Benlandy101 · Jul 14, 2011

Being rather naive I thought all old diesel engines were complete and utter rubbish and were stolen from 1950 tractors... Basically I haven't driven a RR 2.5 diesel, but seen someone parked a r reg p38 beside my house earlier, I could resist inspecting it !!! Always being eager to see whats under the Bonnet i discovered it was the 2.5 diesel, basically I was in the garden when it drove off and watched it over the wall, it sounded like a more modern power-train and incredibly refined.

My question is...

Is the diesel RR P38 refined to drive?

Also,

Is it painfully slow, or does it move when you ask it to, does it feel it's lacking in power?

RichM · Jul 14, 2011

It feels like a Boeing 757 during take off.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yle1SWznKGA"]‪USAirways Boeing 757 Takeoff from Orlando in HD‬&rlm; - YouTube[/nomedia]

and it also goes like one

frankenbus · Jul 14, 2011

I have a '97 2.5 DSE with a manual box which I have owned for just over a year. I have to admit that the straight 6 motor is a little underpowered and when towing you have to be prepared to put up with frequent gear changes. That said, it will still romp enthusiatically and smoothly up to 80ish when required (and not towing). To be fair, that is probably why it was labelled 'Light Duty) by Land Rover. I love my P38 and prefer to call it a deeply characterful vehicle rather than a fault laden bucket of bolts, each fault being a learning experience although if You had to pay someone else to repair it than it could get expensive. I digress but the point I make is that I'm happy to tolerate the slight lack of power in favour of the complete package.

wammers · Jul 14, 2011

Mine is very smooth and very quick. Nothing like say a diesel 300 tdi Disco. The V8s are also very smooth. But to put a spanner in the works, the smoothest engines by far are those with an odd number of cylinders.

Datatek · Jul 14, 2011

Benlandy101 said:
Being rather naive I thought all old diesel engines were complete and utter rubbish and were stolen from 1950 tractors... Basically I haven't driven a RR 2.5 diesel, but seen someone parked a r reg p38 beside my house earlier, I could resist inspecting it !!! Always being eager to see whats under the Bonnet i discovered it was the 2.5 diesel, basically I was in the garden when it drove off and watched it over the wall, it sounded like a more modern power-train and incredibly refined.

My question is...

Is the diesel RR P38 refined to drive?

Also,

Is it painfully slow, or does it move when you ask it to, does it feel it's lacking in power?

The engine lacks power low down so is better suited to the auto box IMO, but it's quite refined when cruising. The throttle is a little unusual in that it needs a hefty push before it moves, but with a power box or a re-map it goes very well. Even as standard it will cruise happily at 130Km per hour and turn in close to 30mpg on the French autoroutes.

zzr1200 · Jul 14, 2011

The dozzel doesn't have the go of the V8, but at 17 mpg for petrol, the dozzel wins for me at up to 30 mpg.

PS. the Range Rover P38 uses a 6 Cylinder BMW 2.5 Diesel...

Benlandy101 · Jul 15, 2011

Cheers guys your knowledge is awesome, was set on a v8 with LPG, but with the fuss of LPG stations and servicing and the usual greater reliability of diesel power-trains over LPG systems my mind is welcoming the diesel. I don't drive fast I just cruise tbf so Maybe I would find the 2.5 diesel to be a match made in heaven !!!

CEZ1869 · Jul 15, 2011

You won't be disappointed mate.. Giz a nod if you need a more in depth look around mine, your only round the corner??

Datatek · Jul 15, 2011

zzr1200 said:
The dozzel doesn't have the go of the V8, but at 17 mpg for petrol, the dozzel wins for me at up to 30 mpg.

PS. the Range Rover P38 uses a 6 Cylinder BMW 2.5 Diesel...

Hi John, The torque figure for the diesel with a power box is higher than the V8 and the bhp figure is not far behind

Power delivery is a little abrupt coming in with the turbo at about 2500rpm otherwise a match for the V8.

Hawaii · Jul 15, 2011

just by 2p worth but when I replaced my landcruiser I looked at loads of diesels and to be fair the power was a real letdown, especially when towing. to be fair I only tested auto's so don't know how the manual would be

Went for the 4.6 v8 with lpg and a very happy puppy, tows the caravan better than the toyota did and at 68.9p/ltr for lpg not too dear at the pump - and you get the v8 growl

hawaii

Datatek · Jul 15, 2011

Stuff the V8 growl and the slipped liners, my diesel will pull my caravan at 130Km per hour and still turn in 20mpg and with diesel at €1.26 a litre it beats LPG especially as there are a lot of places like Eurotunnel and other road tunnels where LPG is banned. If like enery8 you run biodiesel, it's even cheaper.

zzr1200 · Jul 15, 2011

Hawaii said:
just by 2p worth but when I replaced my landcruiser I looked at loads of diesels and to be fair the power was a real letdown, especially when towing. to be fair I only tested auto's so don't know how the manual would be

Went for the 4.6 v8 with lpg and a very happy puppy, tows the caravan better than the toyota did and at 68.9p/ltr for lpg not too dear at the pump - and you get the v8 growl

hawaii

Just pray the liners dont go walkies.....

Damm must read all the posts.....:doh:

Benlandy101

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