4X4V8
14th September 2008, 02:45 PM
So I finally got to go and look at a 2000 P38A 4.6 for sale, cosmetics pretty good and a pile of LR service receipts right up to abt 2yrs / 15,000km ago. I was looking at it because I want a late P38, and not one that the owner is asking $30k for.
So anyway, I go to look at this car and I found a clatter on start-up (low oil) leaking coolant in the driver's footwell (o-rings but poss heater core), coolant reservoir empty, aircon not cold, blend motors don't seem to work and when I tried squeezing the top and bottom radiator hoses after a run, they felt much harder than my D2 V8's (which I presume are okay).
So it could have a slipped liner or three ( or just a blocked radiator, I suppose) and I get the feeling the owner bought himself a new car a while ago and gave it to his sons to drive. Maybe they haven't been so particular with maintenance.
And then there are the little things, like CD stacker not working, low front pads.
I've already spoke to Ron and hoped that he would talk me into it, but he's a sensible man and saw right through my tactics.
I really can't afford the time for two hobby cars, and it's a cruel truth.
This is meant to be my wife's car I'm buying here. She said 'Thank God' when I told her I would not be pursuing the RR. That sealed it, really.
Such a shame, cos even though I have been quoted between $6k and $12k for a new top-hatted engine and anything up to 4 weeks to do the re-build (that whole process was putting me off in itself - it started to remind me of talking to builders abt renovations, price and time are too damn fluid) and the air con needs around $2k-$3k thrown at it, it has new suspension and it drove beautifully. The P38A really has a magic carpet ride compared to my D2.
The owner doesn't recognise yet that his car has major problems (okay I do not know 100 per cent it has a slipped liner, but if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc) so the price has not dropped yet. But I am guessing it will....
Oh well, I tried to make it happen. I'll own a P38A, one day...:(
Okay, I'm off to buy a clapped out Forester or a Ford Escape...
So anyway, I go to look at this car and I found a clatter on start-up (low oil) leaking coolant in the driver's footwell (o-rings but poss heater core), coolant reservoir empty, aircon not cold, blend motors don't seem to work and when I tried squeezing the top and bottom radiator hoses after a run, they felt much harder than my D2 V8's (which I presume are okay).
So it could have a slipped liner or three ( or just a blocked radiator, I suppose) and I get the feeling the owner bought himself a new car a while ago and gave it to his sons to drive. Maybe they haven't been so particular with maintenance.
And then there are the little things, like CD stacker not working, low front pads.
I've already spoke to Ron and hoped that he would talk me into it, but he's a sensible man and saw right through my tactics.
I really can't afford the time for two hobby cars, and it's a cruel truth.
This is meant to be my wife's car I'm buying here. She said 'Thank God' when I told her I would not be pursuing the RR. That sealed it, really.
Such a shame, cos even though I have been quoted between $6k and $12k for a new top-hatted engine and anything up to 4 weeks to do the re-build (that whole process was putting me off in itself - it started to remind me of talking to builders abt renovations, price and time are too damn fluid) and the air con needs around $2k-$3k thrown at it, it has new suspension and it drove beautifully. The P38A really has a magic carpet ride compared to my D2.
The owner doesn't recognise yet that his car has major problems (okay I do not know 100 per cent it has a slipped liner, but if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc) so the price has not dropped yet. But I am guessing it will....
Oh well, I tried to make it happen. I'll own a P38A, one day...:(
Okay, I'm off to buy a clapped out Forester or a Ford Escape...