2001 Range Rover Vogue 4.6 (P38)

The Range Rover P38 really has aged very well, hasn’t it? Especially in Epsom Green, a colour that gives it an appropriate gravitas. The black leather interior helps in this case too, as does the fact that it’s in such good overall condition.

First registered in January 2001 and in the vendor’s care for the past five and a half years, it’s fitted with the super-smooth V8 petrol engine and automatic gearbox for superior waftability. MoT’d until the end of the year, it also has a decent service history and is showing under 106,500 miles on the clock.

Being offered with no reserve, this is a great opportunity to get your hands on a hitherto underappreciated classic 4x4, one the seller says is “an absolute cracker!”

The Epsom Green coachwork is in good shape. The panels all align neatly and show consistent panel gaps. There are no ripples down the flanks either, and there is a good shine to the paintwork that contributes in no small part to its tidy appearance.

The black plastic trim and the bumpers are still nice and dark too, and the glazing and lamp lenses are undamaged.

The Hurricane alloy wheels are in a very good condition with no signs of kerbing bar some light scuffing to the offside front (#154). They’re fitted with a Pirelli and a Goodyear tyre on the front and a pair of Goodyears on the rear.

Flaws? Well, as you’d expect given its age, there are a few age-related marks on the bodywork in addition to the usual stonechips. These are most obvious are on the nearside mirror (#58), the bottom of the nearside front wing (#63), the offside rear upper door frame (#207), and rear bumper (#215). None are serious.

The black leather seats are in fine shape, with only a little softening to the outside edges of the driver’s and passenger’s seats to show their age. The rest of the seat coverings are no more lightly creased and all of the seats are still plump and comfortable.

The remainder of the interior is in the same sort of condition; lightly patinated, it’s stood up to the rigours of the past 21 years with impressive aplomb and is still a very nice place to be.

As the seller points out, with sat-nav, air-conditioning, cruise control, electrically-operated windows, power-assisted steering, electric sunroof, electrically adjustable seats with lumbar support, wood-rimmed steering wheel, and electric mirrors with auto-dimming function it has “all the bells and whistles”.

It’s also been fitted with an upgraded sound-system that has a DVD player, an input for an iPod, and a selectable flip-out screen.

Thick rubber mats protect the carpets underneath too, which is handy given that the Range Rover’s off-road prowess is likely to tempt you off the tarmac and into the mud…

The boot, which is still covered by the factory parcel shelf, is home to the spare alloy wheel with what looks to be a brand-new tyre. Lifting everything out shows solid metal underneath, which is nice to see.

Faults? Well, the heated front seats don’t work and the headlining is saggy (#124, #135 and #160). Neither of these issues is unusual on the model, which means the path you’ll need to navigate to repair them is a well-trodden one.

Most recently serviced in October 2021 at 105,797 miles, it starts willingly and revs well. However, the Traction Control light is on, as is that for the ABS.

We are only aware of one other problem: a couple of the control circuits that should turn off with the ignition occasionally turn themselves back on, and will drain the battery if the Range Rover is left for several days. This isn’t a problem if it’s used daily and can be resolved by connecting an intelligent charger, which is included in the sale.

The engine bay might be more functional than pretty but it does look well cared for.

The Range Rover is MoT’d until December 2022, something it achieved with no advisories and has done more than once over the years.

We are told it has a good service history, and there are certainly plenty of invoices from LPME, the vendor’s local independent Land Rover and Range Rover specialists, for the time it’s been in his care.

The personalized registration number - ‘Land Rover 5.0-litre Range Rover Vogue’ - is included. (It’s worth nothing that it’s worn several personalized registration numbers in its life and that’s a good thing because no-one goes to that trouble and expense of fitting one if the vehicle’s a dog, do they?)

After years in the doldrums, the Range Rover P38 is finally starting to be recognized for the class act it is. Very reliable when properly maintained, the car’s only significant weakness is its air suspension but, as thousands of million-mile buses and lorries can attest, even this is not an issue if you treat the airbags as consumable items that need to be replaced on a time-expired basis.

And this one looks to be a good example of the breed. Well maintained but in need of light cosmetic fettling, the seller recognizes that selling a P38 can be something of a lottery because, while most aficionados appreciate just how good they can be, many are still deterred by the car’s (unfairly gained) reputation.

So, he’s putting his faith in you lot and offering it with no reserve, and while we think the hammer will fall somewhere between £4,000 and £10,000, it’s going to sell from the very first bid to someone with a discerning eye for a quirky and characterful SUV.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with the vendor in Thame, Oxfordshire to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.