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No such thing as P38 gremlins, just "Lemony Snickets" , that is ... A Series of Unfortunate Events.
OK, here's some logic to try and keep you in the game, cos goddammit I just can't stand by and let a comrade fall...
Now stay with me,
You can sell the P38 and if you're lucky get somewhere between 15K and 20K, and that won't happen overnight - private sale will take a while.
Trade in and you'll be walking funny for weeks.
So what are you going to spend on a new, disappointing ride ? 40 K ??
That's 20 - 25K more outlayed and forget about all of the money wasted on transfer fees and stamp duty, blah, blah, blah.
The interest alone on the additional finance could most likely fix up the few things wrong with the P38 and keep you happily motoring for another 2 years.
Plus, by selling now, you won't get the ROI on money you have already spent sorting out what are basically known age related issues.
We all say we've spent a fortune on our P38's, but for me, I bought mine for 22K and have spent 9K on it in 3 years. That may seem a lot, but I could have bought a brand new Falcon or Commodore for 35K and be far worse off - not to mention the good times we have had as a family on all the LR club trips and long distance drives. The Rangie is not just "transport" its a lifestyle that few other vehicles can provide.
Anyway, I think a simple number crunching exercise will most likely reveal the most sensible thing to do here.
And by the way, I was joking about the missus. She LOVES the RR and would freak out if I suggested getting a different car.
Sorry for the ramblings
Dave
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Hey Aussie, Stu has just reminded me of the real priority brother. I am sorry for sounding like a rat with wings... and I honestly hope you do re-think.
Maybe its worth a trip to a really decent LR mechanic to get a "to do" list and quote made up so you can assess and see what you really want to get sorted by professionals and have workmanship warranted (mines off to AMV in Ringwood for this sort of once over tomorrow). I hear Ritters are really good too, but believe AMV to be better value and also from what I have read (or heard) from people on AULRO, friendlier to guys who wanna have a go themselves.
After this review is done, I am going to prioritise, budget and get them to do the work (as funds are available). I will still keep doing stuff myself, but stop my involvement in the things that can impact it going or stopping safely!!! And during the whole lot, I am going to try and get advice on daily, weekly and monthly maintenance checks and be a bit more giving to the pretty pig. After all, I do want her to keep taking me away and showing up "the others".
Hope you can hang in there.
Dave
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WATCH OUT Aussie. I can see the vultures circling already
Hang in there mate
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The wife and I had a good look last night at Hilux's, Navara's, and Tritons. We are looking at these for the extra load space they offer with a canopy. I was in for a shock, The fuel economy even on the diesels isn't as good as I'd expected. The inside is very average, not to mention the fact that they run drum brakes with leaf springs....
I guess the thing that really bugs me is the fact that I have done heaps of work on her (the car not the wife) and I was let down by a bloody 5 dollar heater hose. The wife was very dissapointed in all 3 vehicle types we looked at. I know now that we are very spoiled in the Rangie.
And thanks guys for the comments and input, Its making it harder each day too part with my beloved, but if she keeps whinging she's going..... The wife not the car..lol
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Was the heater hose one of the ones you replaced when you did your radiator ?
Hang in there anyways. I've had a lot of cars, my P38 is my 60th car (8th in Australia). I used to make money buying and selling them when I was a student in New Zealand. Always the best money makers for me were the ones where people had spent a ton of money on them fixing, restoring, enhancing them etc and then just got sick of them for whatever reason and decided to sell. So what I'm saying is that yours is probably worth a lot more to you than it is to Joe Average buyer, you can't be far off having it spot on now.
I owned a heavily modified Hilux prior to my rovers and although very very capable offroad I'd describe it as 'agricultural' at best compared to the P38. I had 3 diesels in a row, Hilux being one of them, and felt each time that diesel weren't as economical as rumour seems to imply - I'd rather have a V8 on lpg 99% of the time - the other 1% would be those long trails where I'd like extra range. Not sure what you'd find to match the P38. Its one huge advantage of buying one of the fastest devaluing cars around (P38 from new) is that you get a LOT of car for second hand money. X5's and Q7's are nice inside but no good past gravel roads and they're pricey. Land cruiser sahara's are nice inside and out imho and very good offroad - but pricey once again for newer ones =/
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Hey Aussie, it's a tough one mate - I know the feeling.
My suggestion: Fix the hose and get back in the saddle, take her for a cruisey drive, crank some tunes, wind down the window and have a long think about it as you pass all of the other boring "me too" 4X4's on the road...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/04/137.jpg
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Aussie - if you're having second thoughts about getting rid the P38a, let's see if there is anything that me/Andy/HRA can do (within the bounds of commercial and heterosexual :o reason) to help keep you "in the fold".
Feel free to give me a call anytime. I reckon a few of us have either gotten rid of/ had stolen/ lost their P38a and driven other vehicles for a while... but keep coming back for more... Hell, I almost didn't come back 17 months ago and now I co-own a business that caters almost exclusively for P38a's, and it's not because I think it will pay my mortgage off quickly!
You know it deep down inside... once a P38a owner, always digging deep or tweaking stuff, but when she's running, you wouldn't want to drive anything else (talking about the car here lads, not the missus :p).
If my P38a is off the road for a couple of days 'coz I'm doing stuff to it and I'm driving the Crewman around instead, and then I see another P38a driving along I get a sense of loss. Imagine what it would be like to have that sense of loss every day, and not be able to go home and see it in pieces all over your garage? :wasntme:
Cheers, Paul.
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Well I've decided what my next vehicle will be. Looked at the new Triton 4x4 Diesel tonight and I gotta say its not too bad at all. So if anyones after a P38 in excellent condition (except for a dodgy heater hose) which I am replacing this weekend let me know :) cheers guys
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:( Sorry to hear. I must say I have been eyeing off the triton's for quite a while now. They look quite good actually.
Stu
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I am at the stage where I dont want too have that niggly feeling in the back of my brain when I'm sitting at the fire thinking, Hmm what was that noise I heard down the track, or driving down a track in the middle of nowhere thinking if this thing dies now I am screwed. I was very lucky to have my P38 die close too home to be able too rescue it.
My father was a landie man I was born and bred a LR man, I had a series 2A for nearly 20 years before I bought the P38 and I feel horribly let down but I cant keep bleeding cash into something that I dont feel comfitable in. The thing that hit home for me is the simple fact that if I did get too my secret spot and I was stuck I woulda been in a world of hurt and I just cant afford that.
I guess I've done a full circle, I've gone from a basic no nonsense vehicle (2A) uptoo a P38 and no back again too a triton and I had my best fun in my old buggie. Too sum things up I will list what I have replaced in 3 years of ownership of a P38
new radiator
new raditor hoses
new thermostat
new headgasket
new front pads
new rotors
new EAS bags
new Shockers
new Tyres
new ABS pump
new fuse box
new brake light switch
new driverside door latch cable
new steering dampner
new starter motor
new EAS compressor
new heater hose (doing this on the weekend)
new drivers side door latch
The worst part is that after all the new bits I still dont feel like I have a reliable vehicle, so after 42 years I'm jumping off the Land/Range rover wagon and moving over too the dark side. I do ask though that I may be allowed too participate in any upcoming outings (you will need someone too ridcule)...LOL all the best lads, in time I think you'll all may come around too my way of thinking.
And no dave you cant have my nice bits...LOL (well maybe after a few beers)
