Talk me out of being stupid

[ekulluke]

Hi all

I recently posted about swapping my 4 series for an estate. Then I read a few shed of the weeks and other posts.

Now I think I will change for something a bit cheaper for a year and save some money.

A Range Rover 2.5 p38 is top of the list.

Am I an idiot?

I do lots of active stuff like track days on motorbikes and mountain biking so a big old suv makes sense. I also do camping with a roof tent. It really meets all my criteria. Mrs is not happy at all. But that’s not uncommon anyway!

[ekulluke]

That’s encouraging!

I do like the V8 but feel like it will be v thirsty and I’ve never liked the idea of LPG. Servicing the tank etc seems a hassle.

I had a Defender 90 2.5 turbo before the 428i and I enjoyed the engine. I know it’s a diff block but similar concept!

[ekulluke]

akirk said:

the 2.5 p38 is the slowest car I have ever owned... it struggled to climb the hill out of Cheltenham when I bought it, so it was then off to JE engineering for a stage 2 conversion which transformed it...

Oops really? I lasted a long while in my 19J Defender which had like 80hp. Did you have any issues putting it in for a stage 2? What does it consist of as I would imagine it predates an ECU map or flash.

[ekulluke]

Phil Dicky said:

I'm not talking you out of it, no bugger talked me out of idiotic stuff

Thank god

[ekulluke]

Landcrab_Six said:

LPG is more or less dead in the UK.

The big 2 oil companies have pulled out of it, leaving a reduced number of Calor and FloGas sites nationally, with some other local suppliers left, too.

It will only get worse as LPG infrastructure needs renewal - that's what tipped the oil companies into removing it. The capex would never be repaid.

It's a shame, as LPG powered PHEVs would make a significant dent in our emissions whilst we wait for EV and FCEV to catch up.

Yeah I really don’t think I could do LPG there’s only one place near me that offers it and i don’t want to be tied to one fuel station!

I will be doing my own servicing so there’s a fair comment on the tank.

[ekulluke]

Walter Sobchak said:

What is your budget?, if you want a Rangie I’d honestly say paying a bit extra and getting a L322 is worth it.
If you want a robust old go anywhere 4x4 get a Landcruiser Colarado.
I was recently stupid and bought a £3300 TDV8, it’s got a couple of things that need sorting- suspension bushes and an air con leak but very happy with it so far.

Edited by Walter Sobchak on Sunday 25th October 07:43

A good point indeed. But I’m not particularly governed by budget. I just want something cheap, a bit wafty and can accommodate dog mountain bike motorcycle and a house renovation.

To be honest I was looking at the 2014/15 Range Rover sports to replace the 4 series but that would have been a bit of a finance job. So I thought I’d just get a <£3000 classic(ish) one to bear around in for a year and save the money so I don’t have to finance my next car.

The mrs has a new Abarth 595 so i would use that for most daily runs etc. And for a bit of speed (a little bit...)

[ekulluke]

CAPP0 said:

Years ago someone at work had a new 2.5 diesel P38. We went out in it for lunch and I honestly thought there was something wrong with it. It was glacially slow, driving one is like driving a normal RR in low range. Just don't do it. Definitely get a RR (I've had 5 including a petrol P38), just don't get that 2.5D, you will hate it, and, eventually, yourself.

Thank you. For probably talking me out of it!!

Definitely want a Range Rover but good to know the 2.5 is not worth the hassle.

[ekulluke]

Landcrab_Six said:

Those all look dreadful. The you can feel the cheapness of the Jeep interior through the screen - and the Rangies look a bit knackered. The kind of thing you see parked outside an estate pub.

Lol parked outside and estate pub. Well put.

[ekulluke]

plasticpig said:

My P38 ownership experience is that they are total moneypits. So unreliable that I used to keep an old laptop and diagnostic cable in the boot so I could reset the various faults that randomly appeared.

Oh right. Not great to hear but I was under no impression they tick along like sewing machines for years.

What kind of issues did you have?

[ekulluke]

agent006 said:

Having owned a 4.6 P38, they are not the thing to buy on a "ooh I fancy a RangeRover" whim. You need to go in with your eyes open or you'll buy a pup and get burnt. Even then you can buy a cracker in top condition and still get burnt like I did.
I think at this point, a 4.6 with a rebuilt engine from a proper specialist, and all the other bits sorted is about the only sensible way into a P38 but you're talking 5 figures or close to.

