P38 vs D2 - pros/cons

[elshano]

Hi guys, first time in the P38 section, just hoping to get some advice.

I currently have a 99 D2 V8 4.0 (no SLS but has ACE) which I love to bits, however it's just about to hit 200k km and it just doesn't feel as 'tight' as it used to. Had it for about 4 years.

Have the opportunity to buy the brother in law's 01 P38 HSE for a very good price. It's done just under 150k km, full service history. Heads have been off and it has had a common/expensive gremlin with the SLS (is that what it's called in Rangies?) fixed.

I know next to nothing about P38s and Rangies in general so I was hoping to hear some pros and cons from guys who have no doubt done the swap before. I do a mix of touring and offroading.

Thanks in advance,
Shane

[Keithy P38]

I have not done the swap (came from a 5.0 litre VR Commodore about 5yrs ago to my P38 ownership) but I have heard the disco's seem to drink more than P38's.

The suspension, lovely leather interior and wonderful ride are the main draw cards for a new P38 owner! I've never driven anything even close to a P38 for comfort on a corrugated road. Off road they are as good as anything else on the market - great wheel travel, great engine braking in low range (converter lockup), adjustable height to suit the terrain and a centre diff that means you don't even need to move a lever or press a button (and its not electric either) - what more could you ask for!

Mine is purely a tourer, no grocery shopping, no school runs, pure off road and I wouldn't drive anything else! I'm sure you'll fall in love too. Sounds like your brother in law has looked after it! Great k's and good servicing are the best things ever!

Wait for it....

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Cheers
Keithy

[Keithy P38]

And as I'm sure you are aware, it's a Landy too so you'll be familiar with the service needs!

If you look after it, it'll reward you right back.

[RR P38]

I bought a 2001 TD5 with a view to replacing the P38 with it.
And why wouldnt I? It had ACE, leather all the fruit.
I took the 38 off the road and left her alone for a month without driving her.
Water pump in the D2 started to leak, so I fire up the 38 and head out for parts.
Before I even hit the end of the street I thought WOW, why am I selling this thing?
Even though I think the D2 is a better handling (with ACE) car, quieter at cruise, probably less maintenance (but Im not sure I did a hell of a lot of work on it in 4 months) everything about the D2 says its a better car, But when I got back in the 38 I realised it has the X factor, its a special drive, practical, great tail gate, plenty of room all round, nice layout inside. I dont find it hard to work on at all.
Off road its pretty good, I think it was as good as if not a tad better than the std D2 that I had. My 38 is a 95 with traction only on the rear your looking at an 01 so you have it all round.
Sound system is pretty damn good for std.
I can drive 1000k+ a day three days in a row and get out with nothing but admiration for such an old vehicle.
The 01 is well sorted as far as i am concerned go for it.
I endorse all that Keithy says.

[wayneg]

When you say the common gremlin has been fixed, what are you referring to?
Is the car on coil springs?

[benji]

My cousin has a 99 ace sls td5. Its better balanced, and rides better than the p38 and as you know the ace means you can throw it around.
Annoyingly we've both found the ace to be too sensitive around the centre which is tiring on rough roads (mungo np, outback tracks etc; ace is supposed to sense this and deaden the responses but his doesn't seem to do it)

The p38 is a better high speed tourer (maybe because of it's longer wheelbase). Id say the d2 is better off road though, a lot better under body clearance except for departure, and course no sway bars.

I do believe the tc software is the same between the two.

Interested to hear if its on slinkys.

[elshano]

It's dead stock as far as I know, I remember he was saying he had issues with the air bags or air bag control system. Honestly not sure.

Appreciate your replies gents, especially for the off road info.
It's a tough call because I do like to give the disco a pretty hard time off road so losing clearance is a concern..

What sort of tyres can you chuck under these things stock? D2 tops out a 245/75 unmodified.

[Pete38]

It's dead stock as far as I know, I remember he was saying he had issues with the air bags or air bag control system. Honestly not sure.

Appreciate your replies gents, especially for the off road info.
It's a tough call because I do like to give the disco a pretty hard time off road so losing clearance is a concern..

