P38 or not ???

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stevemilne750

stevemilne750

Member
Posts
72
Location
Aboyne,Aberdeenshire
Hey folks not been on here for a while now since my last disco 1.

I currently drive a pajero 2.8 lwb but have bought a P 38 1996 4.6 hse RR Japanese import which is in great condition in out and underneath and I love it to bits and want to keep it.(I buy and sell cars)

But I,m worried it will be a mistake being used to reliability after reading all the bad stuff on here and can't make a decision on which one to keep so looking for some advice please.

Everything works in it service history from new Japanese and british most of it land rover dealer.

It starts stops and drives fine apart from a slight whine from the rear

Any specific things to look out for other than air suspension the slipped liners sounds like silly money to repair any signs that this is about to happen?

Any advice appriciated.

Steve
 
look in the water for gold bits and when warm the top hose should be firm but not impossable to squeeze, as for airbags you can look at them for wear from under the car if in doubt change them cost is around the £250 for 4 of them. a p38 that is running sweet with few problems is hard to better well thats what i think lol..
 
Don't forget that a lot of the members on here arrived because they had a problem. This place is hardly an accurate representation of P38s. There are thousands of Range Rovers out there whose owners don't even know that L.Z. even exists and who just have their cars serviced like any other.

I've got a 2000 diesel but I came on here to firstly learn how to find a good one and then to teach me how to look after it. I bought it with a new MOT and since then it's sailed through two more (one advisory - my LED side lights were too white!!). We regularly drive from Bristol to Perthshire. It's never missed a beat. If you've got a good one, hang on to it, there's no other driving experience quite like it.
 
Love P38's and in my opinion are no worse than any other large expensive motor.
Parts are relatively cheap so servicing/maintenance is not too expensive.
Forums give the worst impression of any vehicle as people rarely post praise, only problems. Look at Merc/BMW/Audi forums, they all have their problems.
If you love it keep it and enjoy it :)
 
Once you drive a rr you can't enjoy driving onother car,they are problematic cars,unreliable when age starts putting its toll on them,but they can be fixed,a good working eas and a good engine is all what i look for,everything else is minor,transmissions are bullet proof if maintained regularly,the choice is yours.keep watching the temp gauge and check coolant level,what ever you do always CHECK THE COOLANT LEVEL.good luck
 
couldn't agree more.

I went the jap imprt route for years (2 pajero's & 2 surf's then a VX landcruiser). All superr reliable but a bit soulless.

Let my heart win in the end and, after 2 years of looking, found my P38 - never looked back. as said earlier, get a good one, look after it and you'll always drive with a smile on your face.

Even a bad one can be pulled round as long as your wallet is deep
 
Hi All, I have a pristine P38 @ 131000 miles and live in Perthshire. After a bit of trouble with fuel pump which was replaced, the complete wagon was given everything all oils changed, brakes including two new discs, 1 caliper and pads all round. In fact the complete wagon was checked and other bits replaced plus a new set of Muds as I go up a lot of forest tracks and out of the way places for work. We also gave it a full underseal as there was no rust. Its a 1996 and the last owner was fed up with it as it had no power ( fuel pump) now it goes like a train not bad on fuel ( could be better ) and for the last few months have not had an issue with it. I did get it cheap!!! If you look after them they seem to be okay, yes there is problems electrics and air bags. With the air bags if you keep them clean on the lower mounts pressure wash dirt and stones out it does help. Time I gave mine a power wash its thick with MUD!!! Yes I would have another one despite all the doom and gloom thats out there... maybe some folk are biased and against them. Ive also got a Disc 300 TDI but use the rangie now all the time so thinking of selling it and its also rust free and not bad for an R reg., prefer the comfort of the Rangie.
 
stevemilne750 said:
hey folks not been on here for a while now since my last disco 1.

I currently drive a pajero 2.8 lwb but have bought a p 38 1996 4.6 hse rr japanese import which is in great condition in out and underneath and i love it to bits and want to keep it.(i buy and sell cars)

but i,m worried it will be a mistake being used to reliability after reading all the bad stuff on here and can't make a decision on which one to keep so looking for some advice please.

Everything works in it service history from new japanese and british most of it land rover dealer.

It starts stops and drives fine apart from a slight whine from the rear

any specific things to look out for other than air suspension the slipped liners sounds like silly money to repair any signs that this is about to happen?

Any advice appriciated.

Steve
Click to expand...
just don't do it you could run a bentley cheaper than a range rover.
 
roddy4 said:
just don't do it you could run a bentley cheaper than a range rover.
Click to expand...

That is absolutely untrue, I've run a Silver Shadow, pretty much the same under the skin as a Bentley of the same year. Drives like a truck drinks fuel so quick you can see the guage dropping and as for parts and service, if you need to ask you can't afford one:rolleyes:

My P38 is not as reliable as the Galloper or Pajero's that preceeded it, it is much nicer to drive, more economical and the parts are much cheaper but you do need to be able to DIY. It's never let me down although it has thrown the occasional tantrum.:D:D:D
 
i bought a disco 300tdi ES this time last year, had it 10 months and never skipped a beat, people on here advised not to buy one, spanners this ,unreliable that, etc etc, i enjoyed owning it, but never quite truly loved it, think it was the silver color wasnt quite me

sold it, spent weeks n weeks pondering what to repalce with, a defender ? p38 ? classic ? , looked at a few, and finaly found a nice p38 2.5 dse

and 6 weeks odd later and enjoyment, i love it !! They really grow and grow on you,and now winters comming im sure il really fall in love with it more as i drive it more now my classic cars are off the road

thing is, its british...looks and feels so much nicer and classier than any pajero or jap thing, its luxury driving and comfort and can go anywhere and they look the business
]
any motor/2nd hand can have issues and problems , its just finding a nice one thats been well maintained and looked after
 
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