A TD6 is a much better idea if you're scraping round the low end of the market. Also Discovery TD5 is worth a look, if only as their demise tends to be a bit more gradual than a flamboyant P38 style terminal destruction

If I was going petrol I’d go for the 4.0 variety as I understand that has less problems (immobiliser and cylinder lining...) than the .6, or am I sadly mistaken?

I just don’t like the look or idea of a TD6. The ones ZX10R NIN posted just don’t float my boat. Same goes for a discovery, they all seem to look clapped out and if they don’t some fool wants 10k cos the 5 pot LR engine is decent...!

[ekulluke]

I still like the idea of a P38. But seems we have a hung jury here.

Other than the Cherokee (thanks ZX10!), what else is in this end of the market?

Sub 5k, 4x4, waft-able, won’t leave me stranded (at least not much) and can handle towing a motorbike/taking my mountain bike/dog/roof tent.

I think you all get my position here...fed up of the HP life so want something decent to fulfill above criteria for so I can save up for something nice outright (M5, C63) in a year or so.

Thanks.

[ekulluke]

ZX10R NIN said:

At 5k you can get some nice SUV's:

3.0d RR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010064...

ML420cdi a Nice V8 diesel to make towing a breeze

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

ML320cdi good car but hard to buy this when for a smidge more I could get a 420

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202002087...

Grand Cherokee

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010215...

X5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...

Touareg

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202005019...

Bang on the brief with these. Thank you.

Really like that first RR. Have dropped the seller a line!

You’re also right in your other comment, I’m after an old premium SUV. Don’t need anything too mental like an x trail or ranger. So good options. Cheers

[ekulluke]

NGRhodes said:

I think a yellow one would suit you perfectly.

Bloody nice that.

[ekulluke]

ZX10R NIN said:

Good job he upped his budget to 5k then

Thanks to you. Legend.

Found another couple of nice ones too!!

[ekulluke]

NGRhodes said:

My dad said that, but he does own a pair of yellow leather shoes.

A man of fine taste........

[ekulluke]

akirk said:

Can't remember all the details as this was back in about 2008
but new intercooler / chipped / etc. - gave it about 50% more horsepower, and MPG went from c. 24 to c. 28 - and transformed the car...

I really like the internal cabin simplicity of the P38a - one of the best in terms of balance between lack of road noise / simple and not too fussy etc. - but I wouldn't have another one - I only bought that as I had got rid of classics (should have held onto them!) and the L322 was too expensive...
I would now go classic or L322 - in fact I bought one of the last of the classics - a soft dash... far simpler on electronics

Thanks for looping back round on this. Appreciate the feedback.

I’m actually pursuing a few leads on the L322. Just trying to scope out all the issues with them so I can do into it with my eyes open.

[ekulluke]

Walter Sobchak said:

Which one are you looking at the TD6?.
Gearboxes are a weak point on them, check underneath for signs of damage and rust!, a bit of surface rust is to be expected but check nothing is rotten, they tend to rust on the rear arches too so factor in getting that done.
Heavy on suspension and bushes so check nothing is amiss there, air suspension can have issues too but isn’t the expensive,terrifying bill that some make out.

Started with a p38 2.5. Then ZX10 talked me into a td6. Now the mrs has decided she really likes the facelift.

So I’m looking at TDV8/TDV6/SDV6.

Just not sure of Vogue vs Sport now...

[ekulluke]

Chainsaw Rebuild said:

I know it’s not a premium 4X4, but as an alternative suggestion; what about a jap double cab pickup?

Likely to be much more reliable, you can get even more stuff in it and would be excellent use for the house renovation.

To be honest I don’t need the 4x4 so much. I’m just a ponce.

Though I did LOVE the Hilux from yrs ago that top gear sent to the arctic.

[ekulluke]

CAPP0 said:

It was that!

Yeah it was the TD6 he was talking of. I watched that video with the mrs (as I love HG) and it was deffo a factor in deciding I’ll go for a tdv6 or sdv6.