Anyone bought a "nail" Range Rover P38 and got a good car?

Anyone bought a "nail" Range Rover P38 and got a good car?

Author
Discussion

Stu - B

Original Poster:

502 posts

191 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
A much maligned car for often good reasons.

Has anyone bought one cheaply (high miles/no history/generally poor condition) and actually run it for a few miles without the whole experience turning into a nightmare?

Mars

9,533 posts

229 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
I was just talking with an old friend on Monday evening who had only recently retired a P38 he bought two years previously for £2000. He'd had great fun in it, including taking his kids on an impromptu off-roading session (in their pjamas apparently).

He only binned it when the air suspension gave up but he did say if he'd bought a more expensive model, which would have been worth persisting with, there was a coil-over spring conversion that could be done relatively easily. Given that the air suspension on these could be problematic and was definitely expensive to resolve, this sounds like a good idea.

BLUETHUNDER

7,881 posts

275 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
Give a wide berth. I had a P38 for 9 years and suffered every known problem a P38 suffered. I was naive and thought RR,s were the best thing in the world even with the problems. If you go down this route at some point you will be bitten hard. I wouldn't have another.

(steven)

478 posts

229 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
BLUETHUNDER said:
Give a wide berth.
It's a shame as I've always thought one of these would make a great smoker, being both plush and practical.

However considering they exhibit that classic combination of high complexity, poor reliability and expensive part pricing they've always seemed far too over priced.

BLUETHUNDER

7,881 posts

275 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
Its like anything. The best vehicle in the world when everything is working. But all to often the case it is not.

OllieWinchester

5,688 posts

207 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
I really want one of these and am trying to tell myself it wouldn't be a nightmare. Thing is, I bought a tidy V8 Classic and lost the most money on a car ever.

If I could find a cheap diesel one that had been converted to coils then I'd be willing to take the risk I think. They also look a lot better (IMO) with the later TD6 wheels on.

Adam_W

1,096 posts

215 months

Wednesday 4th August 2010
quotequote all
I bought a P38, 4.6 HSE, was getting on, no history and plenty of miles on it, wouldnt start when i went to collect it, only issue i had was remote locking receiver failed, replaced that and cleaned the ICV, was bullet proof after that, saw it the other day still on the road some years later. Was still running air suspension etc when i had it, was the best bit of the car.

Id have another one no hesitation, i have had a mk3 since and that was great also.

Edited by Adam_W on Wednesday 4th August 21:24

Stick Legs

7,359 posts

180 months

Wednesday 12th June 2013
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Yes!
I did exactly this, paid £1k for mine, spent about £1k on doing a lot of little jobs including coil springing it (I don't care what folk think, my car, my insurance premium, my choice!) and love it.
Since getting brand new keys and coil springs it had never let me down. Comfy, classy, practical, makes a great noise!
If you want one just do it, they nearly break to what they are worth anyway!

Stick Legs

7,359 posts

180 months

Wednesday 12th June 2013
quotequote all
Holy thread resurrection batman!

The joy of searching a topic & then relying without looking at the date! 😱