What sort of tyres can you chuck under these things stock? D2 tops out a 245/75 unmodified.

245/75/16 is safe. I run 265/75/16 Bfg KM2's (muddies) with front mud flaps removed. Minor rubbing on fast sweeping turns and hit a big bump while on highway setting. No damage or jerking just a black scuff tyre mark on guard in rear only. Very rare scuff when on full articulation in the rear off road.

While I can drive on the bump stops I wouldn't chose to as the smallest bump makes the rears scrub. Easily fixed by temporary extension of axle plates where the bump stops are in case if emergency.

Any more than this needs extended bump stops and lift.

[Keithy P38]

Yeah you'll get 245/75's, there are lads with 265/75's on P38's stock. They rub slightly but not to the point where you chew things out, just minor rubs on the plastic inner guard.

If I could get new tyres tomorrow they'd be 265's purely to lift the diffs.

I use mine in what you'd call hard 4wding (low range first with locker on) and have not had problems with ramp over angle. It's the towbar that touches (and not very often at that).

Get the diffs up and you'll be fine!

[TheTree]

The p38 is a better high speed tourer (maybe because of it's longer wheelbase). Id say the d2 is better off road though, a lot better under body clearance except for departure, and course no sway bars.


Hi

That was not my experience on sand at Stockton recently, the only 2 vehicles which didn't have any troubles at all were the Classic and the P38 Rangies, the other vehicles, a mix of Discos and an Evoque, all had some kind of issue during the day.

On mud of course it may be a different story :p

Steve

[benji]

Sorry, I should have said that he's got the centre diff lock, and bfg ats on it, im sure they're 265 75... We've noticed on the sand the stock d2 does struggle especially on the steeper stuff.

Im comparing to my stock 96. With new front springs on his he has more ramp over than mine on the high setting. Last time he was up we went for a play and he sailed up over a sharp crest where I sat on the trans cross member.

[RR P38]

I used my TD5 D2 a fair bit off road before I saw sense in keeping my 38.
Agree that the rear on a D2 seems to get hung up a fair bit, I got a terrible shock the first few times the rear bar hit the ground, its funny it looks way higher than a 38 rear end but you will drag it over things more. (departure angles, P38 is better??)
If any one thing swayed me away from the TD5 was highway overtaking at 80k or more........TD5 is well...crap. The P38 will pull nicely up to 160.

[elshano]

the V8 D2 has absolutely no problem overtaking even with the 4.0.

The brother in law mentioned that the 01 P38 had the last of the Bosch injection and had metal water pump etc instead of plastic, how much truth is there to this?

You are right about the D2 rear departure angle, you will smash that rear bar the second you get off road!

[Keithy P38]

All P38 water pumps are metal.

From '99 to '02 are all Bosch!

The only real differences between the '99 Bosch and '02 Bosch are cosmetic.

[TheTree]

The V8 Disco would be as willing as the P38 i am sure :p

[RR P38]

Yes all metal water pumps.
In 13 years and 200,000 ks I have never touched a single thing on the injection on my 95, If the later injection is better it must be perfection.

[Hoges]

I ! I've never driven anything even close to a P38 for comfort on a corrugated road.....etc

Wait for it....

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Cheers
Keithy

Must find out what your miracle cure is:angel: mine is so hard on corrugations that last time on the PRD I needed dental work to replace my fillings:eek: I tended to blame the Cooper h/t tyres (40% worn).... next tyres I'll look for something softer. But all the rest I agree absolutely...great machine

[Keithy P38]

Try swapping the driving! I went from mine to a classic, to a 100 series. P38 won the corrugated road comfort battle easily! The 100 series wasn't even close to the classic (which was surprisingly comfortable).

[wanglemoose]

if you want it keep it fairly standard go for the rangy every time, if you like to mod it to get a dual purpose rock crawling, cliff climbing, twisting inside out monster you can drive home without having to trailer it to a park then stick to the d2. there is a heap more aftermarket parts to go with the d2. not to mention the d2 electrics are less integrated and easier to lie to.