Quandary: P38A+County or Defender

**p38arover** · 15th March 2006, 04:35 PM

I'm in a quandary.

I bought the County to use for off-roading but it's nowhere a comfortable as the P38A in terms of noise levels, climate control, sound system, seating, space for the driver and passenger, etc.

It does have the advantages of simplicity (especially compared to the P38A) and of being able to be set up permanently for camping/4WDing.

However, I can't justify having two 4WDs and having them both set up for off-road, i.e., off-road tyres (both), CBs (P38A), long range tanks (County), wheel carriers (both), drawers (County), and all the other stuff.

I'm not sure which way to go. I'll get very little for the P38A but I suppose if I sold it and the County, I could afford a second-hand Defender and perhaps even add LPG fumigation.

I'm tempted by GreyLandy's Defender panel van/hard top but I prefer a station wagon - especially if it will be my only car.

I think I need to borrow a Defender to drive exclusively for a week - if only to gauge how much better it is than a County, if at all. The County has a V8 coupled to the 4-speed gearbox and this box isn't the most user friendly nor is it quiet in the intermediate gears (layshaft bearings).

One of the biggest failings of the County is the lack of working air con but a Defender air con takes up lots of foot room. The P38A air con is excellent - far, far superior to the RR classic.

The P38A is just so good in so many ways that I'm reluctant to part with it but there is the constant nagging concern of expensive problems waiting to raise their heads.

I know that any repair on the P38A will cost me less than one year's depreciation on any lesser car - and certainly far less than the depreciation on a D3.

Do I want diesel as in a Defender? I think so but, really, unless one is travelling a lot of outback miles, I'm not convinced there is any advantage over an LPG converted V8 (and I have an LPG kit to fit to the County). Looked after, the 3.5 litre V8 is very reliable (but I do have the old 4.6 litre from my P38A that could be refurbished and fitted to the County).

Sorry about the rambling but I'm still trying to think my way through this.

Oh, I'm the third owner of the County (the first being JRA) so I have a machine the history of which is known (and I'm still friends with the 2nd owner).

Ron

**noddy** · 15th March 2006, 08:07 PM

Howdy Ron

Would the Defender be your daily drive or is that your Subby?

Agree, something has to give here. Couple of scenarios:

1. Sell both P38 & County and get a D90 (great offroad and good for belting around the city)

2. Sell County and keep P38 (rip out EAS and anything else that it about to bung in a big way)

3. Sell P38 and invest in the County to make more comfy and a weekend play thing.

4. Sell P38, County, Subby and buy a D3 (hoping it does not go bung!!!) :wink: 8O

Just trying to help.

**RichardK** · 15th March 2006, 08:44 PM

Ron,
Just for your knowledge bank have a look in the February LROI, theres a P38a set up for full offroading.

5

**abaddonxi** · 15th March 2006, 08:50 PM

I thought that one of the things that made the County a County was air-conditioning and closed off vents?

I've had a go at both, more or less.

More elbow room, just, in County.

Better brakes, by far, on Defender.

I'm not keen on V8s, but I'm reckoning that if you are you aren't going to be happy with a tdi, sure that td5 is the same.

I'm guessing LPG fumigation would improve the low rev pick up that tdi has before turbo spools up and performance, but I doubt you're going to feel like you've got a lion in your pants.

The rest, I reckon, is edge of performance stuff.

A Defender is pretty much a Defender.

Brakes.

Cheers
Simon

**matbor** · 15th March 2006, 10:32 PM

Originally posted by RichardK
Ron,
Just for your knowledge bank have a look in the February LROI, theres a P38a set up for full offroading.

Just read it today, looks awesome

Matt.

**p38arover** · 16th March 2006, 02:00 AM

Originally posted by RichardK
Ron,
Just for your knowledge bank have a look in the February LROI, theres a P38a set up for full offroading.

Since change of ownership, the local newsagent no longer carries LROI (nor LRE nor LRM).

Ron

**JDNSW** · 16th March 2006, 06:00 AM

The Defender/County is never going to equal the comfort of the P38A, and the P38A is never going to equal the simplicity and ease of repair of the County/Defender. If you can only justify one, you will just have to decide!

The problem with LPG is where do you put the tank(s)? This applies to any LPG vehicle.

In my case I look at my County and compare the money that would be needed to bring it back to near new condition plus some upgrades, and conclude that it would still be cheaper than a Defender. One advantage I have is that I do not have factory airconditioning - I have aftermarket aircon that is a lot better, although not anywhere near the P38A.

The advantage of keeping my County is that I know its history, I am familiar with much of the works, and it is unlikely to spring any real surprises. If I get ANY replacement I am likely to get surprises, and if it is not a new vehicle it won't have a warranty to cushion the surprise - and even if there is a warranty, who wants to get involved with warranty repairs anyway?

**Redback** · 16th March 2006, 06:28 AM

Hi Ron sorry to go OT, but did you get my PM.

**Frenchie** · 16th March 2006, 08:47 AM

My Defender is noisier than my County was.

(At least the County had an attempt at acoustic insulation).

That can be fixed though. :?

**matbor** · 16th March 2006, 10:18 AM

Ron,
get heavy duty carpet/insulation put though the County and after market seats, plus aftermarket air con.

Matt.

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