Happy Xmas, Tank!

BACK in August 2018, you were kind enough to publish my letter in defence of the P38 Range Rover. Well, I am now back with an update . . .

Our 2001 P38 Range Rover, affectionately known as Tank, has continued to be our completely dependable daily driver, lugging all the garden, household and man-cave rubbish to the dump once a month, and caddie the golf clubs to the course (when allowed).

He (Tank could never be a she) has now reached a significant birthday as he hit a very respectable 150, 000 miles. In our weekly back road escape from the pressures of lockdown we hit that milestone as we passed RAF High Wycombe, and seeing these two icons together was very special – so much so we took a picture (above, right).

We are in this for the long haul with him, and for Christmas we treated Tank to a surprisingly non-budget-busting engine rebuild with the brilliant Elliot at Turners of Hemel Hempstead, who also installed a new radio, Bilstein shocks and bushes all round, and as a result he is now back to factory outputs – smooth as silk, 18 mpg in traffic, 26 mpg on the motorway and, in a recent hospital dash, capable of an undisclosable number on the speedo (as well as some very surprised looks in the Beemers and Porkers we passed on the way).

Next plan – respray! Long live the P38.

Scott Galloway How many other readers buy Christmas presents for their Land Rovers? Ed.