Range Rover or Discovery

I have a thread in the Range Rover forum asking about P38s but the more I think about it I am getting worried. It seems than not only are they more expensive to fix (I accepted that) but now I am reading than many people are advising me to steer clear of P38s. Same people advised me to go for Discovery instead...

What I dont understand is for 7-8 grand it seems like you get almost the same year of either range or disco. Aren't they both likely to develope faults as the engineering must be similar?

So please a discussion on the merits of Disco versus Range I've upped my budget to 7 grand and 8 at a absolute push.

Finally I need some offroad capabbility but do NOT need to be able to drive up 30 deg inclines. Nor am I a farmer, 90% of my miles will be road getting to and from the place where i shoot/fish/take dog for a walk.

Only will be doing 4000 miles per year maximum.

Was thinking Diesel but V8 isn't out of question.

I kinow the diesel in disco is different (5 cylinder Td5) to the less reliable 2.5 in the range.

The Range V8 also has some reputation for porous block, is this the same in the disco?

Many thanks for taking the time to read...I really need something that will last me for 3-4 years. Catestrophic failure would not be good but I can handle normal repairs.

In spite of the difficulties I've had (mostly due to previous owners lack of maintenence) I love my P38 and it would take a lot to get me to trade it for anything else (but it would definately be another LR). I wouldn't say a P38 diesel was any less reliable than a TD5, but it is under powered for the weight of the car. The RR's reliabilty issues stem more from the V8's engine issues, the air suspension, which most TD5 Disco's share in part due the ACE airsprings on the back end, and from the complex electronics. You could pick up a P38 diesel for much less than you're quoting and spend some of the rest on ensuring it's fully serviced and repaired if required. Given your intended mileage a cheaper car with a backup fund for repairs might make more sense.

Don't dismiss the P38, it's a very good model. Very comfortable and practical, as for reliability, it depends on how the car has been serviced etc. I would go for a 4.0 se, it seems the 4.6 was over bored hence the porous block issue. I know a few owners of P38s, one who's car has done 220k on the same engine (lpg converted). For your budget you can afford to be very fussy indeed. Good spec, reasonable mileage, good history. I say go for it!

Disco's are more of a workhorse than a Rangie P38, easier to fix and generally there are more of them around.

Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't buy a P38, mainly due to the complexity of the beast and looking at the number of owners who come onto forums with problems they cannot sort out, and apparently neither can the dealers.

I don't think that the V8 engine is any worse than the TD5, which has its own issues with cracked heads at £1200 a pop plus labour, Dual-Mass flywheels, oil on the injector loom and so on.

The 'big bore' 4.0 and 4.6 V8 engines share the same bore size, the 4.6 has a longer stroke courtesy of a different crankthrow and conrods.

If the P38 was available with coil springs and the TD5 engine, it would probably sell well ) They are all complex cars, but generally I'd stay with the Disco.

Peter

I cant advise you as to which is best but I've owned my S2 TD5 Discovery for around 2 months now and I love it. It really does for me tick all the boxes and for your budget you could get a very nice one.

Apart form a little street cred is a p38 rangy any better than a disco 2?

Good luck with finding the right one for you.

Well I recon the Range Rover will be worse off road being automatic and softer suspension (but I am not planning to become a farmer any time soon) and more expensive on services and parts.

The question is Are they LESS reliable? And if so how baddly?

I guess as suggested there is more to break as they have more electrical stuff but I can live without heated seats or an electric sunroof but when people say this are they talking about things that would stop it being driven?

Am I reading too deeply in to the range rover problems or are they really that common?

Nik_B said:

Well I recon the Range Rover will be worse off road being automatic and softer suspension .

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Rubbish!
The milage your looking at is so low that a v8 is viable.It'll make you smile tons everytime you drive it.The td5 isnt slow for a dezul, much better than the bmw injun in the p38, but does sound a bit more agricultural.The money youve got can get a decent model of each.Try em em both out and see wots your preference.Keep your options open and see lots, its a buyers market!

From what I've seen and heard over here, the last mod year of P38 they seemd not to have to many issues, must sorted out most of the gremlins. could be worth looking for one, if you is looking rangie.

Great replies so far...thought posting on the Disco site would offer up some good counter arguements against the P38...so far there is alot of positive thoughts on the Range. I will definately try both but comform is important to me, an Auto is nice for relaxed cruising around as well and I have no interest in serious off roading.

I would certainly concider the V8 as the insurance is virtually the same for me...interestingly the Discovery Diesel or V8 is £100 more on the insurance! God knows how they calculate this!?

Please keep up the comments. To dispel or confirm any of my perceptions will help my final choice.

I'm in quite an ideal position to coment here, although I stress it's from a position purely of experience not mechanical knowledge.

I own a VW Touareg 4x4 which is currently in the garage having an engine re-built.

As a temporary replacement I bought a V8 Disco 3.9 on a '94. It was a lovely car and had a real charm and looked great but I'd always had a hankering for P38 so when someone offered to buy the Disco I took my chance.

I've now got a '95 4.0SE P38 manual with facelifted lights front and rear and RR Sport front grill and side vents.

The Disco had a simple honesty to it and other than a broken rotor arm never missed a beat. However, it is much narrower than most modern cars and anyone of a fair size will notice this. Also the boot is much smaller than it looks and this limits its usability.

The P38 is a quantum leap to drive, it is very modern feeling and vastly more spacious both for driver and passengers. It is sublimely refined and makes every journey an occasion. Oh and it looks fabulous!

The down side is that the electrics never work the same way twice( they always work, not just in the same way ), it wanders like a bugger on the normal suspension setting( much better on the motorway setting ) and the sheer complexity of the car makes you nervous about repair bills. The only other downside is that it is so refined that you never hear that fabulous V8 rumble!

So there you go, there's the facts as I see them and it's for you to make the choice. Ultimately the Disco was a great work horse but I utterly adore my P38 despite of all it's faults!

Good Luck.

Nik_B said:

Great replies so far...thought posting on the Disco site would offer up some good counter arguements against the P38...so far there is alot of positive thoughts on the Range. I will definately try both but comform is important to me, an Auto is nice for relaxed cruising around as well and I have no interest in serious off roading.

I would certainly concider the V8 as the insurance is virtually the same for me...interestingly the Discovery Diesel or V8 is £100 more on the insurance! God knows how they calculate this!?

Please keep up the comments. To dispel or confirm any of my perceptions will help my final choice.

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Have you tried either yet?Or been to loook at any?Either way im quite sure you'll get something you like with the "character" that comes as standard with LR products.

JSF that was a very well thought out reply thanks alot!

Goon I am in Libya at the moment but I want to line up a test drive or two soon as I get back so I am doing my research before I get home. I dont want to buy a new toy only to be send back to work for a month and without having enjoyed it

I, too, have had experience with the TD5 & P38a (as well as most of the others!). TD5 Disco is pretty good and does what it is made for well. If you are spending £8k you will get a minter. The P38a Diesel is underpowered (as someone said above), and improved with chipping, but I'd still go for a petrol one, and for the money you're looking to spend you will also find a really good one. If I had £8k to spend though, I'd be looking at an early L322. I've seen several sub-£10k now. Either that or hold on to £6k and get a RR Classic LSE ;-)