Range Rover - P38 or L322
Discussion
I've always fancied a Range Rover, mainly since a family member purchased a P38 4.6 brand new in 2001. Even before then I lusted after the old 3.9.
I absolutely cannot justify one of these on paper, but for some reason I love them. I've often come close to buying, but the stories on the internet put me off every time and I end up with something far more sensible.
Despite the amount of off putting stories on the web, I can't stop myself looking from time to time in the classifieds. Now, however, I have a secondary dilemma: an L322 or a P38? In particular, a late-model 4.6 or an early(ish) 4.4 petrol. Neither are known for their reliability, but it is hard to get a sense of which is the better proposition.
£5k these days buys either:
or
Which would probably be the better option at this price range?
It'd be used as a second car but primarily for commuting to the office (8 miles each way; all rural roads) and the occasional long distance blast on UK/European holidays. I now have a reasonable 'fighting fund', so the odd big bill doesn't scare me - unless they happen every month which may become a little tedious.
Many thanks
I absolutely cannot justify one of these on paper, but for some reason I love them. I've often come close to buying, but the stories on the internet put me off every time and I end up with something far more sensible.
Despite the amount of off putting stories on the web, I can't stop myself looking from time to time in the classifieds. Now, however, I have a secondary dilemma: an L322 or a P38? In particular, a late-model 4.6 or an early(ish) 4.4 petrol. Neither are known for their reliability, but it is hard to get a sense of which is the better proposition.
£5k these days buys either:
or
Which would probably be the better option at this price range?
It'd be used as a second car but primarily for commuting to the office (8 miles each way; all rural roads) and the occasional long distance blast on UK/European holidays. I now have a reasonable 'fighting fund', so the odd big bill doesn't scare me - unless they happen every month which may become a little tedious.
Many thanks
I own a P38, I purchased it in 2003 with 28,000 miles on the clock and it’s just ticked over 80,000.
Range Rovers aren’t the most reliable cars on the planet but when they are working they are fantastic cars.
The Rover V8 4.6 is a very smooth engine and it was made to seemingly cruise at 70mph. I’ve grown rather fond of the gentle “whoosh” sound.
Whatever you don’t replace the air suspension with conventional springs. I spent over £2,000 fixing the air bags but it was worth it.
Check the car’s air suspension bags aren’t leaking or perished. As above it’s costly, and the car leans to one side when one side’s bags are perished.
Find a car with full main dealer or LR independent history. Getting a car that is serviced by monkeys will not be a good idea.
Try and find the tidiest 4.6 Autobiography, Holland and Holland or Westminister you can. They really are fantastic cars.
Range Rovers aren’t the most reliable cars on the planet but when they are working they are fantastic cars.
The Rover V8 4.6 is a very smooth engine and it was made to seemingly cruise at 70mph. I’ve grown rather fond of the gentle “whoosh” sound.
Whatever you don’t replace the air suspension with conventional springs. I spent over £2,000 fixing the air bags but it was worth it.
Check the car’s air suspension bags aren’t leaking or perished. As above it’s costly, and the car leans to one side when one side’s bags are perished.
Find a car with full main dealer or LR independent history. Getting a car that is serviced by monkeys will not be a good idea.
Try and find the tidiest 4.6 Autobiography, Holland and Holland or Westminister you can. They really are fantastic cars.
I have an L322, it's much more modern feeling and they're not as unreliable as you'd think. Yes, they need some maintenance, but parts aren't too bad and they're fairly easy as a DIY prospect. Mine's on LPG and manages 30MPG equivalent. I may have to sell it soon as I'm doing a lot more mileage, so if you want to try one that's been well fettled drop me a line.
sleepera6 said:
Find a car with full main dealer or LR independent history. Getting a car that is serviced by monkeys will not be a good idea.
Not sure I agree with this exactly. Condition of the Vehcile is far more important than rather pointless bits of paper. Which by and large is what most service histories are. Not to mention some of the biggest monkeys are likely to be at main dealers. A place where they employ ‘technicians’ rather than mechanics.
Also the expectation that many p38’s when they are 20 years old will still be being serviced at an expensive main dealer is somewhat wishful thinking.
ZX10R NIN said:
Go for the best P38 you can find the later L322 is a good car but it hasn't aged well & the parts are that bit more expensive due to the number of BMW parts.
