Advise about buying a used Range Rover

4X4V8 · 20th November 2008, 09:45 AM

If you want that excellent ride quality, then I think the P38A is the way to go. I was reminded of this recently when I test-drove a few that I hoped to talk my wife into buying. The P38A rides a fair bit better than my D2 V8 with air rear springs and 18in wheels...

Despite the ride and many other qualities, I would think twice about owning a P38A. I have tried hard to talk myself into a P38A - I really like them - a lot - but to be honest, they appear to be either a massive time-consumer and/or a money pit. Put simply, if you have a mortgage and kids and no time to tinker and are relying on the car to get to work, I would not recommend the P38A on what several people have told me. I have not actually owned one ( I have the kids/mortgage/no time problem), so take that info for what it's worth, but I am a P38A enthusiast. Do a seach here and you'll find heaps about the cost of P38A ownership and other info. I hear $5k a year is a good budget to expect for repairs. I reckon a Disco 2 should be under $2k a year for maintenance, by comparison.

I heard that when the P38A was developed in the early 90s, that it was owned by British Aerospace, who had no money. The shortcuts they took was borne out in the dodgy eletrical dramas the P38A can have. The Bosch electrical upgrade did no include the body control module etc so it only partially addresses the problems.

The biggest (most expensive) single problem that the Rover V8 of these later models (both D2 and P38) can have is slipped liners, which costs in the vicinity of $8k-$10k to fix. I am thinking of doing a poll to see how many here have had to replace/top hat their engines because of this problem. As far as I know, if you have a later engine with a cooling system kept in top shape (radiator and hoses replaced) you are unlikely to strike problems with this, but maybe others here can chime in with more precise info.

Have a look on rangerovers.net for heaps of RR info.

I don't want to put you off the P38A if that's the way you are determined to go - I may still own one, one day myself - but I would say a D2a V8 (2003-2004) would be better - more reliable, less maintenance hassles, more convenient interior for kids and friends with 7 seats, etc, and my feeling is that you could have the pick of them with your budget. Even $15k is not an unrealistic spend on one of these in a D2a facelift model, but I can't vouch for the condition of one at that price.

If you really must have a P38A, I too would not pay much more than $15k for the last of the 2001-2002 RR P38A. Those that are advertised in the $20k region have been for months.

**adm333** · 20th November 2008, 01:00 PM

I had a 94/95 soft dash classic Range Rover that had been converted from air to coils.

It drove beautifully and had all of the features you want, but most of these now will appear as an older tired car.

I now have a 97 model p38a with air suspension in tact and it is even nicer to drive. When all is going well, these are truly beautiful cars.

But I will freely admit that it is a labour of love. Expect the unexpected.

Unless you are happy for it to become your obsession (as I, and many other owners have done) then best steer clear.

For example, I have just about every conceivable emergency device for the air suspension, from a hard wired hot swappable manual override controller, to a manual fill valve system, to a laptop software interface for reading and clearing ecu faults. (I'm no rocket scientist - these are all readily available tools). But without these things be prepared to be stranded somewhere and for big bills whilst inexperienced workshops try to diagnose the problems.

Good luck

Dave

**big guy** · 20th November 2008, 07:10 PM

P38a Yeah if you want to tinker and be prepared for the unexpected.

Having said that I do know of many that had no trouble at all.

Disco 03-04 for that sort of money is still my choice though.

**rovercare** · 20th November 2008, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by big guy

May I suggest a 03-04 TD5 Disco.

Do a search on carsales or even the market section on here.
great model the 04. Last of the era.
.

Originally Posted by big guy

I will stick to my original quote.

03-04 V8 Disco. You should get a beauty for that money.

.

Originally Posted by big guy

Disco 03-04 for that sort of money is still my choice though.

So, would you recommend a P38 or a 03-04 Disco??

P38 IS the nicer car, D2 is likely to be more reliable, both around the same price range

I'd have the P38...........Discos are ugly compared to an RR

**big guy** · 20th November 2008, 07:38 PM

Agree

I like a 02 P38 or later also.
I do need my car for everyday use though.
I have always had a RRC and changed only because it was cheap and so far very reliable.

Hope your P38a serves you well.
Did I mention I like the 03-04 Disco.

Have a great day.

max. · 20th November 2008, 08:05 PM

Hi Bigguy,

Thanks for your comments and to everyone else for theirs too.

RRC = Range Rover Classic (the model/s before the P38a shape)?

I am hopefully slowly learning the lingo.

Whilst I currently own a Jeep, I did learn to drive in a series IIa with the spare on the bonnet so I couldn't see much to the left at the time.

All your comments are helping me and giving me a better picture of what life with a Range Rover may be like. As I said I have never had much to do with Range Rovers or Discoveries (well not the newer ones, I owned a SWB series III for a while, great off road, take lunch and ear muffs with you on road though). So I am now seriously considering if a Discovery or a pre air suspension Range Rover may be the way to go.

What is the concensus of V8 petrol or diesel power, I like the economy of the diesel but is there a big sacrifice in power and hence off road capability in opting for the diesel?

Looking at the US rangerovers.net site I get the impression that the last of the 'classic' body style had air suspension too, or is this a US thing and the Australian models where all coils up until the P38a?

Thanks everyone

max.

**spudboy** · 20th November 2008, 11:34 PM

Last of the classics had air suspension. 93 and 94 I think (perhaps some 92s....?)

Practically, you're not going to get a Diesel Rangie. There have been a few people here who converted from the V8 to a 300TDi, but not generally out there for sale. The Italian VM diesel engine has a very bad rep, but again, I don't think there would be very many in Australia at all.

Diesels are not "that" much slower then the V8's. You can drive them like you stole them and they still give 10 or 11 litres per hundred.

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