Datatek said:

The trouble with the P38 VCU is it requires loss of traction at one end of the other before it decides to lock whereas a centre diff lock properly applied is used to prevent or reduce loss of traction in the first place.

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Surely it is splitting 50:50 already? It isn't as if it is 2wd that needs to switch to 4wd on wheel slip detection. It'll already be making all 4 wheels (or at least both propshafts spin). Also in the case of p38's they all (most all??) have TCS, either just on the rear axle or all 4 wheels on 99+ models.

I've done a lot of off roading over the years in a number of vehicles. Apart from the size of the p38 and in standard trim a lack of ground clearance. I'd say it feels mostly unstoppable, more so than a Defender or Discovery 1 in terms of keeping the wheels spinning.

300bhp/ton said:

in terms of keeping the wheels spinning.

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Spinning or turning?
I was in Norway in the 'nineties, riding shotgun in a Unimog piloted by an experienced off-roader .. even that, with it's X axle locks wasn't un-stoppable.

norseman said:

Spinning or turning?
I was in Norway in the 'nineties, riding shotgun in a Unimog piloted by an experienced off-roader .. even that, with it's X axle locks wasn't un-stoppable.

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Of course nothing is truly unstoppable. I was meaning relatively speaking... I don't know how much off roading the average Land Rover or Landyzone user does, but I'd guess on the whole probably not a huge amount. Only a much smaller percentage will have done anything really serious off road. I'm probably fortunate that I have done quite a bit in Land Roves, as I've been around the trialling community for most of my life (more than 35 years) and grew up on a farm driving Land rovers and tractors. I've done quite a lot of things off road in quite a lot of different vehicles.

As for wheels, spinning and turning

300bhp/ton said:

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Nice of you to film the wife.

myfirstl322 said:

Nice of you to film the wife.

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Grubbing around in the mud like some latter day peasant. Eugh..!
and going so slowly.

P38 Monkey said:

Grubbing around in the mud like some latter day peasant. Eugh..!
and going so slowly.

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I just thought I bet she's just keeping his Barbour warm.

Hi,
Just by way of an update, I did buy the L322 at what seems like a good price. It seems mostly to work and is cosmetically pretty good apart from one rear wing which is a bit rotten.

It all seems to work mostly too (apart from the stereo buttons) -there is a spot of ‘aftermarket’ Bodgery where someone has put in a dvd player and a reversing cam (and then removed it) leading to odd cables, puzzling switches and a predictably annoying battery drain.

Still it should get me through the next month or two (fingers crossed !)

One thing though, while it’s nice and solid and holds the road well, I can’t help
Feeling it lacks some of the ‘charm’ of the P38. The plastics are cheap, brittle and dull and it just feels…. Well, a bit ‘ordinary’. The P38 makes you feel special (when it’s working !)

Maybe it’s the difference in trim and finishing between an HSE (L322) and an Autobiography (P38)