P38 Exhaust

Currently shopping around for exhaust prices for my 1999 4.6 HSE (Thor engine).
Cheapest yet is Island 4x4 but they list two centre boxes, up to 1999 at £33.33 and 1999 on at £73.33 plus vat. According to the web site the cheaper centre box is the same except the heat shield is not as long, but can be fitted.
Will the shorter heat shield give me any problems?

Anyone done this or have an opinion :blabla: :blabla:?????

yes. sell the car if you can't afford to maintain it.

Who said I can't afford to maintain it ????

Just don't see the point in paying more than you need to, simple logic really.

Well ok let me rephrase. Certainly not casting any kind of aspersion on your economic ability. Sell the car if you don't intend to maintain it.

The logic behind that is as follows. Range Rovers are designed for affluent customers who maintain them regardless of cost and replace them after a few years not because they are bad but because that is what affluent owners do. This is what makes them aspirational for the rest of us. Turns out however that the P38 was actually a pretty good car. Astoundingly able off-road and unprecedentedly refined on it. So there was a good resale market for them. However as they have changed hands and (for lack of a better phrase) moved gradually down the ownership food-chain, people still expect them to be the aspirational Range Rovers of their dreams while not being able/willing to maintain them commensurately.

Now the P38, it turns out, is not actually difficult or expensive to maintain because its one of the rare luxury cars on which you can do a lot of the work yourself. But it is laborious and needs lots of attention. So for some it has become an enthusiast's car. For others though its still just aspirational. A Kia or a Hyundai or even a different Land Rover would fulfill their functional requirement but they still buy the RR because at last, they can.

The problem is that when this category of owner skimps on maintenance they enter a downward spiral of the car being unreliable and costing them money and them skimping and something else going wrong and costing more money and them skimping again until they throw in the towel, slag off the car and sell it on to someone else who thinks "Ooh, a cheap Rangie, I'll have that!". These owners depress the value and cause real financial harm to other owners who do actually take care of their cars. Like me. To keep it in shape I probably spend in the region of 1500 a year (give or take). Now come on be fair, that's peanuts. But thanks to owners who weren't willing to do even that much my resale value barely exceeds my annual maintenance budget. So since i can't sell it, I drive it. (Not that I mind!). But you should sell yours. Because if 90 odd quid is too much to spend on the exhaust knowing that if done properly it will outlast your ownership of the car and never bother you again then please get something that can be reasonably maintained within whatever budget you are willing to set.

a good interesting read that post rasheed, im new to p38s

looked at a few of them in the last couple of months, when looking for mine and since i bought it with a mate looking for one

mine seems to be great, a 96 manual in super looked after condition,all fully working,replaced air suspension, FSH, 18 hurricanes with a near new set of pirelli scorpions (£150 each) loads of exras- another set of hurricanes with near new tyres, side steps, landy safari spot lights (£260 a pair), a nice sound system, ajustable tow bar, light protectors, a £350 rimmer bros diesel power box, its a luxury motor and all superb , weve looked at ones for priced double that since, and mine was loads (stand out) better, it came from an older owner whod just bought a newer one, and hed looked after it and it shows.. i paid £2250 for the lot !!!

got a hell of a bargain and so much motor and luxury for the money- but like you say in your post, thats whats effected the car and its value, unreal really

seen your pics polsta. you really did get lucky there, she's a beaut.

Hi Rasheed,
I totally agree with your comments of how P38's get slagged off for being unreliable by people who shouldn't have bought one in the first place, and I know that failure to maintain the vehicle will bring much heart ache and a depleting bank balance.
I am not new to RR ownership having had 5 over the years including a P38 from 2000 to 2005, which was sold due to a house move and regreted ever since.
Two weeks ago I purchased a 1999 4.6 HSE which is in excellent condition inside and out, runs superbly, and puts a big grin on my face everytime I drive it.
First thing done was a full service, all oils and fluids changed, all new filters including Autobox, compressor inlet and exhaust, air suspension dryer, brake fluid change, new antifreeze in coolant, plenum foam and pollen filters replaced. This was done so I now have a starting point and know for sure all is done to my satisfaction.
The vehicle was then inspected end to end and a list drawn up of what needed doing (very little) and what I wanted to do for peace of mind. Included in the latter was a new exhaust as the vehicle has been standing since May of this year and although not blowing anywhere, it has a lot of surface rust so will be replaced.
I was just curious as to what the difference was in the heat shields as the web site states that either can be fitted. I don't have both side by side to compare.
Now if I can save £40 plus vat, why not?, but if the shorter heat shield will lead to a problem then the extra will be paid. Simples......
I have today ticked off another potential problem by replacing all four Air Springs with genuine Dunlop as although not leaking they appear to be the originals (Land Rover moulded into the bellows) and were perished around the folds at the bottom.
Please rest assured Rasheed I will not be contributing to the already bad reputation these vehicles unnecessarily have or helping to lower their resale value.
As a bit of background, I have been in the Automotive Industry from the age of 16 and are now approaching my 60th year. An old fart maybe, but an enthusiastic one when it comes to Land Rover !!! :tea:

friend given the hour how about we make it a :5bcheers2:

Agreed........:5bcheers2: