Henry_b said:

The P38 is far superior over a Classic i'd know have had both in many ways apart from offroad ability..

The VCU is a far better solution to Diff lock, the people that complained about them didn't understand how they work, and most novice offroaders didn't when know they had them which effectively gave 1 wheel drive, with a VCU it is always looking after all 4 wheels

The VCU is constantly sensing a "really" rather than "quite" difference in road grip and offorad grip, coupled with 4 wheel traction control on the Latter P38 you get an offroad combo that is fairly unbeatable.

As for them being poor quality i'd agree, however even Landcruisers have their faults ;0

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Datatek said:

The VCU is a cheap and nasty replacement for a centre diff lock, it requires loss of traction creating a speed differential between front and rear drive shafts for it to lock whereas a diff lock helps to prevent loss of traction in the first place assuming you know how to use it. The same goes for traction control, it's a cheap and nasty replacement for a LSD, it stops a spinning wheel turning creating extra drag in order to maintain drive on the other wheel, a LSD maintains drive to the wheel with grip but leaves the spinning wheel turning.
My P38 struggles to climb the slope from my covered parking in wet or frosty conditions, my Pajero and Galloper with locked centre diff and rear LSD had no trouble at all, so the P38 has to be parked outside on the flat in winter.

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RangeRoller dt said:

Only thing a P38 is missing is a diff lock.

Considering how often they are used it would only likely be another thing to go wrong at this age if we had one

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Datatek said:

The VCU is a cheap and nasty replacement for a centre diff lock, it requires loss of traction creating a speed differential between front and rear drive shafts for it to lock whereas a diff lock helps to prevent loss of traction in the first place assuming you know how to use it. The same goes for traction control, it's a cheap and nasty replacement for a LSD, it stops a spinning wheel turning creating extra drag in order to maintain drive on the other wheel, a LSD maintains drive to the wheel with grip but leaves the spinning wheel turning.
My P38 struggles to climb the slope from my covered parking in wet or frosty conditions, my Pajero and Galloper with locked centre diff and rear LSD had no trouble at all, so the P38 has to be parked outside on the flat in winter.

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Henry_b said:

Different driving techniques for both..

If you dislike the P38's abilities why buy one?

Pajeros and shoguns of the same vintage are cheaper to buy maintain and are superior off the road..

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Rubberknees said:

Lost a dear friend today due to the virus. Grand master of martial sports academy MST . Trained one son to 4thdan and other son to 1stdan taekwondo. Known for 25years, even helped me in recovery with tips and exercises.
To everyone who has lost someone lets not forget them. Stay safe everybody

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Rubberknees said:

Lost a dear friend today due to the virus. Grand master of martial sports academy MST . Trained one son to 4thdan and other son to 1stdan taekwondo. Known for 25years, even helped me in recovery with tips and exercises.
To everyone who has lost someone lets not forget them. Stay safe everybody

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52 classic said:

Back 'on topic' I thought I'd share with you how the lockdown has given me an unprecedented opportunity to tidy up the family fleet. After sorting the P38 suspension out in the first days of the stoppage (with due regard for our Gurus on here) I now park it right outside our front door so that every time I go into the hall I can marvel at it remaining proper height despite days of inactivity. Mrs C's Rav-4 got an oil change and a bit of a service. Then I moved on to my guilty pleasure.......
Our BMW 2002 Cabriolet. Bought in 1988, already 15 years old, it has become the longest restoration project in history! Rarely a year goes by without some work being done so in the past couple of weeks I took a disc cutter to the driver's floor and chassis leg. Bought a floor panel and had some channel folded as the basis for the chassis leg and as we speak the sections are welded in position and undergoing some final fettling. So that's the O/S sill, door skin and the floor fixed within the year. I have never worked at such a pace!

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52 classic said:

Back 'on topic' I thought I'd share with you how the lockdown has given me an unprecedented opportunity to tidy up the family fleet. After sorting the P38 suspension out in the first days of the stoppage (with due regard for our Gurus on here) I now park it right outside our front door so that every time I go into the hall I can marvel at it remaining proper height despite days of inactivity. Mrs C's Rav-4 got an oil change and a bit of a service. Then I moved on to my guilty pleasure.......
Our BMW 2002 Cabriolet. Bought in 1988, already 15 years old, it has become the longest restoration project in history! Rarely a year goes by without some work being done so in the past couple of weeks I took a disc cutter to the driver's floor and chassis leg. Bought a floor panel and had some channel folded as the basis for the chassis leg and as we speak the sections are welded in position and undergoing some final fettling. So that's the O/S sill, door skin and the floor fixed within the year. I have never worked at such a pace!

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52 classic said:

Mark, I'll try with pictures. IT is not my strongpoint but I'll try and get my son to do it - Maintain social distancing...... In the study one at a time.

Datatec. You're right. People criticise 70's British cars for rust but Germany had the edge on us I think. The interesting thing about taking so long to restore is that most of the parts and fittings are 'timewarp' to when I last drove it, which must have been early 90's. Over the years I've replaced most of the lower sections of the shell. Plan is to get the engine and box out next. I have a 5 speed conversion waiting in the shed. To have it running, if not driving would be the extra motivation I need. So there are some positives about lockdown. Thanks for your interest lads.

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Mark Piercy said:

I used to have a 1979 mk1 golf ROX177Y was the plate. Had it in the early 2000's, not a spot of rust on it, even my 1980 mk1 driver.
The rear bumper slots were packed with a waxy under seal and the shells were solid on them. I wish I still had either of them...

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Datatek said:

BMW's are not that good, especially the early ones, the Audi 100 was also a rust bucket, as rare as hens teeth now, they have all rusted away. The Beetle was not rust free either.

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Datatek said:

BMW's are not that good, especially the early ones, the Audi 100 was also a rust bucket, as rare as hens teeth now, they have all rusted away. The Beetle was not rust free either.

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