Range Rover P38 4.6; Yes or No?

I used to work for a company that used a couple of P38s as tow cars, regularly towing big weights. From what I could see -

P38 #1 was the one in most regular use, and it wasn't really that good. Sounded great, and loads of towing POWAH, but a few electrical niggles and, more importantly, ongoing issues with HG, waterpump and so on. It just seemed like the engine wasn't quite up to scratch and no amount of fettling/throwing parts at it would get it right.

P38 #2 was bought as a backup when #1 started going on the blink more often than not. Much better engine, but we think it had had big work done in the past. Again a good tow car, but this one suffered more electrical issues and the bag suspension was always doing weird things.

Summary: In theory the bags should make it excellent for towing but they never seemed to be working properly. Thirstier than the World Ryvita Eating Champion (both had LPG but the mpg when towing was still catastrophic). Also, I always found them to be disappointingly cramped inside and the build quality didn't feel that good, particularly the flimsy tailgate. Having said that, they were abused, but they couldn't really take the abuse in the way you'd expect a Defender to, for example.

If you've got a hankering for something with a green oval on, then a mate of mine has a Disco 2 and it's much better all rounder than a P38. His is a 3.9 V8 auto, almost as good as a P38 for towing but seems to have more space in it, and it has cruise, aircon and all the toys that you'd expect from something like a P38. It's a good looking car when you're not towing. MPG is still absolutely hellish though, even on LPG.

Cheers mate.

It`s not necessarily a hankering after a Landy as such, just something that can be used as a workhorse with a bit of comfort! The majority of replies about the P38 was as expected; basically avoid one. I`ve had a Disco 2 before for towing, and it was great, however it was a chipped TD5, so I`m not sure about a V8. I could well be interested in your mates D2 though......

EDIT - when I first read your post, I thought you meant your mate was selling his Disco 2.........reading again, it appears not so never mind!

Mines been flat out awesome

4.6 HSE, tows anything (had over 5 tons on it) done tons of miles in it had it 8 years goes all over with a trailer on the back, never had a tow vehicle like it, fast nice to drive very comfy.

In the 60-70k ive had it much of which was hard work I've replaced (that wernt wear and tear) a few a/c bits one back axle (due to the towing) a couple of wheel bearings, a steering box) some ball joints and all the bushes, two CPS's, two rocker cover gaskets, a fuel pump and a back box not so bad for nearly a decade of hard work in my opinion...

I have fitted sequential lpg (runs great) coil springs (wish i still had air, but they're ok) polybushes all round and uprated dampers..

The biggest probelem comes from people buying what was a 50k car new when it's 8-9 years old and thinking they can run it
like a mouldy old 200/300tdi disco, these are complex highly advanced (for their time) cars and need a certain amount of preventative maintenence and care, just chucking a basic service at it every year and expecting it to run like a Toyota is never going to happen.

Most of the major niggles can be sorted easilly with knowledge, mine had the porus block issue, cost £25 to sort and it's been fine for 7 years now, the battery flatteining problem can be sorted by turning off the active immobiliser pretty much 100% sucess rate, blend flaps are a bit of a pig to do but a good day and £100 see's them done for another 100k, door handles and locks have never been an issue since i had the immobiliser turned off (£30 at any decent specialist) the people paying £200 are being taken for a ride.

Basically these cars need specialist knowledge and maintenece, it can be all DIY'd off the internet (rangerovers.net is awesome) but you will need a specialist with 'testbook' from time to time..

Personally I love them, much more comfortable and luxuirous than a Disco, with none of the rot issues, fast on the moteorway great tow cars, unbeatable off road, easy to work on, and in my opinion they look smart even now. yes there's a few gremlins, but buy one that some berk on a council estate hasnt tried to impress his mates with and you'll be golden..

FYI i did my apprenticeship as a lad at a Range Rover specialist (same time as P38 was current) and have worked on literally hundreds of P38's it VERY obvious which ones have been owned by the completely clueless and which have been cared for..

I'd always go for a 4.6 HSE or Vouge every time, the povvo spec ones are horrid, and the TD is just not up to the job..

As another note, mending p38's is MUCH cheaper than Disco 2's, I look after several disco 2's for customers and the parts bill is astronomical compared to my p38, the alectric anti roll system costs BIG money to sort out, front props cant be rebuilt (so £30 for 2x UJ's becomes £400+ for a new shaft) injectors and oil seals on the td5 are big money/awkward transfer boxes are a curse word to remove in situ, and the turbo are quite expensive to have rebuilt...

My only major gripe about the P38 is the boot is tiny and there is no option for three proper rear seat belts, (which is a curse word when you have three kids)

mine