Some of you may know that I recently picked up a 2000 P38 project. It was high milage and beat up enough to use for off road. Even had a Lucky 8 rear bumper. It ran well once I went through it. Had a bunch of ABS/interior issues. Kept killing the battery even after the RF anntena disconnect. At the same time I also bought a 93 Isuzu Trooper. I admit I bought it because it was a 5spd, It was my favorite color, and it was dirt cheap. I figured I'd go through both trucks and figure out which I'd use as my off road vehicle.

My biased was towards the Rover in every way. But something funny happened. Once I went through the Troopers issues, despite being almost 10 years older and a much lower "quality" vehicle, the Trooper was more and more reliable and the Rover was more and more irritating. So I eventually just sold it.

I've dived into the Troopers maintenance and started modding it. I've put a few 1000 miles on it and it's great ...but here's the thing...if someone walked up to me w a Discovery 1 or 2 ...I'd probably trade em right there. I don't know what my problem is. The Trooper is stupid reliable. It's incredibly easy to work on. It's not bad off road. Yet here I am...lusting over a Rover...I'm constantly on the lookout for one. I'm addicted.

 

Those Troopers were cool. My dad had custom ordered one right when that Consumer Reports Article came out about them rolling over. The dealership called the day after it aired, and said they did their own testing and they DID NOT roll over like that, and to keep my dad happy they'd take 10k off the price. My dad passed on the deal, and eventually the truth came out that Consumer Reports did not properly test the Trooper, but that was a few years later and the damage to the Isuzu and the Trooper had already been done. My dad's would have been a pretty rare setup as he totally customized it vs the normal ones on the lot.

During that time I was seriously into Gen 1 Montero's (owned 5 of them) and I never really had any problems with them besides regular maintenance. I had dreamed of owning a Gen 2 2Dr, but sadly they never got imported into the US.

I had my 97 Range Rover P38 for 3 years and it was very very reliable minus 4 air springs, and the EAS compressor which I had to replace. It was AA Yellow with the Safety Devices roof rack and flaring on it. I only sold it because my g/f at the time called it a school bus and it got old... Of coarse I sell it and then we broke up... I regret selling that P38 as I've never seen another one especially in the condition mine was. Several of my dear friends (3 of them in fact) all have P38 Rhino editions, but they're starting to show their age, and the rare interior bits can't easily be replaced anymore.

I still wish I'd have been able to swap you my 98 LSE for that 04 White/Black interior D2. I later sold my 98 LSE and picked up an 04, but I didn't realize at the time how hard it is to find a D1 in that kind of condition anymore. I regret selling the 98 LSE, but I'm still in contact with the new owners and they're taking great care of it. I got myself another D1 and this time it's a 95 model with zero rust and all original paint in great condition. I will not be selling that D1!!!!

 

Well....that didn't take long: