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spud2108

New Member
Hi All,

I'm looking at buying a P38 and would be grateful for any general hints/tips when looking for one...not mechanically minded y'see! Always wanted a RR and would love to drive around in a Sport but...reality check have a budget of £2500. Obviously not looking for something that new, its to pull my horses around and be in something comfy at the same time.

Any help appreciated :D
 
:welcome2: Best advice if you are not mechanically minded and don't have a pot of cash to pay garages is don't buy a P38. If you still want one, go for a diesel, more economical and slightly less trouble.
 
If you are really not mechanically minded and cannot handle spanners go for a Disco 300TDi. Spares are cheap, find yourself a decent independent Landrover specialist and away you go. Cheaper to run, more capable of towing your horsebox and less costly on repairs. If you can handle spanners and have the time you can get loads of helpful advise on this forum. I used to pay to have my Disco to be repaired/maintained but since I bought my p38 I have been doing almost all the repair and upgrade work myself with a lot of help from the guys on here. Good luck.
 
And whatever you do, DON'T buy a manual. They're hopeless for towing and not much better for anything else.
 
enery8 said:
If you are really not mechanically minded and cannot handle spanners go for a Disco 300TDi. Spares are cheap, find yourself a decent independent Landrover specialist and away you go. Cheaper to run, more capable of towing your horsebox and less costly on repairs. If you can handle spanners and have the time you can get loads of helpful advise on this forum. I used to pay to have my Disco to be repaired/maintained but since I bought my p38 I have been doing almost all the repair and upgrade work myself with a lot of help from the guys on here. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Eh? In what way is a Disco more capable of towing a horsebox? They're all (ie Rangeys and Discos) rated at 3.5 tonnes as I recall. My parents' Disco constantly has things wrong with it, so from that perspective I don't reckon they're any better than P38s.
 
spud2108 said:
Hi All,

I'm looking at buying a P38 and would be grateful for any general hints/tips when looking for one...not mechanically minded y'see! Always wanted a RR and would love to drive around in a Sport but...reality check have a budget of £2500. Obviously not looking for something that new, its to pull my horses around and be in something comfy at the same time.

Any help appreciated :D
Click to expand...
£2500 will not get you one worth having unless you are really really really lucky.
 
Derek Ward said:
And whatever you do, DON'T buy a manual. They're hopeless for towing and not much better for anything else.
Click to expand...
Having had an auto V8 and now a diesel manual I know which I prefer. You have to drive the diesel manual in the torque range to get the best from it :D
£2500 seem like a small budget but the one thing is make absolutely sure everything electrical works. ;)
 
Thanks everyone.....I'm now thinking a disco might be more practical?? Other half is fairly good at mechanics. Have had auto Pajero up until very recently and didn't like towing with auto - just personal preference I think!
 
Pajero totaly different, main problem being the auto box can't decide which gear to be in half the time and if it was a 2.5 totaly guttless although they are much better electrically & simple to work on. ( fully paid up member of the Pajero cracked head club). I tow a 23 foot boat with my Rangie and its a deisel auto,(most agree that the deisel engine suits the auto box) must say I find it adequate for the job but the v8 would probably pull a house down. Don't know what you would get for that money but would think you would need to be lucky to get a good one. Check the ads on here as there was one for sale last week but can't think who it was now (age and trechary is wearing the brain away)
Best of luck
Davie
 
Having had an auto V8 and now a diesel manual I know which I prefer. You have to drive the diesel manual in the torque range to get the best from it
Click to expand...

Once you're moving, they're OK but trying to pull out onto busy roundabouts etc requires an awful lot of forward planning, not to mention clutch slip. I also had an output shaft shear in two and I wasn't even towing at the time. On the auto side, the diesel and the 4.0L also have a weaker auto box than the 4.6. Something to bear in mind if you're going to use it for serious towing.
 
kooky_guy said:
Eh? In what way is a Disco more capable of towing a horsebox? They're all (ie Rangeys and Discos) rated at 3.5 tonnes as I recall. My parents' Disco constantly has things wrong with it, so from that perspective I don't reckon they're any better than P38s.
Click to expand...

