P38 vs Disco II

[DreamingOfExpeditions]

Hoping to start an open discussion on the merits of both as an overland vehicle. I'm intrigued by both for many reasons. So have at it, what say you?

I have a family of 5, plus a Dobie. I'll get a large rooftop tent. Most often it'll be me and the kids (the wife thinks camping is the econo lodge).

[rijosho]

P38 vs Disco II

Neither. Get an LR3.

[JeremyT101]

I would say if you have the money go for the LR3, if not, an 04 D2 would be the best bet out of those choices. The question is, with you, your wife, three kids and a dog, is even an LR3 enough space? Because if you fill it up with gear, and all the seats with kids, no room for the dog. I have seen on this forum that once you reach into the three kid range you have to start looking for something with another row, such a suburban or the like. You can even get them in the same vintage as these LR's. They are easy to find parts for in the US, and hell get about the same gas mileage. I would look into something bigger if I were you.

[454]

I'd steer clear of the P38; just too many issues. Even for a Rover.

And I do love the look of a mildly lifted '38, so no hate here.

[I Leak Oil]

Family of 5 + camping gear? Suburban.....P38 and D2 will both get small in a hurry.

[dcarr1971]

D2 with the 3rd row jump seats. Get a rack for your gear and you'll have plenty of room for the 3 kids and the dog.

As stated by others, no matter how cool they look, the P38 is a problem waiting to happen. There are a few guys on here that have proven lucky with them, but most p38s are even worse than you can imagine...

[DreamingOfExpeditions]

Well let me re-qualify my statements.

I have a family of 5, most likely for the next 3-4 years it would be me and the oldest boy. Wife will not camp. She doesn't do it, and I aint making her. I don't go to the nail salon because she likes it either, so no biggie for me. If the twins (1.5 years as of now) come, it'll be for the day, then home with Momma. The Doberman too. Dobermans don't camp, it's beneath them, as there is no bed or climate control. I live in the North East, so initially it'll be weekend trips.

I am a tinkerer. I fear nothing mechanical. Even Rovers (Murphy will probably strike me down for this!) Worse comes to worse with the P38 I'll make it a diesel ala Redrover. I also have an affliction for exotic vehicles. This would not be my daily driver, but a project car, that theoretically could be passed onto the oldest boy when his time comes. I'm not buying new, or lightly used. I've got a cash budget, but just like everything, it's limited. These two vehicles are just about in that range, taking into account ancillaries, rebuilds, failures and the like.

I am also an avid fly fisherman. This would be the fishing wagon too. Here in the north east there is an advantage to a vehicle the size of p38 or Disco II. There are roads I could fish from that I would not be nearly as comfortable driving a Burb up, or my likely turning around on. Plus when the day comes, that all three kids want to go, it's a great time to build a trailer right?

So on a side by side comparison, not whether or not to, what are the advantages? My goal for a vehicle is something that I can scratch the paint on. Get muddy inside and out. take for a day fishing or weekend camping, and not have to worry about crapping it up. Wash and wear so to speak.

Is there markedly more space in a P38? Is the Disco II that much more reliable? Just looking for some insight from those that have either, or maybe both?

Dreaming!

[rijosho]

LR3 with the 3rd row. The LR3 is only a few grand more than a bunch of the 2004 D2s I've seen, if not the same price in a few instances. Many also come with a 3rd row, which I've sat in for 3 hours loaded up with a bunch of other friends and it was actually pretty comfortable.

Which would you rather?

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3159498546.html

or

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/3146795951.html

No brainer to me. The LR3 has the 3rd row. You don't even know it's there when it's folded down. My buddy got a green 2008 one with around 70k miles a year ago in the high teens $$ and it's been awesome

[dcarr1971]

There will be more room in a D2 and it should be more reliable (once you've caught up on all the maintenance). I have 2 D1s and 2 D2s...all have proven pretty reliable with routine maintenance. I have friends with P38s that can't say the same thing...and one of them is a Rover mechanic.

All of the above said, if I ever thought I could make make a P38 reliable I'd love to own one, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

Some other things to consider...there is little aftermarket support for the P38, and all of the electronics are genuinely problematic.

The P38 was Rover's first shot at a 'drive by wire' system, and you can tell. They put the computer/ECU under the passenger seat because it was too big to put anywhere else. (Remember this the first time you come up to a stream.)

Justin at Lucky8 LLC is trying to start supplying aftermarket off-road parts for the P38s, and has a build thread for one on this forum, but I don't know that anyone else is bringing them in at this point. If you really want a P38, Justin might be a good guy to speak to. I'd also check out the forums over at RangeRovers.net.

[dcarr1971]

The LR3 is also a good choice if you aren't going to do anything too exciting off-road, but if you're willing to look at the '99 - '01 you can find exceptional examples in the sub $5k range. Just remember the LR3 is 10 inches longer than the D2.

FWIW, if you had asked 'P38 versus LR3', my answer would be 100% LR3 and if you had asked 'D2 versus LR3' it would be a lot more dependent upon what you wanted to use it for...