Hi, I Cannot decide between a D2 or P38A

If you want "comfort and space" then get a P38, I find the D2 a bit cramped inside. If 7 seats are of importance to you though it would have to be a D2, although the rear seats sacrifice the rear luggage space , so a bike rack is the go. Best to have a bike rack anyway as bikes inside cars are a sure way to wreck interior trim.

Sure the P38 can have issues with air suspension (bags, height sensors, control module), but that can soon be ripped out and put on traditional coils (kits readily available with a plug in module so the ECU is happy). For $25K you'll get a good one as well, so look for low km's and service history. There's a lot of talk on here about slipped cylinder liners, this seems far worse here in Australia than it is in the UK, and is directly linked to cooling system inadequacies in such a hot climate as the system gets older. If I bought a secondhand P38 the first thing I would do is replace the expansion tank (they split), replace the radiator with a nice new one and replace the heater core (they leak), with the cooling system in tip-top shape you should have relatively worry free motoring from the 4.6 lump (or the less stressed 4.0).

The best advice as stated above is to get out to the dealers and drive all types though.

You should be able to get one for a good bit less than 25 big ones. I have seen immaculate P38's go through the auctions less than 15. They are not popular with dealers as dealers have to give warranty and P38's have a reputation for very expensive problems. Warranty insurers either will not touch them or charge high premiums and excesses.

I dont think much else in the world compares to a late model RR,,

Honestly speaking if you speak to 10 LR lovers here and most are going to give you an different answer

some will say stay away from P38 others would say stay away Td5 you know what ring a reputable LR mechanic and ask what they see more off I think they will say in a mechanical point of view that a P38 will give you more of head ache out of the 2 to pick I imagine it would be D2 V8

P38 has the bling factor and D2 has drivability I like D2 HSE but that's what I like :) good luck in your hunt at one stage I was looking at an 03 Black HSE disco TD5 and it was selling for around 35k but that was a trevett private would be cheaper :)

Thanks for the responses everyone! It is only myself and the girlfriend at the moment which means the 7 seats aren't a necessity but the reason I wanted them was for "down the track." I kind of figured this maybe my last car for quite somewhile when I get a place. That and mortgage repayments I want the running cost to be as minimal as possible. If a TD5 D2 and a P38 are exactly the same in maintenance costs then I would go for the P38 easily but if there are more niggles in a P38 then I would say it's going to cost me more in the long run.
Just a thought is it possible to have a P38 "sorted." What I'm trying to say is if you get one component fixed is it fixed and sorted or is it just going to let go again (ie air suspension).

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Originally Posted by ROVERNIT

...ring a reputable LR mechanic and ask what they see more off I think they will say in a mechanical point of view that a P38 will give you more of head ache out of the 2 to pick I imagine it would be D2 V8

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So who is the best person to take your LR/RR to in Brisbane and where are they located?

I tried talking to the service people at the Mt Gravatt LR Dealership and were quite unhelpful. I asked about what were the common problems and which years were the best etc. and the guy on the other end sounded either completely disinterested in helping me or just had no idea.

Give Warren a call from MR Automotive at Redcliffe 07 3284 6688, quite a lot of us from the forum use them, over the years they've been the best.

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Originally Posted by GRRILA

So who is the best person to take your LR/RR to in Brisbane and where are they located?

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People here seem to go to Rick's 4wd for the southside (Nerang) and MR Automotive on the Northside (Redcliffe).

I've been to Rick's for parts and advice and one of our workgroups here at work uses MR for a lone Disco1 we have here (in a sea of Toyotas and Holdens).

Hi Grrila,

I have a D2 V8 on LPG. I love it with a passion. I regularly boot it about and it keeps me smiling. Mine has ACE, which is kind of hydralic sway bars, nearly three tonnes of 4x4 cornering dead flat is something else.

I have chopped off the rear silencer, and had a straight through sports exhaust fitted, put heavier Old man Emu springs that lift it about 2", and put slightly bigger Cooper All terrain tyres on it. That makes for a pretty handy truck.

The V8 will eat fuel, but no surprises for you. 16l / 100 on the highway and 20-22/100 around town is pretty right. I have LPG injection. $0.65 per litre and you can shove your diesels! Cost me $4300 to install, got $2g back and have made it back less than a year later. No performance loss.. 110l will get me 650 to 700k on the highway and 550 around town.

Number one priority with all of these trucks is service history by a good dealer or specialist service like MR in redcliffe, british off-road in brissy or coopers in sydney.

Hope this helps....

Ian

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GRRILA

So who is the best person to take your LR/RR to in Brisbane and where are they located?

I tried talking to the service people at the Mt Gravatt LR Dealership and were quite unhelpful. I asked about what were the common problems and which years were the best etc. and the guy on the other end sounded either completely disinterested in helping me or just had no idea.

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not sure who would be the best cane toad LR machanic up there ;)some one else maybe able to advise:) but a dealer ship is only intrested if your talking about there stock and nothing more :(