To buy or bot to buy..P38 is the question!

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dirtyharry

Member
Posts
13
Location
Doncaster
Hi everyone, my first post so will get straight in there. As the nights are drawing in it's time I start dropping seeds to our lass of the benefits of a 4x4 over her current mondeo!

Over the years I've had a few cherokees and a lovely 3.9 classic but there far too old for her. However a p38 on a private reg might swing it.

I've always had a pen hang for the P38, after my classic I say in one and realised how much grander they were but years of looking and working on a few and reading on how many electrical gremlins they have was enough to put me off. That's not to mention the air sus and ability to overheat without a fixable cause.

Anyway, my question is do I take a bloody plunge and buy one? Late models are beginning to become very cheap and it will ultimately scratch my itch. The thing is do I go diesel or lpg? It will be the misses driving it day by day and a respectable mpg will be required. I've experienced a non Thor engine pressureise itself and get hot, seeing it get stripped and new gaskets only to not do a thing, also that lpg makes them run hotter increasing the lukelyhoodof a meltdown??? Does the same problem occur on a Thor, or are ypu safe with these engines or would it be wiser to go for a DSE??

Look forward to hearing your comments!
 
Diesel go read up in the range rover section if your a good DIY mechanic go for it , if you haven't a clue stay away unless you got deep pockets ...

Welcome :)
 
Grit Valve said:
Diesel go read up in the range rover section if your a good DIY mechanic go for it , if you haven't a clue stay away unless you got deep pockets ...

Welcome :)
Click to expand...

Was about to say the same thing, if you don't like DIY or have a very heavy wallet.. It could get ugly.

I would say go for the Diesel just from preference, also keep the Mondeo for when things go wrong... On a Sunday night @ midnight..
 
Diesel is by far the better option if you want a more reliable P38 (still not that reliable - but more so than a petrol model)

Event the THOR engine versions are prone to major issues, overheats and liner issues.

Remember the golden rule:

Never Ever buy a Range Rover with a fault (no matter how minor) unless you are prepared for the potential cost, time and frustration that will be involved in repairing it!

Some say the Diesel is slow, but mine was plenty pokey enough, and they do have a loooooong pedal travel before anything really starts to happen, this is for greater off road throttle control...once you realise this and drive accordingly, they are fine!
 
Like any there are good and bad ones. Or u can be lucky and get a good one with no problems. I've had 3 p38s with lpg and never had overheating problems. A lot of things that go wrong are easy enough to put right. Just have a lot of niggles!
 
Thanks for all the comments, currently restoring a Capri so I'm a big fan of things going wrong! A DSE might be on the cards then! Will read through the threads tonight, give my opinions to the misses later ha
 
Have a look in our own 'for sale' section.
I don't know where in the country you are but Nick up in Wigan is selling his, rather nice, DSE and Steve000 might still have his chipped one here in Bristol.
 
I've had my 2.5 DSE for best part of a year now. Biggest benefit for me, by far, over the classic RR and Discovery's (I've had several over the years) is not having to dig out the MiG welder every few months to weld in new floor panels/sills/inner wings. The mechanics on a P38 are pretty simple and the electronics are OK if you look after them. That means keeping the BECM dry and addressing any faults when they arise. Apart from the normal oil and filter changes I've changed the airbags on the suspension, put new seals in the compressor, fitted a new in-tank fuel pump, changed the radiator and fixed the heated seats. All very easy jobs. I've got a Nanocom but typically since I've bought it the P38 has been fault free. Probably laughing at me for spending all that money for what has become a paperweight next to my PC. Obviously the car will have a complete meltdown tomorrow now I've sung its praises.
 
Tempting fate eh....but a nice insurance to have re the nanocom........as ever if you do your research, spend the bit extra, plenty of good ones out there, as ever 12 yrs old now...and counting


P
 
Don't get coined like I did!!!!!! I thought it was a good one but it's had some major issues. I've got it where I want it but's it cost me a grand on top of the purchase price. Some of that was me being fussy and some was preventive maintenance still it hurts when you've just purchased it.
 
I too had a P38 itch I had to scratch - just something about them that I liked when I was a lad I think - so I was keeping an eye on ebay and autotrader for about 18 months and then saw a lovely low mileage one just 4 miles from where i worked, popped out at lunchtime and ended up buying it - have been busy upgrading a few things like LED interior lights, adding bits and getting to know it and have loved every minute of it so if you get a good one you will love it :)

Darren
 
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