Thread: Pondering a 95 RR purchase

Originally Posted by sheerluck

To play devil's advocate for a moment....

If you don't want something that you need to spend some time on, get a Corolla

OI!!
SWMBO has a Corolla and guess who gets to service and look after it !

Still nowhere near as much fun as "The Toy" as she has named it.

Steve

To get back on topic

When I decided to go for a P38, it didn't take me long to work out I wanted one with Bosch electronics, what i read about the GEMS system made me think of how we used to call Lucas "The Prince of Darkness".

So for me 99 or later was the first criteria, and LPG the second. Combined with the usual things about odometer reading etc

Steve

A 99 or later is out of the budget, sorry. So it is the 'prince of darkness'. I have read I will need to buy a thousand dollar diagnostic tool for the P38. Is this so? In which case it makes the 74 RR a bit more attractive.

I gather the EAS has been replaced with coils again. How robust is the driveline? Do they have fancy electrically activated couplings that cause trouble?

Erik

Originally Posted by Erik BM

A 99 or later is out of the budget, sorry. So it is the 'prince of darkness'. I have read I will need to buy a thousand dollar diagnostic tool for the P38. Is this so? In which case it makes the 74 RR a bit more attractive.

I gather the EAS has been replaced with coils again. How robust is the driveline? Do they have fancy electrically activated couplings that cause trouble?

Erik

Hi Erik

You will need an expensive diagnostic tool for the P38 if you want to fix ti yourself.

The p38 has fancy electrically activated everything (almost)

I read in your other thread that it seems you pretty much want a hack to take your boat to the river and back and a bit of towing.

In that case I suggest a classic would probably be a better fit for you

Steve

I have a 98 Gems, after the initial spend to get it right it is fine. As my mechanic has said though, you have to service them like a plane, you do the replacement when it is scheduled, not when it breaks 'cause that will bring on other problems.

I have just over 260,000 km on mine and it will go into Queensland again this winter with the Hobie Kayak on top and pulling the Tvan camper. On a good day at about 95km an hour I return about 15.5km per 100 pulling that setup. Ninety five works out good as the road trains are not catching you and you don't catch them.

Just got to fix the ten stacker for my music.

Originally Posted by whisky_mac

As my mechanic has said though, you have to service them like a plane

Ain't that the truth !

Originally Posted by Erik BM

A 99 or later is out of the budget, sorry. So it is the 'prince of darkness'. I have read I will need to buy a thousand dollar diagnostic tool for the P38. Is this so? In which case it makes the 74 RR a bit more attractive.

I gather the EAS has been replaced with coils again. How robust is the driveline? Do they have fancy electrically activated couplings that cause trouble?

Erik

Erik

The Nanocom FCR at around $300 is all you will probably need (certainly all I have needed) to maintain your vehicle. The FCR (Fault Code Reader) reads the faults and can also clear (not fix) any errors that may be present. They are not a difficult car to work with but you MUST do the servicing as per the book to keep these cars reliable.

Gary

Originally Posted by sheerluck

To play devil's advocate for a moment....

If you don't want something that you need to spend some time on, get a Corolla

As an owner of a 95 Classic with a low mileage 3.9 V8, let me also play Devil's Advocate.

- If you want to tow anything bigger than an empty 6x4 trailer, or a 12' tinny + 15hp outboard... go for a 95 Nissan Patrol.

We tow 3 tonnes plant/trailer and I can get 3.6 km/l. My Classic gives me 5 to 6 unloaded.

And its got more torque - pulls away just on idle, runs 1800 RPM at 100km/h which it manages ok on freeways and sits nicely even though the current trailer is less than well-balanced...

Go for the P38, despite the unreliability (Advice to me from LR Mechanic.... never drive one 'cos they're beautiful and you will want one... but they keep me in business!) - The engine is regarded as better.
Plus, there's heaps of current and detailed advice here !!!!