Need some opinions to make a decision..

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Discovery or p38

  • Discovery

    Votes: 6 85.7%

  • Range Rover

    Votes: 1 14.3%
  • Total voters
    7
R

RallyHippo

Member
Posts
92
Location
Selby, North Yorks
hey folks..
I've happily owned 2 td4 auto freelanders for around a year first been for the Mrs and the second replacing my cayenne.. needing something more to our rural lifestyle..
Having owned them with minimal problems (the Mrs' snapped the reverse ring but that was just bad luck)
Now I've used both to tow but the rice horsebox is technically too heavy (but only around 1500kg with the 1 horse in) but I'm not that happy at the weights and due to the size of the horse we can't get a lighter box.
I'm now also building a new race car (tomcat) which is going to be too heavy for the Fl to pull about so..
Wanting to keep with "home mechanics" and not wanting to go much bigger than the Fl physical size
I therefore don't want anything too new and computer related so I'm thinking disco 2 or Range Rover p38
Both in derv ideally auto..
Thoughts, recommendations & personal experiences..
Thanks in advance Dan
 
I owned a P38 diesel auto and it was a slug, even though it had a "chip". lord knows what it would have towed like :(
 
I couldn't live with it as a daily drive I had a tdci 90 puma for 6 weeks a few years back and driving it crippled me.. need the auto for the Mrs as well as she has problems with her left ankle..
 
RallyHippo said:
hey folks..
I've happily owned 2 td4 auto freelanders for around a year first been for the Mrs and the second replacing my cayenne.. needing something more to our rural lifestyle..
Having owned them with minimal problems (the Mrs' snapped the reverse ring but that was just bad luck)
Now I've used both to tow but the rice horsebox is technically too heavy (but only around 1500kg with the 1 horse in) but I'm not that happy at the weights and due to the size of the horse we can't get a lighter box.
I'm now also building a new race car (tomcat) which is going to be too heavy for the Fl to pull about so..
Wanting to keep with "home mechanics" and not wanting to go much bigger than the Fl physical size
I therefore don't want anything too new and computer related so I'm thinking disco 2 or Range Rover p38
Both in derv ideally auto..
Thoughts, recommendations & personal experiences..
Thanks in advance Dan
Click to expand...

I have a Disco 2, V8 Auto, I use it for towing my cattle box. Very nice tow vehicle, probably the best of the many I have had. Very good deals to be had as well. Sure the diesels are fine, but I prefer the V8, not much difference in fuel anyway if towing.

Doubtful you will get many horseboxes plated less than 2700kg anyway.

Those aren't exactly free of electronics, you know?
 
I think Turbo has it really :), and many others on here will agree - the V8's are much nicer for towing. How many miles you do will "decide" if its economic, or not... or if an LPG conversion is the way forward. :) Depending on budget, you could also look at re-importing a D2 from japan - no road salt there, and usually low mileage too. ( Algys autos in Bristol do this (no affiliation))

Given the P38 and D2 are both totally electronically controlled, I would include proper diagnostics in your budget, ( nanocomm) - in fact, I would go so far as to say that without diagnostics for vehicles of the age you are considering, it would be a bad idea, IMHO. It would certainly stop me buying them.

We run D1's simply because our rural location and height AMSL means our experience of electronics in "cars" means we don't need any more experience of the problems:D:rolleyes::mad::eek: ( which is why I haven't voted - niether is any use to me!)

A search on here will show you the problems with both vehicles. :)
 
Turboman said:
I have a Disco 2, V8 Auto, I use it for towing my cattle box. Very nice tow vehicle, probably the best of the many I have had. Very good deals to be had as well. Sure the diesels are fine, but I prefer the V8, not much difference in fuel anyway if towing.

Doubtful you will get many horseboxes plated less than 2700kg anyway.

Those aren't exactly free of electronics, you know?
Click to expand...

