Range rover p38........What should i be looking for??

Hi guys new to this site so bear with me Right i am thinking about buying a range rover p38 soon and want to know what you think i should be looking for with a £3000 budget. Also is the p38 as un reliable as people make out?

spend 2 grand and keep the rest to put it right.

take some body with you that understands them..

j the range said:

take some body with you that understands them..

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you bumming for work again


they ant all unreliable , take your time and spend as little as possible

leedog19 said:

Hi guys new to this site so bear with me Right i am thinking about buying a range rover p38 soon and want to know what you think i should be looking for with a £3000 budget. Also is the p38 as un reliable as people make out?

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Where abouts are you? I've had a couple over the last few years, buy the latest you can afford, there a lot better after 2000!

The same applies to Range Rovers as any other car. Buy the best you can find with the money available. Whether your preference is for a newer car but with high mileage or a slightly older car with better specification and a folder of history is up to you.

As with any highly specified car, age can imapact on the reliability of some of the gadgets and gizmos and if you lok through the posts oon this forum you will see the things you need to be keeping a very sharp eye on.

If there was such a thing as a Nissan Micra forum I'm sure if you read through some of the posts you would imagine it to be the most unreliable car in the world, routinely plagued with problems. The opposite is true, but by reading these forums it is easy to get the wrong impression. What you don't see here are the countless thousands of P38 owners who enjoy trouble free motoring.

If you have a car in mind there are a number of good souls here who could be persuaded to look over the car with you before you decide to buy - just ask.

Best of luck

Wow so many replies so quickly..........great site. Well i've been looking at getting a 4.0 se maybe with a lpg conversion as petrol is at a stupid price. Very much looking forward to owning 1. Just hope i end up with a gooden

might as well get a 4.6 hse,they are about the same price and have all the toys,and all the same faults!!!

As stated above, if possible take someone with you who understands these cars. Also, be aware you will likely have to spend some money on your new pride and joy very soon after you buy it. I just bought a 1999 P38 DHSE, a beautiful car. However, when I got it home I realised it has some issues with the EAS and other minor problems and I had a mechanic look at mine! Post 1999 MY are a better bet as they have improved electronics (Bosch instead of Lucas) and all round traction control.
If the car has been started (engine warm) before you get there be suspicious, try to go back when it has been left standing overnight, see if it has dropped to its bump stops. I am not the most experienced p38 owner so this is just my opinion based on my own experience. Also, my experience so far with this forum has revived my faith in my fellow human beings, the help you will get here is invaluable and freely given.

Where are you ? Best to get someone who knows the beasts to go with you as it is very easy to buy a lemon.

leedog19 said:

Wow so many replies so quickly..........great site. Well i've been looking at getting a 4.0 se maybe with a lpg conversion as petrol is at a stupid price. Very much looking forward to owning 1. Just hope i end up with a gooden

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LPG is a stupid price too, get a diesel

I am just outside birmingham..........Going to have a good look round first. Not going to rush as it's only going to be a weekend car as couldn't afford the petrol travelling 120 miles a day. Use the !996 Megane for that Just need to tell the missis now.hahahahahahahaha.

Check it goes up and down as it should. Check carpet drivers side for dampness. With the tailgate down, lift up the plastic between that and the boot and check for rust at the bottom of the tailgate.

You should be looking at some thing else,P38 not a good choice.
:welcome2:

What do you think i should be looking at then???

im new to a p38 aswell , admittidly i fink i bought a real nice example and cheap according to what ive seen on the market and its a diesel with a psi powerbox fitted and dont half go when you put your foot down and very good on the mpg aswell

nothing wrong with p38s, once you sort the problems out the lazy bastids dont do befor they sell them..

Getting so many mixed reviews.

leedog19 said:

What do you think i should be looking at then???

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I must admit I would have a P38 if it had coils fitted and the stupid dash warnings were disabled and it had a 300 tdi fitted instead of the juice V8 or the over complicated BMW engine.

spencer1885 said:

You should be looking at some thing else,P38 not a good choice.
:welcome2:

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What else will take you in limo style on a long journey, pull you out of a muddy field, think nothing of the recent snow and put a smile on your face every time you get behind the wheel. And all for as little as 3K (and that will still get you a goodun)

Yes they are juicy (you are feeding 8 pots at over 4 and a half litres a time,in my case) They will break down (like most 10 year old motors) but there's plenty of help on here to help you out and parts are readily available.

If your budgets tight, don't get one. If its not buy it and enjoy.