Have to agree, I used to love the early L322s but they aren't ageing well at all. The P38 on the other hand still looks great today.Beanbob said:
I've always fancied a Range Rover, mainly since a family member purchased a P38 4.6 brand new in 2001. Even before then I lusted after the old 3.9.
I absolutely cannot justify one of these on paper, but for some reason I love them. I've often come close to buying, but the stories on the internet put me off every time and I end up with something far more sensible.
Despite the amount of off putting stories on the web, I can't stop myself looking from time to time in the classifieds. Now, however, I have a secondary dilemma: an L322 or a P38? In particular, a late-model 4.6 or an early(ish) 4.4 petrol. Neither are known for their reliability, but it is hard to get a sense of which is the better proposition.
£5k these days buys either:
or
Which would probably be the better option at this price range?
It'd be used as a second car but primarily for commuting to the office (8 miles each way; all rural roads) and the occasional long distance blast on UK/European holidays. I now have a reasonable 'fighting fund', so the odd big bill doesn't scare me - unless they happen every month which may become a little tedious.
Many thanks
I think this comes down to many factors. I absolutely cannot justify one of these on paper, but for some reason I love them. I've often come close to buying, but the stories on the internet put me off every time and I end up with something far more sensible.
Despite the amount of off putting stories on the web, I can't stop myself looking from time to time in the classifieds. Now, however, I have a secondary dilemma: an L322 or a P38? In particular, a late-model 4.6 or an early(ish) 4.4 petrol. Neither are known for their reliability, but it is hard to get a sense of which is the better proposition.
£5k these days buys either:
or
Which would probably be the better option at this price range?
It'd be used as a second car but primarily for commuting to the office (8 miles each way; all rural roads) and the occasional long distance blast on UK/European holidays. I now have a reasonable 'fighting fund', so the odd big bill doesn't scare me - unless they happen every month which may become a little tedious.
Many thanks
Will you ever want to go off road?
The p38 is a bit smaller and lighter and has live axles. And a separate chassis. Ultimately it’ll be the better off road Vehcile. Especially a post 99 model with the 4 wheel TCS.
On the flip side the L322 should ride better and is again a bit more up market. And even more of a Luxury Vehcile.
Both should be good vehicles. And if you are prepared to tackle some tasks yourself can make ownership even more appealing.
P38 prices are all over the show at the moment. But it’s worth remember they are arguably the rarest Range Rover model with only a 7 year production run. But prices for good ones do seem to be rising. They are also a much more of a rare sight on the roads these days.
L322’s look much more modern. And some private plates and many would struggle to know if it’s an almost new one or not. But there is no denying prices are dropping on them.
Also if you are looking at V8’s note the earlier years used a BMW V8 different centre differential & gearbox and BMW sourced Infotainment system. This was replaced with a Jaguar sourced 4.4 V8 with a bit more power and Jaguar systems and the same drivetrain from an RRS/D3.
Thanks for the responses, chaps. Seems the early consensus is slightly towards the P38. Interesting.
To answer some of the questions:
I doubt it'll be taken off road, certainly nothing serious. Possibly the old bit of green laning now and then. I should imagine the majority of the miles will be trips to and from my rural office, occasional runs to the city office and other sites. Longer runs to weekends away in the UK and abroad from time-to-time. Probably 5-6,000 miles a year. I've got a new Volvo for main car duties.
I've seen a few LPG equipped cars; my mileage doesn't warrant narrowing to RRs just with LPG but those that have it fitted don't seem to command a premium. Is this problematic; best avoided?
If I go P38 it'll be a completely original, later Thor engined Oxford/Oslo blue or Epsom Green model with cream leather. Prices do seem all over the place - nice looking, sensible mileage examples seem to be £3.5-5k which is into the early L322 territory, hence the questions.
To answer some of the questions:
I doubt it'll be taken off road, certainly nothing serious. Possibly the old bit of green laning now and then. I should imagine the majority of the miles will be trips to and from my rural office, occasional runs to the city office and other sites. Longer runs to weekends away in the UK and abroad from time-to-time. Probably 5-6,000 miles a year. I've got a new Volvo for main car duties.
I've seen a few LPG equipped cars; my mileage doesn't warrant narrowing to RRs just with LPG but those that have it fitted don't seem to command a premium. Is this problematic; best avoided?
If I go P38 it'll be a completely original, later Thor engined Oxford/Oslo blue or Epsom Green model with cream leather. Prices do seem all over the place - nice looking, sensible mileage examples seem to be £3.5-5k which is into the early L322 territory, hence the questions.
