Late P38 Range Rovers vs. Late Cherokee XJ

Gatster

Does anyone actually currently own a petrol one that has an opinion, am I being foolish in thinking they can be reliable if properly maintained? Alternatively looking at late Cherokee XJ petrols (98-01), if someone can manage not to sell a decent one before I get a chance to have a look

dhog4n

Both are famously unreliable by reputation, but it really comes down to condition and past maintenance. Neither will be worth much money at this stage so the motivation to fork out for the tlc that both of these can need is not there for many owners. The P38 suffers from penny pinching and labour issues in manufacture, though the worst examples will be gone by now. The XJ suffers from having been built down to a price for the american market and will feel inferior to the P38 when comparing two good examples. This should be the case though as they are not really aimed at the same customers.

Gatster

From doing a good bit of research, the XJ's seem reliable enough, obviously there are tales of woe but that goes for most cars if you look hard enough.

101sean

As said, late P38s will be mostly sorted by now and petrols can be had for very little. 4.6 V8s are known for suffering from porous blocks ( a step too far, doesn't happen to the 4.0). Late Disco 2 V8s are cheapish as well.

Shame about the running costs and tax implications because the Rover V8 is one of the best engines ever made (my 101 is powered by one)

Gatster

It's the petrols I'm after - I drove both diesel and Petrol P38's about 4 years ago and the diesel felt dangerously slow...I guess it's down to finding a good one.