A new P38A owner? I hope so...

[4X4V8]

Hi all, it is time I need a good 4WD and tow vehicle, and I always seem to come back to Land Rover products when I need my own 4WD. Who knows why:)

I have been away from Aulro for three years, after selling my last D2. It was a very good example, but still cost me $3k in maintenance in 6mths... I simply couldn't afford the luxury at the time. Now I am looking at buying my dream Land Rover, and perhaps, finally, at a price I can afford.

Now I am looking at a P38A. I'm far more willing to have a go on the spanners than 3yrs ago, with plenty of time working on an old Holden in the last 2 years to re-familliarise myself,and there is a big difference in investment here. I spent $13k buying my last Disco, the P38A I am looking at would be much, much cheaper, and I am more happy getting stuck into it myself - I can't afford $100 p/hour labour. I'll rebuild the engine myself, if needed, and air suspension and blend motors... a piece of cake, albeit hours of 'learning' labour...

I am really pleased by the advances in the commonsense, cheaper alternatives to owning this luxury 4WD in just 3 years. I have always wanted one, and finally it seems I will, without going broke. There appears ways around the on-board computers now that make it possible to own one of these great vehicles without being at the mercy of your local Land Rover dealer should that damned warning symbol appear.

I have always wondered why the P38A has hung in there in resale values compared with the Classic on the used market, given its so-so reputation. Well, finally prices seem to be getting realistic for the older, more tired P38As, at least.

I shall keep you posted, but one way or another (P38A or Classic), it's a Rangie for me.

Thanks for such a great, informative and friendly forum!

[Grumbles]

You are just going to fit [or is that re-rit?] in here so well 4x4V8

I'm not sure I follow you with the 'holding' value bit though. But what I have seen of P38s and Classics for sale and I am a keen 'watcher' of used car web sites is that there seem to be some pretty optimistic sellers out there.

Good luck in your hunt. Is the hunt more exciting than the prize itself- sometimes yes....hehe.

Cheers
Grumbles.

[4X4V8]

Ah, you are a cruel man, Grumbles, but so right! But I hope that whatever the hunt finds, this time it's a keeper. I have wanted a P38A for a long, long time after many, many short taste tests. As a great campaign once stated, 'It's time'.

[Grumbles]

Here's a tempter. Did you see that $5000 Rangie Classic for sale in Redfern?[Car Sales]. It looks and sounds really great and has been advertised for a while with no takers. Not a P38 but.........:confused: Perhaps it's been waiting just for you...........:D

[PeterAllen]

have a look at the P38 on car sales 4.6l 230kms in S.A for $6000 ONO.
has stainless steel exhaust, looks a good buy and with full service books.
Think it was dark blue from memory.

[redandy3575]

have a look at the P38 on car sales 4.6l 230kms in S.A for $6000 ONO.
has stainless steel exhaust, looks a good buy and with full service books.
Think it was dark blue from memory.

Yeah i saw that also, though would want to be 100% sure about the vehicle before shelling out your hard earned. I'm a bit sceptical about buying cars in SA as their roadworthy laws are quiet slack compared to Victoria and particularly NSW. NSW vehicles has always been my pick in the second hand game as the mandatory annual roadworthy keeps the P38s in better shape underneath and mechanically.

[4X4V8]

I just saw the P38 I was hoping to buy today, but it was more of a project than I'd be willing to take on. I couldn't even get to start it (battery completely dead, car been sitting for months; a battery pack revived the electrics, but not enough juice to kick the engine over). Among the dozens of smaller issues it had, the coolant reservoir was bone dry. It all became too hard. It would have been cheap, but also was pretty nasty.

I'll keep looking but basically I think I'll have to settle for a good Classic rather than a bad P38. Oh well:(

[wayneg]

I think you would do very well to steer clear of any cars needing major TLC for your first purchase of a p38 as you appear to have done. Did you have a look at the one on carsales mentioned in the previous posts. $6k for a car which supposedly has a sevice history with recent big ticket items replaced, inc tyres. Also has a front bar. Looks like a car worth investigating.

http://http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/land%20rover-range%20rover-1996-11641993'vertical=Car&cr=8&eapi=2&__N=1216%201282%204294965541%204294965478&distance=25&silo=Stock&Range=Price:5000,7500~1&sort=default

[ytt105]

Give me a week or two and my 96 4.6 HSE, dual fuel, will be for sale.

I've just bought a 1999 HSE.

Its been a great unit and I've done all the usual repairs, ie. air bags, valve block and compressor rebuild, plus heaps more.

Will advertise here first as soon as I'm ready.

[Keithy P38]

There's also a red P38 on carsales for $12k that appears to be a looker! Rebuilt motor, 3 new bags, new compressor and some other stuff, with good looking leather too :-)

That'd be my pick over the very tempting classics out there! There are two that are going cheap but appear to be quite well maintained and optioned!

