Thread: To buy, P38 or Discovery 1?

Originally Posted by ariddell

Hi Guys,
Looking to get some advice, I'm looking to buy a 2nd 4x4 to use for some off road fun where I wouldn't risk it with my main L322 Range Rover. As such i've been looking mainly at early model Discoverys, generally 93-94 3.5i models.

Budget up till now has been around about the $5000 mark, for which there seem to be quite a lot of (mostly ropey) Discoverys available around Melbourne, some with LPG already fitted although none with any warranty and generally all in pretty tatty visual condition.

I have now however been offered a 1995 P38 4.6 HSE Range Rover for $7k and am very tempted, so am looking for advice on if i should be considering this too or if i'd be letting myself in for a world of pain.

It's sitting on 240,000km, has had a load of cash spent on it in the last few years and is being supplied with 18 months of warranty remaining.

Downsides seem to be that it's in a trully terrible colour combination (gold with brown leather), has an EAS fault with the inlet valve causing it to sink overnight (although i'd be looking to have it converted to springs anyway), and is in SA so i'd need to go and get it and get it transfered over to Vic with a rwc and new rego so looking at more like $8k on the road.

With a Discovery it'd obviously be easy for me to get a lift kit on it and some big mud tyres, how tricky/expensive would this be with a P38? I'm pretty comfortable with the general reliability concerns about both models and would want rid of the EAS on the P38 anyway as it's likely more trouble than it's worth. It wont be doing a load of k's, being used maybe a couple of times a week for general running about and for some fun off road which i quite fancy getting into.

Any advice/opinions etc appreciated. Sorry if this is a bit rambling/not in the right section of the forums.

Thanks

Al

Go the 96 to 98 Disco models, better vehicle, less problems and 3.9ltr

I have a 97 SE7 V8i and love it to death
Not only that, it does not leak oil!

Ah yes, I see it now along the top bar - will have a browse. Thanks.

I'm in South Melbourne, pretty happy to travel (within reason, fly one way and drive back) for the right car though.

Originally Posted by ariddell

Ah yes, I see it now along the top bar - will have a browse. Thanks.

I'm in South Melbourne, pretty happy to travel (within reason, fly one way and drive back) for the right car though.

I'm only 1.5hr east

Not in any huge rush so feel free to drop me some more details rovercare and will keep it in mind.

Within Disco 1s the later shape would definately be preferable with the later style dash etc and the 3.9. Leather would be a nice bonus if possible, although was this only available on the ES? Preferance would probably also be for an auto but again i'm not adverse to making the left leg do some work if need be.

In AUS we had a version called the "LS" (I have one) which also had leather and all the gear.

I think it was only in '98 but not sure (superseded the ES?)

Here's an old website with some info. http://www.infotalk.com.au/disco.htm

Note the purchase price $55,000. Wow probably happy if you got 20% of that now!!!

Ever thought of a RRC. Get a 89 model auto with a 3.9 and do that up.
They are bullet proof, cheap and easy to do up or may be a 94 model with all the goodies.

Just a thought.
PS. I just bought a 94 ES Disco for $5500 and love it. Done 117000kms and in great cond.
They are out there.
Getting gas in back on floor soon.

Originally Posted by rovercare

he P38 will get around 5l/100km, better fuel economy, due to the far superior engine management, be more comfortable and well nicer all round

But gold/brownno wonder its cheap, offer him 5

Slightly off topic here, but do I take it that the D2 has the same engine management as the P38a and hence gets much better fuel economy than the D1? That's my feeling but I've never had anyone confirm it. I have vaguely been toying with the idea of getting a P38a but I get the feeling I could get a way better D2 V8 for the money (either way, I'd want to get LPG). I'm well sick of diesel prices on my TD5, which I don't consider to be particularly economical.

Originally Posted by owoodland

Slightly off topic here, but do I take it that the D2 has the same engine management as the P38a and hence gets much better fuel economy than the D1? That's my feeling but I've never had anyone confirm it. I have vaguely been toying with the idea of getting a P38a but I get the feeling I could get a way better D2 V8 for the money (either way, I'd want to get LPG). I'm well sick of diesel prices on my TD5, which I don't consider to be particularly economical.

Both the Lucus and 14CUX units used on the disco are dumb EFI units, they merely control fuel, the P38 controls timing via knock sensors, which is far superior in terms of economy

I've had little to do with D2's but would assume its the same Bosch EFI as used on later P38's