Rear wheel tc vs 4 wheel tc

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
A

arctos

New Member
Posts
6
Location
Finland
Hello, new to this forum.
I have kept on looking for a 4x4 and now there's two -98 p38's out that interest me. I have understood that they will have traction control only in rear.
So question is, how big is the diffrence compared too a -99 model with 4 wheel tc? i dont do any heavy offroading, mostly drive in snow and some occasional mud.

i would like a D2 but there havent been any out there in my price range.
 
2wtc on the earlier cars should be ok. if you get a good purchase.

I had a 2wtc DSE and it was really fine in all conditions...
 
TC is a waste of time IMO as it only works for a very short time to prevent the brakes overheating. The VCU provides an automatic centre diff lock which is all that is needed most of the time, certainly on snow.
 
arctos said:
i guess this one have 4 wheel TC, nice going.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE6zvcEf_CY

What you guys think of the engines TD5 against the bmw diesel?
i have test driven 2 D2's but never tried a P38. One thing about the TD5 Auto i noticed they run at very high revs.
Click to expand...
Don't know the Td5, but the BMW M51 engine is OK. Not very smooth at low revs and gutless below 1500/2000rpm making it better suited to auto. Throttle action is strange too making it seem to be lacking in power, all the grunt comes in the last 25% of the throttle pedal movement, if you boot it, it shifts pretty well for a 2.25 tonne motor. With a remap it can be very quick but will eat the auto box. Long term consumption average on mine is 24mpg and up to 30mpg on the autoroute, you will get less in UK traffic.
 
Ok. Too bad there's currently any Range Rover nearby for sale, would really want to try one. Last winter was very bad, not much snow at all so i did well with my Focus. Now the ground has been white since yesterday. I'm from Finland by the way. Not so worried bout the consumption, more of the yearly tax, in this tax heavy country :)
 
We have an 98 Discovery 2 with the TD5 engine and a 01 P38 2.5 DT. All round I much prefer the P38, and I agree with Datatek about the engine, auto gear box etc. There's a lot of crap talked about them being gutless etc. Not true. I've towed tonnes of logs across muddy fields - it is superb. You can here the traction control clicking away, doing its job.
Having said that I do really rate the TD5. It has got a lot of power, but again only when the turbo kicks in properly. But it is very responsive, and is very smooth. A bit noisier tho'.
My experience is that they are both excellent in snow.
 
I found out my P38 came without traction control. Never noticed: seems to pull through just about anything - although I once got stuck with 1 front and 1 rear wheel in the air in a muddy hole. TC might have helped there.
 
Grrrrrr said:
I found out my P38 came without traction control. Never noticed: seems to pull through just about anything - although I once got stuck with 1 front and 1 rear wheel in the air in a muddy hole. TC might have helped there.
Click to expand...

That's exactly the situation 4 wheel TC is required. Yes the brakes will take a pounding but it WILL get you out of trouble. Diff locks are the preferred option but Land Rover were too stingy to fit them. I've been properly off road in mine a few times and the brakes have been fine.
 
StuckAgainSteve said:
That's exactly the situation 4 wheel TC is required. Yes the brakes will take a pounding but it WILL get you out of trouble. Diff locks are the preferred option but Land Rover were too stingy to fit them. I've been properly off road in mine a few times and the brakes have been fine.
Click to expand...

I've had the traction control dinging merrily away up a steep slope of slippery mud and wet leaves but I wouldn't say the non-traction control car did much worse. No problem with the brakes as it only blips on and off.

If I had the money to spare and was a living in Finland I'd consider the £1500 to put those Kam diffs on! With chains and / or snow-mats I reckon you'd get through the most winter could throw at you.

Petrol 4.6 might be easier to start in winter. Doesn't it get it a bit cold up there in Finland for diesel?
 
Grrrrrr said:
I've had the traction control dinging merrily away up a steep slope of slippery mud and wet leaves but I wouldn't say the non-traction control car did much worse. No problem with the brakes as it only blips on and off.

If I had the money to spare and was a living in Finland I'd consider the £1500 to put those Kam diffs on! With chains and / or snow-mats I reckon you'd get through the most winter could throw at you.

Petrol 4.6 might be easier to start in winter. Doesn't it get it a bit cold up there in Finland for diesel?
Click to expand...
Diesel should start fine in the cold.
TC works for a maximum of 1 minute before it shuts down to prevent overheat, this is acompanied by a traction overheat message.
 
Datatek said:
Diesel should start fine in the cold.
TC works for a maximum of 1 minute before it shuts down to prevent overheat, this is acompanied by a traction overheat message.
Click to expand...

Of course that applies if the system has been operating CONTINOUSLY for a minute - the chances of that are pretty slim. I've been off road in quite sticky situations and never had the overheat warning despite the TC light flashing regularly. Even if it did overheat regularly (which I've never witnessed) I'd rather have it than not - in cross-axle situations, four wheel TC will make the difference from getting the winch out to simply driving out.
 
That's my experience. Pretty damn hard to get it on at all but it tends to kick in a bit like ABS in reverse with a little dinging noise each time it engages.
 
I find the 4 wheel TC very impressive it certainly flatters driving ability. I seem to recall a friends old 96 being less sure footed than my 99 and his newer 01. Never got stuck just seemed to make a bit more fuss about it from time to time.
 
quavey said:
I find the 4 wheel TC very impressive it certainly flatters driving ability. I seem to recall a friends old 96 being less sure footed than my 99 and his newer 01. Never got stuck just seemed to make a bit more fuss about it from time to time.
Click to expand...

Why would an 01 be worse than a 99 - it's the same car.
 
quavey said:
I find the 4 wheel TC very impressive it certainly flatters driving ability. I seem to recall a friends old 96 being less sure footed than my 99 and his newer 01. Never got stuck just seemed to make a bit more fuss about it from time to time.
Click to expand...
TC kicks in far too often on mine, bit of gravel on a hill and off it goes clack clack clack:rolleyes:
 
Read it again, a friends old 96 with two wheel tc vs my 99 and his new 01. I was meaning that that mine and his 01 feel better but the 96 with two wheel tc didnt ever get stuck but didnt feel as sure footed as the two later cars we have
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Spinning Wheel
Replies
15
Views
508
sierrafery
sierrafery
C
Rear wheel bearings or diff
Replies
11
Views
1K
Nodge68
Nodge68
G
P38A 99 4.6 Thor with ABS&TC lights, no speedometer
Replies
7
Views
1K
Andy Burrell
Andy Burrell
F
rear wheel bearing question
Replies
3
Views
989
frenchdave
F
T
Loss of 4 wheel drive
2 3
Replies
59
Views
5K
Stanleysteamer
Stanleysteamer
Back
Top