P38A Are P38's the new Classic

fanatic said:

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

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Don't sit on the fence, tell us what you realy think.

tomcat59alan said:

Don't sit on the fence, tell us what you realy think.

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Beat me to it!

tomcat59alan said:

Don't sit on the fence, tell us what you realy think.

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Grrrrrr said:

Beat me to it!

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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 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

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.

tarphenry said:

if you want an investment that cant fail go into the funeral business. cars are to be driven and enjoyed.

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You mean a hearse will appreciate in value?

no but there is an endless supply of cargo

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.

Expletive said:

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.

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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.

Wazzajnr said:

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.

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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.

Wazzajnr said:

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.

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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.

tomcat59alan said:

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.

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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.

Expletive said:

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.

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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.

Grrrrrr said:

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.

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I've been too busy to complete the work on the 4.6, will let you know when it's finished

tomcat59alan said:

I've been too busy to complete the work on the 4.6, will let you know when it's finished

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Too much time strutting about in your budgie smugglers in the spanish sunshine.

Wazzajnr said:

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.

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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

Grrrrrr said:

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!

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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!!!)

Wazzajnr said:

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!!!)

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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 ...