[4X4V8]

I'm talking $4k here, so I'd better stop being delusional about owning a P38A now and shuffle over to the Classic forum...

[poleonpom]

Keep a look out on Ebay. P38s are hard cars to sell and some owners just want to get them off their drive after replacing them.
I recently saw a well-sorted, dark blue 4.6, owned by an enthusiast hold a fire sale on ebay. My heart sank when it went for $2650. Is that all these truly great cars are worth?

[Grumbles]

I'm talking $4k here, so I'd better stop being delusional about owning a P38A now and shuffle over to the Classic forum...

No need to shuffle off totally mate because you can do both. I'm just a lowly Classic owner but my high P38 aspirations means I sneak in the back door to hang around here with these 'top of the rung' P38 guys. But shhh - don't tell anyone. :D

[4X4V8]

No need to shuffle off totally mate because you can do both. I'm just a lowly Classic owner but my high P38 aspirations means I sneak in the back door to hang around here with these 'top of the rung' P38 guys. But shhh - don't tell anyone. :D


Yup, might soon be in the same lot as you very soon! Not that a Classic is a bad thing at all, I really like them. Going to look at one tomorrow, an '89 3.5 auto.

The P38A I looked at earlier this week sold on eBay for $3150. It's amazing. That's going to be a real project for somebody...

[poleonpom]

I love classics and have many fond memories of my brilliant, yet simple '88. I'm currently lusting after an early two-door

[Grumbles]

Well - what's the verdict 4X4V8?
Are you still a wannabe or have you made the grade in to legendary driving status? :D

[4X4V8]

Went to see an '89 Classic yesterday, it was pretty rough. Rust in a lower rear door, swivel joint leak, excessive steering play, various engine oil leaks, exhaust leak, noisy lifters, engine felt like it has a slight missfire, cig burn holes in driver's seat, air con not working, lower tailgate clips broken, rear shelf parts missing, left mirror broken, ceiling spray painted silver.

I can afford it, but I reckon I'll get much better and still be within budget.
I still liked the idea, driving it was just like being 'home', don't know how else to explain it - there's another just like it for sale, hopefully I'll see it Wednesday. I just need to find a good one - or at least one with good bones that can be fixed.

Also going out to Liverpool to look at a P38A at a stealers, but I don't think I'm going to chip $2k off the price... Having said that, it seems that I can afford a half-decent P38A, juding the retail prices dealers ask, but only at wholesale price :(. Anyone want to sell me a P38A? I'll pay full wholesale!:p Maybe I'd better look at the auctions, but last time I did that (years ago) when attempting to buy a P38A prices seemed high for pretty ordinary examples.

[33chinacars]

Keep searching for the right one for ,price wise that is. Dont be tempted to get the one that only ticks 60% of the boxes. Sooner or later you will find your pride & joy. Go P38 if you can afford. Think it will be better in the long run. As has been said before get the latest model you can afford .

Good Luck hunting

Gary

[Grumbles]

You'll get one eventually and it will be the right one. Go and offer silly money [well less than half] to any seller and see how you go and be prepared to walk away at a refusal. Rangies, especially early P38s and even good ones, are very hard to sell. You might be surprised and the worst that can happen is they will say no but if you leave your number then they may likely ring you in a day or so and accept your offer as it is likely the only offer they have had after advertising it for a long time.

[whisky_mac]

Yep, the worst thing you can do is buy something with problems and then spend twice the money to fix the problems. If you can see one problem there are probably more that you can't see in the first look and it it will become a expensive car. Pay a little bit more for something that has a history behind it, you know, regular service and gets parts when it needs them.

The P38's are just nice, what more can be said.

Jim

[jsp]

I'd be happy with my $4k for my P38A and I would happily jump in it tomorrow and drive it to Melbourne or Sydney from Adelaide, but I know its tired and needs quite a few things done to it, and in the back of my mind its worth much more than $4k in sentimental value.

Then again if I sold it for $4k or even less to someone and they drove away in it and it broke down on them in the first month or two I would be absolutely gutted and feel responsible for selling them a dud. That being said half a dozen scumbags have sold me dud land rovers over the years....

I reckon you will find one very nice classic for that money if your not in a hurry, very occasionally I see a tired LSE go for 5 and I think I should have scrimped and saved and put in for it.........

[Grumbles]

I reckon you will find one very nice classic for that money if your not in a hurry, very occasionally I see a tired LSE go for 5 and I think I should have scrimped and saved and put in for it.........

An LSE - with factory soft dash - now you're talking!! The best of the Classics. :D

But $4/5 G should get you a great condition "ordinary" Classic [ie not an LSE].