Cheers, no I know everything has electronic crap in it now but I'm quite competent as a mechanic and with vehicle electrics but the newer stuff is just stupid I want something that if something does go wrong can be fixed majoratively without plugging it into some computer.. my cayenne was a nightmare constant electric faults with headlight alignments and pop up messages on the dash to tell you the service interval even though it's just been serviced basically the same as like the l322 and d3 on and I'm not prepared to put up with it as a working vehicle thats going to mainly used to pull toys about and building materials for the house...
the freelander is doing and has done a sterling job but just don't have the tow capacity I need :( if one will I want a grown up freelander lol..
I love the v8 myself the 4.6 is the base for the new racer But living on a rural farm some 20 miles from the nearest reliable fuel source it needs to be derv so we can fill up on site (before anyone starts or vosa see it we have a white tank on site) and day to day driving won't be tow work so it's got to stay practical..
how do you find the d2 for repairs I've been advised although they corrected the body issues d1 to d2 the chassis remains a problem for rotting away and many seem to have had the air and ace removed (???) kinda what's swaying me toward the p38 for the ride quality..
 
Disco1BFG said:
I think Turbo has it really :), and many others on here will agree - the V8's are much nicer for towing. How many miles you do will "decide" if its economic, or not... or if an LPG conversion is the way forward. :) Depending on budget, you could also look at re-importing a D2 from japan - no road salt there, and usually low mileage too. ( Algys autos in Bristol do this (no affiliation))

Given the P38 and D2 are both totally electronically controlled, I would include proper diagnostics in your budget, ( nanocomm) - in fact, I would go so far as to say that without diagnostics for vehicles of the age you are considering, it would be a bad idea, IMHO. It would certainly stop me buying them.

We run D1's simply because our rural location and height AMSL means our experience of electronics in "cars" means we don't need any more experience of the problems:D:rolleyes::mad::eek: ( which is why I haven't voted - niether is any use to me!)

A search on here will show you the problems with both vehicles. :)
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'd pretty much ruled out the d1 on the basis of my experience in the past with them 9 or 10 years back I bought a 96 model which took some finding as good as it was as even back then they all seemed to disappear around the rear doors, boot floors and chassis.. lovely car but horrendous ride and terrible for towing the trailer used to push the rear about, one night top side of Middlesbrough on the A19 she broadsided on me in the wet without the trailer on when I had to brake hard for a car which lost a wheel infront of me and I ended up on the hard shoulder and grass to stop it.. maybe it was the model spec but I don't think it had abs even.. i decided to get rid when later that month the clutch fork pivot punched through the fork at a set of traffic lights..
maybe I had a bad one I don't know but they just don't seem any more refined than a defender to me don't the d1's..
 
RallyHippo said:
Thanks, I'd pretty much ruled out the d1 on the basis of my experience in the past with them 9 or 10 years back I bought a 96 model which took some finding as good as it was as even back then they all seemed to disappear around the rear doors, boot floors and chassis.. lovely car but horrendous ride and terrible for towing the trailer used to push the rear about, one night top side of Middlesbrough on the A19 she broadsided on me in the wet without the trailer on when I had to brake hard for a car which lost a wheel infront of me and I ended up on the hard shoulder and grass to stop it.. maybe it was the model spec but I don't think it had abs even.. i decided to get rid when later that month the clutch fork pivot punched through the fork at a set of traffic lights..
maybe I had a bad one I don't know but they just don't seem any more refined than a defender to me don't the d1's..
Click to expand...

That sounds like a bad one to me! :D - they are also way better than any deafener, ( tratter )

Anyway, I wasn't suggesting a D1 - I was suggesting a D2 V8 with diagnostics. Both D2 and P38 NEED diagnostics. We bought a new P38 in 1999, before "aftermarket" diags were available - it was impossible for LR to keep it working,, let alone us, so we got rid.

IMHO, you will NEED diagnostics for either vehicle living "out in the sticks".
 
