Thread: Off Road Ability D2 vs P38

The D2 and P38 are close to each other in terms of offroad ability. The main differance stems from track and wheel base. one will do better than the other in different areas.

Any rover mechanic will tell you that the P38 is an electrical nightmare over the D2, this seams to be general opinion.

The D2 has many more after market accessories available and is easy to improve offroad However the P38 is a rangie and theres no better vehicle to drive than a rangie old or new.

The P38 is about to get a few new accessories added to the short list of items on the market, those being front and rear custom bars with rock sliders and dress up items. The P38 is a very credable offroader with Arnot air bags and rear locker, ask Hardy from hard range his P38 goes very well in this form. Not as good as Mick Gs D2 with rear locker but pretty good for an offroad limo.

But theres nothing better than a Disco ute. yehar.

ok Ron check the spelling please.

glen

Originally Posted by discoute

Not as good as Mick Gs D2 with rear locker

I feel all warm and fuzzy

Jase, yeh I do have p38 and it does hve 4 wheel TC just wondering if the D2 had it?

Charlie

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Does the P38 have a locking centre diff?

No. It has a viscous coupling.

Early HSE P38As have TC on the rear only, e.g., mine. The early SE models didn't have it at all.

Ron

Originally Posted by charliebrisbane

Jase, yeh I do have p38 and it does hve 4 wheel TC just wondering if the D2 had it?

Charlie

Yes Charlie, All DIIs have traction control.

I am biased... being a DII owner.... but I would be VERY surprised if a standard P38 can go anywhere a standard DII can't...

I think pure off road ability they would be pretty even. But I do agree with the comments about electrics and air suspension.... more to go wrong on the Luxo Rover.. so I'll stick with the DII.

Mark

Originally Posted by p38arover

No. It has a viscous coupling.

Early HSE P38As have TC on the rear only, e.g., mine. The early SE models didn't have it at all.

Ron

Thanks for the feeback I thought there would be not much between the two in standard form offroad. How does the viscous coupling work exactly compared to a diff lock?

Originally Posted by ak

Thanks for the feeback I thought there would be not much between the two in standard form offroad. How does the viscous coupling work exactly compared to a diff lock?

In theory it is an "automatic" centre diff lock mechanism. The viscous coupling is a series of fins on the front and rear drive shafts. There is a gel substance in amongst it. When either shaft moves at a higher rate than the other, the friction causes the gel to lock the fins together. see picture

I have this on my Range Rover and in my opinion, the issue is with the time it takes to lock in. I would prefer to have the control of being able to lock it in at my discretion, prior to launching into a difficult situation.

Dave

In my opinion the offroadability of the Discovery Series II (fitted with a CDL) will outshine a Range Rover P38A.

Why?

DII has better articulation - ACE allows better "flex"
DII has CDL - P38A does not "hard lock" because it has a viscous coupling centre.
DII has traction control on all four wheels. P38A only had ETC on rear wheels (although I'm not 100% sure if the very last P38A has 4 wheel traction control)

Having said all that, the P38A with the 4.6 litre V8 has more power than the 4.0 V8 or TD5 in the DII and this may be all that is required in some circumstances!