[4X4V8]

I'd be happy with my $4k for my P38A and I would happily jump in it tomorrow and drive it to Melbourne or Sydney from Adelaide, but I know its tired and needs quite a few things done to it, and in the back of my mind its worth much more than $4k in sentimental value.

Then again if I sold it for $4k or even less to someone and they drove away in it and it broke down on them in the first month or two I would be absolutely gutted and feel responsible for selling them a dud. That being said half a dozen scumbags have sold me dud land rovers over the years....

I reckon you will find one very nice classic for that money if your not in a hurry, very occasionally I see a tired LSE go for 5 and I think I should have scrimped and saved and put in for it.........

ANY P38A I manage to buy for $4k that doesn't break down in less than a month, well, I'd be shocked:twisted:. Yes, I am joking. Sort of.

I just need to find one that is neglected in the 'right' ways, you know, maintained for most of its life but either less loved in recent years or the owner got tired of forking out and had a recent big problem or two and is selling it as is. So I won't do mechanical repairs plus fix ripped leather, stuffed paint and a hundred broken bits of trim - that's just too hard, but I'd entertain buying one with shiny paint and smooth leather - except with buggered air springs or a blown headgasket, for example, and take it on as a project to fix it.

Classic or P38A? I can't lose either way if I buy well, but I'll just take my time. Something good will turn up.

[Hoges]

you can get sucked in buying one which cost less than $5k and needs a lot of work...then in your mind you are unhappy because when you ought be out enjoying it, you're stuck in the shed with a slab of beer, up to your armpits in parts and grease and SWMBO complaining that "we never go anywhere"! ...but you're having a lovely time doing real men's stuff;):angel::wasntme:

FWIW, save your bikkies a bit more and get a reasonable post 1999 upgrade model (from VIN XA410482) with the Bosch Motronic EFI... 4 pin diffs, HP24 auto, Bosch electronics, upgraded WABCO brake system etc etc

Good luck...BTW P38itis has no known cure as yet and you can't claim mechanics' bills or psychiatric assistance for P38 addiction on Medicare:twisted:

[Grumbles]

Good luck...BTW P38itis has no known cure as yet and you can't claim mechanics' bills or psychiatric assistance for P38 addiction on Medicare:twisted:

Of course you can Hoges.

Bought a P38 - lack of vision - short sighted.
Bought a P38 - lack of clear thinking - mental illness.
Bought a P38 - substance abuse/addiction- mental illness
Bought a P38 - medical research - no known cure.

:D

[poleonpom]

Bought a P38! - Bought a P38? - Bought a P38 *#^ - multiple personality disorder....

Good response Grumbles

[Grumbles]

Bought a P38! - Bought a P38? - Bought a P38 *#^ - multiple personality disorder....


We didn't know I was so sick poleonpom. :confused:

[4X4V8]

Anyone here from around Maitland willing and able to look at a P38 for me? It's on carsales, a 4.0 SE.

[ytt105]

4x4v8
As advised, my Rangie is now for sale. Check out the markets section here!

[RangieMac]

I have bought a P38A '95 HSE for $3200....Needed a Roadworthy Cert .. "...there is a bit of play in one tie rod end and the radius arm bushes will need replacing soon..." said the local 'mechanical garage'..."No worries,mate.. fix it.." says I...garage could not get wheel alignment correct,took it to a Tyre shop ..same result.....Took it to a local LR specialist..."That rod is on backwards" says HE instantly....Now goes at least somewhere near where I point it....

But..everything else works well,cruise-orig radio/CD-sunroof etc ....I am looking forward to playing with the 'Prince of Darkness' electrics..just a little bit more,ah,'complicated than my old IIA

[RR P38]

Sounds like a bargain.
At that price you can afford to throw a few grand at it and not be out of pocket, and get things up to speed.
While you are playing with tie rods take a look at your sway bar connection links, grab/push them and try and feel for movement/knocking.
What milage have you got?

[4X4V8]

I have bought a P38A '95 HSE for $3200....Needed a Roadworthy Cert .. "...there is a bit of play in one tie rod end and the radius arm bushes will need replacing soon..." said the local 'mechanical garage'..."No worries,mate.. fix it.." says I...garage could not get wheel alignment correct,took it to a Tyre shop ..same result.....Took it to a local LR specialist..."That rod is on backwards" says HE instantly....Now goes at least somewhere near where I point it....

But..everything else works well,cruise-orig radio/CD-sunroof etc ....I am looking forward to playing with the 'Prince of Darkness' electrics..just a little bit more,ah,'complicated than my old IIA

I think you might have got a great buy there. I have been flat out this week but called about a couple P38As for sale. They both seem pretty tidy and I made tentative offers on both - more than my budgeted amount but way less than advertised. I wanted to see if I even had a look in with just abit more budget, and it seems I do.