Last edited:
Disco1BFG said:
That sounds like a bad one to me! :D - they are also way better than any deafener, ( tratter )

Anyway, I wasn't suggesting a D1 - I was suggesting a D2 V8 with diagnostics. Both D2 and P38 NEED diagnostics. We bought a new P38 in 1999, before "aftermarket" diags were available - it was impossible for LR to keep it working,, let alone us, so we got rid.

IMHO, you will NEED diagnostics for either vehicle living "out in the sticks".
Click to expand...

Ah my miss interpretation.. I'm not opposed to having diagnostics been looking at is it Hawkeye the britpart thing, but newer stuff mechanic friends recon autologic is the only thing worth having..

I'm going to go and have a look to both options it's difficult tho as it's not like you can say to a seller can I just clip it to a trailer and see how it tows.. but I can't see the p38 being a bad towcar for the simple reason it was designed to be so versatile..

I've been talking to a couple of local farmers this am and one reminded me the whole point of the p38 was to take the rangerover to the masses where a city slick could run one and be pretentious or a farmer could run one in the fields and around the farm in the day then give it a wash before going out with the family at night..

To be honest I wish I was in a position to look at a defender with the Ashcroft auto conversion but I just couldn't do the mileage I need to in one the comfort just isn't there for me..
 
The consensus on here is, IIRC, that Nanocomm are the best diagnostics. A search on here, and a lot of reading, will show you the way forward.

I have Hawkeye for the D1's - its Ok, but I doubt i could tolerate the small screen for more complex stuff - others will advise. Hawkeye is most definitely NOT blue box carp; it's Bearmach, a rather ( I.E. vastly ) different kettle of fish.
 
RallyHippo said:
Cheers, no I know everything has electronic crap in it now but I'm quite competent as a mechanic and with vehicle electrics but the newer stuff is just stupid I want something that if something does go wrong can be fixed majoratively without plugging it into some computer.. my cayenne was a nightmare constant electric faults with headlight alignments and pop up messages on the dash to tell you the service interval even though it's just been serviced basically the same as like the l322 and d3 on and I'm not prepared to put up with it as a working vehicle thats going to mainly used to pull toys about and building materials for the house...
the freelander is doing and has done a sterling job but just don't have the tow capacity I need :( if one will I want a grown up freelander lol..
I love the v8 myself the 4.6 is the base for the new racer But living on a rural farm some 20 miles from the nearest reliable fuel source it needs to be derv so we can fill up on site (before anyone starts or vosa see it we have a white tank on site) and day to day driving won't be tow work so it's got to stay practical..
how do you find the d2 for repairs I've been advised although they corrected the body issues d1 to d2 the chassis remains a problem for rotting away and many seem to have had the air and ace removed (???) kinda what's swaying me toward the p38 for the ride quality..
Click to expand...

Not really done any repairs, just changed the oils and bought a set of tyres and a battery. I had to buy a windscreen, it cracked, only 120 quid fitted, though.

1200 quid to buy off a private sale. Chassis has some surface rust, but a few years in it. V8 and trans run like new at 112k. been running it almost 3 years now, don't really see how you can improve on that.

Mine was coil converted long ago, but if you prefer the air, it is easy enough to retrofit.

I shall probably get a P38 when I have had enough of the Disco. But just to try it, I have had a lot of different landrovers. I suspect it will be more expensive to run than the Disco. Rangies are always higher specced, more to go wrong.
 
P38 diesel auto slower than disco thats D1 (200tdi /300tdi V8 ) or D2 TD5 , have run all three models and engines inc autos, the nice things of the P38 were the Kneel capability , and a bit comfier ride than the D1s JMHE .
 
tacr2man said:
P38 diesel auto slower than disco thats D1 (200tdi /300tdi V8 ) or D2 TD5 , have run all three models and engines inc autos, the nice things of the P38 were the Kneel capability , and a bit comfier ride than the D1s JMHE .
Click to expand...

Don't talk complete and utter nonsense, the 200 and 300 TDI engines are not in anyway in the same class as the M51 in the P38. You must have driven a seriously knackered P38. I have owner 200 and 300 Tdi engined Discos, nothing like a quick as a P38.
 
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