good vs bad range rovers - Land Rover Forums

drowssap · #1 07-26-2011, 06:22 AM

well now that I have my Disco my wife wants a range rover, who would have guessed. She only travels 10 miles a day to work and if it gets me out of driving her everytime it snows it would be worth it.
I assume that there are good and bad range rover just like there are good and bad (03) discoverys. I will probably be looking 2002 and older simply because of the pricing on them.
Can some one give a quick run down on what to look for and what to stay away from. I noticed that a lot tend to have rust inside the rear door dog legs, it that just certian years? Also it may sound dumb but what is the difference in a classic and a p38?

Mrmerlin · #2 07-26-2011, 11:31 PM

how much do you ,have spend?
If it was me i would be looking for an 05 the best of the 03 to 05 BMW engined models, touchscreen nav. and fiber optics connectivity. Look at CL in Los Angeles they are pretty inexpensive.
I dont want a P38 as there are way too many issues, yes you can fix most of them but the biggest issue I found is the Rover splitting block engine, and or headgasket failure modes

collin Barrows · #3 07-27-2011, 12:36 AM

My dad has a P38, Its been reliable for the most part, but the air bags did go on him a couple a months ago ($1,200) for the spring conversion, The radio sometimes get loader when you try to turn it down, but I personally like the RRC, but than again I like trails and rivers. I believe the p38 replaced the RRC in 1996. I'm not %100 sure though.

fsufan8 · #4 07-27-2011, 12:05 PM

A Land Rover for each of you? Do you have a reliable 3rd car as a back-up when your Disco and her RR are in the shop (ha!). There are so many different kinds of issues with P38s but mainly they relate to the EAS system I would say. Air bags, compressor, valve block, etc. I had several coolant leaks & oil leaks. Electrical gremlins are common, too. Then add in normal maintenance and this truck can be a lot of work and $$ to maintain. Finding one that has been meticulously serviced is really key here. I didn't catch where you are located but if you can find a RR from CA or the Southwest, you'll avoid rust issues. You mentioned snow so probably not somewhere warm. Personally, I would stay away from the Classics as they are even more underpowered and since they are older, will likely have more service that will be needed to keep them road worthy. Like the other poster stated, I would opt for a newer model, like an 04' or 05'. 2006 was the introduction of the Jag engine but these are still pretty pricey. My advice would be to go as new as possible so 2002 and opt for the 4.6 HSE, not the 4.0 SE. The 4.6 is a little more powerful.

drowssap · #5 07-28-2011, 07:03 AM

thanks fellows,
I think i know most of the faults on the 4.0, having mne down to the short block already. And the ESA looks to be more problematic than even the SLS on my Disco, so i think a spring convertion is inevitable with them. As for two rover yes; i'm a gluton for punishment. But that is what the jeepsters are for, i let them sit for 6-months sometimes over a year hit them with starter fluid and they start right up and go down the road like they were driven yesterday.Plus a antquies it cost me pratical nothing to register.

yloDiscoII · #6 07-28-2011, 04:09 PM

CLASSIC (LWB) [up to '95)

P38 ['95-'03]

MKIII ['03-??]

drowssap · #7 07-29-2011, 05:02 AM

thanks got to love that RRC

fsufan8 · #8 07-29-2011, 02:43 PM

I can tell you from experience that the ride of a RR with the coil spring conversion sucks compared with the EAS system + it's not cheap either. I think it cost me a $1K and I immediately realized the ride was not as good. I guess the upside was no more EAS fault codes or walking to the truck in the morning and seeing it on its bumpstops or even worse, driving somewhere and having it drop to the bumpstops. Talk about a double whammy of being embarrased and feeling every little pebble you run over. When I see someone driving a P38 and their truck has dropped like that, I just think to myself, oh that poor SOB (ha ha).

LRScott · #9 08-09-2011, 01:46 AM

The ride is definitely worse with coils, however you are eliminating many of the issues associated with the P38 by getting rid of the air ride. Seeing as you are a discovery owner, you already know how to treat a rover and understand that they require a little tinkering from time to time. As for the block and head gaskets, you will encounter the same issues on the BOSCH rovers that you will encounter on the BOSCH Discos. After all, they use virtually the same engines (aside from the classics).

As previously said, the MKIII rovers tend to be more reliable, but when they do break the the repairs are usually more expensive. At least this has been my observation. In either case, keep us posted.

nevada ben · #10 08-09-2011, 12:30 PM

For offroading, the classic is really the only option. Upgrading the P38 or later you will run into serious limitations that can really only be overcome by fabricating stuff beyond what it's worth to keep much of anything you started with. With the Classic from the 90's, you have a lot of the same components as a Discovery 1 or Defender 90. You'll have the LT230 transfercase, (in NA) the V8 and the ZF HP-22 transmission, the Rover axles and the spring perches, shock mounts, radius arms, trailing links etc are much the same so there is a lot of aftermarket support for all of these components. Not so with the P38 and later.

But I don't get the sense you intend to offroad the Range Rover. In that case, I imagine the later models would be better, but in that case, why not a Lexus or whatever? The more recent, the more refined they will be, but I suppose it would come down to determining your budget and getting the nicest one for the money.