how much quicker is a chipped manual v standard auto?

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alistairhurst

New Member
Posts
48
Location
Ivybridge, Devon
Hi

I have just bought an auto P38 to use as a van replacement, as I need to kart the kids around as well as carry tools for work.

I knew the performance was poor as did research and test drove the car before purchase. Having now bought the vehicle I'm finding it slow to the point that I'm not sure I can live with it long term.

For example there's quite a steep hill where I'm currently working which you can't get a run up to. In my old vivaro van I could comfortably do in second gear doing about 20mph, in the Range Rover it doesn't want to get out of first gear, with foot to the floor doing about 12mph.

I'm not sure whether it's just a case of being underpowered or the combination of underpowered and an unresponsive auto box?

For those of you who have driven both what differences will I see between a chipped manual and standard auto version?

Any constructive replies appreciated.

cheers

Alistair
 
alistairhurst said:
Hi

I have just bought an auto P38 to use as a van replacement, as I need to kart the kids around as well as carry tools for work.

I knew the performance was poor as did research and test drove the car before purchase. Having now bought the vehicle I'm finding it slow to the point that I'm not sure I can live with it long term.

For example there's quite a steep hill where I'm currently working which you can't get a run up to. In my old vivaro van I could comfortably do in second gear doing about 20mph, in the Range Rover it doesn't want to get out of first gear, with foot to the floor doing about 12mph.

I'm not sure whether it's just a case of being underpowered or the combination of underpowered and an unresponsive auto box?

For those of you who have driven both what differences will I see between a chipped manual and standard auto version?

Any constructive replies appreciated.

cheers

Alistair
Click to expand...
It should not be that slow, it need sorting, mine did better than that in the Pennines lugging a carravan:)
 
alistairhurst said:
Hi

I have just bought an auto P38 to use as a van replacement, as I need to kart the kids around as well as carry tools for work.

I knew the performance was poor as did research and test drove the car before purchase. Having now bought the vehicle I'm finding it slow to the point that I'm not sure I can live with it long term.

For example there's quite a steep hill where I'm currently working which you can't get a run up to. In my old vivaro van I could comfortably do in second gear doing about 20mph, in the Range Rover it doesn't want to get out of first gear, with foot to the floor doing about 12mph.

I'm not sure whether it's just a case of being underpowered or the combination of underpowered and an unresponsive auto box?

For those of you who have driven both what differences will I see between a chipped manual and standard auto version?

Any constructive replies appreciated.

cheers

Alistair
Click to expand...

Your car has a problem. Get it sorted.
 
Have you bought it? Did you buy two? Else how've you still got a choice between auto and manual? :confused:

I second the advice here, the car's not 100%. If you bought it from a dealer you can ask them to look into it. If from a private party you'll probably find it easier to do it yourself, after you decide if you're gonna keep it. Let me save you one course of inquiry - its not an unresponsive auto box. Its hardly going to change to 2nd if its travelling at 12mph and being revved to ****e now is it?
 
You should be able to easily hit 30 in first. I can hit 12 just idling, your vehicle has issues if you're in high revs and only doing 12. My P38 has been up and down a 25% hill while doing 40MPH without breaking a sweat (I could go faster, but it wouldn't be safe to do so).

Might want to check you actually have any boost.
 
It turns out the car I bought was a complete dog! I suppose that's what you get for buying something off EBay with part history, trying to get my money back at the moment.

I really like the size and practicality of the range rover so will start to look for another. Most of the cars I look at on Autotrader are described as having air con, but when I ask questions the sellers usually say it needs re-gassing. If the handbook symbol is on the climate display can that be down to it needing re-gassing or is it always something more involved?

Also I intend to use the car as a van replacement, my old Vivaro van averaged about 30mpg overall, what will I realistically achieve in the range rover?

Cheers

Alistair
 
The cheque book symbol almost certainly means something other than the air con is wrong. I haven't had an air con rad in mine for over a year and the symbol only came on when one of my blend motors packed up.
Obviously your mpg will depend on your right foot but you should get low 20s.

You might want to put some sort of location into your on-screen details. You could be local to a P38 guru who could look over your next possible before you part with your hard-earned.
Appropriate bribery can be as little as bacon butties / posh biscuits / bottomless cuppas / loan of your wife for a night etc.
 
alistairhurst said:
Also I intend to use the car as a van replacement, my old Vivaro van averaged about 30mpg overall, what will I realistically achieve in the range rover?
Click to expand...

Thing is though, its NOT a van. Perhaps you should be looking at an older Defender 130 or a 110. There are also van versions.

land-rover-defender-130-station-wagon-07.jpg



12276489.jpg
 
Last edited:
Cheers for that, my reasoning for a Range Rover is that I'm a builder and need to carry tools and have load space, but I don't generally carry materials so want something car derived.

Will probably regret it and end up going back to a van but that's my logic at the moment!
 
Ya don't want a rangey for a works van You'll spend more time at home or waiting for a AA man to come and recover you, than you will at work. As you've discovered they're too fooking unreliable to use for work get a 300tdi disco at least the engines tend to run for ever if looked after.
 
Fair enough mate. If its dual use that's something different and I do agree that in a P38 is a rather nice place to be! I was just pointing out that if its a business "tool" its not the best choice, needs too much maintenance, costly on fuel and not actually all that much space even with rear seats down.
 
From all that I'm reading the p38 is probably not the best idea, however a couple of the guys I work with have them and apart from the air suspension they haven't had any major problems. I also know a mechanic who uses one as tow truck!
 
alistairhurst said:
From all that I'm reading the p38 is probably not the best idea, however a couple of the guys I work with have them and apart from the air suspension they haven't had any major problems. I also know a mechanic who uses one as tow truck!
Click to expand...
I don't work, I'm retired. I have a P38 and a Transit for moving stuff and back up. I wouldn't rely on the P38 for everyday work use. Having said that, it's just done a 1200Km round trip mostly in the Pyrenees and apart from the tailgate refusing to open and another rain water leak, it was fine. On twisty hilly back roads, it averaged just under 27mpg brim to brim, not bad for a car weighing 2.25 Tonnes fully loaded and 4 up. It's a diesel of course.:)
 
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