! More economical than a tractor engine. :)


Guy
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, depends on what type of driving you do and how much you have to pay for LPG.

You'll probably only get 15-16 mpg from a 4.6 on LPG at best. A Tdi will get about 30 mpg in a Disco. LPG is no longer less than half the price of Diesel, it's slightly more, so overall you'll get slightly less MPG. Couple that to the shorter range on LPG and the fact you'll do more running around to actually find the stuff, it doesn't work out as cheaply as you would expect.
 
Langers said:
Not necessarily, depends on what type of driving you do and how much you have to pay for LPG.

You'll probably only get 15-16 mpg from a 4.6 on LPG at best. A Tdi will get about 30 mpg in a Disco. LPG is no longer less than half the price of Diesel, it's slightly more, so overall you'll get slightly less MPG. Couple that to the shorter range on LPG and the fact you'll do more running around to actually find the stuff, it doesn't work out as cheaply as you would expect.
Click to expand...

Mebbe, but you get to have a V8!!!
 
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