Thread: Even though it tests my patience....

I was a late bloomer to the Land Rover addiction, and got "hooked on Classics" in the 90's.
Then I got environmentally and economically aware so traded in my 87 RRC on a Freelander convertible. Despite their reputation, my little Freebie gave very little problems and was fun to drive.
Then it happened... a black P38 in a car yard caught my eye and it was "game over man, game over!". Self-justified the fuel economics as I was only doing a 30km round trip/day instead of 150-200km/day.
Ended up spending a fortune on parts and repairs for that car, then drowned it in a river crossing, but at least got a small insurance pay-out.
After much soul-searching, realised I wouldn't be happy without a P38 so got another one. It has had a few problems too, but this time I decided to have a go a fixing things myself - largely due to the massive support of folks on this forum - and have not looked back.
Then another P38 made its way in to the stables, intended as a new project vehicle until SWMBO deemed it to be her own. No complaints from me, I get to keep both of them now... and SWMBO

I try not to think of problems with the P38, more like a challenge to overcome. They have their idiosyncrasies I guess, don't most cars that are worth keeping?
They are a tad underpowered and could benefit from an extra gear or two. TDV6 or LS2 anyone? People curse the EAS, but I love it. It is not complicated or unreliable - it is just another component that requires maintenance.
I love the seating position and visibility.
I love the handling, even in my lifted P38 with 33" tyres, it handles much better than drivers of non-LR 4wd's would expect.
Everything works as it should, and when it doesn't I will find a way to fix it, quite often with the assistance of this forum

I can't even truthfully say that my P38's keep me poor. I own them both outright, but still owe the bank money on my Holden ute and Wife/Daughter's Freelander TD4!

Bottom Line: My P38(s) make me feel good and that is what matters to me.

Q.E.D.

Cheers, Paul

After a long spell of being a single car family, we finally resigned to a second car. Since the single car had to be reliable, safe and reliable (due to 3 kids under 6), we always went new via work novated lease. A bud had a Rangey years ago which I scoffed at - till he took me out in it. V8? Comfy? Air suspension? Tough? Is DIYable? I loved it.

When the chance to have a second car came around, I quickly jumped back into something that I could tinker with, after my younger days with Holden 308s and red engines - which I have missed.

I love the EAS.
I love the support these forums provide.
My wife acceptance factor is high.
My mates have to concede over time that its good.
It has never not started for me, save for a door latch failure alarm problem.
The minor problems are as interesting to me as they are annoying.
They are CHEAP, compared to other 4x4s, and parts are now also cheap - what more could you ask for?

I agree that my 4.6 (240kkm) needs slightly more poke, and definitely a 5 spd gbox, but apart from that, the rest of the running gear design seems spot on.

I am very likely to have two in the garage after the "car 1" novated lease ends.

well im also in a love hate relationship with my p38. i love it every time i take it out and i hate it after every time it take it out and have to fix more broken bits. you get a real sense of satisfaction when you watch all these "real 4wds" fail while you just drive up the same line like its on the bitumen.
looking forward to next year when i mite be able to drive it again, needs mods to be drivable.
bought for 5k now owes me 35k and still another 25k till im finished but it should go more places than a tank.

It's still testing me.

the "Pretty Pig" should stay in my family for a long, long, time. Or, until I euthanase the thing!

Love is much too strong a word, but I do admit I have some form of bond with it. Which is somewhat weird for something that without me operating it is effectively an inanimate object.

Even when its not working (which is not very often) I still find myself having a second look back at it parked in the carport! And when it is woerking (which is nearly 100% oif the time anyway) I am a bit like Paul... it makes me happy!

Anyway, I am really hanging out to put the hardrange lift kit and 33' Simex JT's on and get her properly off road again up in the high country! Next on the to do list will be get the winch fitted up and then on the shopping list some sway bar disconnects. Oh and perhaps a locker or two!

Originally Posted by PaulP38a

I was a late bloomer to the Land Rover addiction, and got "hooked on Classics" in the 90's.
Then I got environmentally and economically aware so traded in my 87 RRC on a Freelander convertible. Despite their reputation, my little Freebie gave very little problems and was fun to drive.
Then it happened... a black P38 in a car yard caught my eye and it was "game over man, game over!". Self-justified the fuel economics as I was only doing a 30km round trip/day instead of 150-200km/day.
Ended up spending a fortune on parts and repairs for that car, then drowned it in a river crossing, but at least got a small insurance pay-out.
After much soul-searching, realised I wouldn't be happy without a P38 so got another one. It has had a few problems too, but this time I decided to have a go a fixing things myself - largely due to the massive support of folks on this forum - and have not looked back.
Then another P38 made its way in to the stables, intended as a new project vehicle until SWMBO deemed it to be her own. No complaints from me, I get to keep both of them now... and SWMBO

I try not to think of problems with the P38, more like a challenge to overcome. They have their idiosyncrasies I guess, don't most cars that are worth keeping?
They are a tad underpowered and could benefit from an extra gear or two. TDV6 or LS2 anyone? People curse the EAS, but I love it. It is not complicated or unreliable - it is just another component that requires maintenance.
I love the seating position and visibility.
I love the handling, even in my lifted P38 with 33" tyres, it handles much better than drivers of non-LR 4wd's would expect.
Everything works as it should, and when it doesn't I will find a way to fix it, quite often with the assistance of this forum

I can't even truthfully say that my P38's keep me poor. I own them both outright, but still owe the bank money on my Holden ute and Wife/Daughter's Freelander TD4!

Bottom Line: My P38(s) make me feel good and that is what matters to me.

Q.E.D.

Cheers, Paul

Question Paul, have you ended up selling the 2001 4.6Lt P38 by the way??? Or did you end up keeping it??

Originally Posted by redandy3575

Question Paul, have you ended up selling the 2001 4.6Lt P38 by the way??? Or did you end up keeping it??

Andy sold his really nice grey 2001 P38 4.6 HSE. I've still got my blue 1999 4.0 Hard Rangie and the black 2000 P38 4.6 HSE. Am still thinking of selling the blue one so I can get another P38 as the next Hard Range project car... that was supposed to be the black one until my wife decided it was hers.

Cheers, Paul.

I bought a TD5 D2 to replace my P38.
After having the D2 for a month i drove the P38 again and i thought why am i selling it? Even though the D2 was more economical well powerful enough (in the city) and a better "CAR", it just lacks something.
The P38 has that X factor.
The D2 is now long gone
As a few others have said the 38 is reliable, so long as you stay on top of maintenance.
Easy to work on, mostly.
I love the driving position and outlook. I can drive 1000km a day no trouble at all.
Pretty happy with highway economy, i wish the speed limit was 120km/hr this is the perfect cruise speed for the P38.
Standard headlights are great, i love the night time dash and switch lighting.
If i had a 150ltr gas tank and LPG system i wouldnt see any reason to get rid of a well sorted P38 for years to come.