Every 300TDi Disco owner I have come across has given good reports on towing. My 1999MY P38 Dhse can't match it in any department for towing. Do your parents have a 300TDi Disco? or is it a TD5 Disco 2/3? I suggested a 300TDi from personal experience especially as Spud is not mechanically minded. The 300TDi also has an inline IP which means the turbo can be tweaked to give better pulling power. Can't be done on a rotary pump! Which ever way you look at it a P38 is a wonderful car but it has its faults, one of which is complicated suspension and electrickery and the cost of maintaining it. Petrol versions suffer engine problems (slipped liners, overheating etc) and diesels suffer from a lack of power. One of the reasons diesels suffer from a lack of power is that they have a 6 cylinder short stroke engine where the 300TDi has a 4 cylinder engine which gives more torque. Also, the disco is an all round lighter vehicle so does not take as much of it power to move itself in addition to a trailer.
 
Last edited:
Derek Ward said:
Once you're moving, they're OK but trying to pull out onto busy roundabouts etc requires an awful lot of forward planning, not to mention clutch slip. I also had an output shaft shear in two and I wasn't even towing at the time. On the auto side, the diesel and the 4.0L also have a weaker auto box than the 4.6. Something to bear in mind if you're going to use it for serious towing.
Click to expand...
I must confess that the diesel does take a bit of getting used to but my manual is a lot more sprightly than my mates auto from a standing start or overtaking. You just haveto use the gearbox to keep it in the torque band. ;)
Mates brother has a diesel manual with a powerbox fitted and that is like smelly stuff off a shiny shovel :D
 
Mine is a diesel auto and is not anywhere near as lively as my old manual Disco. Not that I want to change back! I have just fitted a powerbox in the hope it will give me a bit more torque for pulling my 22 food caravan. I like the auto but get a bit confused when it wont start if I leave it in gear :rolleyes:
 
Thanks everyone for your help - it is much appreciated! Enery8, Spud is definitely not mechanically minded...he's my horse LOL! After taking all your comments into consideration, I think I'm going to opt for a Disco and keep dreaming of my RR for a bit longer :)

This site is great by the way!
 
spud2108 said:
Thanks everyone for your help - it is much appreciated! Enery8, Spud is definitely not mechanically minded...he's my horse LOL! After taking all your comments into consideration, I think I'm going to opt for a Disco and keep dreaming of my RR for a bit longer :)

This site is great by the way!
Click to expand...

One further piece of advice Spud, Make sure you check the rear floor of the disco for rust before you buy and try to get one without a sunroof cos they leak! Might be a good idea to check in with the Disco forum for mare expert advise. Incidently, 200/300 TDi's run brilliant on biodiesel or even veg oil.
Best of luck
Bill
 
enery8 said:
One further piece of advice Spud, Make sure you check the rear floor of the disco for rust before you buy and try to get one without a sunroof cos they leak! Might be a good idea to check in with the Disco forum for mare expert advise. Incidently, 200/300 TDi's run brilliant on biodiesel or even veg oil.
Best of luck
Bill
Click to expand...

it just not the boot floor either front and rear inner wings and sills all go rust is the major issue with a disco 1
 
clarkie said:
it just not the boot floor either front and rear inner wings and sills all go rust is the major issue with a disco 1
Click to expand...

I agree Clarkie, I should have mentioned that but I thought it best to point him at the Disco forum as they would be better able to advise on all aspects. The biggest problem with the disco 1 & 2 is the skylight windows and the sunroof leaking. Incidently, my disco didn't have any of these issues but it was getting towards it which is why I changed when I did. I did look for another one, maybe a Jap import but could not find anything. Glad I went for the rangie tho', what a motor!!!
 
spud2108 said:
Thanks everyone for your help - it is much appreciated! Enery8, Spud is definitely not mechanically minded...he's my horse LOL! After taking all your comments into consideration, I think I'm going to opt for a Disco and keep dreaming of my RR for a bit longer :)

This site is great by the way!
Click to expand...

One advantage of towing a horse box with the Rangie is that you can use the horse to tow you home when you break down if you carry a harness:rolleyes:
 
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