Ok so I've owned a 99 disco II for a few years so used to all the rover quirks. I use it to do fix and flips out of ( loaded with tools) and to pull my 19' boat. It's in decent shape but leaks like crazy in the driveway and everywhere I park. Kinda tired of this one and really don't want to fix much else or dump any more money into it ( although it really hasn't been that much as im an avid DIY guy and have all the tools).
Thinking of buying a 98 range rover in what appears to be in good condition from the pics and Craigs add ( going to see it this weekend). Will use as described above.
What to look for? What will I notice vs. the disco? Benefits? losses ?
Thanks for all opinions!

 

P38's were know for terrible electrical issues as well as suspension failures. If you thought the D2 had some issues, you are steeping into the Mother issues of all times.

 

ok, well ouch........mike take a look, if you dont mind, at the black 98 disco I on Craigs listed out of Golden for 3K and see if you can get a feel from the add if this may be a good one to go look. Thanks! It's black with black rims and in the pic it's siting on a dirt road with a bike rack on the rear of it. should be listed today or yesterday. He said he would do 2800 but I haven't had the time to go look at it.

 

Sorry, you have already heard my view on them. I really like the looks but past that, what can I say.
Do you know if it still has the original air suspension?

 

I know everyone hates P-38's I know they have electrical and SLS problems but so do DII's compared to DI's.
I use my truck much like yours filled with tool from job to job, I prefer the p-38 to the DII it's nice to have a tail gate and deck lid the open, unlike the disco's enclosed door.
I pick up a 99 P-38 with 75k mile 1 owner for under $4k, still have the factory air ride works beautifully, gets better mileage than the Disco.
And in the six months I have owned it has required 2 u-joints wire and plugs. 6 -months into my Disco I'll bet I had over a grand.
Yes it will cost me some money when I have to repair the SLS, but it will cost me some money to repair the SLS in my DII also.

 

i had 99 p38 for 4.5 years. not a daily driver, but i put 30k miles on it (80k-110k) sold for the need of garage space. I may have been lucky, but i had no major problems. spent alot more on mods than repairs, just as on my dII. I can't complain of the experience nor would it dissuade me from another. just my 2 cent testimonial. good luck to you with whatever you might decide.

 

Going to look at a 98 range se 4.0 today. new tires, engine replaced with 98 rover with 100k on it due to a bad head job about year and a half ago. All converted to springs and shocks from airbags. Sounds like what I'm looking for. Got him down from 3800 to 2800 before I am even going to look at it so we will see how it looks and drives. No leaks he says and all electrical works fine according to him ......I have other cars and can afford to fix it and have the know how so hopefully this one is worth getting. I've looked at a few others and some other disco I & II's . The one I have right now I would not trade anyone of those for. After really looking hard at the discos / ranges it' would be tough to get away from the quality of the interiors with the high end leather seats and overall feel of a land rover and drive any other brand for the use I have for it.

 

Well looked at the car yesterday - drove over an hour to see it - and was pissed as soon as I pulled up next to it. Not sure what planet some people are from, what a POS!!!!
Imagine a Rover left out back for a hundred years with the windows down and bums living out of it and that probably wouldn't do it justice. What an ******* this guy was for telling me it was an 8 out of 10 inside and out! Everything was off the dash, parts hanging off
everywhere, dents all over the friggen thing, the interior was aged and ripped like I've never seen. In My 98 disco the seats and all the leather look like they have never been sat in for comparison.
I asked him flat out if any dash lights were on and he says "NOPE "
runs like a dream! cel and abs both on ! bells and whistles chiming left and right!
The alleged Newer engine sounded and looked like 2 ten year olds put it together with screwdrivers.........................WoW what a Dbag! and that is what I called him and off I went

 

For what its worth, P38s aren't all bad imo. I've had mine for 4 years and it has been a really good little rig. They do have more issues than Discos, but not a great deal more.

The RR has more "little" annoying issues like electrical faults, stalling, door locks going up and down on their own, and blend motors failing. The DII seems much more stable from an electrical stand point. However, when I bought the Disco a month later, I spent a lot of money and time re-doing u-joints and pulling apart the timing system and oil pump fixing design defects. I think so far I've replaced the water pump and brake accumulator on the RR. Not bad for 4 years.... The DII seems to be more prone to head gasket issues than the P38 as well. I love both my DII and P38 and what it boils down too isn't, do you want to deal with issues, but what kind of issues do you want to deal with?

Good luck with your search!

 

parkerlander,

I can do you one better black 2000 low mileage great shape no dent the usual BS.

I pull up to the guys house and from the street you can see something doesn't look right about the roof. So I get out walk up and someone took a sawzall to the roof to get the sunroof closed. That right; cut the roof, forced sun roof closed, bent the sheet metal down and then put black caulked over the seam.

I called the SOB a dozen times from the driveway would answer the phone or his door, probably a good thing he didn't.