First timer buying a P38

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BittersIceAndSugar

New Member
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Hi there,

I've got my driving test in a couple of weeks (I'm 21 but haven't learnt to drive until now) so I'll soon be looking to get my first car. The first truck I looked at was the Grand Cherokee, but a P38 is cheaper to insure, seems like a much nicer place to spend time and there seem to be a number on eBay in my price range, so I'm definitely considering one.

My budget is £3,000, can stretch to £3,300 for something good.

1) Can I realistically get a decent example on this budget?

2) I've heard that P38s have a lot of problems, how true is this and what can I expect? I've never owned and therefore never fixed a car before and, to be honest, as much of a learning experience as it might be, since this will be for getting to work I don't want to have to deal with a car that's going to be breaking down all the time. If it's not for me that's fine, I've got several other cars to choose from but a Rangie would certainly be nice so I'm hoping this might just be a myth!

3) If one might be for me, what should I look out for when buying?

Thanks!
 
to start off welcome to lz, yes they can be hard work. take somebody with you that knows p38s would be my best shot, there are good ones as well as bad ones out there..
 
They do suffer from Gremlins large and small. If you're someone with no experience of cars, let alone complicated little rascals like P38 and you need it to be reliable for work, you have to think again. However, having said that, get a good one and they can be as reliable as the next car. Get a bad one and they're a hundred times worse. Have a look at the thread 'P38's are rubbish... Don't ever buy one'. You'll get both sides of the story there. And good luck if you do get one. You'll always find a tremendous amount of help on here.
 
My god, just don't do it.

I've seen new drivers these days on their test. The examiner pops the hood and asks, where the washer bottle is, coolant, engine oil dipstick is, etc.

It gets a little more involved in the real world!
 
All rangies are hard work, I'm 21 and have a L322 4.4L V8 vogue and it is the best car I have ever had, I started with a 1.2L corsa, then a 2.0L V6 2005 Kia Sportage then my rangie and it was the best decision i have made..... That is when it works, I have had mine almost 4 months now and it has already had it's problems, I use mine for work just like you want too, but when you get up Monday morning and go out to go to work only to find it's got a flat battery or a coolant leak. Range rovers are an expensive hobby and I do mean they are a hobby, they are not just cars you can buy and leave on the drive way and go out and use it everyday without taking care of it. They require constant care and maintenance, which can be very costly, especially when it comes to oil and transmission fluid changes as these vehicles can only use certain types of fluid. I haven't got any real experience with the P38 model but I know about the L322 model and from what I read on here the P38 was a huge leap with in car electrics and technology when it was built back in 95 and because of that a lot of the technology was brand new and because it was first generation technology lots of bugs and problems now come to light as they are getting older now. In the end if you need a ultra reliable car for work etc... Don't bother with a range rover or any land rover for that matter, people say if you drive a land rover you must like fixing it as much as you like driving it, but if you want a hobby and have some spare cash and time for all the repairs and fixes you will need to do then you will enjoy your time with your range rover, there is also something really special about driving a range rover and the feeling that you get when people look at you and you can see them thinking I want one of those, lol :) also there are loads of people on here to help out with any issues you have. Hope this helps and if you want any more info or advice just let me know.

Matt
 
Last edited:
mattstevenson2005 said:
All rangies are hard work, I'm 21 and have a L322 4.4L V8 vogue and it is the best car I have ever had, I started with a 1.2L corsa, then a 2.0L V6 2005 Kia Sportage then my rangie and it was the best decision i have made..... That is when it works, I have had mine almost 4 months now and it has already had it's problems, I use mine for work just like you want too, but when you get up Monday morning and go out to go to work only to find it's got a flat battery or a coolant leak. Range rovers are an expensive hobby and I do mean they are a hobby, they are not just cars you can buy and leave on the drive way and go out and use it everyday without taking care of it. They require constant care and maintenance, which can be very costly, especially when it comes to oil and transmission fluid changes as these vehicles can only use certain types of fluid. I haven't got any real experience with the P38 model but I know about the L322 model and from what I read on here the P38 was a huge leap with in car electrics and technology when it was built back in 95 and because of that a lot of the technology was brand new and because it was first generation technology lots of bugs and problems now come to light as they are getting older now. In the end if you need a ultra reliable car for work etc... Don't bother with a range rover or any land rover for that matter, people say if you drive a land rover you must like fixing it as much as you like driving it, but if you want a hobby and have some spare cash and time for all the repairs and fixes you will need to do then you will enjoy your time with your range rover, also there are loads of people on here to help out with any issues you have. Hope this helps and if you want any more info or advice just let me know.

