the classic was a turning point from a tractor to a Chelsea tractor and LSE one to have, the P38 ( I've owned one) was and is a total technical pile of ****e- complicated by Body module and ****er Air con controls.

Mine had habit of a cocaine whore and reliability to suit- total pile of ****e over the classics I drove for many years
Don't sit on the fence, tell us what you realy think.:D:D
 
Don't sit on the fence, tell us what you realy think.:D:D

Beat me to it!

for me the 3.9 efi on air on uprated springs was the one to have, Happiest day of my life was seeing the P38 go- genuinely smiled as I knew it would be as reliable as a class A drug users promise.

mine only ever managed 18mpg and when driving it reasonably enjoyable-14mpg and for a V8 it was toooo fecking slow.

no doubt there will be classic car shows with pac a mac's shooting their load over how wonderful a p38 was.

Personally it was departure from BL crap to an Automotive Disaster, I wouldn't buy a L322 either as they are fault ridden as well.

Sooner buy a land cruiser
 
Well I have been very happy with my 38. It's a diesel and showing 24.9 mpg around town and I have had 29.9 on a run About 70 mph ish:oops: Only expensive problem was when the BECM saw it's arse and stopped working. I've had lots of Classics and I don't think you can compare the ride with a 38, as long as it hasn't been converted to the dreaded Spr*ngs:eek::D:D
 
Paid 1500 quid for my p38 and it drove fine down to Czech (1000miles in total) and gave 22 mpg if I remember correctly. That was mainly doing 80mph on German motorways. Around the country roads I normally get around 16-18mpg.
Any old car will have its problems, but I think most are reasonably easy to fix on the p38. People still admire mine and guess it's age as being far younger than it is. For a complex car it ain't 3 bad at all in my view.
 
if you want an investment that cant fail go into the funeral business. cars are to be driven and enjoyed.
 
Got 2 Classics and love them to bits (uhh...not....not that they're in bits....maybe) but I would like to have a P38 sometime. So long as it's still on air-springs. And a diesel (I do love V8s but too thirsty). Hopefully by the time I get one they won't have gone up.
 
Got 2 Classics and love them to bits (uhh...not....not that they're in bits....maybe) but I would like to have a P38 sometime. So long as it's still on air-springs. And a diesel (I do love V8s but too thirsty). Hopefully by the time I get one they won't have gone up.
The V8's aren't that much worse than the diesel, especially if diesel becomes significantly more expensive than petrol as it was a while ago. 22mpg on a run and around 18mpg hooning around country lanes in Czech on my 4.0
I was set on a diesel but ended up taking a punt on mine and I'm glad I did. It's just so refined.
 
In 1979 I owned a 1976 Lancia Beta. Famous Italian Racing Marque, this one was painted in 'Italian Racing Beige' and cost me about £450.00. If I could have stopped it dissolving each time it rained, I reckon I could probably get £450.00 for it today.
 
The V8's aren't that much worse than the diesel, especially if diesel becomes significantly more expensive than petrol as it was a while ago. 22mpg on a run and around 18mpg hooning around country lanes in Czech on my 4.0
I was set on a diesel but ended up taking a punt on mine and I'm glad I did. It's just so refined.
Doesn't sound much lower than tomcat59alan's 24-29 but when they're both so low to begin with it's just over a third better. >< Both my classics are V8s (though one is planned to change eventually) so I'd still have a choice between driving diesel or petrol. :)
 
The V8's aren't that much worse than the diesel, especially if diesel becomes significantly more expensive than petrol as it was a while ago. 22mpg on a run and around 18mpg hooning around country lanes in Czech on my 4.0
I was set on a diesel but ended up taking a punt on mine and I'm glad I did. It's just so refined.
It depends how you drive it, I personally rag the balls off mine as still get the mpg I quoted in post #24. If I drove my 4.6 (when I get round to finishing it)
the way I drive the Weasel I bet I would be in single figures even on LPG.
 
It depends how you drive it, I personally rag the balls off mine as still get the mpg I quoted in post #24. If I drove my 4.6 (when I get round to finishing it)
the way I drive the Weasel I bet I would be in single figures even on LPG.

With the price difference on LPG it works out about the same as the diesel to run. Doesn't seem to make much difference to power which is a bit of a surprise.
 
Doesn't sound much lower than tomcat59alan's 24-29 but when they're both so low to begin with it's just over a third better. >< Both my classics are V8s (though one is planned to change eventually) so I'd still have a choice between driving diesel or petrol. :)
So, every 1000 miles will cost around a tenner more at worst doing round town stuff. I think on motorway work the gap is much closer and 90-100mph in the petrol is easy, not so on the oil-burning ones I would think.
Mine won't do many miles so the extra cost isn't that great but even if you do 12k miles a year it's only gonna be 100 or so quid extra in fuel.
I'm glad personally I didn't go diesel, but if I buy a newer one for home I'll be looking for a tdv8.
 
So, every 1000 miles will cost around a tenner more at worst doing round town stuff. I think on motorway work the gap is much closer and 90-100mph in the petrol is easy, not so on the oil-burning ones I would think.
Mine won't do many miles so the extra cost isn't that great but even if you do 12k miles a year it's only gonna be 100 or so quid extra in fuel.
I'm glad personally I didn't go diesel, but if I buy a newer one for home I'll be looking for a tdv8.

My manual diesel sits at 90mph although I have to floor it on the hills. It is happier at 60 - 70 mph though. Much less noise!
 
Tg
My manual diesel sits at 90mph although I have to floor it on the hills. It is happier at 60 - 70 mph though. Much less noise!
That's my point, nothing against the diesel, and that was what I was going for. However, now I've got the v8, I'm glad I did. 90 is easy instead of hard work, and still solent (apart from the seal at the top of the windscreen flapping about!!!)
 
Tg

That's my point, nothing against the diesel, and that was what I was going for. However, now I've got the v8, I'm glad I did. 90 is easy instead of hard work, and still solent (apart from the seal at the top of the windscreen flapping about!!!)

Yes, the petrol, particularly the 4.6, is way more refined a ride. Just a pity about the head gaskets, the cylinder liners, the valley gasket, the various oil leaks, the throttle body coolant leaks, the hose for the cruise control ...
 

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