my first range rover?

Am i mad looking to buy a p38 range rover 4.6 hse on Lpg as my first 4x4 for everyday use, i dont know a lot about these cars, a friend is a landrover nut who said he would have a look over anything i fancy buying, but my budget is tight and i can only afford £5k max i just need it as an everday work horse but want the comfort as well. really concerened as a lot of people dont rate these cars?

Get a classic converted to springs. Should see you good.

Be very careful. They be fine when they work but if they break it'll cost you lots. P38's gave lots of problems. Personally, I'd avoid a rangey but get a defender instead, 5k would buy you a nice one. RR's are good hobbies if you have time and money but unless theyre new they are heartbreakers. I know Ive just scrapped mine after a year of head doing breaking down usually when i needed it most.

Its a hard call if they are maintained properly they are fine mine has done 150k and I do 12k per year runs on lpg and I have done all the swivel loints track rod ends bushes etc and it hasnt let me down apart from problem with starter motor and connections guess mine costs 500 quid a year in maintenance but have now done all the expensive stuff so choose a good o ne with history and it will be fine

Unless you're very lucky they will cost you more than the average saloon to maintain. Mines now 10 years old with 90k covered. I've owned it 4 years and its left me stranded twice, both times losing sync, an issue sorted in 30secs with a syncmate(£120) which now sits in the glove box. If its still got EAS that will need maintenance at some stage, but keep an I eye on that and change things before they wear out and it shouldn't let you down.Hevac will also throw up issues,but many of these things have been sorted by the previous owners these days.

P38's will give you the occassional sleepless night but this is far outweighed by the driving pleasure they give most of the time. Something your average 10 year old saloon will never do.

And don't forget, check the coolant!!!

buy a disco- P38 is an ongoing nightmare and wallet opening experience

I had a diesel for 2-1/2 years. Let me down twice with a broken gearbox (manual). Otherwise very reliable. I now have a 1998 4.6 that has only done 70,000 miles but has still required hundreds spending on it - fuel tank pump/sender unit / brake pipes / suspension air bags and still with an outstanding diagnostic problem with the EAS ECU. I still love it though and would hate to have to get rid of it. It always gives a sense of occasion that other cars of a similar value just can't impart. You should get a pretty good one for that money but make sure you do all the usual checks mentioned many times on here - especially the coolant eh Gav?

mmmmm do i dont i.......i love the look of the range rover...there is no other 4x4 like it and you cant get many 50k for 5k now....lol

Diesel seems to be more reliable,,

ducks whilst waiting for a response from the petrol boys

i have owned one since end of nov
been busy fixing small faiults from when i bought it
#
but it went to liverpool and put another P38 and pulled that home on a trailer, never missed a beat, put it in 5th at junc 23 of m6- took it out at junc with a14

so loving mine, and it was bought of fleabay blind

must have just been lucky

well i have a 4.6 petrol no lpg and i love it however i just spoke to a guy who had one and it cost him a fortune. land rovers are a skin thing they get under it i statred with a disco i now have a classic a s3 5 def90 and 2 p38 5k should buy you a pretty good one and to be honest they are very comfy i do 100s of miles a week in mine and would happily do 1000s

cavey did you but a petrol 4.6 with engine half stripped..

not this weekend

that was a 2.5 with an engine issue

bought a 4.6 gems
a while ago, still have that just got decide what to do with it
it had a cylinder liner gone
gotr 2 reconditioned heads for it, a gasket set, radiator etc

if you know anyone whio wants any bits from the engine side

let me know
or get them to Pm me

had ours over a year now and its cost 200 quid in repairs,it needs some bits sorting out a/c needs regassing, rocker cover gaskets,need changing,but its been a joy to own,sadly now for sale due to just been made redundant.

I've done exactly the same thing.

Previously had a Vectra V6 and a Series III, but it was getting expensive to own 2 cars (and the series never worked anyway) so merged them into a single vehicle - a 4.6 lpg converted P38.

Been running it as my daily drive for about 9 months now and it's been absolutely fine apart from the odd niggle - nothing serious. The running costs are a slightly higher than I anticipated but on the whole it's been pretty good. Excellent for the odd laning trip too.

I think if you get the best one you can (and save some of your budget for any repairs that might need doing immediately) then you should be ok. Just pay attention to the common faults and make sure whichever one you buy doesn't have them or budget and plan for them.

Remeber that the service interval is less than for normal cars too.

Guy