Matt
Click to expand...

There is definately some sense in the madness.
 
mattstevenson2005 said:
All rangies are hard work, I'm 21 and have a L322 4.4L V8 vogue and it is the best car I have ever had, I started with a 1.2L corsa, then a 2.0L V6 2005 Kia Sportage then my rangie and it was the best decision i have made..... That is when it works, I have had mine almost 4 months now and it has already had it's problems, I use mine for work just like you want too, but when you get up Monday morning and go out to go to work only to find it's got a flat battery or a coolant leak. Range rovers are an expensive hobby and I do mean they are a hobby, they are not just cars you can buy and leave on the drive way and go out and use it everyday without taking care of it. They require constant care and maintenance, which can be very costly, especially when it comes to oil and transmission fluid changes as these vehicles can only use certain types of fluid. I haven't got any real experience with the P38 model but I know about the L322 model and from what I read on here the P38 was a huge leap with in car electrics and technology when it was built back in 95 and because of that a lot of the technology was brand new and because it was first generation technology lots of bugs and problems now come to light as they are getting older now. In the end if you need a ultra reliable car for work etc... Don't bother with a range rover or any land rover for that matter, people say if you drive a land rover you must like fixing it as much as you like driving it, but if you want a hobby and have some spare cash and time for all the repairs and fixes you will need to do then you will enjoy your time with your range rover, there is also something really special about driving a range rover and the feeling that you get when people look at you and you can see them thinking I want one of those, lol :) also there are loads of people on here to help out with any issues you have. Hope this helps and if you want any more info or advice just let me know.

Matt
Click to expand...
theres a fix fer the battery drain
 
If you have £3k available to buy, you might need to allow another £3k to fix it in the 1st year LOL. Of course you might get lucky like I did and get a good one, but you will still need to change the airsuspension bags if they have'nt been done and numerous other things, oh and the diesel is more reliable engine wise than the V8's and more economical.
 
Datatek said:
If you have £3k available to buy, you might need to allow another £3k to fix it in the 1st year LOL. Of course you might get lucky like I did and get a good one, but you will still need to change the airsuspension bags if they have'nt been done and numerous other things, oh and the diesel is more reliable engine wise than the V8's and more economical.
Click to expand...
nice quote lol but realistically sooner or later it will need money spending on it
 
oh and the diesel is more reliable engine wise than the V8's and more economical.
Click to expand...
I don't know about more reliable Datatek. You seem to see more and more problems coming up with the diesels these days than you did even just 12 months ago. They may not have the inherent slipped liner syndrome but they do seem to have their head gasket and cracked head problems. And that's apart from the fuel pump / hot start niggles.
More economical I concede.
 
Derek Ward said:
I don't know about more reliable Datatek. You seem to see more and more problems coming up with the diesels these days than you did even just 12 months ago. They may not have the inherent slipped liner syndrome but they do seem to have their head gasket and cracked head problems. And that's apart from the fuel pump / hot start niggles.
More economical I concede.
Click to expand...
Rather a diesel than a petrol on that score
 
They're one of the few motors that it's better to track down a low spec model than a top of the range. Low spec, far fewer leckky bits to go wrong & then they int as bad as people make out if you're careful & git a good 'un.

That said, I'd go for a higher spec Disco of a similar age..........oh, wait on, that's exactly what I did! :D
 
They're one of the few motors that it's better to track down a low spec model than a top of the range. Low spec, far fewer leckky bits to go wrong & then they int as bad as people make out if you're careful & git a good 'un.
Click to expand...
But they all have BeCMs, EAS, ECU's etc so the main bits that go wrong with them are common to all the models. The extra bits on top end models are the bits that aren't going to stop you going anwhere and can be lived with if they go wrong until time/money permits 'em to be fixed.
 
In all fairness if you get a good one you'll have a great time, buy a pig & your in for alot of money. I've had mine nearly 8 months. Bar a service when I got it & minor cosmetic improvements I've had no faults as such. I've spent all the time driving it & I use it every day for work etc. Hence my low post count on the forum :) guess I'm lucky
 
My tuppence worth says maybe not the best choice for your first car owning experience. get something a little less challenging and then get an Range Rover at a later date (say after a year or so?).
There will still be plenty on the market and you will have time to learn more about them and work on picking up a good un!

Best of luck whatever choice you make!
 
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