LPG is neither good nor bad tbh. But there are a lot of crappy setups. And some very good ones. As a rule LPG can make a motor run hotter and have slightly less lubrication properties.
You can also lose boot space/spare wheel or under body clearance if you do off road.
Unless you need the frugality of LPG I can’t see it being a positive however. If you are considering vehciles with it fitted I’d highly recommend some additional research on LPG and the specific kits you are seeing fitted.
You can also lose boot space/spare wheel or under body clearance if you do off road.
Unless you need the frugality of LPG I can’t see it being a positive however. If you are considering vehciles with it fitted I’d highly recommend some additional research on LPG and the specific kits you are seeing fitted.
300bhp/ton said:
Not sure I agree with this exactly. Condition of the Vehcile is far more important than rather pointless bits of paper. Which by and large is what most service histories are.
Not to mention some of the biggest monkeys are likely to be at main dealers. A place where they employ ‘technicians’ rather than mechanics.
Also the expectation that many p38’s when they are 20 years old will still be being serviced at an expensive main dealer is somewhat wishful thinking.
You’ve made good points that I completely agree with especially the last point. Main dealers can be monkeys but the point I’m trying to make is a good independent specialist or main dealer is better than Kwik Fit or Bob from down the road with the worn out Citroen Picasso claiming he’ll “sort ‘er out and she’ll be runnin’ like a beaut” with just a hammer and some antifreeze.Not to mention some of the biggest monkeys are likely to be at main dealers. A place where they employ ‘technicians’ rather than mechanics.
Also the expectation that many p38’s when they are 20 years old will still be being serviced at an expensive main dealer is somewhat wishful thinking.
I've always loved the P38 but always thought it would be a bad idea to buy one. I bought one anyway last year when a 2001 4.6 Vogue in Oslo blue came up near me despite knowing it was a bad idea.
it was! I got stranded on the M4 about 3 months later after the head gasket went. I don't regret it and with hindsight I'd buy it again but just be prepared for lots of annoying electrical niggles. I used to carry a laptop with the software to reset the air suspension because it would randomly go into fault mode. 16.5mpg also became annoying just being at the petrol station so much.
Check out this site for P38, most clued up bunch of guys for the model:
https://rangerovers.pub
Next time I go down the RR route I'll get an early L322 with the 7 series 4.4 and electrics
Mark
it was! I got stranded on the M4 about 3 months later after the head gasket went. I don't regret it and with hindsight I'd buy it again but just be prepared for lots of annoying electrical niggles. I used to carry a laptop with the software to reset the air suspension because it would randomly go into fault mode. 16.5mpg also became annoying just being at the petrol station so much.
Check out this site for P38, most clued up bunch of guys for the model:
https://rangerovers.pub
Next time I go down the RR route I'll get an early L322 with the 7 series 4.4 and electrics
Mark
MHT223 said:
I've always loved the P38 but always thought it would be a bad idea to buy one. I bought one anyway last year when a 2001 4.6 Vogue in Oslo blue came up near me despite knowing it was a bad idea.
it was! I got stranded on the M4 about 3 months later after the head gasket went. I don't regret it and with hindsight I'd buy it again but just be prepared for lots of annoying electrical niggles. I used to carry a laptop with the software to reset the air suspension because it would randomly go into fault mode. 16.5mpg also became annoying just being at the petrol station so much.
Check out this site for P38, most clued up bunch of guys for the model:
https://rangerovers.pub
Next time I go down the RR route I'll get an early L322 with the 7 series 4.4 and electrics
Mark
Not sure you’ll find the BMW engine anymore frugal. it was! I got stranded on the M4 about 3 months later after the head gasket went. I don't regret it and with hindsight I'd buy it again but just be prepared for lots of annoying electrical niggles. I used to carry a laptop with the software to reset the air suspension because it would randomly go into fault mode. 16.5mpg also became annoying just being at the petrol station so much.
Check out this site for P38, most clued up bunch of guys for the model:
https://rangerovers.pub
Next time I go down the RR route I'll get an early L322 with the 7 series 4.4 and electrics
Mark
Also the tank size on a p38 is what 22 gallons. So even at 16.5mpg, it’ll still give you a range of around 360 miles. So I’m a little perplexed at your comment of being at the petrol station all the time.
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