To buy, P38 or Discovery 1?

**ariddell** · 2nd July 2008, 09:37 AM

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

**p38arover** · 2nd July 2008, 10:08 AM

As a P38A and Disco 1 owner, I'd recommend the Disco.

I have my D1 300Tdi for sale. See AULRO Classifieds - Message - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds

11 months rego (in NSW)

**ariddell** · 2nd July 2008, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by p38arover

As a P38A and Disco 1 owner, I'd recommend the Disco.

I have my D1 300Tdi for sale. See AULRO Classifieds - Message - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds

11 months rego (in NSW)

Thanks mate, unfortunately I wouldn't go for a diesel but cheers for the heads up on your car anyway.

What would be the main factors for your recommendation of sticking with a Disco out of interest?

Thanks

Al

**spudboy** · 2nd July 2008, 10:24 AM

Ron is the man to listed to regarding P38's. If it can happen to a P38 it has happened to him

**p38arover** · 2nd July 2008, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by ariddell

What would be the main factors for your recommendation of sticking with a Disco out of interest?

Simplicity and reliability off road. That's why it was bought. It has no ABS, no airbags, no electronics apart from the central locking, electric mirrors, and radio. The diesel means it didn't need a long range tank for any trips we planned.

However, I can't justify having two 4WDs plus motorbikes. Also I need the money to pay for my recent eye operations.

**ariddell** · 2nd July 2008, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by p38arover

Simplicity and reliability off road. That's why it was bought. It has no ABS, no airbags, no electronics apart from the central locking, electric mirrors, and radio. The diesel means it didn't need a long range tank for any trips we planned.

Gottcha, thanks, simplicity definately a factor - for that i think i need to figure out how much I am likely to use it actually properly off road vs how much general running around it will do.

If i am going to buy primarily for off road use and to get seriously into offroading then it sounds like the Disco is the only way to go.

On the other hand going by the fact that my L322 is such a pleasure to drive day to day i'm thinking the P38 with all the comfort and toys would likely be better for the running around for general 2nd car duties that will be the norm, so long as it is also capable enough to do the beginer>intermediate level 4x4 tracks that i am likely to want to take it on.

Even with completely standard spec the L322 with road tyres etc was more capable than i needed it to be on the sort of tracks i want to take it on, just the terror of the cost of scratching the thing put me off using it properly so chances are the P38 could handle similar levels?

Is there much scope for a lift kit/mud tyres on a P38 or would this kind of mod be restricted to if i went for a Discovery?

Thanks

**rovercare** · 2nd July 2008, 11:06 AM

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/brown

no wonder its cheap, offer him 5

**ariddell** · 2nd July 2008, 11:14 AM

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/brown

no wonder its cheap, offer him 5

Hehe, $7k is the lowest they'll go - would feel terrible if I was to try to haggle them down any more since the payment would include me paying off the finance they still have owing on the car.

Does this sound like a reasonable price for a 95 with 240k in a dreadful colour combo? Cheapest i have seen other P38s for has been nearer to $10k on carsales etc. I'm also budgeting $1k to convert to springs, and might be worth seeing how much a cheap respray and tub of leather recolouring stuff would be..

**rovercare** · 2nd July 2008, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by ariddell

Hehe, $7k is the lowest they'll go - would feel terrible if I was to try to haggle them down any more since the payment would include me paying off the finance they still have owing on the car.

Does this sound like a reasonable price for a 95 with 240k in a dreadful colour combo? Cheapest i have seen other P38s for has been nearer to $10k on carsales etc. I'm also budgeting $1k to convert to springs, and might be worth seeing how much a cheap respray and tub of leather recolouring stuff would be..

Its cheap enough for a P38, but Ewww, what a color combo

If you're going to change the color and stain the leather, just buy another one, mmmmm, maybe I should sell you my P38

**feraldisco** · 2nd July 2008, 11:46 AM

cheap doesn't always equate to good value...it's not cheap if you end up with $5K in repairs in the first year. $7K buys a great V8 D1; $12K would buy an unbelievable one...

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